GB2152906A

GB2152906A - Sheet stacking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2152906A
Application number: GB08401364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Harold Hilton
Original assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Current assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1984-01-19
Filing date: 1984-01-19
Publication date: 1985-08-14
Also published as: GB8401364D0

Abstract

Sheet stacking apparatus, particularly banknote stacking apparatus, comprises a sheet store (7); sheet feeding means (1-4) for feeding sheets to a temporary storage position (8); restraining means comprising fingers (9) movable into and out of the temporary storage position (8); and sheet moving means (15) for moving sheets from the temporary storage position (8) into the store (7). In use, after one or more sheets (5) have been fed into the temporary storage position (8), restraining fingers (9) are withdrawn from the temporary storage position while the or each sheet is moved into the store (7) by the sheet moving means (15), the sheet restraining means (9) are then reinserted to prevent the stored notes from returning to the temporary storage position (8), and further sheets are subsequently fed into the temporary storage position by the sheet feeding means (1-4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sheet handling apparatus The invention relates to sheet handling apparatus, particularly for loading sheets, such as banknotes, into a store.

In the field of banknote handling it is common for banknotes to be stored in cassettes for ease of transportation and security. A prior proposal for loading sheets into cassettes is disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 2,108,935 but this is com- plex in construction and relies on the use of a vacuum operated pick up wheel to carry notes one by one from a loading station to the cassette.

In accordance with the present invention, sheet handling apparatus comprises a sheet store; sheet feeding means for feeding sheets to a temporary storage position; restraining means movable into and out of the temporary storage position; and sheet moving means for moving sheets from the temporary storage position into the store, the arrangement being such that in use after one or more sheets have been fed into the temporary storage position, the or each sheet is moved into the store by the sheet moving means, the sheet restraining means preventing previously stored notes from returning to the temporary storage position, whereby further sheets may subsequently be fed into the temporary storage position by the sheet feeding means.

The invention provides a much simpler arrange ment than the prior art thus reducing the chances of break down.

Although the temporary storage position may be separate from the store, it is preferable if the temporary storage position is provided by part of the store, the store having an opening through which sheets may be fed to the temporary storage position by the sheet feeding means.

In some examples, the sheet moving means may comprise a ram system to force the or each sheet into the store from the temporary storage position.

This is advantageous since the retraining means do not undergo large flexural forces imposed when the sheets are pushed into the store.

It is preferable, however, for one of the restraining means and that part of the apparatus defining the temporary storage position to be movable relatively to the other and to form the sheet moving means. In this case, separate sheet moving means is not required leading to increased simplicity of construction.

Preferably, the restraining means comprises one or more fingers.

Although the restraining means could be com- pletely rigid, this requires a large area to be set aside adjacent the temporary storage position to allow room for the restraining means when they are retracted. Preferably, therefore the restraining means presents a substantially rigid surface to a load exerted in a direction towards the temporary storage position and is relatively flexible in the opposite direction whereby on retraction the restraining means can be flexed and retracted alongside the store.

It is particularly convenient where the restraining means comprises one or more fingers for the or each finger to have a concave profile facing the stored sheets in use. The concave profile provides the necessary rigidity in one direction and flexibility in the other.

Conveniently, the apparatus further includes traction means to move the restraining means into and out of the temporary storage position, the traction means and the restraining means being connected by cooperating series of holes and pins.

An example of sheet handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures lA-iC illustrate the apparatus at three different stages of use; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1A-1C; and, Figures 3A, 3B illustrate a portion of a leading end of a restraining finger and a cross-section of the leading end respectively.

The apparatus shown in the Figures represents a portion of larger apparatus which may comprise sheet counting apparatus or the like where sheets, such as banknotes, are fed to a final store. Figures 1A-1C illustrate sheet feeding means comprising a pair of rollers 1 around which is entrained a belt 2 and a pair of rollers 3 about which is entrained a belt 4. Banknotes 5 are fed in the form of a bundle or singly by means not shown between the belts 2,4 which are driven to feed the banknotes 5 through an opening 6 in a cassette 7. The space 8 beneath the opening 7 provides a temporary storage position for the banknotes 5.

A set of four fingers 9 made from spring steel extend into the cassette 7, as shown in Figure 1A.

As may be seen in Figure 3B, each finger 9 has a concave profile facing away from the temporary storage position 8. Furthermore, each finger 9 is provided by an end of an elongate strip of steel which extends through a guide tube 10 formed by a plastics molding. The guide tube 10 is bent through about 90 around a capstan wheel 11 having a series of radially outwardly projecting pins 12. Each finger 9 has a series of openings 11 extending in a line along the centre of the finger and these are engaged by successive pins 12 of the capstan wheel 11 through the guide tube since the finger is . constrained by the guide tube 10. Thus, rotation of the capstan wheel 11 causes movement of the respective finger 9 into and out of the cassette, 7. Each capstan wheel 11 is non-rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 13 which is rotated by conventional drive means not shown.

When a bundle of notes has been fed into the temporary storage position 8, the cassette 7 which rests on a pair of guide rails 14 is moved to the right, as shown in Figure 1A, to move the bundle of notes against the left hand surface of each finger 9. The shaft 13 is then rotated to cause the fingers 9 to be drawn into their respective guide tubes 10 and to be retracted from the cassette 7. At this point, the position shown in Figure 1B is reached.

The shaft 13 is then rotated in the opposite direction causing the fingers 9 to be reinserted through the opening 6 between an end wall 15 of the cassette and the notes 5 last stored in the cassette. The cassette 7 is then moved back to its initial position shown in Figure 1A but the various bundles of notes already in the cassette 7 are restrained from further movement by the reinserted fingers 9 thereby recreating the temporary storage position 8 as shown in Figure 1C.

Due to the concave profile of the fingers 9, the fingers present a substantially rigid surface to the bundles of notes already present in the cassette 7 but allow the fingers 9 to be bent around the respective capstan wheels 11 so that they may be guided through the guide tubes 10 alongside the cassette 7. A typical gauge for the spring steel forming the fingers 9 is about .006 inches to .010 inches. If there is insufficient strength in the spring steel, an additional spring can be placed along side hence doubling the flexural stength.

Once a cassette 7 has been filled with bundles of notes, it will be removed from the apparatus and replaced with a new empty cassette.

Although this example shows movement of the cassette 7 relatively to the fingers 9, it is equally possible for the fingers 9 to move relatively to the cassette 7 and to push the bundles of notes into the cassette.

Claims

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a sheet store; sheet feeding means for feeding sheets to a temporary storage position; restraining means movable into and out of the temporary storage position; and sheet moving means for moving sheets from the temporary storage position into the store, the arrangement being such that in use after one or more sheets have been fed into the temporary storage position, the or each sheet is moved into the store by the sheet moving means, the sheet restraining means preventing previously stored notes from returning to the temporary storage position, whereby further sheets may subsequently be fed into the temporary storage position by the sheet feeding means.

2. Sheet handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporary storage position is provided by part of the store, the store having an opening through which sheets may be fed to the temporary storage position by the sheet feeding means.

3. Sheet handling apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the restraining means and that part of the apparatus defining the temporary storage position is movable relatively to the other to form the sheet moving means.

4. Sheet handling apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means comprises one of more fingers.

5. Sheet handling apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means presents a substantially rigid surface to a load exerted in a direction towards the temporary storage position and is relatively flexible in the opposite direction whereby on retraction the restraining means can be flexed and retracted alongside the store.

6. Sheet handling apparatus according to claim 5, when dependent on claim 4, wherein the or each finger has a concave profile facing the stored sheets in use.

7. Sheet handling apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further including traction means to move the restraining means into and out of the temporary storage position, the traction means and the restraining means being connected by cooperating series of holes and pins.

8. Sheet handling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.