EP1268333B1 - Method and installation for collecting and sequencing security papers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for collecting and sequencing by numbering bundles of security papers. The method consists in using a first circuit (A) provided with n pallets passing in front of a delivery station (D) p times to receive each time a bundle of m security papers. When the first pallets have received p bundles, connecting to a second circuit (B) containing n empty pallets and exchanging empty pallets with filled pallets. When the pallets have been exchanged, connecting the two circuits (A, B) and while the empty pallets pass in front of the delivery station (D) to be filled, the filled pallets of the second circuit (B) pass in front of an unloading station (E). The method can be repeated as many times as desired.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of harvesting and scheduling according to a numbering sequence of bundles of valuable papers by means of pallets of transfer conveyed individually between a post delivering bundles containing m paper-value including the numbering is a continuous sequence of m numbers and a finishing station forming a package containing bundles of paper-value m and numbered in one predetermined sequence of numbers.

The invention also relates to a setting installation implementation of the method according to the invention.

Securities such as fiduciary papers, banknotes, etc. are printed either at sheet, either to the reel and subsequently cut into sheets, each sheet containing a number of lines and columns allowing to have on a sheet of determined dimensions n ordered papers according to l lines and k columns. According to one procedure, numbers the securities according to various methods. Then, piles are formed, usually one hundred leaves, and is disposed in a cutting apparatus to form after cutting the bundles of hundred paper-value. Then we start again with a another pile of hundred leaves and so on. After the cutting or as and when we form these bundles of valuable papers one can proceed to a quality control and / or sorting according to the print quality of these bundles to form bundles of ten bundles each containing one thousand valuable papers whose numbers are in continuous sequence increasing or decreasing, or one forms directly. banded bundles and stack them to form packages of thousand papers.

The collection of the valuable papers coming out of the cutting can be done either by bundle or individually by known devices, for example example that described in US 3,939,621 of the same applicant comprising a set of fixed pockets on two rotating drums that work alternately in harvesting and unloading mode, or for example the device described in EP-B-656 309 of the same applicant according to which one disposes under a table as many pockets as the number of paper-value impressions on a leaf and after cutting wads of value papers formed up to the vertical of these pouches and by means of an adequate device we open windows to drop bundles in the pockets in question.

These two devices give satisfaction in the most cases but they lack flexibility when change in the size of the securities or their number on a sheet. Indeed, in this case it is necessary to make certain changes, that is to say add or remove covers or modify dimensions of the pockets which limits considerably the range of use of a machine. Indeed, the time to make the changes, the cost of these changes and within certain limits the modifications dimensions of the machine increase the cost of production, especially for series printing relatively limited, thus, for successive printing value papers of different sizes, the cost becomes prohibitive.

The object of the invention is to propose a new method and a harvesting and scheduling facility with pallets conveyed individually allowing precisely to adapt the installations without the disadvantages supra.

The harvesting and scheduling process according to the invention is determined by the characterizing part of claim 1.

The advantages of this process are the fact that the use pallets conveyed individually allows modify their number, possibly their dimensions to match both the number of impressions of paper-value per sheet and, secondly, adapt them to the dimensions of these papers. In effect, with this process the adaptation of the installation can be done very quickly, without wasting time and low cost. The scheduling of bundles in pallets is easier since the pallets are loaded each time with q wads forming a predetermined sequence of qxm numbers. There are different processes numbering sheets. Thus, it is possible to expect that in a stack of printed sheets q consecutive bundles contain value papers numbered in a predetermined sequence. In this case we load on a pallet q wads at a time when p passages, so as to collect pxqxm paper-value.

If the numbers follow each other in a continuous sequence when printing the securities located at a precise position on a sheet then q = 1 and one Load a bundle on each pallet per pass. In passing the pallets in a determined order in front of the rescue station bundles we get a continuous sequence whether it's growing or decreasing according to the numbering done on the sheets of paper with the n impressions of papers of value.

The bundles can be banded before being loaded on a pallet.

According to a variant embodiment, it is possible to take into account a different numbering, or different desired scheduling, for example, in passing the pallets in front of the station delivery of bundles in alternate directions.

According to another variant of execution one can arrive at more complicated situations, ie if the securities are arranged in one position precise on a sheet and are not numbered in continuous sequence between the different packets, we can by means of a referral consider this different numbering and still get a continuous sequence or a predetermined sequence in the package formed on each pallet.

The invention also relates to a setting installation implementation of the process as determined by the characterizing claim 6.

The advantage of this installation is the fact that wagering and unloading stations are fixed and these are the pallets that move from individual way, which of course makes it possible to change their number and dimensions when it's necessary.

According to one variant, the means of driving the pallets of the first circuit can pass them in front of the delivery station bundles in the direction contrary which allows to take into account the numbering different or package formation corresponding to a desired sequence.

It is also possible to take into account a more complex predetermined dialing sequence concerning the different bundles to provide a switching system on the first circuit allowing to change the order of passage of pallets in front of the delivery station bundles.

According to an alternative embodiment, the first and the second circuits are either horizontal or vertical. When one or the other of the circuits is arranged vertically, the circuit is composed of two branches horizontally on which pallets are the passage between two branches is done by elevators what is known in the field and does not not the subject of the present invention.

Finally, it is also possible to have one of circuits that is horizontal and the other that is vertical.

The installation is relatively cheap and can easily be adapted to the availability of premises where the installation takes place.

It is also possible for the implementation of the method of adapting a control installation of securities which consists of a position of cutting of printed sheets, a circuit of transfer of the similar type to the first circuit, to bring bundles of non-cash wrapped alternately to one or more sorting devices that sort the bills and form downstream wrapped bundles and then packets. When it is not necessary to sort, just add a second circulation circuit pallets and isolate sorting of value papers to easily and cheaply get the installation existing facility is transformed into an installation harvesting and scheduling in a sequence of numbering of paper-value bundles. So we has a hybrid facility that can work either in harvesting and scheduling, or in triage.

The invention will be described in more detail using the attached drawings, in the case q = 1.

Figures 1 to 4 show schematically the main steps of the method according to the invention in using two vertical circuits.

FIG. 5 is an installation for implementing the process in a particular case of transformation of a collection of valuable papers by sorting.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a pallet while it is loaded.

Figure 7 is a schematic rear view of a palette.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a referrals concerning the circuits of the installation.

In Figure 1 we schematically represented a first circuit A arranged vertically and on which are placed n pallets. The circuit includes two parallel branches, one upper and one lower connected by two elevators A1 and A2 allowing transfer the pallets. A second similar circuit B also includes n pallets numbered n + 1 up to 2n and it also includes two parallel branches a superior and a lower connected by two elevators B1 and B2.

In Figure 2 we have represented the same circuits and the direction of movement of the pallets is indicated by the arrows F, F '. For simplicity, the position of D-link release is at the end upper left of circuit A and the point of unloading E at the upper right end of the circuit B. The pallets therefore pass to the delivery D one after the other and receive a first set of papers numbered in sequence continuous increasing or decreasing. Pallets pass so many times one after the other in front of the delivery station that the number of bundles that one wants to store to form a package. Once the first filled pallet arrives at the interconnection of the two circuits, one activates interconnection and we pass the full pallets to circuit B and the voids to circuit A (Figure 3). All pallets passing to circuit B received the same number of bundles (usually 10 bundles of 100 papers-value each). when complete transfer of full pallets from the first circuit A to the second circuit B has been realized and empty pallets from circuit B to circuit A on interrupts the interconnection (Figure 4) and the pallets on circuit A start the same cycle again previously, while pallets in circuit B pass one after the other to the unloading E and packages of bundles find are unloaded at a finishing station. At finishing station we can put a banner grouping the bundles that are there and then we also has a package around the package as well than any other finishing operation such as inscriptions or a label with information about the content of each package.

In principle, when one of these two circuits has finished his cycle he stops and waits for the other circuit also ends. Usually, it is expected that the speed of movement of the pallets of the second circuit B is equal to or slightly greater than 1 / p, p being the number of times a pallet passes in front of the delivery of packages. So, the two circuits almost complete their cycle at the same time. When in the first circuit A all pallets are filled and in the circuit B all the pallets are empty, we go back to the previous position of the FIG. 3, namely, the two circuits are interconnected and we move the full pallets to the second circuit B and empty pallets to the first circuit A to start the same cycle again.

When the scheduling must correspond to certain rules that depend on either the desired result or the way the bundles have been numbered, we have the possibility of reversing the direction of movement of pallets in front of the rescue station, for example between two successive passages. So, for example, during a first pass the pallets pass from left to right and in the next passage go through the opposite direction and so on.

A scheduling can be more complicated and in this case the position of the pallets must be changed. This can be achieved using a referral, by example on the upper branch of the first circuit A to be able to sort palettes as for example one done in a railway yard. So, you can temporarily leave one or more pallets waiting to pass others and so after.

It is obvious that when the number of pallets to be modified, this can easily be done since simply add or remove pallets in the two circuits to obtain the desired number. We can also change the dimensions of the pallets if the dimensions of the securities are changed. These types changes are necessary when between two impressions change number and / or dimensions value papers printed on a sheet.

With the help of Figure 5 we will present a installation for implementing the method. This is in reality of a paper-value collection facility by sorting that has been modified to work according to the method. This solution is economical too because we have an installation that can work according to two modes occupying little space and adapting to the configuration of places.

We will first introduce the essential elements of the existing installation. It includes a first station C where piles of leaves with prints value papers are cut into bundles, one circuit A 'with individual pallets on which are loaded the bundles and thereafter they are driven to one of the T1 sorting stations or T2, that is to say that the routing is done so alternate since the sorting operation is longer than the loading operation of the pallets. The packets securities issued to one or other of sorting stations T1, T2 are sorted according to the rules pre-established and subsequently are transferred by usual means of transfer to a station packing W tickets so sorted.

For the implementation of the method according to the invention, this facility was modified by adding a second circuit B 'similar to the circuit A'. In this In this case, the two T1, T2 shunting stations are functioning, since the harvesting process and scheduling according to the present invention is not subject to a sorting of securities. Simply circulate the pallets continuously without stopping in front of the T1 and T2 station since there is no unloading at these locations. Circuit A 'comprises a first elevator A'1 and a second elevator A'2 and the second circuit B 'is also provided with two lifts B'1 and B'2, to allow a passage of pallets from upper branch to branch lower. The interconnection between the two circuits is carried out near the elevators A'2 and B'1 in setting up, for example, a retractable guide allowing pallets to move from one circuit to another the other.

Starting from the assumption that we have piles of m sheets containing n prints of value paper, as shown on the sheet S arranged next to the installation shown enlarged, we have the said stacks, as shown in Figure 5, in the device C. Stacks of leaves pass on a cutting table where usually one cuts first rows and then each row is cut into bundles individuals who are in the present case run to a wrapping station and afterwards they arrive at the delivery device D '. There we have bundles in pallets passing in front of said device. The cutting work and the eventual wrapping is done continuously. After putting a first stack of m sheets, continue with batteries successive and in principle we use p different batteries to get in each pallet p sets. Habitually m is equal to 100 and p is equal to 10 for to form packets of thousand papers. However, these figures are not applicable in all situations but are most of the time when These are banknotes. When the process is applied as defined in claim 1 or 2, and = 1 the pallets of the circuit A 'pass continuously p in front of the device D 'successively and without reversing neither the direction of circulation, nor to use switches to change the place of the pallets. This means that in, for example, the pallet No 1 on will always put bundles that match the position 1 of the sheet in each package. it also means that leaves are numbered so that the numbers follow each other in a continuous sequence that is to say according to p x m numbers for all the securities lying in the line li and column ki of a leaf S.

When you want to perform a different scheduling, because the numbering of the leaves is not the one described above, either because wants to have bundles with sequences that are not not continuous between two bundles, we can either reverse the direction of movement of the pallets between two pallet loads, either use a device of referrals, that is to say by means of referrals, such as as shown in Figure 8, and a branch extra we change the place of pallets as we would do it in a train yard.

When the first pallet of the first circuit A 'is full and approaches the interconnection, so at elevators level A'2 and B'1 as well on the upper than lower part of the two circuits, one activates the interconnections and full pallets in circuit B 'and pallets empty circuit B 'in the circuit A'. We neutralize interconnections and we start the same work again regards the circuit A 'while in the circuit B 'the pallets come face to the device of finishing E 'where we can put a banner on the set of p packages to assemble the bundles and subsequently we go to the packaging device W for pack packages in plastic or other type packaging. It can be applied on the packaging an inscription to identify the package content.

In Figure 6 we schematically represented a pallet which actually consists of a tray P equipped on its lower part of a projection 10 allowing guide the palette when it is on a as in the case of Figure 8. The pallet P is driven in displacement by means 11 which can be either pebble driven continuously, whether treadmills or Similar. The whole is inside a guide rail formed by two profiles 12, 13 as shown in Figure 6. The pallet is equipped with a inclined plane 14 and a bearing surface 15 against which are placed papers-value 16 pushed by a device 17 at the delivery station of bundles. At the issuing station of the bundles, the pallet is not in contact with the devices 11, by example, by means of a cam that pushes it towards the high, the time that the bundles are loaded and by afterwards we let it lean against the devices 11 to continue his way and so on.

The pallet is equipped with two R springs for exercising perpendicular pressure to the value papers and the keep in place, since in reality the bundles of securities are only in contact with the surface 15 and the inclined plane 14, the other four sides being free.

Referring now to Figure 7, we see from behind two positioning guides 18 and 19 that allow to exert pressure against the securities means of spring blades R that have been mentioned previously. These guides are also equipped elastic elements that tend to push them down. Two openings 20 allow the station to finishing off unloading the paper-value packets in applying for example by means of an adequate device a push against the package through these two openings.

In Figure 8 we have represented as an example a referral. We first see a palette P sa guide projection 10 and a switch allowing for example to pass a pallet is all right, either pass on a branch of the circuit. This switch is formed by a block 21 shaped approximation of T with a groove also in T-shape and a guide pin 22 pivoted to a end 23 allows either to pass the pallet the horizontal part of the T towards the vertical part, either to let the pallet circulate only on the horizontal part. Such referral devices are used when the circuit A 'is provided with additional branches in order to perform a sorting pallets to change their order between two successive passages in front of the issuing post of bundles.

The installation example described concerns the case where q = 1, that is to say that we load a bundle by pallet and per pass and we have a number n of pallets per circuit.

Nevertheless, it is possible to number the securities on a sheet so as to obtain a sequence predetermined on q consecutive bundles. For example, if you have sheets of six lines and ten columns, we could, for example, have this sequence predetermined numbering for each of the two groups of five wads that will be obtained for each column of a pile of leaves. So, instead of having sixty pallets per circuit, we could have twelve and load during each pass of a pallet a group of five bundles belonging to the same line. This way of doing things speeds up the process because gets faster a paper packet values containing, for example, thousand value papers.

Indeed, in the example mentioned above when q = 1 it is necessary ten passages of sixty pallets in front of the station deliverance while if q = 5 just two passages for twelve pallets.

Claims (12)

1. Method for the gathering and routing of bundles of paper securities according to a numbering sequence by means of transfer pallets conveyed individually between a delivery station for the bundles containing m paper securities, the numbering of which bundles is a continuous sequence of m numbers, and a finishing station forming a packet containing bundles of m paper securities, the said bundles being numbered in a predetermined sequence of numbers, characterized in that a first and a second closed loop transfer circuit are used, which are provided with means for being interconnected, as desired, and on which the said pallets travel, in that n/q pallets are arranged on each circuit, n being the number of paper securities printed on a sheet before cutting into individual paper securities and q being the number of successive bundles of m paper securities, each coming from the same stack of m sheets and forming a predetermined sequence of qxm numbers, the first circuit being near a delivery station for each of the bundles of m paper securities, and the second circuit being near a finishing station, in that q bundles of m paper securities are arranged in succession in each of the pallets of the first circuit during its passage in front of the bundle delivery station, in that this operation is repeated p times, so as to arrange in each pallet bundles of paper securities numbered in a predetermined sequence of pxqxm numbers, in that, when the first full pallet approaches the interconnection, the interconnections between the first circuit and the second are activated and the loaded pallets are transferred from the first circuit to the second and the empty pallets from the second circuit to the first, in that the two circuits are disconnected and in that the pallets located on the first circuit recommence the preceding cycle in order each to be loaded with bundles during the p successive passages in front of the bundle delivery station, while the loaded pallets located on the second circuit are unloaded one by one at the finishing station for forming the packets, in that the travel of the pallets on the circuit which has ended its cycle is stopped until the other circuit ends its cycle, and in that the two circuits are reconnected in order to exchange the pallets, and so on and so forth.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of the bundles is banded.
3. Method according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the direction of travel of the pallets of the first circuit is reversed between two passages of all the pallets in front of the station delivering the said bundles of paper securities, in order to take into account selectively either the numbering of the paper securities in each bundle or the predetermined routing sequence.
4. Method according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the order of passage of the pallets in front of the station delivering the bundles is modified by means of a switching system in order to take into account the predetermined routing sequence.
5. Method according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that m is equal to 100, p is equal to 10 and q is equal to 1.
6. Installation for carrying out the method according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a station delivering bundles of paper securities, which is adjacent to a first closed-loop circuit provided with means for individually driving n/q pallets and a second closed-loop circuit provided with means for individually driving n/q pallets, a finishing station adjacent to the second circuit and means for the interconnection of the said circuits, making it possible to cause the pallets of the first circuit to pass to the second and those of the second circuit to pass to the first.
7. Installation according to Claim 6, characterized in that the first circuit is provided with means making it possible to reverse the direction of displacement of the pallets between two passages of all the pallets in front of the bundle delivery station.
8. Installation according to Claim 6, characterized in that the first circuit comprises a switching system for changing the order of passage of the pallets between two passages of the said pallets in front of the bundle delivery station.
9. Installation according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the two circuits are circuits arranged perpendicularly to the ground in one or two planes.
10. Installation according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the circuits are parallel to the ground.
11. Installation according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that one circuit is vertical while the other is horizontal with respect to the ground.
12. Installation according to one of Claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the speed of displacement of the pallets of the second circuit is at least equal to 1/p of the speed of displacement of the pallets of the first circuit.

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