GB1371100A - Sheet counting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1371100 Counting sheets; zeroizirig DE LA RUE INSTRUMENTS Ltd 21 Jan 1972 [23 Oct 1970] 50376/70 Heading G4D A banknote counting machine of the kind having a vacuum separator head such as is described in Specification 1,243,785 has a spring- urged clamp 3, 4 to hold the stack of banknotes, the clamp being coupled to an actuating device 26 which can open the clamp automatically if a predetermined count is being registered by the counter at the end of a counting operation. The clamp comprises a first arm 3 coupled to a shaft 22 and a second arm 4 freely pivoting on the shaft; a light spring 52 urges the assembly towards the vacuum heads (Fig. 1, not shown) while a stronger spring 33 urges the two arms 3, 4 together. During counting a bellows 35 is coupled to the vacuum line and acts to assist spring 33 to prevent the clamp being opened. The actuating device 26 comprises another bellows 26 which is connected to the vacuum line when the clamp is to be opened automatically. The two bellows 26, 35 and the vacuum heads are connected to vacuum by solenoid valves energized through a series of relays according to the position of a mode selecting switch. Three modes of operation can be selected: in mode I, with the counter reset to zero a bundle of notes can be inserted between the arms of the open clamp; a start button is pressed and counting begins. While counting continues the bellows 35 holds the clamp closed; when all the notes have been counted and after a short time delay, if the units wheel of the counter shows zero bellows 35 is released and 26 opens the clamp. If, however, the units wheel does not show zero, signifying an incorrect count, the clamp remains firmly closed until the reset button (57) is operated to restore the counter to zero. In mode II operation is similar but the clamp is not opened at the end of the count and mnst be opened manually by handle 24. In mode III the automatic system is inoperative. Counting is by pressure pulses produced at the counter head as the notes are passed over; these are sensed by a pressure switch (58) which applies electric pulses at X to a pulse shaper. The register comprises a plurality of electromagnetically operated wheels with electrical carry contacts. Resetting to zero is by switch S7 which energizes a pulse generator whose pulses are fed to all stages of the register until they reach zero (Fig. 5).