EP1358119B1 - Deposit device for a stack of sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a deposit device for a stack of sheets. Said device comprises a housing with a deposit plate (20), whose height can be adjusted in said housing, for receiving a stack of sheets (78), a stacking mechanism comprising a roller (60), which is aligned and can be displaced parallel to the deposit plate (20), from a first end of the deposit plate (20) towards the second end of the deposit plate (20), and at least one belt (70), one end of which is fixed to the housing in the vicinity of the first end of the deposit plate (20) and which starting from the fixation point (72) is guided parallel to the deposit plate (20), around the roller (60) to a belt storage reel (36). The device also comprises a second roller (62), which is parallel to the first roller (60), positioned at a radial distance from the first roller and can be displaced together with said first roller (60) parallel to the deposit plate (20) and at least one second belt (74), one end of which is fixed to the housing in the vicinity of the second end of the deposit plate (20) and which starting from the fixation point (76) is guided parallel to the deposit plate (20), around the second roller (62) to a second belt storage reel (36). Guide surfaces (66, 68) for the sheets to be deposited are located in the roller gap (64).

Description

The invention relates to a device for stacking sheets, in particular banknotes or check forms, comprising a housing with a vertically adjustable arranged in this storage area for receiving a sheet stack, a stacking mechanism with two on a roller carriage, parallel to the shelf surface and parallel spaced rollers, wherein the roller carriage is movable from a sheet receiving position near a first end of the depositing surface toward the second end of the depositing surface parallel thereto, and with belts fixed to the casing at one end near the opposite ends of the depositing surface and extending from the first Attachment points parallel to the support surface around the rollers each to a belt storage, consisting of storage rollers, are guided, and sheet guiding means for feeding a sheet to be deposited such that it with its leading end near the first end the shelf meets this or the stack surface.

A device of the aforementioned kind is known for example from US-A-5, 282, 612.

This document describes a sheet stacking mechanism of a ticket cassette in which the banknotes are stacked into a stack of sheets by means of a roller carriage consisting of a parallel pair of rollers pulled by belts in either one direction or the other on the sheet stack.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which provides a simple and inexpensive means a drive solution for trouble-free storage of the individual sheets on the shelf or the stack surface and the retention of the stored sheets on the shelf.

This object is achieved in that the roller carriage of the stacking mechanism is guided by belts which are wound on storage rollers (36), respectively are mounted on a take-up shaft (26) that one of the take-up shafts (26) with a drive motor (34) and via a transmission (40, 42) with the other take-up shaft (26) is coupled and that the storage rollers (36) in the respective Winding direction are biased.

The respective belt store consists of at least one storage roller on which the belt is wound or unwound when the respective roller of the roller carriage moves over the stack surface. Since in the reciprocating motion of the roller carriage always wound the belt of a storage roll and the belt of the other storage roll is unwound and thus the winding diameter of a storage roll increases, while winding diameter of the other storage roll decreases, the storage rolls must be driven at different speeds, thus each unwound length of a belt corresponding to the wound length of the other belt. However, this would be a relatively expensive solution. According to the invention it is therefore proposed that the storage rollers are each mounted on a take-up shaft, that one of the take-up shafts with a drive motor and a transmission with the other Winding shaft is coupled and that the storage rollers are biased in the respective Aufwickelrichtung. This offers the possibility to drive both take-up shafts at the same speed with a single drive motor and to compensate for the differences in length occurring during winding or unwinding of the belts via the spring preload of the storage rollers. As can be seen, no drive motor for the roller carriage is needed in this solution. The roller carriage is in each case pulled by the belt which is being wound up.

The transmission, which couples the two take-up shafts with one another, is preferably a belt drive, for example a toothed belt. The roller carriage is suitably guided on side walls of the housing, wherein the end positions of the roller carriage can be determined by limit switches which control the drive motor.

Preferably, a nip monitoring the sheet sensor is provided, which determines whether a sheet to be deposited has entered the nip and with a certain time delay, the drive motor turns on to initiate the deposition process. The time delay is required so that the leading end of the sheet passes after entering the nip to the first end of the tray or the sheet stack, so that the sheets can be placed on the same edge. Such a sheet sensor can be realized in a simple manner by a light barrier whose optical path crosses the nip. In order to avoid electrical supply lines to the movable carriage, the light transmitter and the light receiver of the light barrier are arranged fixed to the housing near the first end of the support surface and aligned with a light deflection element, which is arranged on the roll carriage beyond the nip - viewed from the light emitter and the light receiver - from. As long as there is no sheet in the nip, the Lichtumlenkelement sends the emanating from the light emitter light beam back to the light receiver. This light path is interrupted by an entering into the nip sheet, so that thereby a switching operation can be triggered.

The light deflection element may be an optical prism or a U-shaped light guide whose U-legs are aligned in the sheet receiving position of the roller carriage on the light transmitter or the light receiver.

The device according to the invention is intended in particular for connection to a scanner for check forms. In the scanner check forms are scanned and thus read. After reading, they can be stored in an ordered manner by means of the stacking device according to the invention. Whether the check forms can be stored or otherwise processed further, can be decided only after complete scanning of the check form. For reasons of space, the check form is already partly pushed out during the reading through the exit slit of the scanner housing. In order to avoid that the check form thereby already enters the nip of the roller carriage of the stacking device and thus initiates the depositing operation, a sheet guide surface is arranged according to the invention on the housing above the movement path of the roller carriage, between a first position in which they in the Zuführweg a Sheet to the nip of the roller carriage protrudes, and a second position is adjustable, in which it releases the Zuführweg. When dropping the Check form is not desired, the sheet guide surface captures the exiting from the scanner housing sheet and prevents the sheet enters the nip of the roller carriage. From the sheet guide surface, the read check form can be fed to another processing. But it can also be retracted back into the scanner to be stored afterwards. For this purpose, the sheet guide surface is then moved to its second position in which the Zuführweg is released to the nip of the roller path, so as to introduce the sheet to be deposited in the nip and trigger the depositing process. The adjustment of the sheet guide surface can be done in a simple manner in that the sheet guide surface is biased in its first position and adjustable by the roller carriage in its second position.

Figur 1

eine teilweise schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum stapelförmigen Ablegen von Blättern,

Figur 2

eine vereinfachte Draufsicht auf die funktionswesentlichen Elemente der in Figur 1 dargestellten Vorrichtung,

Figur 3

eine vereinfachte Seitenansicht der funktionswesentlichen Elemente der in Figur 1 dargestellten Vorrichtung in Kombination mit einem Blattausgabegerät und mit dem Walzenwagen in einer ersten Stellung und

Figur 4

eine der Figur 3 entsprechende Ansicht mit dem Walzenwagen in einer zweiten Stellung.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which explains the invention with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a partially schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention for the stacked laying of leaves,

FIG. 2

2 shows a simplified plan view of the functionally essential elements of the device illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3

a simplified side view of the functionally essential elements of the device shown in Figure 1 in combination with a sheet dispenser and with the roller carriage in a first position and

FIG. 4

a view corresponding to Figure 3 with the roller carriage in a second position.

The device shown in Figure 1 for depositing sheets such as banknotes or check forms comprises a frame-like housing 10 with side walls 12, end walls 14 and a bottom 18 (Figures 3 and 4). Within the housing 10, a support surface 20 is arranged parallel to the bottom 18 and guided in a manner not shown height adjustable. The shelf 20 is biased by springs 22 in an upper end position.

The side walls 12 each protrude beyond the end walls 14. In the protruding portions of the side walls 12 upwardly open fork-shaped incisions 24 are formed, in each of which a take-up shaft 26 is mounted. The left in the figure 1 take-up shaft is connected via gears 28, 30 with the drive pinion 32 of a drive motor 34. The motor 34 is shown in the figure 1 for reasons of clarity outside the housing 10. In general, however, it will be accommodated within the housing 10.

On both Aufwickeiwellen 26 three belt rollers 36 are each rotatably mounted at axial intervals and each coupled via a Torsionsfeder38 with the take-up shaft 26. The two take-up shafts 26 also each carry a pinion 40, over which a two winding shafts 26 coupling timing belt 42 extends, so that the two take-up shafts 26 can be driven by the drive motor 34 in synchronism.

In the side walls 12 each directed parallel to the bottom 18 of the housing 10 guide slot 44 is formed. In the guide slots 44, a generally designated 46 roller carriage or carriage is guided parallel to the bottom 18 and the support surface 20 slidably. The roller carriage 46 has a frame formed of side walls 48 and connecting rods 50. On the respective outer side of the side walls 48, pins 52 are arranged, which engage in the guide slots 44. Between the side walls 48, a first shaft 54 and a radially spaced second shaft 56 are mounted parallel to the connecting rods 50. On the shafts 54 and 56, three belt rollers 58 are mounted, which together form a first roller 60 and a second roller 62, which define a nip 64 between them. Axial between the belt rollers 58 first blade guide elements 66 and second blade guide elements 68 are arranged.

Three first belts 70 (only one of which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) are fastened at one end to the end wall 14 at 72. From there they extend first parallel to the storage surface 20 to the roller carriage 46, around a belt roller 58 of the first roller 60 and back to a storage roller 36, on which the other Riemenendabschnitt is wound. Likewise, three second belts 74 are provided (of which only one is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), which are fastened at one end to the other end wall 14 at 76, from this to a belt roller 58 of the second roller 62 , extend around and back to a storage roll 36 on which the other end portion of the belt 74 is wound.

Moves the roller carriage 46 from the right end position shown in the figures in the direction of the other longitudinal end of the housing 10, the upper run of the first belt 70 are unwound from the associated storage rollers 36 and the Untertrume the first belt 70 on the support surface 20 and Surface of a formed on the shelf 20 sheet stack 78 rolled. Conversely, the upper runs of the second belts 74 are simultaneously wound on the associated storage rollers 36, while the Untertrume the second belt 74 are lifted from the storage surface 20 and the surface of the sheet stack 78. When the roller carriage 46 moves in the reverse direction, the first belts 70 are wound and the second belts 74 are unwound.

The reels on the storage rollers 36 are formed so that the first belt 70 and the second belt 74 are always tensioned by the torsion springs, which bias the storage rollers 36 in the winding. This bias allows compensation for the difference in length between the first belt 70 and the second belt 74, which occurs as the roller carriage 46 moves, such that the winding diameter on the storage rollers 36 for the first belts 70 and the second belts 74, respectively, are in the opposite direction changes.

From the above description can be seen also that the roller carriage 46 does not require its own drive, but that one take-up shaft 26 which is driven by the motor 34, in turn drives the other take-up shaft 26 in the same direction and at the same speed, wherein the roller carriage 46th is pulled by those belts that are wound up in each case.

Near the right in Figure 1 end of the housing 10, a bent sheet guide plate 80 is disposed above the storage rollers 36, which rests on the upper edges of the side walls 12 and downwardly bent lateral extensions 82, to each of which a respective guide slot 44 engaging pin 84 is attached. The sheet guide plate 80 is biased by a spring, not shown in the direction of arrow A in the position shown in Figure 3 and can be moved against the spring bias by the roller carriage 46 from the end position shown in Figure 3 in the end position shown in Figure 4.

The nip 64 of the roller carriage 46 is monitored by a light barrier, by which it can be determined whether a sheet to be deposited has entered the nip 64. The light barrier comprises a light-emitting diode 86 and a photoreceiver 88, both of which are arranged in a manner not shown on a housing-fixed carrier so that the light emitting direction or the light receiving direction are directed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the roller carriage 46. On the roll carriage 46 is a Lichtumlenkelement in the form of an optical prism 90, which is directed by the light emitting diode 86 and passing through the nip 64 light from the prism 90 by two times 90 ° back through the nip 64 back to the photoreceptor 88. This double optical path is interrupted by a sheet inserted into the nip 64, so that the sheet sensor formed by the photocell 86, 88, 90 can respond to a sheet in the nip 64.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, above the housing 10, a device 92 is indicated, which outputs sheets to be deposited at an output gap 94. The device 92 may be, for example, a scanner for reading check forms. If a check form is initially only to be read in the device 92, it is once pushed completely under the reading head, whereby it emerges from the exit slot 94 and slides along the sheet guide plate 80, which is in the position shown in FIG. If the check form is then subsequently stored in the housing 10, the roller carriage 46 is transported from the position shown in FIG. 3 into the sheet receiving position shown in FIG. 4, in which the nip 64 is aligned with the exit slot 94 of the device 92. This position is defined by a forked light barrier 96, which is interrupted in the sheet receiving position of the roller carriage 46 by a flag 98 connected to the roller carriage (Figure 2). The intermediately drawn check form is then discharged through the exit slot 94 of the device 92 and inserted into the nip 64, being guided by the Blattführungselemte 66, 68. In this case, it interrupts the light path of the light barrier 86, 88, 90. With a certain time delay, which ensures that the sheet is inserted into the nip 64 until the leading end of the sheet on the sheet stack or the shelf surface, then the roller carriage 46th 1, wherein the sheet to be deposited is rolled by the first belt 70 onto the depositing surface 20 or the top of the sheet stack thereon, while at the same time the second belt 74 from the storage surface or the stack top are lifted. If the roller carriage 46 reaches its left end position in FIG. 1, which is defined by another fork light barrier 100, then the drive motor 34 reverses its drive direction. The roller carriage 46 is withdrawn back into the position shown in Figure 3, with the Untertrume the second belt 74 lie on the surface of the newly deposited sheet and thus hold the leaves of the stack 78 on the shelf surface 20.

In order to remove the stored sheets easier, the housing 10 may be divided into a housing lower part 102 and a housing upper part 104, which are interconnected by a hinge 106, so that the lower housing part 102 pivoted together with the support surface 20 and the stored sheets down can be as is contemplated in Figure 4 by dashed lines. The rollers 60, 62, the belt 70, 74 and the belt storage 36, however, remain stationary with the upper housing part 104.

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for depositing sheets in stacks, in particular banknotes or cheque forms, comprising a housing (10) having a storage surface (20) arranged in the latter such that it can be displaced vertically in order to accommodate a stack (78) of sheets, a stacking mechanism having two rolls (60, 62) which are oriented parallel to the storage surface (20) and are mounted on a roll carriage (46) which can be moved from a sheet accommodation position close to a first end of the storage surface (20) in the direction of the second end of the storage surface (20), parallel to the latter, which are spaced apart parallel from each other and bound a roll gap (64) between them, and having at least one belt (70), which is fixed to the housing (10) with one end close to the first end of the storage surface (20) and, starting from the fixing point (72), is guided parallel to the storage surface (20) and around a first of the two rolls (60) to a first belt store, and having at least one second belt (74), which is fixed to the housing (10) with one end close to the second end of the storage surface (20) and, starting from the fixing point (76), is guided parallel to the storage surface (20) and around the second roll of the two rolls (62) to a second belt store, and sheet guiding means (66, 68) for feeding in a sheet to be deposited in such a way that its leading end close to the first end of the storage surface (20) encounters the latter or the stack surface, the sheet guiding means comprising first and second guide surfaces arranged in the roll gap (64) for the sheets to be deposited, and the respective belt store being a storage roller (36), onto which the belt (70, 74) can be wound, characterized in that the storage rollers (36) are in each case mounted on a winding shaft (26), in that one of the winding shafts (26) is coupled to a drive motor (34) and, via a gear mechanism (40, 42), to the other winding shaft (26), and in that the storage rollers (36) are pre-tensioned in the respective winding direction.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the gear mechanism is a belt drive (40, 42).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that, on the housing (10), above the movement path of the roll carriage (46), there is arranged a sheet guide surface (80), which can be displaced between a first position, in which it projects into the feed path of a sheet to the roll gap (64) of the roll carriage (46), and a second position, in which it clears the feed path.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the sheet guide surface (80) is prestressed into its first position and can be displaced into its second position by the roll carriage (46).
5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (10) has a lower housing part (102) containing the storage surface (20), and an upper housing part (104) on which the rolls (60, 62), the belts (70, 74) and the storage rollers (36) are arranged, and in that the lower housing part (102) is connected to the upper housing part (104) via a joint (106).

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