FR2803584A1 - PNEUMATIC CONVEYING DEVICE FOR CARTRIDGES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for pneumatic transportation of cartridges (26) between at least one work station (1), a storage centre (2) and a delivery station (3) via a transport circuit (5) associated with suction or blowing means. The suction or blowing means consist of a turbine (7) and flow rate varying means (6) enabling to modify the direction and power of the flow generated in the transportation circuit (14), to adjust the suction or blowing means to the type of transportation to be performed. The invention is applicable to the transportation of cash.

Description

The present invention relates to a pneumatic conveying device cartridges. This conveying takes place between at least one workstation, a storage center and a surrender station through a conveyor circuit in connection with a suction or blower circuit.

 The invention is intended for any type of pneumatic conveying, especially for the transport of funds or for any other communication through cartridges driven by a flow of air.

Particularly, transfers between a toll station, intermediate storage areas and a surrender station are within the scope of the invention.

<I> In this </ I> domain, document FR-A-2.638 <I> 724 discloses a pneumatic <I> transport </ I> <I> transport </ I> <I> di </ I> "<I> of </ I> <I> value </ I> with <I> a first <I> </ I> </ I> unidirectional transport </ I> <I> channel <I> to < Intermediate <I> storage </ I> and <I> a second unidirectional </ I> transport <I> storage </ I> intermediate <I> to a </ I> < I> <I> <I> <I> post <I> and <I> <I> bidirectional <I> transport </ I> channel </> between the <I> risk area </ I> and <I> a </ I> local <I> of </ I> <I> monitoring </ I> and command.

Although ficace, the installation proposed by this document requires the use of two separate turbines, firstly for the individual conveyance of the cartridges and secondly for the surrender of the cartridges at the end of the work of the employee.

Indeed, for the surrender of the cartridges, the necessary power conveying is greater given the greater number of cartridges conveyed.

The two turbines implemented will therefore have different powers.

The use of two or more turbines weighs heavily on the cost and complexity of the installation. Moreover, the surrender circuit proposed in the context of this technique is complex and requires an additional circuit and a particular switch.

We know, <I> by </ I> elsewhere, of the document WO-- .00131 a pneumatic station installation <I> with </ I> an air supply <I> of propulsion </ I> adjustable. According to this document, <I> for </ I> each box to be transported, it is detected, using a <I> '</ I> measuring device, </ I> <I> data < / I> specific <I> transport </ I> that is to say one <I> part </ I> the speed of acceleration and other <I> part of </ I> parameters <I > physical for </ i> a given <I> pressure </ I> of <I> propulsion air, </ I> influence the speed and acceleration of the boxes. From <I> of the </ I> acceleration values thus obtained, it is possible <I> to adjust </ I> the air supply <I> of propulsion </ I> so that <I> boxes </ I> heavy <I> or light with new </ I> <I> slip </ I> or <I> worn </> rings <I> reach a desired <I> speed . It is thus possible to obtain at a receiving station a regular arrival of the boxes and <I> of the boxes. </ I>

This document proposes a regulation of the air supply to obtain a constant speed of the transport box whatever its mass.

This installation however does not solve the problem of the use of several turbines and complex installations for the circulation of cartridges in the context of pneumatic conveying.

It is also not a question of regulating the power of the air supply according to the number of cartridges to be conveyed but only according to the weight of box to be transported.

The present invention makes it possible to overcome the disadvantages of current installations and present to make many advantages.

In the first place, it has flow variation means, suction and blower means. In this way, the operation of the turbines used in the devices is relaxed.

Indeed, it will be possible, from a single turbine to perform the conveying of individual cartridge cartridges in series.

The use of a single turbine simplifies the conveyor circuits of the cartridges and the design necessary to automate the operation of the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to unify all the functions of the conveying device.

A pneumatic conveying installation comprises or several workstations (for example cash points in the toll stations), a storage center (for example a location where the cartridges are full of banknotes and coins following a dispatch of operators from a toll station) and a surrender station (for example a location where the operator will at the end of service retrieve the cartridges he has sent to the storage center during his work).

it is observed that the device must fulfill several functions.

As a first step, the conveyance from the workstations to the individual cartridge storage center must be carried out. In addition, the surrender function is required so that employees can recover the cartridges at the end of their shift.

In addition, other functions such as the exchange of cartridges or the supply of empty cartridges must be fulfilled by the device.

The invention makes it possible to unify the circuits necessary for all these functionalities and uses for this purpose a single main line for all the operations.

here we avoid the use of complex and multiple circuits and devices for detecting braking cartridges multiplying as the number of possible circuits is increased.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, which is however not limiting of the invention.

The present invention relates to a device for conveying cartridges pneumatically between at least one workstation, a storage center and a surrender station through a conveying circuit in connection with suction or blower means characterized by the the fact that the suction or blower means are composed of a turbine and flow variation means making it possible to modify the direction and the power of the flow generated in the conveying circuit, to adapt the suction or wind tunnel to the nature of the conveyance.

The invention can be presented according to the embodiments described below - the conveying circuit comprises a transit line between a switch and the flow variation means for temporarily receiving the cartridges before their orientation to the desired location; the flow variation means are formed of a housing provided with an outlet to the atmosphere connected on the one hand to the blower and suction channels of the conveying circuit and, on the other hand, to the inlet channels. and output of the flow of the turbine - means of setting in communication variable of the ways of blower and exit and the ways of aspiration and entry; the variable communication means comprise a rotary disc provided with an opening capable of ensuring total or partial communication of a path of the turbine with the corresponding conveying circuit path; - The flow variation means allow the braking and stopping of the cartridge in the transit line by air compression, blocking the flow of air downstream of the turbine immediately after the passage of the switch.

the surrender station is positioned between the flow variation means and the transit line; the input and output paths of the flow of the turbine comprise a buffer volume to limit the overpressure caused in the channels during the variations of flux effected by the means of variation; - The conveying device comprises a supply area empty cartridges adapted to be placed in communication with the transit line through the switch.

- The opening of the supply area is in the immediate vicinity of the surrender station.

- The supply area comprises - a column whose one end has an opening for the introduction of cartridges; a supply line for transferring the cartridges to the rest of the conveying circuit; means for releasing the cartridges between the column and the supply line.

the release means comprise means for entraining a cartridge towards the entrance of the supply line; - An air inlet valve whose opening is controlled to the detection of the presence of a cartridge in the entrance of the supply line to ensure his departure. - The conveying device comprises an exchange station adapted to be placed in communication with the transit line through the switcher for conveying cartridges between the workstations and the exchange station.

The rendering station comprises - a damping tube for the temporary reception of the cartridges from a surrender line or the transit line - an exit line for the surrender of gravity cartridges from the damping tube - a surrender switch for the routing of the damping tube to the line of surrender or the transit line or to the exit line in the case of the transfer of a series of cartridges from the storage center to the station of surrender, the aspiration is prolonged during sufficient time for all the cartridges to pass the switch and be braked in the damping tube.

The accompanying drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will make it easy to understand the invention.

Figure 1 is a general view of the conveying device here presented in a first embodiment.

Figure 2 is another general view in which the functions of surrender, exchange and supply of cartridges are presented.

FIG. 3 is a particular embodiment of the flow variation means according to the invention.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the flow variation means in this embodiment. Figures 6 to 8 show means of the invention for the surrender of the cartridges.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the invention for the supply of empty cartridges.

The conveying device according to the invention comprises a conveyor circuit 14 in the form of a network of pipes, connecting emitting zones and / or receiving cartridges 26.

This circuit 14 includes a main line 5. The cartridges may be of a type commonly used in the field of transfer funds for toll stations. They usually contain banknotes and coins from tolls.

The emitting and / or receiving zones may have various configurations and locations.

A general view of such a set is presented in Figure 1.

It shows three workstations 1 at which operators can receive and issue cartridges throughout their work.

Also shown is a storage center 2. It may be an intermediate storage location of the cartridges 26 'amassing as and when collection at the workstation 1 and returned work end.

For example, a column storage where the cartridges 6 are stacked is shown in FIG. 1. For the recovery of the cartridges 26 from the storage center 2, the surrender station 3 is present.

Other transmitting or receiving zones may be formed. Thus a supply area 4 is shown in FIG. 2. An exchange station 8 which also emerges from FIG. 2 can be further formed. In a current manner, the circulation of the cartridges 26 is effected pneumatically. To do this, suction or blower means are present in order to generate an air flow in the conveying circuit 14.

For proper operation of the device, it is necessary to be able to vary the direction of the flow of air according to the path the cartridge must follow.

In addition, it is a question of generating a flow of greater power for the simultaneous transfer of several cartridges 26 than for the individual conveying of the cartridges.

To achieve this, the invention advantageously proposes flow variation means 6. Their function is to vary not only the flow direction but also its power.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means for varying the flow 6 are as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this figure, a turbine 7 of known design serves as a blower or suction means. It comprises an input channel of the stream 42 and an output channel 43.

These two channels 42, 43 are connected to a housing 23 constituting the body of the flow variation means 6.

This housing also has an outlet 17 to the atmosphere.

Finally, the housing 23 communicates with the blower 15 and suction ducts 16 constituting the upstream portion of the conveyor circuit 14.

The housing 23 also contains means for placing the channels 15, 16, 42, 43 in a variable communication relationship. They comprise, first of all, a rotating disc 24 which has an opening 25. This opening 25, as is apparent from FIG. 3 allows, when the disk 24 is correctly positioned, to put in communication two channels or the inlet channels 42 and suction 16, or the output channels 43 and blower 15. For the rest of its surface, the disk 24 ensures the airtight closure of the tracks 15, 16.

It is easily understood that according to the position of the disc 24, a suction or blowing flow is generated in the conveyor circuit 14. This flow may also be zero if the opening 25 is opposite any path 16, 42, 43.

Finally, power is variable from maximum value when the opening 25 is exactly with respect to the channels 15,43; 16,42, to degressive values when the opening 25 only partially communicates with channels 15,43; 16.42.

Note that a silencer 20 of current design can be inserted downstream of the flow variation means 6 to reduce noise.

The blower or suction means and the flow variation means 6 thus presented allow the conveyance of any cartridge in the conveyor circuit 14.

According to a preferred embodiment, this conveying circuit 14 comprises a transit line 13. The formation of this line avoids the multiplication of the distinct lines to all the necessary links. The transit line 13 ensures that the cartridges 26 are put in the foreground before their orientation towards the desired location.

To achieve this, it cooperates with a switch 9 able to put the transit line 13 into communication with another line of the conveyor circuit 14.

It could be the storage line 11 (to the storage center 2), the surrender line 12 (to the surrender station 3), the supply line 18 (to the supply area 4 ), the exchange line 19 (to the exchange station 8) and the main line 5 (to the work stations 1). By way of example, hereinafter described the conveying of a cartridge 26 from a work station 1 to the storage center 2 1 With the flow variation means 6, a suction is generated in the main line 5 , 2 Through the switch 9 controlled for this purpose, the cartridge 26 reaches the transit line 13.

3 the flow variation means 6 are controlled to reverse the flow direction while the switchman connects the transit line 13 and the storage line 11.

4 The cartridge reaches the storage center 2.

Any other cartridge circuit can be made according to this principle of operation.

For conveying several cartridges (especially for transfer from the storage center 2 to the surrender station 3), the full power will be used while flow variation means 6 will set a lower power for individual cartridges.

Other embodiments are presented below. Thus, excluding the transfer of a series of cartridges 26 from the storage center 2 to the surrender station 3, the braking of a cartridge in the transit line 13 until it stops is carried out by compression of air , blocking the flow of air by closing the means of variation of the flow 6 immediately after passage of the switch 9.

In a preferred embodiment, the surrender station 3 located between the flow variation means 6 and the main line 13. This is presented in FIG.

In this way, it is no longer necessary to use a surrender line 12.

Two modes of operation of the surrender station are described below. The first of them is illustrated in FIG. 2 in the preferred mode where the surrender station 3 is interposed between the flow variation means 6 and the transit line 13.

In this context, the turbine 7 sucks the series of cartridges to be conveyed from the storage center 2, through the switch 9 and the surrender switch 28 present at the station of surrender 3. This switch 28 is visible at Figures 6 and 7.

The suction is extended for a long enough time to allow all the cartridges 26 to pass the transit line 13 and the switch 28. They are successively braked in a damping tube 10.

The surrender switch 28 ensures the communication of the damping tube 10 with the transit line 13 or the output line 27 to the receiving basket 44.

The damping tube 10 is closed at its upper end and is connected to one or two passageways 29,30 of the flow opening on a conduit 31 connected to the flow variation means 6.

The first cartridge 26 sucked into the damping tube 10 is blocked at the passageway 30 compressing the air volume of the end of the tube to brake.

The following cartridges 26 are sucked up, flows flowing through the passageway 29. They are stacked under the first cartridge.

A cell 45 checks the passage of the cartridges 26. When they have all reached the damping tube 10, the switch 28 connects the tube 10 to the output line 27. The cartridges descend by gravity to the basket 44.

Another embodiment of the surrender station, adjacent to the first, can be implemented, in particular in the case where the surrender station is not interposed between the transit line 13 and the flux variation means 6 (case illustrated in Figure 1).

In this other version, the surrender station 3 connected to the surrender line 12 and is in the form of a box 46 provided with a door 47. At the upper end of the surrender line 12, a drive, in particular a motorized rubber wheel ensures the braking of the cartridges, then their drive to the trunk 46. The operator can then collect them by opening the door 47.

This variant of the surrender station 3 is shown in FIG.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, buffer volumes 21, 22 are formed in the input channels 42 and the output channels 43 of the stream. They are useful when these channels 42,43 are abruptly obstructed according to the rotation of the disk 24.

The buffer volumes 21, 22 reduce the thermal and mechanical effects by their capacitive absorption effect.

By way of example, their volume will be equal, at least, to the turbine flow rate 7 for about one second; or, for a turbine 7 suction capacity of 400 m3 / h, length 10m tube diameter 110mm.

In another embodiment, the device integrates a supply zone 4 into empty cartridges 26. forming such a zone is shown in FIG. 2.

The supply zone 4 is connected to the switch 9 by a supply line 18.

Figure 9 shows that the supply area 4 comprises first a column 32. This is not necessarily vertical. It comprises, at one end, an opening 36, possibly associated with a cover, for the introduction of the cartridges 26 by an operator. In a preferred form of the invention, the opening 36 is in the vicinity of the surrender station 3, so that the operator, after having received his full cartridge at the redditon station 3, empties it and reintroduces it immediately. in the opening 32 for its provision in the conveyance.

At the other end, the column 32 opens on means 33 for releasing cartridges towards the supply line 18.

By way of non-limiting example, these release means 33 may comprise means for driving a cartridge 26 in the form of motorized belts or roller assemblies that apply to the cartridge 26.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a belt 34 mounted on two axes of rotation 35 and actuated by a motor. Suspension means 38, such as a spring ensures the lateral variation of position of one of the axes of rotation 35.

There is also shown a presence detector 39 of current design adapted to detect the arrival of a cartridge 26 in the entrance of the supply line 18.

When a cartridge 26 is completely inserted in this line 18, the information from the presence detector 39 causes the opening of a valve 41. This opening allows an air inlet 40 for the cartridge suction pending.

At the same time, the drive assemblies are inverted to retain the other cartridges present in column 32 as shown in FIG.

In the exchange station 8 constituted for communication with the workstations, the conveyance of the cartridges 26 is effected, by a transit in the main line and then by an inversion of the flow to guide, by the switcher 9, the cartridge 26 to the desired location. The same path can be followed in the opposite direction by the cartridges 26 to receive exchange station shipments of workstations 1, again, by a transit in the main line 5 and by a reversal of flow to guide, by l switch 9, the cartridge 26 to, the main station.

 The entire device can be automated by common automation means. REFERENCES 1. Workstation 2. Storage Center 3. Surrender Station 4. Supply Area 5. Main Line 6. Means of Flow Variation 7. Turbine 8. Exchange Station 9. Switch 10. Tube Damping 11. Storage line 12. Reddit line 13. Transit line 14. Conveying system 15. Blower duct 16. Aspiration path 17. Exhaust to the atmosphere 18. Supply line 19. Line exchange 20. Silencer 21. Buffer volume 22. Buffer volume 23. Casing 24. Disc 25. Opening 26. Cartridge 27. Exit line 28. Transfer switch 29. Flow path 30. Flow path 31. Connecting duct 32. Column 33. Release means 34. Drive belt 35. Rotation axis 36. Opening 37. Motor 38. Suspension means 39. Presence detector 40. Air intake 41. Valve 42. Air duct flow inlet 43. Exit flow 44. Basket 45. Cell 46. Chest 47. Door

Claims (14)

A pneumatic conveying device for cartridges (26) between at least one work station (1), a storage center (2) and a surrender station (3) via a conveying circuit (14). connection with suction or blower means characterized in that the suction or blower means are composed of a turbine (7) and flow variation means (6) allowing the modification of the direction and the power the flow generated in the conveying circuit (14), to adapt the suction or blower means to the nature of the conveyance to be performed. 2. pneumatic conveying device according to claim 1 characterized in that the conveying circuit (14) comprises a transit line (13) between a switch (9) and the flow variation means (6) for the temporary reception of cartridges (26) before their orientation to the desired location. 3. Pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow variation means (6) are formed of: - a housing (23) provided with an outlet to the atmosphere ( 17) and connected on the one hand to the blower (15) and suction (16) paths of the conveying circuit (14) and, on the other hand, to the inlet (42) and outlet (43) channels. flow of the turbine (7) - means of setting variable communication - blower tracks (15) and outlet (43) of the suction (16) and inlet (42). 4. Pneumatic conveying device according to claim 3, characterized in that the variable communication means comprise a rotating disk (24) provided with an opening (25) capable of ensuring the total or partial communication of a channel ( 42,43) of the turbine (7) with the path (17,18) of the corresponding conveying circuit (14). 5. pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 2, 3, 4 characterized in that the flow variation means (6) allow the braking and stopping of the cartridge (26) in the transit line (13) by compressing air, blocking the flow of the downstream air of the turbine (7), immediately after the passage of the switch (9). 6. pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the surrender station (3) is positioned between the flow variation means (6) and the transit line (13). 7. pneumatic conveying device according to claim 3 in combination with any one of the other claims characterized in that the input (42) and outlet (43) of the flow of the turbine (7) comprise a volume buffer (21, 22) for limiting the overpressure caused in the channels (42,43) during the flow variations operated by the variation means (6). 8. pneumatic conveying device according to claim 2 in combination with any one of the other claims characterized in that it comprises a supply zone (4) in empty cartridges (26) adapted to be placed in communication with line transit (13) through the switchman (9). 9. pneumatic conveying device according to claim 8 characterized in that the opening (36) of the supply area (4) is in close proximity to the station surrender (3). 10. pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 8 or 9 characterized in that the supply area (4) comprises - a column (32) whose one end has an opening (36) for the introduction cartridges (26); a supply line (18) for transferring the cartridges (26) to the rest of the conveying circuit (14); - Release means (33) of the cartridges (26) between the column (32) and the supply line (18). 11. pneumatic conveying device according to claim 10 characterized in that the release means (33) comprises - means for driving a cartridge (26) to the inlet of the supply line (18); - An air inlet valve (41) whose opening is controlled on detection of the presence of a cartridge (26) in the entrance of the supply line to ensure its departure. 12. pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterized in that it comprises an exchange station (8) adapted to be placed in communication with the main line (5) through the switchman (9) for conveying cartridges between the workstations (1) and the exchange station (8). 13. Pneumatic conveying device according to any one of claims 2 to 12 characterized in that the surrender station (3) comprises - a damping tube (10) for the temporary reception of the cartridges (26) from a line surrender (12) or the transit line (13); - an output line (27) for the gravity surrender of the cartridges (26) from the damping tube (10); - a surrender switch (28) for the referral of the damping tube (10) to the surrender line (12) or the transit line) or to the output line (27). 14. Pneumatic conveying device according to claim 13 characterized in that in the case of the transfer of a series of cartridges (26) from the storage center (2) to the station of surrender (2) the suction is prolonged during sufficient time for all the cartridges (26) to pass the switch (28) and be braked in the damping tube (10).