CH687222A5 - Machine for counting and checking of banknotes of any denomination, still crossed. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention has as its object a perfected machine for the counting and checking of banknotes of any size, even overlapped, which exhibits the peculiarity of including a station for the insertion of the banknotes (2), downstream from which a traction unit (31, 32) acts on a single banknote along a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the banknote. Downstream from the above mentioned traction unit (31, 32), there is provided a conveyance unit for the banknote along a direction essentially parallel to its longitudinal development, to transport the banknote itself through a counting and checking station (55), which pilots a shunter, capable of selectively inserting the banknotes, into a collection area for the counted banknotes and into a collection area for those that are discarded. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>

Description

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CH 687 222 A5

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Description

The present invention relates to a machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, however overlapped. It contains significant improvements with respect to the machine described by the same applicant in European patent application No. 89 810 913.7.

As is known, a problem currently very much felt in the field of banking automation, and that relating to the possibility of realizing a machine, capable of counting and checking banknotes, which are sent in bulk.

The solutions currently known are not able to solve the problem, since, generally, the machines are arranged for counting and controlling a single denomination of banknotes, which must be arranged neatly.

The solutions relating to machines capable of counting banknotes, of different denominations, also arranged overlapped, have not proved practical, as they are subject to numerous arrests, caused by failure to operate.

Another drawback, attributable to the solutions of the prior art, is constituted by the fact that these machines are considerably complex and cumbersome, and generally entail difficulties of use for the user.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the previously mentioned drawbacks by creating an improved machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, and in any case overlapped, which gives the possibility to perform, quickly and automatically, identification of the value of each individual banknote, counted and checked, by adding it up and transmitting the data to a central control unit.

Within the scope of the above described aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, which is extremely compact and structured so as to allow rapid and precise selection and feeding of the various banknotes.

This improved machine allows to offer the widest guarantees of reliability and safety in use, also allowing to remove the banknotes counted inside a container or drawer, which is closed, and therefore accessible only through the special means and by authorized persons.

The improved machine is furthermore easily buildable, using elements and materials commonly available on the market, and competitive from an economic point of view. Another important aspect of novelty with respect to the machine described in the European patent application no. 89 810 913.7 is that, thanks to the new component parts and the new location and correlation between them, the new machine can be built so that its overall size is very small (1/2: 1/3) compared to the type previous, with all the intuitive advantages that derive from it.

The aforementioned task, as well as the aforementioned and other purposes, which will be better highlighted below, are achieved by a machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, however crossed, according to the invention, characterized by the characterizing part of the claim 1 attached.

Further characteristics and advantages of the object of the present invention will become clearer through an examination of the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an improved machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, however crossed, illustrated in indicative and non-limiting title, with the help of the attached drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic front perspective view of the banknote entry station;

fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the banknote input station;

fig. 3 is a perspective view of the banknote entry station on the other side;

fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the banknote entry station; fig. 5 highlights the diverter;

fig. 6 schematically highlights the collection areas of counted and discarded banknotes;

fig. 7 is a front perspective view of the collection area;

fig. 8 is a side perspective view of the collection area;

fig. 9 represents, schematically and in section, the drawer of the counted banknotes;

fig. 10 represents the drawer, seen from above in plan;

fig. 11 is a perspective view of the sliding guides of the drawer.

With particular reference to the numerical symbols of the aforesaid figures, the improved machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, however crossed, according to the invention, comprises a load-bearing framework, generally indicated by the reference number (1), which it may present any external cover it deems appropriate.

The machine defines a banknote entry station, globally indicated with the reference number (2), which has an inclined plane (3), flanked by a pair of lateral bulkheads (4), which convey the banknotes towards an oscillating front bulkhead (5).

On the inclined plane (3), slits (7) are provided, from which eccentric rollers (8) emerge, which have the function of advancing the banknotes towards infeed rollers (9) arranged near the oscillating wall (5).

The rollers (3) and (9) are driven by a motor (10), of the step-by-step type, which is equipped with a pair of gears (11), to rotate the input rollers (9) and, on the opposite side, of a transmission unit, indicated with (15), which controls the rotation of the eccentric rollers.

The front wall (5) is made to oscillate by means of a second stepper motor (20), which drives a clutch roller (21), engaging with

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a semi-cylindrical roller (22), fixed to the bulkhead, so as to create an initial oscillation, which allows the front bulkhead to tilt, with the consequent possibility of inserting the banknotes towards a dragging unit, indicated globally with the reference number (30) , and better illustrated in fig. (4).

The drive unit (30) has a lower drive roller (31), above which a friction roller (32) is provided, which has the function of retaining banknotes possibly crossed, so as to allow the advancement of one banknote at a time.

The banknotes, in this phase, are moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the banknotes themselves and are placed on a positioning roller

(33), which acts on an inclined reference plane

(34), which places the banknote against a ledge (35).

All rollers are moved by kinematic connections, made by the group (15), operated by the stepper motor (10).

Once the banknote has come against the abutment edge (35), it is withdrawn from a transfer unit, which performs a displacement of the banknote in a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal direction.

The transfer unit has a feed spindle (40), with a feed roller (41), which, in practice, performs a lateral displacement of the banknote, along the direction parallel to the longitudinal development, to insert it in a belt feeder, constituted by upper straps (45) and by lower straps (46), which are supported by respective transfer rollers, (50) and (51), which carry out the programmed translation of the straps, so that the banknotes retained between the straps are entered under a counting and control station, indicated with (55), which can be connected to a centralized computer.

At the exit of the counting and control station (55), the banknote is picked up by a pair of belts, which have overlapping sections.

These belts, consisting of an upper belt (60) and a lower belt (61), unwind for a certain distance between the belts (45) and (46) and in practice hold the banknote between them, making a path run of transfer.

The belts (60) and (61) unwind on common pulleys, indicated with (62), in the section in which the two belts travel superimposed, and on respective upper (63) and lower (64) pulleys, in correspondence of the sections of return of tape development.

The belts, in the overlapping section, perform a first ascending section (70A), a horizontal section (70B), and a descending section (70C), which conveys the banknote in correspondence with a diverter (80) which is positioned in the separation or division between the upper belt (60) and the lower belt (61) and is switched, according to the reading performed by the counting station, which offers the possibility of entering the banknotes to a waste collection area, indicated with ( 81), or in a zone where the banknotes are counted, indicated globally with (85).

The switch (80), controlled by the station (55), in the event that a banknote deemed not to correspond to the required characteristics is present, switches, positioning itself against the lower belt (61) and, in practice, freeing the vertical way of descent towards the waste collection area (81).

In the event that the banknote is deemed to correspond to the required characteristics, the diverter (80) switches, positioning itself against the upper belt (60) and leaving the road free in the direction of the lower belt (61), which conveys the banknote to a belt of withdrawal (90).

The latter enters the banknotes into a pick-up wheel, indicated with (91) and consisting of a pair of flanges (92), equipped with seats (93), which unwind in a spiral and which, in practice, accommodate the various banknotes .

The counterclockwise rotation of the pick-up wheel (91) brings the banknotes to engage with a stripping stop (94), which in practice removes the banknotes from the seats (93) and makes them fall freely in the collection area (85 ).

The collection area (85) is equipped with a front wall (95), arranged substantially vertically, and with a bottom wall (96), which has a horizontal position, in the closed position.

The walls (95) and (96) are oscillating, as schematically illustrated in figure (9), to be able to arrange themselves in a closed position in which the various banknotes accumulate on the back wall (96) or in an open position, in which the front wall rotates inwards and the bottom wall rotates upwards, opening the communication to a conveying hopper (97), which enters the banknotes in a removable collection drawer

(100).

The walls, (95) and (96), are driven by stepping motors, indicated by (95a) and (96a).

The hopper (97), as shown in figs. from 9 to 11, it is connected to "C" guides (101), which slide the drawer (100) smoothly.

This drawer (100) is equipped with an upper shutter (102), which is wound and unwound by a winding roller (103), supported at one end of the drawer.

Furthermore, automatic closing means of the damper (102) are provided when the drawer is removed.

These means consist of a closing roller (110), supported above the "C" guides.

(101), and equipped with eccentric protrusions (11), which engage with closing protrusions (112), defined at the end of the damper edge.

The latter then has a central coupling element (113), arranged correspondingly to a closing solenoid valve (114), present on the frame of the drawer, which has the function of keeping the shutter in the closed position, once it has been executed. docking.

In practice, when the drawer is removed, the projections (112) engage with the eccentric projections (111) of the closing roller (110); for this reason the damper is dragged to position 5

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closure, until the central coupling (113) mates with the solenoid valve (114).

In order to complete the extraction of the drawer, it is necessary that the roller (110), and more precisely its protrusions (111), disengage from the closing protrusions (112).

For this purpose, a feeler roller (120) is provided, which engages with an edge of the drawer, and is connected, by means of a lever (121), to the roller

(110).

At the end of the extraction, the roller (120) can rotate, disengaging itself from the drawer and, consequently, can rotate the roller (110).

Consequently, the protrusions (111) disengage from the closing protrusions (112) and it is possible to perform the complete removal of the drawer.

It should be noted that the drawer, which contains the counted banknotes inside, remains closed and can only be opened by means of specially prepared electrical controls, and only by authorized persons.

At the time of introduction of the drawer, the latter comes with the shutter open, because it was recalled by the elastic return means of the winding roller (103) and, during the introduction phase, the engagement between the drawer and the feeler roller (120 ) causes rotation of the closing roller (110), which arranges the eccentric protrusions

(111) in the correct position to close the damper.

In practice, therefore, the banknotes are placed on the inclined plane (3) and from this they are introduced towards the driving unit, thanks to the oscillation of the oscillating front wall (5), controlled by the second stepper motor (20), which allows the passage of the individual banknotes, also due to the presence of the friction roller, which holds the upper banknotes, allowing the only lower banknote to pass, which is thus withdrawn by the positioning roller (33), which acts on the inclined reference plane (34), to insert the banknote against the reference edge.

At this point, always controlled by motors that are properly synchronized, the banknote is initially taken from the feed shaft (40), which, through the roller (31), makes it translate in the direction parallel to its longitudinal development until it is placed under the belts (45) and (46), which bring the banknote to the counting station (55), where the banknote is checked and, in case the banknote does not correspond to the required characteristics, a reject signal is emitted, which provides to orient the diverter (80), so that the banknote itself withdrawn from the belts (60) and (61), is diverted towards the reject area.

If, on the other hand, the banknote is considered valid, it is fed, as previously described, to the collection group of the counted banknotes, by means of the pick-up wheel.

The banknotes can be accumulated on the back wall (96), which is kept in the closed position or, possibly, can be placed in the drawer (100), as previously illustrated.

The machine is completely enslaved to electronic control means, which give the possibility of regulating the movement and speed of the banknotes at will, according to the different movements that must be performed.

From what has been illustrated above, therefore, it can be seen how the invention achieves the proposed aim.

In particular, it is emphasized that an extremely practical and versatile machine is made available, capable of completely solving all the problems related to the counting and storage of banknotes, perfectly counted and checked.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

Claims (16)

claims 1. Machine for counting and checking banknotes of any denomination, however overlapped, characterized by the fact that it includes a banknote entry station, with a maximum of 200 at a time downstream of which acts a dragging unit of a single banknote , along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal development of the banknote itself, and that, downstream of the driving unit, a banknote transfer unit is provided, along a direction substantially parallel to its longitudinal development, for transport to a counting station and control, piloting a diverter able to selectively enter the banknote, in a collection area of the counted banknotes and in a collection area of the waste banknotes. 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid input station has an inclined plane, delimited by lateral bulkheads and by an oscillating front bulkhead, to allow the insertion of the banknotes towards the feeding unit. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the aforementioned inclined plane, and slits from which eccentric rollers for advancing and positioning banknotes and feeding rollers emerge, and that the rollers are controlled by a first motor step-by-step, self-braking. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for oscillating the front oscillating bulkheads, consisting of a second stepping motor, acting on a traction roller, which engages with a semi-cylindrical roller, coupled to the swinging front bulkhead. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid driving unit has, downstream of the oscillating front bulkhead, a lower roller of 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 7 CH 687 222 A5 8 dragging, above which there is a friction roller, able to retain the upper banknotes, to allow the entry of a single banknote at a time. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of the lower drive roller, a positioning roller, provided on an inclined abutment plane, which defines a stop edge, for positioning the banknote . Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid transfer unit has a feed shaft, equipped with a feed roller, placed above the banknote and at the aforementioned inclined reference plane, and suitable for inserting the banknote on lower and upper banknote transfer belts. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid transfer belts are suitable for inserting the banknote below said counting and control station. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the banknote, at the exit of said counting and control station, is introduced between an upper belt and a lower belt having a superimposed common section, defined by an ascending section , a horizontal section and a descending section, ending where the above deviating device is provided. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid diverter is adapted to insert the banknotes counted and checked into a withdrawal belt, which develops, for a certain length, along a common path with the lower belt, for enter banknotes to a pick-up wheel. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid pick-up wheel has a pair of spaced flanges, equipped with spiral-shaped seats, which define the area where the individual banknotes are housed, furthermore, a stripping stop, to disengage the banknotes from the spiral seats of the aforesaid pick-up wheel. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection area of the counted banknotes has a tilting bottom wall and a tilting front wall, available, respectively, in horizontal and vertical position, in closed conditions, and rotatable to arrange in communication with a collection drawer. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection drawer is slidably housed inside "C" guides, supporting a conveying hopper, which can be positioned in correspondence with the light defined by the front and bottom walls , arranged in an open position. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a closing roller, equipped with eccentric protrusions and supported by the "C" guides, said eccentric protrusions being removably engageable with closing protrusions, defined on a upper damper of a removable drawer, while the damper can be rolled up and unrolled by an automatic rewinding roller supported by the drawer. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a feeler roller, which can be engaged with the aforementioned drawer and adapted to rotate the roller, for disengaging the eccentric projections from the closing projections, at the end of the extraction of the drawer from the guides. Machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on the edge of the damper, a central coupling, which can be coupled, in the closed position, with a solenoid valve, designed to keep the damper in a stable closed position, to allow it opening only by authorized persons with authorized means. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 5