GB2211825A

GB2211825A - Note curling and loading apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2211825A
Application number: GB8825191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Alexander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-31
Filing date: 1988-10-27
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-27
Also published as: GB8825191D0; GB2211825B; GB8725563D0

Abstract

Apparatus for loading notes N into an open-ended 9 carrier 8 of a pneumatic transport system has a note curler 2. Notes N are pushed through a conical curling portion 3 whereby their top and bottom edges curl towards each other and they can be delivered in curled state through a delivery end 4 of the curler into the carrier 8, through its open end 9. As shown, notes N are delivered into cylinder 12 of the apparatus through slot 19, fig 6, by rollers 22 and a sheet inserter e.g. rod 24 having a sheet-engaging member e.g. fork 26 pushes the notes through curling portion 3 into carrier 8, which may be cylindrical, figs 7,8. <IMAGE>

Description

LOADING APPARATUS Background of the Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for loading sheet material, in particular but not exclusively bank notes and the like monetary documents, into a carrier of a pneumatic transport system.

Pneumatic transport systems are finding application in shops, banks et cetera where the public spend and deposit cash in the form of bank notes. Such systems enable notes to be conveniently transported to a strongroom from a shop floor or banking hall whereby the security risk there is lessened.

In banks it is convenient also to be able to keep notes for withdrawal by customers in a strongroom. At present pneumatic transport of such notes to a banking hall requires fbr them to be manually loaded into a carrier, even although they may have been mechanically counted in a note dispenser.

The Invention The object of the invention is to facilitate automatic loading of bank notes, or other sheet material, into a carrier of a pneumatic transport system.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for loading at least one sheet into an axially open carrier at an end of a transport tube of a pneumatic transport system, the loading apparatus comprising: a convergent sheet curler having a sheet curling portion, which is at least partially curved in cross-section and which converges towards an end from which one or more sheets will be delivered in curled state, the end being smaller in transverse direction than and in register with the transport tube at its end; a sheet inserter having a sheet engaging member arranged for movement, together with any sheet or sheets in the sheet curler, through the sheet curling portion and the delivery end of the sheet curler, thereby axially loading the sheet(s) in curled state into the carrier stopped at the end of the transport tube.

Whilst it is envisaged that the sheet inserter may be fixed and the convengent sheet curler movable over it for insertion of the sheet(s) into a carrier, the sheet curler is preferably fixed and the sheet engaging member is movably arranged. Conveniently an actuator is provided for the sheet engaging member, which with the latter defines a sheet insertion vector.

Preferably the sheet curling portion is skew, frusto-conical; although other shapes such as a convergent oblong shape can be envisaged.

The convergent end of the sheet curler is preferably arranged co-axially with the transport tube and the carrier.

However it is envisaged that the curler and carrier may be sufficiently in register for insertion without exact co-axiality being required.

Preferably the end of the transport tube is partially closed by an apertured disc attached to the convergent sheet curling portion. Conveniently the disc supports an end stop for the carrier and the delivery end of the curler extends beyond the end stop.

The orifice of the convergent end of the curler is preferably of smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the carrier, to allow the sheets a slight uncurling on insertion into the carrier. In the preferred embodiment the convergent end of the curler extends into a carrier when at the carrier stop.

Preferably the sheet engaging member is a U-shaped member within which the sheets are received prior to curling. The arrangement is preferably such that the sheet insertion vector is arranged eccentric of the central axis of the sheet curler whereby the notes are circularly curved and move towards a medial plane of the curler on first contact with it. The sheet insertion vector is conveniently arranged to be parallel with the central axis of the curler.

It is however envisaged that the sheet insertion vector may be arranged co-axially of the curler in which case S curling as opposed to circular curving of the sheets may result.

In an alternative, the sheet inserter may comprise a pair of fixed rails arranged for reception of the notes therebetween, with sheet engaging member comprising a pusher slidingly accommodated on the rails. Again, one rail or side limb of a U-shaped sheet engaging member may be replaced by a fixed surface of the curler with the sheets being pushed along this surface during curling. However the sheet engaging member is configured, its sheet engagement face preferably enters into the carrier on insertion to ensure complete insertion.

Although it is envisaged that the sheets may be manually inserted into the sheet curler, they are preferably mechanically dispensed into the sheet curler.

To provide that opposite edges of the sheets do not abut - and damage each other - during curling the delivery end of the sheet preferably has an internal circumference greater than the transverse, internal dimension of a mouth of the curling portion of the sheet curler.

According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a carrier for use with the loading apparatus of the first invention, the carrier comprising: a circular in cross-section sleeve, at least one circumferential seal provided around the sleeve, a closed front end of the sleeve, and an open rear end of the sleeve.

During loading, the sheets are inserted through the open rear end of the sleeve.

Whilst the rear of the sleeve may be open to the extent of the internal diameter thereof, the rear end is preferably in the form of an annulus. The sheets are then inserted through the central opening in the rear end and retained by the annulus which forms a rim having an internal diameter less than that to which the notes tend to expand on insertion.

The sleeve is preferably in two parts which are readily separable, as by a bayonet-type connection such as incorporated in the preferred embodiment described below.

To help understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: The Drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side-view on an axial cross-section of loading apparatus of the invention, with notes presented for loading; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional plan view similar to Figure 1 of the loading apparatus; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing initial curling of notes; Figure 4 is a further similar view showing the notes fully loaded; Figure 5 is a further view showing the notes being transported by a carrier; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line VI-VI in Figure 1; Figure 7 is an end view of the carrier of the invention; Figure 8 is a side view of the carrier of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a diagram of a pneumatic transport system incorporating the loading apparatus of Figure 1;; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a variant of the loading apparatus of Figure 1; and Figures 11 and 12 similarly show two further variants.

Preferred Embodiment Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, the sheet loading apparatus 1 there shown has a sheet curler 2. This particular apparatus is intended for loading bank notes and accordingly the sheets will now be described as notes and the sheet curler 2 will be referred to as the note curler 2.

This latter has a curling portion 3 in the form of a sheet metal or plastics material skew frusto-cone. The truncated delivery end 4 of the cone is attached to and extends slightly through a centrally apertured disc 5 across the end of a transport tube 6. The disc 5 supports an elastomeric ring 7 as a stop for a carrier 8 which will bee described in more detail below. However, it can be noted here that the loading apparatus end 9 of the carrier has an aperture 10 in register with the central aperture 11 in the disc 5 and with the delivery end 4 of the cone 3, with the latter just projecting into the carrier 8 when this is against the stop ring 7.

The large diameter end of the cone has a circular cylindrical extension 12 closed by an end plate 13 for receiving notes. Secured to this plate 13 is a pneumatic actuator 14, having a piston 15, cylinder 16 and a control valve 17. Along the lower side of the extension 12, offset from its medial axis 18, is a note reception slot 19 formed by two flanges 20 upstanding into the cylindrical extension 12, see Figures 2 and 6. These Figures show that the delivery end 4 of the cone 3 is also offset, to the same extent as the slot 19, from the axis 18. Figure 2 shows the skew axis 18' of the curling cone 3.

Symmetrically beneath the slot 19 is arranged a pair of drivable shafts 21 incorporated in a note dispenser which will not be described in detail. The shafts carry pairs of dispensing rollers 22 through the nip of which notes N emerge on delivery by the note dispenser. The notes come to rest upright in the slot 19 with their lower edges supported above the mutually abutting nip portions 23 of the rollers.

The pneumatic actuator 14 is in alignment with the central plane of the slot 19 and the centre of the convergent end 4 of the cone 3. Its rod 24 carries at its distal end 25 a U-shaped fork 26 whose arms 27 extend in alignment above the flanges 20, whereby when the actuator is in its rest position shown in Figure 1, the notes N delivered by the note dispenser are presented into the bight of the fork 26. The notes are shown in the drawings in chain-dotted outline. In Figure 1, they are shown ready for movement along a vector I, which is aligned with the actuator 14 and its rod 24 and extendes between the arms 27, for insertion of the notes N through the curling portion 3 of the sheet curler and into the carrier 8..

At the cone end of the slot 19, a ramp 28 extends down towards the shafts 21. When the actuator is operated by pressurisation, the root 29 of the fork engages the rear edge of the notes and moves them towards the cone 3. They slide along the dispensing rollers at the nip portions 23 and encounter the ramp 28 up which they slide into the cone.

They then encounter the upper and lower parts 30,31 of the cone. Since the fork 26 is offset from the medial axis 18 of the cylindrical extension, the notes tend to move towards the vertical medial plane of the cone 3. Thus their leading corners follow the contour of the cone, as shown in Figure 6 by the arrow A in respect of the top leading corner. Figure 3 shows the notes well advanced into the cone and well curled round in their leading portions. The internal circumference of the cone's delivery end 4 is greater than the internal diameter 3' of the cone at its mouth, whereby the notes do abut at their opposite edges when passing through the delivery end 4.

Further advance of the fork 26 moves the leading, curled portions of the note through the delivery end 4 of the cone through the central aperture 11 in the disc 5, through the stop ring 7, through the aperture 10 in the end 9 of the carrier 8 and into the carrier. The internal diameter of this is larger than that of the convergent end 4 of the cone. Thus the notes, once inserted fully into the carrier as shown in Figure 4, are free to and do uncurl somewhat.

When the fork 26 is then withdrawn, by evacuating the actuator 14, the notes are left captive in the carrier, without there being any tendency for the notes to be drawn back out of the carrier. The transport tube 6 can then be evacuated for movement of the carrier with the notes loaded into it, see Figure 5.

The carrier 8 is shown in more detail in Figures 7 and 8. It comprises a circular cylindrical sleeve 35 having a closed front end 36. A rear portion 37 of the sleeve 35 is separate from a main portion 38 and has fixed within it a short inner sleeve 39 having a pair of bayonet-fitting slots 40. These co-operate with pop-rivets 41 in the main portion 38 to allow removal and re-connection of the rear sleeve portion 37 for opening and closing of the carrier.

The rear sleeve portion has the loading apparatus end 9 of the carrier with the central aperture 11 via which the notes are loaded into the carrier. The sleeve portions each have a peripheral seal 42.

For use, the carrier 8 is at the stop 7 at the end of the transport tube 6. Notes N are dispensed via the rollers 22 into the sheet curler 2. As they rise from the rollers 22, the notes N are guided by the flanges 20 and between the arms 27 of the fork 26. With the notes in the receiving portion of the sheet curler, the actuator 14 operates and the root 29 of the fork engages the rear edge of the notes, which are moved forwards into the curling portion. Here the leading corners of the notes engage the convergent parts 30,31 of the cone and curl towards each other. Further advance of the fork 26 passes the curled notes out of the delivery end 4 and they are inserted into the carrier 8 via its open rear end 9.

Figure 9 shows the loading apparatus 1 incorporated in a pneumatic transport system having a plurality of counter stations 50. If money is to be deposited into a safe 51, it passes along the system in suitable carriers through divertors 52 and valves 53 by use of an exhauster 54. If money is to be withdrawn, the amount required is keyed to a control computer (not shown) at the ordering counter station and a carrier of the invention is sent from the counter station to the loading apparatus 1. The note dispenser 55 delivers the ordered notes and the loading apparatus loads these into the carrier in the manner described above. The carrier is then sent back to the counter station which ordered the money.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. In particular, the invention may be used for loading sheets other than bank notes from machines other than note dispensers.

Variants Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a variant of the sheet inserter in which the long arms 27 of the fork 26 are replaced by a pair of fixed rails 61 secured to the plate 62 at the rear end of the sheet curler and a pair of bars 63 at their forward ends. Slidable on the rods is a note engaging pusher 64, which on operation of the actuator 65 drives the notes N through the curling cone 3 and into the carrier 8.

In the further variant of Figure 11, the fork 26 is replaced by an L shaped note engaging member 101. The notes N are dispensed into the space between the long limb 102 of the L and a fixed, side surface 103 of the sheet curler.

This surface merges into the curling cone 104. A forwards lip 105 on the short, note engaging limb 106 of the L catches the notes from slipping between the L member 101 and the surface 103.

Figure 12 shows a third variant in which a pusher 151 guided on a single rail 152 co-operates with the side surface 153 during advance of the notes.

As an alternative to use of the fixed note curler 2 and the note insertion fork 26, or its variants, being movable by the actuator 14, the latter could be dispensed with if the fork were fixed and the note curler arranged to be movable. Such movement could be achieved by means of air pressure in the transport tube driving the carrier against the stop which would be movable and attached to the convergent end of the curler's cone.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading at least one sheet (N) into an axially open carrier at an end of a transport tube of a pneumatic transport system, the loading apparatus comprising: a convergent sheet curler having a sheet curling portion, which is at least partially curved in cross-section and which converges towards an end from which one or more sheets (N) will be delivered in curled state, the end being smaller in transverse direction than and in register with the transport tube at its end; a sheet inserter having a sheet engaging member arranged for movement, together with any sheet or sheets (N) in the sheet curler, through the sheet curling portion and the delivery end of the sheet curler, thereby axially loading the sheet(s) (N) in curled state into the carrier stopped at the end of the transport tube.

2. Loading apparatus as caimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet curler is fixed and the sheet inserter includes an actuator for moving the sheet engaging member and defining with the sheet engaging member a sheet insertion vector (I).

3. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sheet curling portion of the sheet curler is skew, frusto-conical, being truncated at the delivery end.

4. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the delivery end of the sheet curler is co-axial with the end of the transport tube.

5. Loading apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end of the transport tube is partially closed by an apertured disc attched to the convergent sheet curling portion.

6. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including an end stop for the carrier supported on the disc.

7. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the delivery end extends through the disc into the tube and beyond the end stop.

8. Loading apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet engaging member is a U-shaped member, between the arms of which the sheets are received prior to curling and defining a sheet insertion vector (I).

9. Loading apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet engaging member is a pusher slidably accommodated on two rails fixed in the sheet curler and between which the sheets (N) are received prior to curling and defining a sheet insertion vector (I).

10. Loading apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet engaging member is an L-shaped member between the long limb of which and a fixed surface of the sheet curler the sheets (N) are received prior to curling and defining a sheet insertion vector (I).

11. Loading apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet engaging member is a pusher slidably accommodated on a rail fixed in the sheet curler and between which and a fixed surface of the sheet curler the sheets are received prior to curling and defining a sheet insertion vector (I).

12. Loading apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3,8,9,10 or 11, wherein the sheet insertion vector (I) is eccentric of a central axis of the sheet curling portion of the sheet curler.

13. Loading apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3,8,9,10,11 or 12 wherein the sheet insertion vector (I) is parallel to a central axis of the sheet curler.

14. Loading apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the convergent sheet curler has a sheet receiving portion into which sheets (N) are received prior to curling; the sheet receiving portion having guide surfaces for guiding the sheets (N) into position such that their rear edges can be engaged by the sheet engaging member.

15. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 14, including a sheet dispenser co-operatively arranged with the sheet curler for dispensing sheets (N) into the sheet receiving portion prior to curling.

16. Loading apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sheet dispenser is arranged beneath the sheet receiving portion, the sheets (N) resting on dispensing members of the dispenser prior to curling; a ramp being provided for engaging the front lower corners of the sheets (N) and raising them into the sheet curling portion.

17. Loading apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the delivery end of the sheet curler has an internal circumference greater than the transverse, internal dimension of a mouth of the sheet curling portion.

18. A carrier for a pneumatic transport system equipped with loading apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 16, the carrier comprising: a circular in cross-section sleeve; at least one circumferential seal provided around the sleeve; a closed front end of the sleeve; and án open rear end of the sleeve.

19. A carrier as claimed in claim 18, wherein the open rear end of the sleeve is annular, having a central opening having an internal diameter greater than the transverse dimension of the delivery end of the sheet curler.

20. A carrier as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the internal diameter of the sleeve is less than the transverse, internal dimension of a mouth of the sheet curling portion.

21. A carrier as claimed in claim 17, claim 18 or claim 20, wherein the sleeve has a front part, a rear part and a bayonet-type connection between the parts.

22. Apparatus for loading at least one sheet into an axially open carrier at an end of a transport tube of a pneumatic transport system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figure 10 or Figure 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A carrier for a pneumatic transport system equipped with loading apparatus as claimed in claim 22 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.