EP2274219B1 - Device for handling single sheets, for introducing rectangular individual sheets into a container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a single-sheet handling device for inputting rectangular single sheets into a container. Such rectangular single sheets are in particular banknotes which are automatically fed to a transportable container for storage.

From the documents US 4,616,817 A ; US 6,682,068 B1 and WO 00/24662 A1 arrangements are known in which deposited banknotes are fed to individual storage compartments which are not separable from the arrangements. From the document DE 33 25 182 C2 is another arrangement for storing single sheets in fixed not separable from the arrangement storage compartments known to be used in the stacking wheels for feeding the sheets in the storage compartments. Furthermore, so-called cash recycling devices are known, in which deposited banknotes are fed to a storage compartment and are removed from this compartment again at later disbursements. Such a cash recycling device with storage compartments that can not be separated from the device is known, for example, from the document EP 0 148 310 B1 known.

From the document DE 199 04 540 A1 a banknote storage container for cash dispensers is known. Furthermore, from the document US 6,889,897 B2 a banknote storage container is known in which a plurality of feeding elements and, alternatively, a plurality of separating elements in the banknote storage container formed as a cassette are arranged themselves. However, this has the disadvantage that these elements must also be present in replacement cassettes and space must be provided for the feeding and separating elements in the cassette itself, which is lost for the bank note deposit. Furthermore, a disadvantage of the arrangement of feeding and separating elements in the cassette is that they increase the weight of the cassette and thereby the transport costs for transporting the cassette is increased. However, in order to enable the feeding of banknotes into a banknote container and the removal of banknotes from the same container, the feeding and separating elements must be positioned exactly to the stacking surface or end face of the banknote stack in the container in order to ensure reliable banknote transport into and out of the container To enable containers.

The object of the invention is to provide a single-sheet handling device for inputting rectangular single sheets in a container that correctly positions the single sheets in the container in a simple manner.

The object is achieved by a single-sheet handling device having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

By a single sheet handling device with the features of claim 1, with appropriate control of the impeller both a flexible stop for a the single-sheet fed to the container is formed as well as the contact area between the end face of the stack present in the container and the impeller are increased. In particular, the contact area when feeding a single sheet after a wing turn, that is, upon contact of a arranged in a feed before the stack already present in the container arranged single sheet with the wing or with a further wing of the impeller, increased. A section of the flexible area of the wing contacts the supplied single sheet already in its lower half and presses the single sheet at least in the contact area against the end face of the stack already present in the container. The individual sheets in the stack are standing on their longitudinal edge and thus also standing in the container standing on this longitudinal edge. The rigid portion of the wing then presses the stack with the supplied cut sheet into the container and creates a feed area or feed gap for feeding another cut sheet. By the contact of the supplied single sheet with the flexible portion of the wing a strong flutter of the single sheet is prevented in the lower half. As a result, further pressing elements for pressing the fed-in single sheet against the front side of the stack and / or for preventing the fluttering of the banknote are not absolutely necessary. However, such additional pressure means may additionally be provided.

In a further development of the invention, the impeller has a hub with which the wing is firmly connected. With the help of such a hub, the wing or the impeller can be easily arranged on a shaft. Preferably, the hub is sized and / or there are further means for connecting the hub to a drive shaft provided that the hub and thus the wing is rotatably connected to the drive shaft.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the impeller has at least two identically formed wings. The two wings then preferably extend in opposite directions. It is particularly advantageous if the wings extend in parallel planes in opposite directions. The wings preferably have an identical structure. As a result, a so-called wing envelope with a relatively short turnaround time can be generated in a simple manner by the drive shaft for driving the impeller is rotated by 180 ° when feeding a single sheet. The wings are aligned in a Zuführgrundstellung substantially horizontally, so that when perpendicular to its longitudinal edge on the container bottom standing sheets pressed from the end of the first portion of the wing into the container and / or at a distance from the axis of rotation of the impeller and other elements of the Single-sheet handling device are kept. As a result, a feed gap for feeding a further banknote to be supplied in front of the stack or between the stack and further elements of the single-sheet handling device can be generated in a simple manner.

As already described above, when feeding a single sheet, the impeller is rotated, so that the front side of the stack already in the container contacting contacting blade in the feed direction of the single sheet is moved away, so that the leading edge of the supplied Banknote at least not contacted the rigid area of the wing. In a further rotational movement, the first wing contacting the end face of the stack passes through an apex of the enveloping circle of the impeller, preferably its upper vertex. At the same time, the opposite second wing of the impeller also passes the opposite vertex of the enveloping circle of the impeller, preferably its lower vertex.

In a further rotational movement of the impeller of the second wing is moved toward the front or back of the positioned in front of the front side of the already existing stack single sheet and pushes this subsequently against the end face of the stack, so that the supplied sheet is applied to the stack and the new front page of the pile.

It is particularly advantageous if the front portion of the first region of the wing is curved. Preferably, the first wing is curved such that the tip of the curved first region lags the further first region in a rotational movement for feeding a single sheet. Thereby, the front and back of a supplied single sheet is contacted with the outside of the curvature, whereby a particularly gentle contact with the supplied single sheet is possible. Furthermore, edges are avoided by the curvature, which can interfere with damage of the supplied single sheet. Furthermore, excessive wear of the single sheet is avoided by contact with the wing. Also, the curvature of the friction between the blade and the single sheet can be reduced so that a smaller force is transmitted during the rotation of the impeller from the wing to the single sheet. As a result, the single sheet is not or only slightly shifted in contact with the wing during its rotational movement.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inner end of the second region is connected to the first region in a section in front of the outer end of the first region. Preferably, the inner end of the second area in front of the curved portion of the first area is connected to the first area. It is particularly advantageous if the inner end of the second region near the foot of the wing, i. near the junction of the wing with a hub and drive shaft, connected to the first area. Thereby, a relatively large radius of curvature is made possible for elastically deforming the flexible area of the wing, without creating a kink of the second area after the contact point of the inner end of the second area with the first area. As a result, in particular the mechanical stresses of the second region can be reduced and the service life of the flexible region can be increased.

It is particularly advantageous if the inner end of the second region is connected to the non-curved portion of the first region, so that an inner portion of the second region and at least the curved portion of the first region overlap. It is particularly advantageous if the first region is defined by a rigid plastic molded part and the second region by a strip made of a flexible, preferably rigid, plastic film or a strip of a suitable rubber material is formed. The plastic film is preferably a polyester film having a thickness in the range of 0.25 mm to 0.35 mm. Such a plastic film has a suitable stiffness to press in contact with a supplied single sheet of this into the container or against the front side of a stack located in the container. Furthermore, such a plastic film or such a rubber strip can be deformed during a rotational movement of the impeller and in contact with the supplied single sheet such that it rests not only punctiform but with a portion of the sheet fed on sheet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the non-curved portion of the first region and the second region are arranged such that they are arranged parallel to each other without elastic deformation of the second region. The second region is connected to the rear side of the first region in the direction of rotation of the impeller, so that, in the case of a trailing curved outer section of the first region, the second region is elastically deformed by the contact with the curved section of the first region. As a result, at least the outer portion of the second region is not aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the non-curved portion of the wing. During a rotational movement of the impeller, a stack of individual sheets projecting into a feed region of a single sheet to be supplied is thereby brought or held at a defined distance, namely the distance of the enveloping circle diameter of the impeller, to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft of the impeller, with the aid of the first region Front side of the stack with the supplied single sheet in a further rotation of the impeller is held at a distance from the axis of rotation of the impeller by the second region and in particular by the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the second region in contact with the end face of the stack.

During the further circulation of the impeller, the second region of the wing can also be elastically deformed by contact with further elements, in particular with further elements of the single sheet handling device. In particular, when the drive shaft of the impeller is arranged in a horizontal plane which intersects the stack with standing perpendicular to its longitudinal axis cut sheets in the upper half of the stack, nevertheless, a height limit or a further arranged above the single sheet handling device in the outer circle of the second Area be present. The further device is in particular a further single sheet handling device. Upon contact with this further device, the second region of the blade is elastically deformed. As a result, the required number of elements of the single sheet handling device and their height can be reduced.

Further, it is advantageous if the single sheet handling device has a control unit which controls a drive unit for driving the at least one impeller such that the control range of the blade during the feeding of a single sheet at a distance from the leading edge of the fed single sheet and that the supplied Single sheet at least not contacted the rigid portion of the wing during feeding.

It is particularly advantageous to provide at least two impellers, which are arranged rotatably on a jointly rotatable with the aid of a drive unit of the single-sheet handling device rotatable shaft. The wings of the two impellers are aligned equal or parallel. Upon a rotational movement of the drive shaft in each case one wing of the two vanes presses against the end face of the stack located in the container.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide a sensor arrangement, preferably a light barrier arrangement, for detecting a sheet edge of a single sheet to be fed to the container by means of the single-sheet handling apparatus. A drive unit of the single sheet handling device controls the drive of the at least one impeller such that the drive of the impeller is started a preset time after the detection of the sheet edge of the single sheet by the sensor arrangement. It is advantageous to detect the leading edge of the single sheet. By detecting the leading edge of the single sheet, a compact design of the single sheet handling device is possible.

The enveloping circle of the first region of the wing of the impeller is selected and the impeller is arranged such that the vertex of the enveloping circle is disposed at approximately the same height as the leading edge of the largest possible the single-sheet fed to the container when it is arranged in the single sheet receiving area of the container.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the vane of the at least one vane wheel pushes the stack into the single-sheet receiving area of the container, at least in the case of a substantially horizontal alignment of the vane.

Optionally, at least one oblique deflector may be provided which guides the leading edge of the fed single sheet from the center of the blade towards the front of the stack. The inclined deflector preferably has a lateral offset to the impeller. Preferably, the oblique deflector is resiliently mounted.

The single-sheet handling device may comprise at least two further lower impellers, which are arranged on a common drivable shaft and their wings move during rotation of the shaft, at least the trailing edge of a single sheet to be fed to the stack towards the stack, if the single sheet in front of the front side of the already located in the container Stack is positioned.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in addition to the impeller arrangement and further feed elements for sheet-by-sheet feeding of individual sheets and for depositing these individual sheets in a stack, the single-sheet handling device comprises separating elements for removing sheets of the stack from the container one by one. Both the feed elements as well as the separating elements are preferably arranged separately from the container, so that the container can be easily separated from the single sheet handling device. The separating elements may in particular have at least one take-off wheel, preferably two or three take-off wheels, which are non-rotatably connected to a drive shaft.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description which, in conjunction with the accompanying figures, the invention using an exemplary embodiment explained more.

Figur 1

eine Anordnung mit einem in einem Tresor eines Geldautomaten angeordneten Vereinzelungs- und Stapelmodul und mit einer Kassette zur Aufbewahrung von Banknoten, wobei Zuführelemente des Vereinzelungs- und Stapelmoduls in einer ersten Zuführposition dargestellt sind;

Figur 2

die Anordnung nach Figur 1, wobei die Zuführelemente in einer zweiten Zuführposition dargestellt sind;

Figur 3

die Anordnung nach den Figuren 1 und 2, wobei die Zuführelemente in einer dritten Zuführposition dargestellt sind;

Figur 4

die Anordnung nach den Figuren 1 bis 3, wobei die Zuführelemente in einer vierten Zuführposition dargestellt sind;

Figur 5

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Antriebswelle mit insgesamt sechs zweiflügligen Flügelrädern zur Verwendung in der Anordnung nach den Figuren 1 bis 4; und

Figur 6

die Anordnung nach den Figuren 1 bis 4 in einer Vereinzelungsgrundposition.

Show it:

FIG. 1

an arrangement with a separating and stacking module arranged in a vault of an ATM and with a cassette for storing banknotes, wherein feeding elements of the separating and stacking module are shown in a first feeding position;

FIG. 2

the arrangement after FIG. 1 wherein the feed elements are shown in a second feed position;

FIG. 3

the arrangement after the Figures 1 and 2 wherein the feed elements are shown in a third feed position;

FIG. 4

the arrangement after the FIGS. 1 to 3 wherein the feeding elements are shown in a fourth feeding position;

FIG. 5

a three-dimensional view of a drive shaft with a total of six double-vane impellers for use in the arrangement according to the FIGS. 1 to 4 ; and

FIG. 6

the arrangement after the FIGS. 1 to 4 in a separating basic position.

In FIG. 1 an arrangement 10 is shown with a banknote cassette 20 accommodated in a vault of an ATM for receiving banknotes and a separating and stacking module 30. The singulation and stacking module 30 comprises feed elements 54, 44, which in the in FIG. 1 shown side view of the arrangement are shown in a first feed position.

The separating and stacking module 30 has further separating elements, which in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 three adjacent take-off wheels 32 include. The take-off wheels 32 are resiliently mounted on a take-off wheel shaft 34 arranged and rotatably connected to this shaft 34. At the in FIG. 1 shown side view of the separating and stacking module 30 is only one of the three take-off wheels 32 visible. Further, the take-off wheel shaft 34 is preferably spring-mounted at one end, which is not engaged with drive elements, so that the take-off wheel shaft 34 is horizontally displaceable at this shaft end. As a result, the take-off wheel shaft 34 with the spring-mounted take-off wheels 32 arranged thereon can be pressed toward the front side of the cassette 20 and thus against the end face of a banknote stack 36 arranged in a singulation position. In the cassette 20, the bills are stored as a stack 36, wherein the cassette 20 is formed and arranged so that the stack 36 has a horizontal stacking direction. The individual banknotes are arranged standing on their longitudinal edge as a stack.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the stack 36 comprises a plurality of banknotes of a first low height, of which the foremost banknote arranged in the stack 36 forms the front side of the stack 36, and a plurality of banknotes of a larger second height, one of which the banknote forming the back of the stack Transfer carriage 60 formed stop abuts. The transfer carriage 60 delimits the single-sheet receiving area or the stacking space in the cassette 20 and, depending on the stack thickness, is displaced relative to the cassette 20 by means of a motor 62 arranged on the shift carriage 60. By shifting the transfer carriage 60, the stack area, ie, the cut sheet receiving area, can be increased or decreased as required.

Side of the stack 36, the cartridge 20 guide rails 64, 66, in the guide rollers 68, 70, which are connected via a respective projecting from the transfer carriage 60 axis with this, engage. Furthermore, a gear is provided on one of the guide rollers 68, 70, which is in engagement with a not shown in one of the guide rails 64, 66 integrated or separately arranged rack and is driven by means of the motor 62. During a rotational movement of the drive shaft of the motor 62, the displacement carriage 60 can thus be displaced in the stacking direction or in the opposite stacking direction.

A bill to be fed in the direction of the arrow P0 is transported by means of drive wheels 44 arranged on a main drive shaft 42 into a feed region 36 in front of the stack 36 located in the cassette 20. With the aid of a pressure roller 50, a banknote 38 is pressed against the drive rollers 44 for transport. Further, two stripping rollers 52 are arranged on a shaft 53, which have a freewheel in the present embodiment, so that they rotate according to a rotational movement of the drive rollers 44 in the direction of arrow P1 without rotation of the shaft 53 accordingly. As a result, a transport of the supplied banknote 38 into the feed region 46 is not hindered by the stripper rollers 52.

When driving the drive rollers 44 opposite arrow P1 shown in Figure 1 for separating banknotes but no corresponding rotation of the Abstreifrollen 52. The Abstreifrollen 52 have a circumferential surface of rubber or other material with relative high coefficient of static friction, so that when two banknotes pass from the stack 36 in the gap between the drive roller 44 and stripping roller 52, the striker 52 associated bill is stripped from the drive roller 44 facing bill and not further transported to the pressure roller 50. In this way, it can be ensured that only one banknote is removed at the same time when banknotes are removed from the cassette 20, ie when the banknotes are separated. Thus, the banknotes are discharged one by one at the cassette 20 and double prints are avoided.

The separating and stacking module 30 has as a feed further several arranged on a drive shaft 55 impellers 54, each having two tangentially from a hub 56 of the impeller 54 projecting wings 58, 59 have. The vanes 58, 59 are non-rotatably connected via the hub 56 with the drive shaft 55, so that the impellers 54 by means of the drive unit via this shaft 55 in the direction of rotation of the arrow P2 can be driven. The vanes 58, 59 each have a rigid region 72, 74 firmly connected to the hub 56 and a flexible region 76, 78. The rigid regions 72, 74 are preferably made in one piece with the hub 56, for example as an injection molded part. The flexible regions 74, 76 are preferably film strips, for example made of a polyethylene film. The inner end of the film strips 76, 78 and a region near the inner end of the film strips 76, 78 are respectively connected at a junction 77, 79 with the non-curved portion of the region 72, 74, preferably near the hub 56. Welded connections, adhesive connections, clamping connections and screwed and riveted connections are particularly suitable as connection types.

The impeller 54 is in FIG. 1 in a stack basic position, ie shown in a first feed position. In this stack basic position, the horizontal rigid area 76 of the wing 59 presses against the front side of the stack 36, whereby the banknotes of the stack 36 are pressed from a feed area 46 in front of the stack 36 into the cassette 20. While the impeller 54 is in the stacking base position, the banknote 38 to be supplied to the cassette 20 is transported into the feed region 46 by means of the drive wheels 44. When transporting the banknote 38 into the feed region 46, the take-off wheel 32 is additionally driven in the direction of the arrow P3, ie in the feed direction of the banknote 38. When the leading edge of this bill falls below a preset distance from the rigid portion of the wing 59, the vanes 54 are rotated so that the leading edge of the fed bill 38 does not contact the rigid portion 74 of the wing 59 even if the flexible portion 78 of the wing 59 would not protrude down from the rigid area 74 or if the flexible area 78 were not present. For this purpose, a light barrier arrangement, not shown, is provided between the drive wheels 44 arranged at a distance from one another and between the pressure rollers 50 arranged at a distance from one another, by means of which the front edge of supplied bank notes 38 can be detected. Thus, this light barrier arrangement monitors the transport path to and from the cassette 20, so that both banknotes on delivery to the cassette 20 and banknotes for removal from the cassette 20 are detected by means of this light barrier arrangement.

The curved ends of the rigid portions 72,74 elastically deform the flexible portions 76,78, thereby biasing the flexible portions 76,78. Due to the relatively large overlap of the rigid regions 72, 74 of the wings 59, 60 and the flexible regions 76, 78, the flexible regions 76, 78 are in contact with the front side of the banknote stack 36 and in contact with further elements of the singulation and stacking module 30 and / or the cassette 20 has a relatively large deformation range available, so that a relatively large radius of curvature when deforming the elastic regions is made possible and the mechanical stress of the material is relatively low. In particular, the pre-bending of the flexible portion 76, 78 due to the curved ends of the rigid portions 72, 74 avoids kinks and maintains minimum bending radii, thereby causing a relatively low material stress and a long life of the flexible portions 76, 78 is achieved.

On the drive shaft 55 are next to the side in the side view FIG. 1 visible impeller 54 five more upper impellers arranged and rotatably connected to this shaft 55, as described below in connection with FIG. 5 will be explained in more detail.

In FIG. 1 Furthermore, a note retracting door 80 is shown in an open position in which it has been moved away from the end face of the stack 36, so that a supply and removal gap is generated, which in FIG. 1 marked with the arrow P5. When closed, the inside of the note retracting door 80 contacts the End of the stack 36 and closes the gap P5 at least so far that no bill of the stack 36 can be removed without damaging the bill or the cassette 20. The note retracting door 80 is preferably not shown with separate from the cartridge 20 arranged drive elements in the in FIG. 1 shown opened position.

Further, springs, not shown, are provided which exert a force on the note retracting door 80 in the direction of its closed position, so that the note retracting door 80 is moved by the spring force into the closed position and held there. After feeding the supplied banknote 38 into the feed area 46, d. H. If the trailing edge of the banknote 38 is no longer in the area between the drive roller 44 and pinch roller 50, the lower impeller 48 is rotated, so that at least one wing 82 to 86 of the lower impeller 48, the trailing edge and / or the lower portion of the banknote 38 against the Front side of the stack 36 presses.

When feeding the banknote 38, the upper impeller 54 is rotated by a total of 180 °, wherein the fed banknote 38 is then contacted by the flexible second portion 76 of the second wing 58 and pressed against the end face of the stack 36 and held there.

Upon detecting the leading edge of the fed bill 38 with the aid of the aforementioned light barrier arrangement, starting from the time of arrival of the leading edge the supplied banknote 38 and a preset delay time, the drive of the impeller 54 via the drive shaft 55 started. The light barrier arrangement preferably comprises a prism arrangement for deflecting a light beam emitted by a light source twice, wherein the light source and a light sensor for detecting the light beam emitted by the light source are arranged on the same side of the transport path for feeding and discharging a banknote. The prism arrangement is arranged on the opposite side of the transport path. As a result, a secure detection is given in particular because the light beam crosses the transport path of the banknotes twice. Furthermore, a simple compact arrangement of the light source and the light sensor on only one side of the transport path is possible.

In FIG. 2 is the arrangement 10 after FIG. 1 shown, wherein the feed elements 44, 54 are shown in a second feed position. Compared to the representation of the arrangement 10 according to FIG. 1 is in FIG. 2 the upper impeller 54 is rotated in the direction of the arrow P2. Furthermore, the banknote 38 has been further conveyed into the feed area 46 by means of the drive wheels 44 and contacts with its front area the flexible second area 78 of the wing 59, wherein the front edge of the banknote 38 is deformed by the curved shape of the outer portion of the area 78 , This deformation is also referred to as kinking or rolling up the front portion of the banknote 38.

In FIG. 3 is the arrangement after the Figures 1 or 2 shown, wherein the impeller 54 and the drive wheel 44 in a third feed position is shown. Opposite the FIG. 2 the impeller 54 is further rotated and the banknote 38 has been further conveyed into the feed region 46. Due to the inertia of the banknote 38, it is also moved further into the feed area after leaving the contact pressure area between the drive roller 44 and the pressure roller 50, so that the front area of the banknote 38 continues to contact the flexible area 78 of the wing 59.

In FIG. 4 is the arrangement after the FIGS. 1 to 3 shown, wherein the impeller 54 relative to the in FIG. 3 shown feeding position of the impeller 54 has been further rotated in the direction of arrow P2. The longitudinal axes of the rigid areas 72, 74 are aligned almost vertically. In this position, the front edge and the front portion of the fed banknote 38 no longer contact the area 78 of the wing 59, so that the deformation of the front area of the banknote 38 in contact with the area 78 of the wing 59 due to the rigidity of the banknote 38 back into the Original situation is deformed back. As a result, a substantially smooth banknote 38 is then positioned in the feed region 46 in front of the end face of the stack 36. Subsequently, by a rotational movement of the lower impeller 66 at least the lower portion of the fed bill 38 moves toward the stack 36, wherein in the illustration to FIG. 4 the wing 82 engages under the trailing edge of the banknote 38 and raises it if necessary, and moves the lower portion of the banknote 38 towards the end face of the stack 36 and presses against the end face. Subsequently, the lower portion of the banknote 38 is repeatedly pressed by means of the further wings 86, 84 against the end face of the stack 36. The wings 82, 84, 86 the lower impeller 66 are preferably made of a flexible, easily elastically deformable material, such as rubber or plastic film, and are elastically deformed upon rotation of the impeller 66 upon contact with the face of the stack 36.

After a wing turn of the upper impeller 54, the second wing 58 enters the feed area 46 and contacts the supplied banknote 38 in its upper half and pushes it by the rotary movement to the front side of the stack 36. This pressing occurs both through the curved portion of the rigid Due to the flexible region 76 protruding beyond the rigid region 72, the flexible region 76 contacts the supplied banknote 38 below the contact region of the rigid region 72 of the wing 58 with the banknote 38 so-called fluttering of the banknote 38 that occurs when the banknote 38 is fed into the feed area when it is being transported in is reduced or avoided by the additional contact of the banknote 38 with the flexible area 76 of the wing 58. The flutter may be enhanced by pressing the bill 38 against the stack 36, or alternatively generated. Reducing or dampening the fluttering does not hinder the feeding of another banknote with only a small distance between the banknotes fed in succession.

In FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the drive shaft 55 with a total of six vanes 54 shown in FIG FIG. 5 each with the reference numeral 54 and a continuous lower case letters are designated. The other reference numerals of the elements of the impellers 54a to 54f are corresponding to the respective for this element already in the FIGS. 1 to 4 used reference numerals and an additional lowercase letters. Additionally are in FIG. 5 the outlines of two banknotes 38a, 38b, wherein the banknote 38a has the maximum permitted banknote size and the banknote 38b has the minimum permitted banknote size. The rigid areas 74a to 74f contact the banknote 38a in its upper half and the flexible areas 78 in its lower half. The banknote 38b is only contacted by the wings 59b to 59e when it is fed. The wings 59a and 59f are located laterally adjacent to the banknote 38b, so that they do not contact the front of the banknote 38b even during a rotational movement of the vane wheels 54a and 54f. If the banknote 38b is located in front of the banknote 38a in the stack, then the banknote 38b is held by the impellers 54b to 54e at the front side of the stack 36 and the marginal areas of the banknote 38a additionally by the impellers 54a and 54f. The vanes 54b to 54e have the same lateral distance from one another, with the outer vanes 54a, 54f being closer to the adjacent vaned wheels 54b and 54e, respectively.

In FIG. 6 is the arrangement 10 after the FIGS. 1 to 4 shown in a singling position. The impeller 54 is rotated such that the vanes 58, 59 do not contact or at least not contact the bills of the stack 36 so that the bills of the stack 36 are pushed into the cassette 20. Further, the banknote stack 36 has been moved by means of the transfer carriage 60 in a singulating position, so that the banknote stack 36 is pressed with a required pressing force against the surface of the take-off wheels 32. During a rotary movement of the take-off wheels 32 in the direction of the arrow P6, the banknote 38 located at the front side of the stack 36 then moves downwards into the transport gap between the drive wheel 44 and the stripping roller 52 or between the drive wheel 44 relative to the further banknotes of the stack 36 and the pinch roller 50 transports.

When deducting or when transporting the banknote 38, the stripper roller 52 is not rotated or opposite to the transport direction of the banknote 38 to be removed. As a result, a further bank note (double trigger) which may be adhering in the back of the banknote 38 to be removed is prevented from reaching the gap between the drive wheel 44 and the pressure roller 50. This further bank note thereby remains in the cassette 20 or in the area in front of the take-off wheel 32 or in the stack 36.

The invention is thus based on the principle that the rigid wings 72, 74 of the upper impeller 54 by additional flexible portions 76, 78 extend. In this case, rigid films have proven to be particularly advantageous. In tests with the singulation and stacking module 30 film strips made of polyester film with a thickness of 0.3 mm have proven to be favorable. Furthermore, lengths of the film strips in the range of 30 mm to 60 mm, in particular of 50 mm have proven to be favorable. Film strips having the same width as the width of the rigid areas 72, 74 were used. In the specific embodiment, the width of the film strip was 6.5 mm. However, at Try widths in the range of 4 to 8 mm proved to be favorable.

The curvature range of the outer portions of the rigid portions 72, 74 is preferably in the range of less than 180 ° to 90 °, preferably in the range of 100 ° to 90 °. In this area, the foil strips, at least when the rigid areas 72, 74 overlap, as shown in the exemplary embodiments, are better able to conform to the stack 36 and thus securely press the supplied banknote 38 against the front of the already existing stack 36. This additional pressing with the aid of the flexible region 76, 78 is also referred to as interception of the supplied banknote 38, as an uncontrolled movement of the banknote 38 by the additional contact points of the outer portions of the flexible regions 76, 78 is largely avoided. As a result, banknotes with different heights and with relatively poor quality, ie. H. with relatively high signs of wear, safe and high quality in the stack 36 are arranged.

After feeding each banknote or a preset number of banknotes, the transfer carriage 60 is moved away from the supply area 46 by means of the motor 62, so that the banknote storage space in the cassette 20 is increased. Due to the different banknote characteristics, in particular due to different ripples of the banknotes in the stack 36, it is not possible to ensure a desired contact pressure for a longer period of time by fixed travel paths for each banknote 38 supplied. That's why special Embodiment of the invention, a motor for driving the shaft 55 designed as a stepping motor, wherein by means of the stepping motor and the rotational movement of the impeller 54, a desired stacking pressure is set. The stepper motor is rotated from the vertical to the horizontal rotational position with reduced current and a start-stop frequency (vertical rotational position = vertical orientation of the non-curved portions of the rigid regions 72, 74; horizontal rotational position = horizontal alignment of the non-curved portions of the rigid regions 72, 74). During the rotation of the wings 58, 59 from the vertical to the horizontal rotational position of the transfer carriage 62 is gradually moved away from the feed region 46, after it has previously been moved as far as possible in the direction of the pressure rollers 32. In addition to the transfer carriage 62, circulating conveyor belts (not shown) are arranged on the bottom of the cassette 20, on which at least part of the banknotes of the stack 36 stand on their longitudinal edges. These floor belts are also driven by means of a drive unit arranged outside the cassette 20 in such a way that the bank notes located thereon are conveyed further into the cassette 12. Thereby, the pressure of the banknote stack 36 is reduced to the wings 58, 59 of the upper impeller 54.

If the force of the stepping motor with reduced motor current is not sufficient to move the impeller 54 into the horizontal rotational position, the tilting moment of the stepping motor is exceeded and the impeller 54 is pressed back into the horizontal rotational position. Subsequently, in a further attempt, the impeller 54 is rotated from the vertical rotational position to the horizontal rotational position and the transfer carriage 62 further into the cartridge 20 into it shifted and the bottom straps further driven. This process is repeated until the pressing force of the stack 36 against the end face of the stack 36 contacting wings 58, 59 of the impeller 54 is so small that the stepper motor with reduced motor current, the wings 58, 59 from the vertical rotational position to the horizontal rotational position can turn. By the flexible portions of the wings 58, 59, the banknotes supplied are further prevented from being pushed too far up into the cassette 20 and consequently not with its longitudinal edge on the bottom of the cassette 20 or on the conveyor belt , Furthermore, a minimum distance should be provided between two banknotes to be supplied in succession. A minimum distance of 55 mm at a transport speed of the fed banknotes of 1.4 m per second has proved to be favorable. With this minimum distance, in particular a small skewed pull of the fed banknotes does not necessarily lead to a traffic jam.

The lid of the cassette 20, ie the top cover of the cassette 20, may have guides provided to limit the height of the notes and in particular adjustable so as to be adjustable to different allowable note heights. As low has been found that these limiting elements are set so that the stacking space in the cassette 20 have a height of the intended note height + 3.5 mm. The stacking space of a fed banknote is thus limited upward so that the lower longitudinal edge of the banknote, ie the note foot, remains aligned parallel to the stack support plane in the cassette 20. This is a prerequisite for trouble-free re-singling, ie, for subsequent removal and removal of a previously fed bill 38. This re-singling a supplied bill 38 is also referred to as recycling or cash recycling.

If 20 banknotes of different note heights are to be stored in a cassette or should be dispensed with the provision of arranged on the cover height-adjustable limiting elements, so are particularly suitable in the embodiments of the FIGS. 1 to 6 described upper impellers 54 with the flexible portions 76, 78 to perform an appropriate height limit of the banknotes. By means of the flexible regions 76, 78, a secure and correct depositing of the banknotes in the cassette 20 is achieved. The flexible regions 76, 78 of the impellers 54 form a resilient stop, since, depending on the design of the flexible regions 76, 78, they can be deformed by contact with the leading edge of a fed banknote 38.

Favorable has been a mechanically resistant polyester film having a thickness of 0.3 mm, which is connected near the hub 56 of the impeller 54 with the rigid portion 74 of the wing 59. The upper impeller 54 is then preferably driven so that a dynamic height stop is formed by means of the flexible portion 78. As a result of the end of the flexible area 78 projecting beyond the end of the rigid area 74, a supplied banknote 38 is safely guided over a relatively large area towards the stop. Even if the upper impeller 54. As already in the Figures 2 and 3 shown, has been unscrewed from a stack basic position. As a result, in particular effectively prevents a supplied Banknote 38 between the front side of the already existing in the cassette 20 stack 36 and the rigid portion 74 of the wing 59 can pass up to the top of the cassette 20. Thus, a secure correct stacking of banknotes into the cassette 20 is possible.

The rigid portions 72, 74 of the wings 58, 59 receive the stacking pressure of the stack 36 over a relatively large angle of rotation. The elastic or flexible regions 76, 78, which protrude beyond the rigid areas 72, 74, can continue to deform on the cassette lid and on other elements, such as the note retracting flap 80, and deform at least in an angular range to a smaller radius. When separating banknotes, ie when removing at least one banknote from the cassette 20, preferably no contact between the wings 58, 59 and the banknotes of the stack 36. As already described, the upper portion of a fed banknote 38 is in contact with the flexible Area 78 of the wing 59 deformed, so that the supplied banknote 38 is compressed at least in the upper area. Preferably, the rotational movement of the upper impeller 54 is stopped at a predetermined stop height until at least one wing 82 of the lower impeller 48 has embraced the lower edge of the fed bill 38 and presses against the end face of the stack 36. The front portion of the fed banknote 38 is preferably rolled up during upsetting. Additionally or alternatively, a portion of the compressed length can be accommodated by buckling of the banknote 38 in the feed region 46.

Preferably, at each rigid region 72, 74 a protruding welding plastic cam for forming the joint 77, 79 is provided. It is for a rational production of in FIG. 5 shown impeller shaft advantageous when the drive shaft 55 with the cams 56 and the rigid portions 72, 74 of the wings 58, 59 is encapsulated and thereby the welding cams are formed with.

Further, the film strips 76a to 76f and 78a to 78f for forming the flexible portions 76a to 78f are punched out of a film, and the film strips 76a to 76f and 78a to 78f are punched in groups with a connecting bar to which they are connected at their outer ends. Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, in each case six film strips 76a to 76f, 78a to 78f are connected to one another via the connecting web and can be further processed as a stamped part. The strips 76a to 76f are the same distance apart as the rigid sections 72a to 72f and 74a to 74f. Subsequently, the stamped part is positioned so that the not connected to the connecting web ends of the film strips 76a to 76f are positioned on the welding cam and welded to it. Subsequently, the connecting web is removed, for example, punched. Similarly, a second stamped part is connected to the welding cams of the opposed rigid portions 74a to 74f with the ends of the film strips 78a to 78f positioned on and welded to the welding cam. Subsequently, the connecting web of the second stamped part is removed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

arrangement

20

cassette

30

Separation and feeding module

32

pull-off

34

Abzugsradwelle

36

Stack of notes

38

bill

42

drive shaft

44

drive wheel

46

feeding

48

lower impeller

50

pinch

52

stripper

53

wave

54

impeller

55

drive shaft

56

hub

58, 59

wing

60

Transfer cars

62

engine

64, 66

guide rail

68, 70

guide wheel

72, 74

rigid area wing

76, 78

flexible wing area

77, 79

junction

80

Note retracting shutter

82, 84, 86

wing

P0, P1, P2, P3, P6

directional arrows

P5

feed gap

Claims (8)

1. A single sheet handling device (30) for the input and/or output of at least one single sheet (38) respectively into and out of a container (20);
   comprising a vane wheel (54) which has at least one vane (58, 59),
   wherein the vane (58, 59) presses at least a part of the single sheets arranged in a stack (36) in the container (20) into the container (20) upon a contact of the vane (58, 59) with the front side of the stack (36) or holds them in a position in the container (20), and
   wherein the vane (58, 59) has an inner rigid first area (72, 74) and a flexible second area (76, 78) projecting outwardly beyond the first area (72, 74),
   wherein the outer portion of the first area (72, 74) is curved,
   and wherein the inner end of the second area (76, 78) is connected to the first area (72, 74) in a non-curved portion of the first area (72, 74) in front of the curved portion of the first area (72, 74).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vane wheel (54) has a hub (56) with which the vane (58, 59) is firmly connected.
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vane wheel (54) has at least two identically formed vanes (58, 59), wherein the two vanes (58, 59) extend in opposite directions, preferably extend in parallel planes in opposite directions.
4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner end of the second area (76, 78) is connected to the non-curved portion of the first area (72, 74) so that an inner portion of the second area (76, 78) and the curved portion of the first area (72, 74) overlap.
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner end of the second area (76, 78) is connected to the first area (72, 74) near the inner end thereof.
6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first area (72, 74) is formed by a rigid plastic molded part and the second area (76, 78) is formed by a flexible plastic foil or a strip of rubber material.
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the plastic foil is a polyester foil having a thickness in the range between 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm.
8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-curved portion of the first area (72, 74) and the second area (76, 78) are arranged in parallel when the second area (76, 78) is not elastically deformed, wherein the second area (76, 78) is elastically deformed by the contact with the curved portion of the first area (76, 78) so that at least the outer portion of the second area (76, 78) does not extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the non-curved portion of the first area (72, 76) of the vane (58, 59).

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