GB2168686A

GB2168686A - Sheet stacking wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2168686A
Application number: GB08432061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Francis Edward Doyle
Original assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Current assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1984-12-19
Filing date: 1984-12-19
Publication date: 1986-06-25
Also published as: GB8432061D0

Abstract

A stacking wheel comprises a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots (5). An elongate, flexible member (10) is positioned in each slot (5) and has a number of corrugations (11, 12, 13). The corrugations (11, 13) engage one side of the slot (5) to define a pair of nips while the member (10) is fixed to the other side of the slot at each end and at the corrugation (12). The arrangements is such that sheets can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slots (5) through the nips. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sheet stacking wheel The invention relates to a stacking wheel comprising a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots. Such stacking wheels are used in a large variety of sheet feeding apparatus to receive single sheets from a feed path and to stack them on to a stacking plate.

Sheets are fed from the feed path into respective sheet receiving slots of the stacking wheel which rotates to a stacking position where the slots co-operate with a stripper plate which pushes the sheets out of the slots and on to the stacking plate. A typical example of a conventional stacking wheel is illustrated in British patent specification no.

2,105,690A.

One of the problems with conventional stacking wheels is that sheets fed into the sheet receiving slots are not securely held while the stacking wheel rotates. This is parti culariy noticeable with short sheets since an uneven stack is invariably delivered. Problems also arise when the stacking wheel is rotating at relatively high speed. Various attempts have been made in the past to overcome this problem. For example British specification no.

2,012,728 illustrates a stacking wheel having a number of tines defining the sheet receiving slots, the tines engaging one another to define a nip through which each sheet passes. The problem with this arrangement is that in time the nip between tines increases in size so that sheets are no longer gripped.

In U.S.-A-4,052,053 a stacking wheel is disclosed in which a leaf spring is secured to one tine of the stacking wheel and engages the opposite tine defining the sheet receiving slot. This construction suffers not only from the problem mentioned above but also when a partly folded note is received by the sheet receiving slot the fold can get caught around the free end of the leaf spring. This may result in the sheet tearing when it is stripped from the stacking wheel or the sheet may not be stripped away at all.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a stacking wheel comprises a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots; and sheet restraining means positioned in each slot and is characterised in that the sheet restraining means comprises an elongate, flexible member having at least one corrugation which engages one side of the slot to define a nip, the flexible member being fixed to the other side of the slot at at least two positions on either side of the at least one corrugation, the arrangement being such that sheets can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot through the nip.

This arrangement avoids- the problems of the prior art mentioned above since firstly a curved surface is provided by the corrugation thus preventing folded notes from being caught and secondly a nip (or pinch) will always exist between the flexible member and the one side of the slot since the flexible member is secured on either side of the corrugation.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a stacking wheel comprises a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots; and sheet receiving means positioned in each slot and is characterised in that the sheet receiving means defines with one side of the slot at least two spaced apart nips, the arrangement being such that sheets can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot through the nips.

It should be noted that in the prior art only a single nip is provided in each sheet receiving slot. The provision of two or more nips enables sheets to be much more securely held.

It also enables relatively short sheets to be securely held in the sheet receiving slots in contrast to the situation with the prior art.

Preferably, the sheet restraining means comprises an elongate, flexible member having at least two corrugations engaging the one side of the slot. In particular, the sheet restraining means may comprise a sinuous strip of for example plastics material.

The use of an elongate flexible member is useful when manufacturing the stacking wheel since this can be easily pushed into the sheet receiving slots.

The sheet restraining means may be fixed in any convenient manner but is preferably bonded to the other side of the slot. Alternatively, guide members may be positioned on the other side of the slot through which the restraining means is threaded. In another arrangement, the restraining means may be riveted to the other side of the slot.

An example of a stacking wheel assembly having two stacking wheels in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the stacking wheel assembly; and Figure 2 is a view of the stacking wheel assembly in the direction A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 illustrates a stacking wheel 1 having a plastics hub 2 mounted non-rotatably on an axle 3. A plurality of metal tines 4 are secured to the hub 2 and define sheet receiving slots 5 between them. Only some of the tines 4 are illustrated in Fig. 1.

The stacking wheel 1 is positioned at a downstream end of a feed path 6 of sheet feeding apparatus such as bank note feeding apparatus. The end of the feed path 6 is defined by a pair of rollers 7. Typically, the width of sheets fed along the sheet path 6 (such as bank notes or other security documents) will be greater than the width of the stacking wheel 1. It is therefore usual to pro vide two stacking wheels 1, 1' on the same axle 3. This is illustrated in Fig. 2. The tines 4 of each stacking wheel 1, 1' are in alignment.

A stripper plate 8 extends between the two stacking wheels, 1, 1' and is formed integrally with a side wall of a hopper 9.

A sinuous strip of plastics material 10 (for example Melinex manufactured by ICI) is mounted in each sheet receiving slot 5. Each sinuous strip 10 has three corrugations 11, 12, 13. The sinuous strip 10 is fixed to one tine 4 at each end 14 and at the corrugation 12. The corrugations 11, 13 engage the opposite tine to define a pair of nips.

In use, the stacking wheels, 1, 1' rotate under the control of a motor (not shown) in a clockwise direction. At the same time sheets are fed singly along the feed path 6. Each sheet is passed from the rollers 7 into a sheet receiving slot 5. As the sheet passes into the slot 5 it will be forced between the nips defined by the corrugations 11, 13 which will pinch the sheet against the adjacent tine 4 thus gripping the sheet firmiy in the slot 5.

Rotation of the stacking wheel 1 carries the sheet in a clockwise direction until its radially inner end engages the stripper plate 8. Further rotation of the stacking wheel 1 forces the sheet out of the slot 5 so that it falls into the hopper 9.

It should be noted that the sinuous strip 10 is bonded to one tine 4 on either side of each corrugation 11, 13 thus ensuring that the corrugations 11, 13 will always provide a pinch situation between themselves and the adjacent tine 4.

Although the stacking wheel 1 has been shown with tines it could also be formed for example from relatively stationary blades or other conventional means.

Claims

1. A stacking wheel comprising a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots; and sheet restraining means positioned in each slot, characterised in that the sheet restraining means comprises an elongate, flexible member having at least one corrugation which engages one side of the slot to define a nip, the flexible member being fixed to the other side of the slot at at least two positions on either side of the at least one corrugation, the arrangement being such that sheets can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot through the nip.

2. A stacking wheel comprising a plurality of outwardly opening sheet receiving slots; and sheet restraining means provided in each slot, characterised in that the sheet restraining means defines with one side of the slot at least two spaced apart nips, the arrangement being such that sheets can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot through the nips.

3. A stacking wheel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the restraining means comprises an elongate, flexible member having at least two corrugations engaging the one side of the slot.

4. A stacking wheel according to claim 3, wherein the sheet restraining means comprises a sinuous strip.

5. A stacking wheel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining means is bonded to the other side of the slot.

6. A stacking wheel according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising guide members on the other side of the slot through which the restraining means is threaded.

7. A stacking wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.