GB2110635A

GB2110635A - Apparatus for packaging coins

Info

Publication number: GB2110635A
Application number: GB08133416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Sidney Pettet; Frank Edward Croft
Original assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Current assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-05
Filing date: 1981-11-05
Publication date: 1983-06-22

Abstract

Apparatus for wrapping a stack 8 of coins to form a cylindrical package by winding around the stack a length of a strip of paper 14, the apparatus including a plurality of vertical rollers 2, 4, 6 around a space to receive a stack of coins, means for supplying a strip of wrapping paper to be guided by the rollers around the stack, and means 26, 28 for folding over the edges of a length of the strip above and below the stack of coins; the supplying means including a carrier 30 for a roll 16 of the strip, a guide 36 for the lower edge of the strip between the carrier and the rollers on a support 34 attached to the carrier, and means 32 for finely adjusting vertically the position of the carrier and the guide relative to the rollers 2, 4, 6 and folding means 26, 28, so that the centre line of the strip may be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack of coins. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for packaging coins Various apparatus exist by means of which a stack of coins can be wrapped up into a cylindrical package, by winding around the stack a length of a strip of paper, the width of which is a little greater than the height of the stack, after which the edges of the strip are folded over so as to retain the two end coins of the stack. This folding over is otherwise known as crimping.

Typically, the height of the stack of coins is 400 mm, the width of the paper is 420 mm, and the crimps at top and bottom are each formed from paper projecting 10 mm beyond the stack.

It is desirable for each crimp to be formed from the same amount of paper, so that the finished package has two ends which are substantially identical. Existing apparatus can be constructed so as to achieve this, but problems can be encountered in subsequent operation. One source of difficulty is that, if there is a change in the average age of coins in circulation, then there is also a change in the average thickness, and therefore a change in the probable height of a stack of a given number of coins. If the stack is vertical, with its lower end resting on a support, then the position of the upper end of the stack will vary.

A further difficulty is that an apparatus is designed to operate with a strip of paper of a particular width, but in practice the rolls of paper installed in the apparatus may not correspond exactly to the design. Partly this may arise from inaccurate manufacture of the paper strip, and partly it may arise from the fact that a user, for example a particular Bank, may have apparatus of more than one type, but seek to use a single source of supply of paper strips.

The present invention relates to apparatus in which adjustment can be readily carried out, without the need of the services of a skilled engineer, to ensure that the centre line of the strip is accurately aligned with the mid-height of a stack of coins.

Apparatus according to the present invention, for packaging coins, includes a plurality of vertical rollers around a space to receive a stack of coins, means for supplying a strip of wrapping paper to be guided by the rollers around the stack, and means for folding over the edges of a length of the strip above and below the stack of coins; the supplying means including a carrier for a roll of the strip, a guide for the lower edge of the strip between the carrier and the rollers, a support for the carrier and the guide, and means for finely adjusting vertically the position of the support relative to the rollers and folding means, so that the centre line of the strip may be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack of coins.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one example of apparatus embodying the invention. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 is a plan. Both Figures are diagrammatic.

Three vertical rollers 2, 4, 6 are arranged around a space which can receive a stack of coins indicated at 8. The lowermost coin of the stack rests on a support 10 secured to a base 12.

In operation, the stack of coins is wrapped in a length of a strip of paper 14 supplied from a roll 1 6. The strip of paper is delivered from the roll 1 6 by a pair of feed rollers 1 8, and the necessary length is cut off by a cutter 20 cooperating with a guide 22. The strip is directed towards the stack of coins 8 by passing between two plates 24 constituting a funnel, and the length of strip is actually guided into contact with the stack by the roller 4.

After the length of strip has been wrapped around the stack of coins, the edges of the length of strip above and below the stack are folded over, or in other words crimped, by means of hooks, indicated in Figure 1 at 26, 28. These hooks are movable vertically by known mechanism.

The rollers 2, 4, 6 are located by a mounting of known construction. This mounting also enables at least one roller to be moved away from the others, to enable a completed package to be removed.

Hitherto, the funnel 24 has also included a guide (otherwise known as a stabiliser), which cooperates from below with the lower edge of the strip of paper, so as to determine the position of the length of strip vertically in relation to the stack of coins. The construction and location of this funnel are such that it is impossible to carry out easily any fine adjustment of the alignment of the centre line of the strip with the mid-height of the stack.

In the present apparatus, the roll of paper 1 6 rests upon a carrier 30, the position of which in the vertical direction relative to the base 12 can be finely adjusted by means of a screw 32.

Furthermore, attached to the carrier 30 and therefore taking part in the vertical adjustment, is a support arm 34, on the end of which is a guide 36, which cooperates with the lower edge of the strip of paper.

By this means the entire path of the strip, from the roll 1 6 to the stack of coins 8, can be bodily displaced in the vertical direction, in a manner enabling the centre line of the strip to be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack.

By this means, one can ensure that, despite variations in stack height and in paper width, the crimps at top and bottom of the stack will be formed from the same amount of paper, so that the package will be symmetrical.

The feed rollers 18, the cutter 20 and guide 22, and the funnel 24 can all be directly mounted on the base 12.

Apparatus according to the present invention can be produced by modification of existing apparatus, without great expense.

1. Apparatus for wrapping a stack of coins to form a cylindrical package by winding around the stack a length of a strip of paper, the apparatus including a plurality of vertical rollers around a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for packaging coins Various apparatus exist by means of which a stack of coins can be wrapped up into a cylindrical package, by winding around the stack a length of a strip of paper, the width of which is a little greater than the height of the stack, after which the edges of the strip are folded over so as to retain the two end coins of the stack. This folding over is otherwise known as crimping. Typically, the height of the stack of coins is 400 mm, the width of the paper is 420 mm, and the crimps at top and bottom are each formed from paper projecting 10 mm beyond the stack. It is desirable for each crimp to be formed from the same amount of paper, so that the finished package has two ends which are substantially identical. Existing apparatus can be constructed so as to achieve this, but problems can be encountered in subsequent operation. One source of difficulty is that, if there is a change in the average age of coins in circulation, then there is also a change in the average thickness, and therefore a change in the probable height of a stack of a given number of coins. If the stack is vertical, with its lower end resting on a support, then the position of the upper end of the stack will vary. A further difficulty is that an apparatus is designed to operate with a strip of paper of a particular width, but in practice the rolls of paper installed in the apparatus may not correspond exactly to the design. Partly this may arise from inaccurate manufacture of the paper strip, and partly it may arise from the fact that a user, for example a particular Bank, may have apparatus of more than one type, but seek to use a single source of supply of paper strips. The present invention relates to apparatus in which adjustment can be readily carried out, without the need of the services of a skilled engineer, to ensure that the centre line of the strip is accurately aligned with the mid-height of a stack of coins. Apparatus according to the present invention, for packaging coins, includes a plurality of vertical rollers around a space to receive a stack of coins, means for supplying a strip of wrapping paper to be guided by the rollers around the stack, and means for folding over the edges of a length of the strip above and below the stack of coins; the supplying means including a carrier for a roll of the strip, a guide for the lower edge of the strip between the carrier and the rollers, a support for the carrier and the guide, and means for finely adjusting vertically the position of the support relative to the rollers and folding means, so that the centre line of the strip may be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack of coins. The accompanying drawings illustrate one example of apparatus embodying the invention. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 is a plan. Both Figures are diagrammatic. Three vertical rollers 2, 4, 6 are arranged around a space which can receive a stack of coins indicated at 8. The lowermost coin of the stack rests on a support 10 secured to a base 12. In operation, the stack of coins is wrapped in a length of a strip of paper 14 supplied from a roll 1 6. The strip of paper is delivered from the roll 1 6 by a pair of feed rollers 1 8, and the necessary length is cut off by a cutter 20 cooperating with a guide 22. The strip is directed towards the stack of coins 8 by passing between two plates 24 constituting a funnel, and the length of strip is actually guided into contact with the stack by the roller 4. After the length of strip has been wrapped around the stack of coins, the edges of the length of strip above and below the stack are folded over, or in other words crimped, by means of hooks, indicated in Figure 1 at 26, 28. These hooks are movable vertically by known mechanism. The rollers 2, 4, 6 are located by a mounting of known construction. This mounting also enables at least one roller to be moved away from the others, to enable a completed package to be removed. Hitherto, the funnel 24 has also included a guide (otherwise known as a stabiliser), which cooperates from below with the lower edge of the strip of paper, so as to determine the position of the length of strip vertically in relation to the stack of coins. The construction and location of this funnel are such that it is impossible to carry out easily any fine adjustment of the alignment of the centre line of the strip with the mid-height of the stack. In the present apparatus, the roll of paper 1 6 rests upon a carrier 30, the position of which in the vertical direction relative to the base 12 can be finely adjusted by means of a screw 32. Furthermore, attached to the carrier 30 and therefore taking part in the vertical adjustment, is a support arm 34, on the end of which is a guide 36, which cooperates with the lower edge of the strip of paper. By this means the entire path of the strip, from the roll 1 6 to the stack of coins 8, can be bodily displaced in the vertical direction, in a manner enabling the centre line of the strip to be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack. By this means, one can ensure that, despite variations in stack height and in paper width, the crimps at top and bottom of the stack will be formed from the same amount of paper, so that the package will be symmetrical. The feed rollers 18, the cutter 20 and guide 22, and the funnel 24 can all be directly mounted on the base 12. Apparatus according to the present invention can be produced by modification of existing apparatus, without great expense. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for wrapping a stack of coins to form a cylindrical package by winding around the stack a length of a strip of paper, the apparatus including a plurality of vertical rollers around a space to receive a stack of coins, means for supplying a strip of wrapping paper to be guided by the rollers around the stack, and means for folding over the edges of a length of the strip above and below the stack of coins; the supplying means including a carrier for a roll of the strip, a guide for the lower edge of the strip between the carrier and the rollers, a support for the carrier and the guide, and means for finely adjusting vertically the position of the support relative to the rollers and foldingmeans, so that the centre line of the strip may be accurately aligned with the mid-height of the stack of coins.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a base, means fixed to the base for supporting the lowermost coin of the stack, and means for finely adjusting vertically the position of the support relative to the base.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the means for adjusting is a screw positioned with its longitudinal axis on the axis of the carrier.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, .including a guide cooperating with a cutter to cut the strip into lengths, the guide and the cutter being directly mounted on the base.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.