GB2074122A - Paper feed control in a machine for packaging coins - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for packaging coins 32 possesses a sensor (41) and a control device which determine the length of packaging-strip (24) required, the sensor (41) and control device controlling the advance of the packaging-strip in such a way that tear-open strips (34) arrive at the correct position in each case. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A machine for packaging coins The invention relates to a machine for packaging coins, in which sections of a packagingstrip are guided, at regular intervals, through a conveying member in the vicinity of windingrollers, for the purpose of wrapping one stack of coins at any given time, the sections of packagingstrip then being severed from the remainder of the strip by means of a cutting-tool and, after completion of the winding operation, their edges are folded over at the ends of the stack of coins by means of edge-folding tools, and in which a control device determines the length of the section of packaging-strip at the moment in question.

A machine of the above type is known from German Auslegeschrift 2,229,469, in which the length of the sections of packaging-strip depends on the time for which the conveying member acts on the packaging-strip, this time being predetermined by the machine. The accurate determination of this action-time entails difficulties, and slight departures of the actual times from the required times bring about variations in the length of the sections of packaging-strip, and although these variations are small and do not impair the functioning of the known machines, they nevertheless make it impossible to predetermine the cutting-points accurately, at which the individual sections of packaging-strip are, in each case, severed from the packaging-strip.

The known machine is not intended for the production of coin stack packages having tearopen strips. However, packages of the lastmentioned type offer considerable advantages, since they markedly facilitate the opening of the packages.

In consideration of the superiority of coin stack packages having tear-open strips, there has been a search for routes which also allow coin stack packages having tear-open strips to be produced by mechanical means. In doing so, the route was followed whereby that section of packaaing-strip which would, in each case, be the next to be severed from the packaging-strip, was provided with a tear-open strip before being introduced into the vicinity of the winding rollers, the provision of the tear-open strip being effected with the aid of accessory devices (German Offenlegungsschrift 2,905,962).This solution, which offered the guarantee that the tear-open strip comes to be located at an accurately defined position, could not prove satisfactory, insofar as each coin packaging machine must be provided with an accessory device, which raises the procurement costs of the machine by an amount which is not inconsiderable, and which also increases the space requirement for the machine.

The object underlying the invention is to produce a machine of the type under consideration, which allows coin packages, provided with tear-open strips, to be produced more simply and more cheaply. This object was achieved, according to the invention, in that the machine possesses a sensor, which reacts to signals on the packaging-strip, said strip being provided, on one side, with tear-open strips running transversely to said strip, these tear-open strips being at a distance from one another which corresponds to the length of the sections of packaging-strip, and that the sensor supplies the control device with a switching-off signal for switching off the member which advances the packaging-strip.

The machine according to the invention operates on the basis of a fundamentally different system, compared to the second known machine described above, since, in the case of the machine according to the invention, use is made of packaging-strips which have been prepared, over their entire length, with tear-open strips.The use of packaging-strips of this type, which is excluded, in the case of machines of the type first mentioned, due to the differences in length between the sections of packaging-strip, which are unavoidable in such machines, is rendered possible by the fact that the length of the sections of packaging-strip is not controlled solely by the machine itself, as was previously the case, but the packaging-strip is used to provide pulses for the length-control system and, in this way, it is ensured that the tear-open strip always comes to lie at the correct position on the coin stack, the latter usually receiving at least two turns of wrapping for stability reasons. Not only is the construction of the machine simplified by the proposed solution, but a reduction in the workload of the operating staff is also achieved.It is no longer necessary to replenish accessory devices with tear-open strips, and the shutdown times required for this replenishing operation are dispensed with.

Holes, punched in the packaging-strips at a prescribed distance from the tear-open strips can be used as signals. However, it proves particularly advantageous and simple if the tear-open strip itself is used as a signal. In this case it is advisable to use a reflecting light barrier as the sensor.

Further characteristics and features of the invention are evident for the claims, and from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of a machine according to the invention, this illustrative embodiment being represented in the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in an exploded view, the important parts of the coin packaging unit of a machine for packaging coins; Figure 2 shows the winding-zone of the machine according to Figure 1, with the section of packaging-strip which has been introduced into the winding-region; Figure 3 shows the winding-zone of the machine according to Figure 1, after the wrapping of a coin stack, during the operation of foiding over the edges of a section of packaging-strip; Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the means for guiding the packaging-strip in the winding-region of the machine;; Figure 5 shows a plan view of a packagingstrip; Figure 6 shows the side view of the packagingstrip according to Figure 5; Figure 7 shows the block circuit diagram of the control system for the length of the section of packaging-strip, and Figure 8 shows the time-sequencing of the packaging-strip control system.

Figure 1 shows a coin-transport band, marked 1, by means of which coins are delivered onto a rotating plate of a coin-storage container 3. A feeler-lever is marked 4, which switches off the drive of the coin-transport band 1 if the level of the coins in the coin-storage container exceeds a certain value. A height-adjustable coin-separator 5 prevents several superimposed coins from leaving an outlet slot, from which the coins reach a guidechannel 7, namely through the action of a cointransport belt 8. A starwheel 9, for counting, projects into the guide channel 7, this starwheel being advanced by an increment of approximately 360 by each passing coin. The counting starwheel 9 drives a counter 10, which jumps forward one digit after each increment.

After passing through the guide-channel 7, each counted coin falls, via a shaft 11, into a coinhopper 12. As soon as the desired number of coins are in the coin-hopper 12, the drive of the coin-transport belt 8 is interrupted, by means of a coupling 13, and the counting starwheel 9 is locked. Following termination, in this manner, of the counting operation for one coin stack, the actual packaging operation is initiated, the essential functions being controlled, in a manner known per se, by means of a central camshaft, which executes a complete revolution during the packaging operation.

At the beginning of the packaging operation, lowering-arms 14 and 1 5 swing into the vicinity of three winding-rollers 16, 17 and 18. The lowering-arm 14 then moves upwards until it is below the segments 19 and 20 of a scissor device, which supports the coin stack from below.

The scissor device opens a little later, and the function of supporting the coin stack is taken over by a sleeve 21 on the lowering-arm 14. The lowering-arm 14 then moves downwards, and the coin stack is transferred onto a pin 22, which is carried by the lowering-arm 15 and projects through the sleeve 21. The segments 19 and 20 close again, and the next counting operation can start.

As soon as the coin stack is in the vicinity of the winding-rollers 16, 17, 18, the advance of a packaging-strip 24 can commence, this strip being wound on a spool 23. For this purpose, a pressureroller 26 is pressed against the packaging-strip 24, by means of a solenoid 25. the packagingstrip being at the same time supported against a supporting-roller 27. The leading end of the packaging-strip 24 is guided between the coin stack and the rotating winding-rollers 1 6, 1 7, 18 by means of a transparent guideflap 28. As soon as the tip of the packaging-strip 24 reaches the vicinity of the coin stack and of the wrappingrollers, the wrapping-rollers 16, 17, 18 approach the central axis of the coin stack.The result of this is that the wrapping-rollers 1 6, 1 7, 1 8, which are rotating at a high speed, grip the packaging-strip 4 and tear it off on a knife 29. The length of the section of packaging-strip conveyed, in each case, into the vicinity of the wrapping-roller consequently depends on the diameter and rotation speed of the pressure-roller 26 and on the excitation-time of the solenoid 25. In other words, decisive importance is attributed to the control of this solenoid. The manner in which this control is effected is explained later.

After the coin stack has been wrapped with a section of packaging-strip, edge-folding tools are introduced into the vicinity of the winding-rollers.

The edge-folding tool 30, which is designed in the shape of a hook, then moves downwards, and the edge-folding tool 31, which is similarly designed in the shape of a hook, moves upwards. The edgefolding tools are arranged in such a way that they are resiliently supported on the coin surfaces. The packaging-strip is approximately 20 mm wider than the coin stack is high. The strip can thus be folded over, at both ends, by means of the edgefolding tools. After the edges of the packagingstrip have been folded over, the lowering-arm 14, 15 and the edge-folding tools 30,31 swing out of the vicinity of the winding-rollers, the windingrollers open, and a finished roll of coins drops down. The next packaging cycle can start.

The operation of wrapping a coin stack 32 with a section of packaging-strip 33 is represented in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the edge-folding operation.

A packaging-strip 24, outside the machine, is represented in Figures 5 and 6. It can be recognised that the packaging-strip is provided, at definite intervals, with tear-open strips 34. These tear-open strips represent signals which control a device for determining the length of the sections 33 of packaging-strip in each case.

The point in time at which the delivery of the packaging-strip commences, that is to say the point in time at which the pressure-roller 26 begins to press the packaging-strip 24 against the supporting-roller 27, must not be altered. A premature start would cause piling-up of the packaging-strip in the vicinity of the windingrollers, whilst in the event of a delayed start, the tip of the packaging-strip would not yet have reached the winding zone by the time the winding-rollers close, and the winding-rollers would consequently be unable to grip it.

In order to ensure that, after the operation of wrapping the coin stack, the tear-open strip always comes to rest at the correct position, the beginning and the end of the delivery of the packaging-strip are determined by means of a central control device, which actuates the switches 35 and 36 in Figure 7. Depending on the setting of a selector-switch 37, these switches switch on the solenoid 25 for periods of varying length. Two different lengths of packaging-strip can accordingly be selected by means of the selector-switch 37, that is to say, for example, lengths of 160 and 200 mm. The line connection to the switches 35, 36, 37 is interrupted at 38.

The point of interruption is bridged via a relay point 39. If the relay point 39 is closed, the control of the advance of the packaging-strip proceeds without alteration. The switches 35 and 36 close at a point in time t2 in Figure 8. Shortly before, that is to say at a point in time t1, the relay point 39 is caused to pull in, that is to say is closed, by means of a micro-switch 40. In this way, it is guaranteed that the start of the advance of the packaging-strip is effected, as previously, by means of the switches 35 or 36, as appropriate.

When a tear-open strip 34 runs past a sensor 41, a pulse (t3-t4) is output to a delay element 42. In consequence of this, a relay 43 pulls in (point in time t3) and prevents the switches 35 and 36 from interrupting the advance of the packaging-strip 24 (to). Instead of interruption by the switches 35 and 36, the advance is interrupted by means of the tear-open strip 34.

After expiry of the delay time (t6), the relay point 39 drops out, and the advance is stopped. The use of a delay element 42 is based on practical reasons, which derive from the fact that the sensor 41 cannot, for constructtional reasons, as a rule be located where the tear-open strip 34 comes to rest, in each case, at the end of the cycle.

Furthermore, tolerances can be compensated by means of the delay element 42. After expiry of the delay time (t6) the relay 43 also drops out, since it is no longer necessary to bridge the switches 35, 36,37.

The circuit described has the advantage that operation is also possible without tear-open strips 34, without resetting the machine in any way. In this case, the relay point 39 is continuously pulled in and the relay 43 cannot pull in, because the sensor 41 does not receive signals.

The preceding statements make it clear that even known machines which are already in service can be inexpensively converted for operation with packaging-strips having tear-open strips, without having to sacrifice the advantage of using interchangeable spool-carriers 44.

Claims (9)

1. A machine for packaging coins, in which sections of a packaging-strip are guided, at regular intervals, through a conveying member in the vicinity of winding-rollers, for the purpose of wrapping one stack of coins at any given time, the sections of packaging-strip then being severed from the remainder of the strip by means of a cutting-tool and, after completion of the winding operation, their edges are folded over at the ends of the stack of coins by means of edge-folding tools, there being a control device which determines the length of the section of packagingstrip at the moment in question, in which the machines possesses a sensor, which reacts to signals on the packaging-strip, the said strip being provided, on one side, with tear-open strips running transversely to the said strip, these tearopen strips being at a distance from one another which corresponds to the length of the sections of packaging-strip, and in which the sensor supplies the control device with a switching-off signal for switching off the member which advances the packaging-strip.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the signals are formed by the tear-open strip.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the sensor switches off the member which advances the packaging-strip via an adjustable delay element.

4. A machine according to any preceding claim, in which the sensor is formed by a light barrier.

5. A machine according to claim 4, in which the light barrier is designed as a reflecting light barrier.

6. A machine according to any preceding claim, in which the sensor, seen in the direction of advance of the packaging-strip, is located in advance of the conveying member, which is formed by a pressure-roller.

7. A machine according to any preceding claim, in which the packaging-strip is wound onto a spool and that this spool is located on an interchangeable spool-carrier.

8. A machine according to any preceding claim, in which a knife, for severing the sections of packaging-strip from the packaging-strip, is located on the spool-carrier.

9. A machine for packaging coins, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.