HK1007030B

HK1007030B - Temporary storage

Info

Publication number: HK1007030B
Application number: HK98106221.1A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Gerlier Andre
Original assignee: Mars, Incorporated
Priority date: 1991-05-08
Filing date: 1998-06-23
Publication date: 1999-03-26

Description

The invention relates to a leaf intermediate of the type described in the general notion of claim 1.

Such leaf-based caches are suitable, for example, for service ATMs, which accept several banknotes for payment for the provision of a service and which may only be cashed after the service has been provided or, if this is not possible, returned to a user.

DE-PS 26 19 620 describes a temporary storage facility for paper sheets, where the sheets already stored are held in a bundle between conveyor belts and moved back and forth as a package to deposit another sheet, subjecting the sheets to mechanical stress.

A device according to EP 251 833 may store a single sheet in a bag, with the possibility of adding another sheet before the first sheet is completely removed from the bag.

Swiss patent application No 02 566/90-1 describes a sheet stacking device whereby a carriage moving over at least one stack changes the geometry of conveyor belts by means of guide rollers in order to place the sheet on the stack without the conveyor belts or the sheet to be removed sliding on the previous cover sheet of the stack.

The United States patent application US-A-3 765 523 describes a device for accepting banknotes to be deposited with a bank. The device includes a device for the insertion of a banknote by a depositor, a device for checking the authenticity of the inserted banknote, a device for temporarily storing the banknote whose authenticity has been established and a device for transporting the banknote either for acceptance in one direction or for return of the banknote to the depositor in the opposite direction.

Finally, US-A-4 856 768 reveals a sheet storage separator which has a supporting handle to interrupt the path of the sheets between front and rear drive outlets on the one hand and a storage section on the other hand after a certain number of sheets have been entered. The supporting handle is individually movable and carries the loaded sheets for a certain period of time while they are bundled. It turns from a neutral position into a first supporting position between the front and rear drive outlets on the one hand and the storage on the other. It also turns at intervals into second supporting positions to lift the sheets from the front to the rear and to the front to the rear.

The purpose of the invention is to create a simple and inexpensive interlayer for a large number of sheets, with minimal mechanical stress on the sheets.

The invention consists of the features indicated in the mark of claim 1.

The following illustrations give examples of the implementation of the invention.

It shows: Figure 1 a service machine, Figure 2 a buffer and Figure 3 an input to a feed system.

In Figure 1 1 means a service machine (automatic machine 1) and 2 a sheet pushed into a conveyor system 4 through a receiving slot 3 of the automatic machine 1; the automatic machine 1 also includes a sensor 5 and a control device 6 connected to it, an input system 7 and a conveyor system 8 with two outputs, one into a casket 9 and the other into a return container 10. The input 7 and the conveyor system 8 form the intermediate storage. The conveyor system 4 is designed to transport the sheets 2 from the receiving slot 3 of the automatic machine 1 past the sensor 5 to an input 11 of the input system 7.

The control unit 6 generates commands to the interim memory, whereby the commands are assigned to an acceptance cycle or a transport cycle. The acceptance cycle includes two rest states and acceptance operations or idling. The interim memory moves from one rest state to the other by acceptance process or idling. During the acceptance cycle, the interim memory waits in the idling state until the sheet 2 fed to it during the acceptance process by the conveyor system 4 reaches input 11. Once the acceptance cycle is completed, the control unit 6 switches to the balanced transport cycle, whereby the 2 sheets collected during the acceptance cycle in the storage are transferred through one of the two exit boxes 9 and 10 respectively into the return box.

The cartridge 9 may also be replaced by other equipment suitable for processing the sheets 2 collected in interim storage, not shown here.

The sensor 5 is designed to detect features of the sheet 2 which is carried by it, for example, it can detect authenticity features by optical means or detect magnetic fields of an image printed with magnetic ink.

Sheets 2 may be successively fed to the conveyor system 4 through the acceptance slot 3 until the acceptance cycle is completed.The conveyor system 4 transports sheet 2 through the input 11 into the conveyor system 7 and deposits sheet by sheet on a forming stack 12 in the conveyor system 8 without moving the stack 12 when laying the newly fed sheet 2.

For example, if the sheets are 2 banknotes, the machine 1 can charge a predetermined amount for a service and accept banknotes until the controller 6 has determined by means of the sensor 5 that the specified amount has been reached.

Control unit 6 is connected to a memory 14 which stores the test results, such as validity, authenticity, etc., for each sheet 2 in stack 12. When the acceptance process is complete, control unit 6 checks the contents of memory 14 to ensure that all sheets 2 in stack 12 meet the prescribed requirements. If this is the case, control unit 6 decides to accept stack 12, with the transport route 8 transferring stack 12 to box 9, if not, the stack 12 is rejected and return receipt 10 is handed over. Control unit 6 also immediately cancels the acceptance cycle and sends stack 12 to the return receiver 10, if the control unit has not completed a stack 6 classified as satisfactory or has not met the requirements of stack 13.

Figure 2 shows an intermediate storage, wherein the character level is one of the parallel cutting levels 15 chosen by the resting intermediate storage. The feed system 7 (Figure 1) is made up of an endless band 16 and an endless band 17, while the transport system 8 (Figure 1) includes the endless band 16 and an endless transport band 18. Linearly drawn leads and routes of the endless band 16 are outside the cutting level 15 to avoid impeding sheet transport. The endless band 16 and the feed band 17 are arranged above a vertical ladder to cut 15 at 19, 19' while the transport band 18 is below this.

At least at staging level 19, 19', parts of the two bands 16 and 18 are parallel and include staging level 19, 19'. Between staging lines of the endless band 16 defining staging level 19, 19' and a more parallel section of the conveyor band 18 staging level 12, staging 12 pushes the staging line of conveyor band 18 away from staging level 19, 19'. The sheet 2 placed on staging 12 at the beginning of the acceptance procedure is placed directly on conveyor band 18.

The continuous conveyor belt 18 is tensioned by a drive roller 20 and a running roller 21 so that the sub-traction of conveyor belt 18 and the stacking track of the continuous conveyor belt 16 form a conveyor belt 12 parallel to stack level 19, 19' bounded by the two rollers 20 and 21.

It is advantageous to have at least 12 additional support rollers 22, 22' in the area of the stack, which support the stack 12 and conveyor belt 18 on the parallel track and stabilize the stack 12.

The frame 23 is moveable vertically to the stack level 19, 19' by overcoming a counterforce, e.g. generated by springs, so that a large number of sheets 2 can be advantageously layered onto the stack 12, and the interlayer has a large storage capacity which depends only on the formation of the frame 23 or its spring path. The counterforce presses the stack 12 together and ensures that it is securely held in the transport path of the stack 12 between the endless band 16 and the transport band 18.

The drive roller 20 has a roller motor 24 connected to and fed by a line to the control unit 6 The roller motor 24 may be mounted on the frame 23 The control unit 6 may drive the roller motor 24 or conveyor belt 18 in a predetermined direction During the acceptance cycle the roller motor 24 blocks the conveyor belt 18

Parallel to the stack level 19, 19' and the cutting level 15, a rail 25 is placed on the side of the endless band 16 for a moving car 28 between two end points 26 and 27. The end points 26 and 27 are outside the range of the stack 12, with the first end point 26 being closer to the return bowl 10. The car 28 carries three leading reels 29 to 31 side by side in the cutting level 15 The outer leading reels 29 and 31 both touch the stack level 19, 19' with their circumference on the one hand, and a parallel access rail 32 on the other, both of which cut the cutting level 15. The first outer leading reel 29 is closer to the return cover 10 than the two leading reels 31.

From the return plate 10, the endless band 16 extends at stack level 19, 19' between a running reel 33 and the first outer guide reel 29 and between the second outer guide reel 31 and a drive reel 34 and forms the two stacking lines of the endless band 16. The running reel 33 and the drive reel 34 are spaced so that the rail 25 with the two ends 26, 27 extends between them. Above the stack level 19, 19', the endless band 16 is guided by rolls 35, 36 outside the cutting planes 15 from the driving reel 34 to the running reel 33.

For example, a first input coil 37 and a second input coil 38 are placed at the same distance above stack 12 and above front end 32, with the first input coil 37 located in the cutting plane 15 closer to the return container 10; a switch coil 39 is placed between the two input coils 37 and 38 a little further from front end 32.

The first outer guide coil 29 lifts the endless band 16 from the level of the stack 19, 19' and diverts it 180° to the second inlet of the cutting plane 15 to the inlet of the cutting plane 32. From the first outer guide coil 29 to the first inlet coil 37 the endless band 16 touches the inlet band 17 and thus forms on this line a first conveyor path 40 for sheet 2. The first inlet coil 37 separates the 16 and 17 inlets. The endless band 16 is led to the second inlet of the cutting plane 15 by means of additional conveyor coils 41, 42 outside the conveyor bands 38. The inlet 17 is the second inlet of the cutting plane 39 to the inlet of the cutting plane 17 The 32 inlets are located 180° around this inlet of the cutting plane and are again at the second inlet of the cutting band 16 to the inlet of the cutting line 16 to the second inlet of the cutting plane 16 to the inlet of the cutting plane 17 to the inlet of the second inlet of the cutting band 16 to the inlet of the cutting plane 17 to the inlet of the cutting plane 19 to the inlet of the second inlet of the cutting band. The two conveyor coils are connected on both sides of the second inlet of the cutting band 16 to the second inlet of the cutting band 16 to the cutting line 28 and on the second inlet of the cutting band 43 to the second inlet of the cutting path.

The central guide coil 30 pushes the supply line 17 down to a predetermined small distance to the stack level 19, 19' between the two outer guide coils 29 and 31, while the supply line 17 rests on the endless belt 16 wrapped around the outer guide coils 29 and 31.

The two conveyor belts 40 and 43 may be connected to the alternating conveyor in the cut-off plane 15 by at least one diversion cylinder 44 and by at least one diversion coil 45 which run together from the intended conveyor 32 to the input coils 37 and 38.

The axes of the rollers 20 to 22, the guide rollers 29 to 31, the input rollers 37 and 38, the socket roller 39 and the deflector roller 44 and the deflector coil 45 are arranged vertically to the cutting planes 15. The axes of the guide rollers 29 to 31 carried by the wagon 28 are parallel to the fixed fused axes mentioned above. The axes of the drive rolls 33, 34 and the surrounding coils 35, 36, 41 and 42 can be inclined against the cutting plane 15, as this is due to the direction of the endless band 16 outside the cutting planes 15.

The drive roller 34 has a drive 46 connected to and fed by a line to the control device 6 The control device 6 can drive the drive 46 or the endless band 16 in a predetermined direction During the take-off cycle the drive roller 34 is locked by the drive 46 and the endless band 16 is held in place by the drive roller 34

Instead of the roller motor 24, the drive 46 can drive the drive roller 20 simultaneously with the drive roller 34, with the drive roller 34 and the drive roller 20 having the same circumference and rotating oppositely. In another example without the roller motor 24, the endless band 16 can transmit its motion directly or via the stack 12 to the conveyor belt 18.

During the take-off cycle, the control unit 6 can drive the conveyor 47 or conveyor 17 in a predetermined direction, moving the car 28 on the rail 25 as the endless conveyor 16 is fixed to the conveyor 34. If the conveyor 45 turns clockwise, the car 28 moves to the first end position 26; if it turns in the opposite direction, the car 28 moves from the second end position. During the turn of the conveyor 27 the car 28 is driven in a free-step direction from the middle of the conveyor 17 and the car 27 is driven on the end of the conveyor 26 and no engine is set to run.

The conveyor 4 (Figure 1) passes through the entrance 11 and divides into two conveyor lanes 40 and 43 in a beam 48 and comprises the conveyor belt 39, two endless belts 49 and 49' stretched on rollers, and a mechanical diverter 50. The plane of the conveyor belt 4 is radially aligned with the axis of the conveyor belt 39, with the belts 49, 49', which form part of the conveyor belt 4, symmetrically intersecting the perimeter of the conveyor belt 39 from this plane on both sides and lying on the feed 17 above conveyor belt 39. The belts 49 and 49' form, with the front of the conveyor belt, the beginning of conveyor belt 17 and the front of the conveyor belt 40 and 43 respectively. The conveyor belt 6 and 48' are connected to a control system, which measures the position of the conveyor belt and the time of travel of the wagon, so that the direction of travel of the conveyor belt 7 and 28 can be determined by the direction of travel of the conveyor belt.

Car 28 can switch the diverter 50 to one of the two terminals 26, 27 by a purely mechanical means just before arrival. This simplifies the control device to an advantage 6. On the journey to the first terminus 26, car 28 changes the path through turn 48 to the first conveyor path 40. When car 28 reaches the second terminus 27, the diverter 50 points the sheet 2 to the second conveyor path 43. Car 28 therefore always waits at the end of the shorter conveyor path 40 or 43, respectively, until sheet 2 is transported through the entrance 11.

The drawing shows a break in the lines for illustrative purposes, giving the impression of an asymmetrical arrangement. If wagon 28 is exactly between the two endpoints 26 and 27, the axis of the middle guide roll 30 sets a plane perpendicular to the pivot plane 19, 19' containing the axis of the switch roll 39.

The belts 49, 49' and each of the belts 16 to 18 may be made up of several parallel conveyor belts. Preferably, the endless belt 16 consists of strings of round cross section securely suspended on belts 17 and 18 which have a rectangular cross section.

detectors 52, 53 and 54 connected to the control unit 6 e.g. light barriers are fitted to detect the presence of sheets 2 at the entrance 11 the first detector 52 is placed over the conveyor unit 4 which detects the presence of sheet 2 at the entrance 11 and sends a start signal to the control unit 6 for the feeding system 7 the detectors 53 and 54 are installed at both ends of the transport path for batch 12 and generate an end signal which terminates the transport cycle in the control unit 6 the end signal is transmitted to control unit 6 either from the second detector 53 as soon as the 12 has reached the box 9 from the second detector or from the third detector 54 which transports the 12 back to the stack 10 a lead signal is connected to the control unit 55 55

Instead of detectors 53 and 54, the control unit 6 can simply switch on the drives 24 and 46 via a timer not shown here and operate the transport system 8 until a point in the transport band 18 has moved from the drive roller 20 to the runner roller 21.

In the acceptance cycle, the intermediate memory waits until sheet 2 triggers the start signal in the first detector 52. During this time, wagon 28 has driven to one of the two endpoints 26, 27 and turn 48 points to the shorter conveyor path 40 and 43.

The control device 6 blocks the transport system 8 and engages the conveyor 47 with the diverter 45 turning counterclockwise and the wagon 28 moving away from the termination point 26. The diverter 50 and the belts 49 guide the sheet 2 into conveyor 40.

In the conveyor belt 40, sheet 2 is moved at twice the speed of wagon 28 and overtakes wagon 28 as soon as the axis of the middle guide roll 30 enters the space above stack 12. sheet 2 follows the endless band 16 stretched over the first outer guide roll 29 and is rolled 180° into the stack plane 19 by means of a tongue of the diversion plate 28' so that the front boundary of sheet 2 is placed straight on the pre-determined position on stack 12 or on the conveyor belt 18 and sheet 2 is rolled with advantage without moving on the slide 12 or on the conveyor belt 18 so that no stacker forces occur in stack 12 The position of the front edge of the stack 2 is completely rolled out when the end of the stack is reached and the engine is turned off shortly after the stack 27 is placed on the back edge of sheet 2 and the stack 2 is completely rolled out.

The feeding system 7 is now ready to accept another sheet 2 over conveyor 43 and roll it over to stack 12 by the second outer guide coil 31 during wagon 28's journey to the first terminal 26

The 2 sheets do not necessarily have to be all the same size but may be made up of a predetermined set of denominations, and are oriented in a predetermined way to bands 16 to 18 by means of the 4 conveyor.

When the acceptance cycle is completed and the wagon has reached one of the terminals 26, 27, the control unit 6 decides whether to transport stack 12 to cartridge 9 or to return tray 10 and turns on the roller motor 24 and drive 46 in the corresponding direction of travel. They drive the drive roller 20 and drive roller 34 in opposite directions, with the endless belt 16 and the conveyor belt 18 at the same speed to prevent stack 12 from falling apart. For example, the drive roller 20 turns in the clockwise direction and the drive roller 34 turns in the opposite direction, then the stack 12 moves to cartridge 9.

Once the stack 12 has left conveyor belt 18, the frame 23 is pushed against the stack plane 19, 19' and a section of conveyor belt 18 touches the stacks of the endless belt 16 again. The intermediate memory returns to the acceptance cycle.

The intermediate storage has the advantage that sheets 2 on the transport band 18 of the blocked transport system 8 are layered to stack 12, that stack 12 is moved only for transport to the cartridge 9 or return container 10, and that sheets 2 are spared, and that the mass of the growing stack 12 does not affect the acceptance rate, so that sheets 2 can be fed to the intermediate storage at a constant high speed.

If the 2 sheets have different characteristics on both sides, as is usual for banknotes, the control unit 6 can determine, by the sensor signal, which side of the 2 sheet is facing the sensor 5. The advantage is that the control unit 6 uses the shift drive 51 to position the deflector 50 in a position determined by the sensor signal, so that the shift 48 guides sheet 2 in the predetermined conveyor path 40 and 43 respectively, so that sheet 2 is layered onto the stack 12 in a predetermined position. In the example shown, the sensor 5 is placed on the side of sheet 2 facing the stack 12 on the transport path 18 against the stack 12, if the first conveyor 40 has been used. This leads to the second step 43, which shows the sensor 5 on the side facing sheet 19 against the stack 12'.

A version of Figure 3 has only one single conveyor belt 40 used, starting immediately behind the entry 11 and extending to the first guide coil 29 for example. The acceptance rate of this version is less than that of the device of Figure 2 because only when wagon 28 is moving away from the first terminal 26 can sheets 2 be rolled onto stack 12.

In Figure 3, car 28 is located just in the middle on rail 25 above stack 12, with only the half of the intermediate storage facing the entrance 11 shown. The endless band 16 at stack level 19, 19' (Figure 2) is led around the running reel 33 outside the cutting planes 15 to the drive reel 34 (Figure 2). The running part of the endless band 16 in front face to Figure 11 winds around the first reel 37, runs outside the cutting level 15 to the second entrance 38 and returns to the front entrance 32 . The cross-drawn end parts of the reel 16 run from the cutting planes 15 to the drive reel 34 (Figure 2). The running part of the reel 16 runs between the cutting planes 19, 19 and 30 (Figure 32), and the end of the reel is drawn from the leading reel 17 to the second reel 38 and back to the front entrance 32.

The axes of the first input roller 37 and the diversion roller 44 form an input plane perpendicular to the stack level 19, 19' which delimits the conveyor path 40. e.g. the axis of the running roller 33 is located in this input plane between the stack level 19, 19' and the forward one 32, while the distance of the running roller 21 to this plane is determined by the position of the return container 10.

Further suggestions for the design of the intermediate box can be found in Swiss patent application No 02 566/90-1, which is expressly mentioned as part of the description.

Claims

Intermediate storage apparatus for sheets (2), having a feed system (7) comprising belts (16; 17) for feeding a sheet from an entry point (11), and a transportation system (8) comprising a transport belt (18) and a belt (16) of the feed system, the apparatus being operable in an acceptance cycle in which the feed system (7) stacks a sheet fed from the entry point (11) at a stacking position on the transport belt (18) and the transport belt (18) holding sheets stacked (12) on it stationary as each sheet (2) is stacked, and the apparatus being operable in a transportation cycle in which the transportation system (8) conveys the sheet or sheets stacked on it for discharge from the intermediate store, characterised in that the stacked sheets are clamped between the belts of the transportation system (8) as each sheet is stacked, until the end of the acceptance cycle.
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a control device (6) for controlling the operation of the acceptance cycle and transportation cycle.
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to convey the stacked sheets selectively to either a first discharge point or a second discharge point.
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to convey the sheets from the stacking position in a first direction to the first discharge point, or in an opposite, second direction to the second discharge point.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the feed system comprises a carriage (28) displaceable relative to the stacking position for stacking a sheet by rolling the sheet onto the stack as the carriage traverses the stacking position.
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the carriage (28) is displaceable on a rail (25) above the stack (12) between limit positions (26, 27) and has guide rollers (29; 30; 31) which engage the belts (16; 17) of the feed system, and, for deposit of the sheet (2) onto the stack (12), the geometry of the belts (16; 17) of the feed system (7) being altered, the carriage (28) being moved by means of a conveyor motor (47) over the stack (12) in the direction of the fed sheet (2) and the sheet being rolled onto the stack (12) without sliding.
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a detector (52) for recognising the presence of a sheet (2) and for outputting a start signal for an acceptance operation is disposed at the entry point (11) of the feed system (7).
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed system (7) has two conveyor paths (40; 43) and a switching arrangement (48) which guides the sheet (2) into a predetermined conveyor path (40 or 43) is disposed at the entry (11) of the feed system (7).
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor paths (40; 43) can be used alternately by means of the switching arrangement (48) to avoid idle travel movements of the carriage (28) of the feed system, and changing-over of the switching arrangement (48) is effected mechanically by the movement of the carriage (28).
Apparatus according to claim 8, having a sensor (5) arranged at the entry (11), wherein a control device (6) is provided for recognising features on the sheet (2) from sensor signals of the sensor (5) and the switching arrangement (48) is so controlled by the control device (6) in dependence on the features of the sheet (2) that the sheets (2) are in a predetermined position on the stack (12).
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, having a single conveyor path (4; 40), arranged downstream of the entry (11), for transportation of the sheet (2), each acceptance operation comprising an additional, idle operation.
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least in the region of the stack (12) a part of the transport belt (18) which carries the stack (12) is passed over support rollers (20; 21; 22; 22').
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rollers (20; 21; 22; 22') which are rotatable about axes and over which the transport belt (18) is guided are disposed on a sprung frame (23) which is displaceable to accommodate the height of the stack (12) while overcoming a counteracting force.
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport belt (18) is a single wide belt.
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport belt (18) is an endless belt.
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to feed the stored sheets to a sheet storage box (9).
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to feed the stored sheets to a sheet processing device.
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to feed the stored sheets to a return dish (10).
Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transportation system (8) is able to convey the stored sheets in accordance with the decision of a control device (6).
Banknote handling apparatus comprising an intermediate storage apparatus defined in any one of the preceding claims.
Banknote validator comprising an intermediate storage apparatus defined in any one of claims 1 to 19.
Method of performing intermediate storage of sheets using an intermediate store having a feed system (7) comprising belts (16; 17) and a transportation system (8) comprising a transport belt (18) and a belt (16) of the feed system, the method comprising the following steps:
operating the feed system in an acceptance cycle to stack one or more sheets fed therein, at a stacking position onto the transport belt (18) while the transport belt is kept stationary during the stacking of each sheet; and

operating the transportation system (8) in a transportation cycle to convey the stacked sheet or sheets for discharge from the intermediate store;
characterised in that the stacked sheets are clamped between the belts of the transportation system (8) as each sheet is stacked, until the end of the acceptance cycle.