GB2317881A

GB2317881A - Aligning a bank note

Info

Publication number: GB2317881A
Application number: GB9723048A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andre Gerlier
Original assignee: Mars Inc
Current assignee: Mars Inc
Priority date: 1994-09-23
Filing date: 1994-09-23
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-23
Also published as: DE19534966A1; GB9419247D0; GB9723048D0; GB2293368A; GB2293368B; GB2317881B

Abstract

A U-section guide member 14' for a bank note has LEDs 80, 82 and corresponding photodiodes 84, 86 respectively at upstream and downstream ends. The bank note is aligned by moving the guide member 14' towards the bank note until the photodiodes 84, 86 are occluded. The guide member 14' is then moved away from the bank note until the photodiodes 84, 86 are no longer occluded. A pair of such guide members 14' may be arranged either side of a transport path.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING A BANK NOTE The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for aligning a bank note.

In apparatus for handling bank notes of different sizes, it is usually necessary to align bank notes as they are received, for example in order to stack the bank notes or align them with a device for testing their authenticity or fitness for recirculation. A common method of aligning bank notes is to push the notes up against a fixed lateral guide, so that the bank notes are aligned at one side. In this method, the notes are not aligned symmetrically in the transport path.

As a result, transport belts for transporting the bank notes along the transport path do not always grip the note symmetrically. In particular, wider notes are not held by the transport belts at the opposite side to the guide and may not therefore remain in alignment as they are transported.

In a stacking apparatus in which the bank notes are held by two pairs of transport belts and are pushed by a piston passing between the pairs of transport belts into a magazine in order to stack them, the piston must travel a substantially greater distance in order to disengage the notes from the transport belts if the notes are not symmetrically aligned with the pairs of transport belts.

In apparatus in which the notes are examined for authenticity or fitness, the measurement device should preferably be aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the notes.

The document DE-A-4001716 discloses a device for centring bank notes in a transport path. The device has a pair of alignment guides positioned on either side of the transport path. The alignment guides are normally held apart so that a note can be inserted between them. When the presence of a bank note is detected in the transport path, the alignment guides are biased towards the centre of the path by a spring until the alignment guides contact the edges of the bank note. Thus, the bank note is centred in the transport path. The width of the bank note is measured by determining the distance travelled by the alignment guides until they contact the edges of the bank note.

This device depends on the lateral rigidity of the bank note to hold the alignment guides apart.

However, a bank note is intrinsically a flexible item, particularly when previously used. Thus, the bank note is likely to crumple if subjected to forces on its opposite edges. This may be prevented to some degree by the shape of the alignment guides, which are U-shaped in cross-section with horizontal slots facing towards the bank note so that the edges of the bank note are received and supported within the slots.

However, the bank note is still free to crumple at its centre, and the inward extension of the guides then limits the minimum width of notes which can be centred.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of aligning a bank note, comprising: moving a guide towards the bank note so as to align the bank note, detecting the proximity of the bank note to a portion of the guide and interrupting the movement of the guide in response to the proximity detection.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for aligning a bank note, comprising: a guide having a proximity detector arranged to detect the proximity of the bank note to the guide; and means for moving the guide towards the bank note until the proximity detector detects the proximity of the note. In this way, alignment may be achieved without buckling the note.

Preferably, the guide consists of a pair of guide members positioned either side of the transport path.

Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of specific embodiments, in which:- Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a first example of alignment apparatus; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of part of the apparatus of Figure 1 along the line II-II; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the alignment apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a simplified cross-section of the apparatus in the plane IV-IV of Figure 1; Figures 5a to 5g show schematic plan views of the apparatus of Figure 1 illustrating the method used to align a bank note; Figures 6a and 6b show an alternative guide member in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a plan view of a second example of alignment apparatus; Figure 8 shows a vertical cross-section of a third example of alignment apparatus; Figures 9a and 9b show a plan view of an alignment apparatus in the first or third examples, including a pivotable barrier; and Figure 10 shows an underside view of an alternative drive mechanism for the carriages of the first or third examples.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a first example of alignment apparatus has an aperture 2 through which bank notes may be inserted. The presence of a bank note in the aperture is detected by a photosensor 4 connected to a control circuit 6. In response to detection of a bank note, the control circuit sends a command signal to a flap driver 8 which opens a flap 10 which normally blocks the aperture. The flap 10 serves to protect the interior of the alignment apparatus from dust and tampering. When a bank note passes the flap 10, it passes over a pair of arrays of light sensitive elements 12 which measure the width of the bank note according to the number of light sensitive elements 12 which are occluded by the bank note. This number is detected by the control circuit 6 which evaluates the measured width.

The alignment apparatus has a pair of guide members 14 which are mounted on pivot pins 16 to a respective pair of carriages 18 positioned beneath the transport path. The carriages 18 are movable apart and together symmetrically about a vertical plane intersecting the centre line of the transport path by means of a threaded rod 20 which passes through both the carriages and is connected to a stepping motor 22 which is driven by the control circuit 6. The threaded portions of the threaded rod 20 which pass through each of the carriages are threaded in opposite senses such that rotation of the threaded rod 20 moves the carriages 18 in opposite directions. The ends of the carriages 18 are guided by a fixed rod 24 located within slots 26 in the carriages 18. Thus, the carriages 18 can be driven together or apart according to the direction of rotation of the stepping motor 22 controlled by the control circuit 6.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the guide members 14 are supported at their ends downstream of the transport path by the pins 16 on the respective carriages 18 which fit into holes 28 in the guide members. Upstream of the holes 28, the guide members 14 have pins 30 which are connected to pins 32 on the respective carriages by springs 34, so that the upstream ends of the guide members 14 are biased inwardly toward the carriages 18. The inward motion of the free ends of the guide members 14 is limited by abutment of the pins 30 against indented portions 36 of the carriages 18.

However, the free ends of the guide members 14 may be held at a laterally fixed position by a latching mechanism 38 which engages pins 40 formed on the upper surfaces of the guide members 14. The latching mechanisms 38 are in the form of a pair of Lshaped latches 41 mounted for rotation on a horizontal axle 42. The latches 41 are actuated by a suitable drive means such as a solenoid 43 connected to the control circuit 6 so as to lift the latches 41 (as shown in dotted outline) and release the pins 40.

An alternative latching mechanism 38a is also shown in Figure 3, which comprises a pair of hooks 41a which engage the pins 40 and are each mounted for rotation on a respective vertical axle 42a. Rotation of the hooks 41a releases the pins 40.

The mechanism for driving the bank note 1 through the alignment apparatus is best shown in Figure 2.

The drive mechanism comprises an upper belt 44 and a lower belt 46 supported and driven by respective drive pulleys 48 and 50, which are connected to the respective drive shafts 49 and 51, and idler pulleys 52 and 54. The upper and lower belts 44 and 46 are positioned respectively above and below the centre portion of the transport path with a spacing d between them as shown in Figure 4. Below the lower belt 46 is positioned an eccentric wheel 56 mounted on an axle 58 which passes through the carriages 18. As the eccentric wheel 56 rotates, it periodically presses against the lower belt 46 and reduces the spacing d between the upper and lower belts 44, 46 so as to pinch the note 1 between them. Thus, the note 1 is impelled along the transport path but is periodically released to allow the note 1 to rotate into alignment.

Preferably, the eccentric wheel 56 and the drive pulleys 48 and 50 are connected to a common drive motor (not shown) which may be switched on by the control circuit 6.

The operation of the alignment mechanism will now be described with reference to Figure 5a to 5g.

In the position shown in Figure 5a the carriages 18 are driven together so that the minimum separation Sa of the guide members 14 is the median width of the notes which are to be accepted. On average, this reduces the time needed to drive the carriages 18 to their correct positions when a note is inserted, since the maximum distance required is only half the maximum total travel of the carriages 18. The flap 10 is closed in this position. When a bank note 1 is introduced into the aperture 2 and is detected by the photosensor 4, the flap 10 is opened and the note passes over the light sensitive elements 12, as shown in Figure 5b. The bank note 1 need not be inserted straight but may be skewed. Thus, the width Wb of the note 1 as measured by the light sensitive elements 12 is greater than the actual width of the note 1. The control circuit 6 evaluates the measured width and drives the stepping motor 22 to move the carriages 18 inwardly so that the minimum separation 5b of the guide members 14 is slightly greater than the measured width Wb of the note 1, to avoid jamming. However, the free ends of the guide members 14 are held by the engagement of the pins 40 with the latch mechanism 38 and are therefore held at maximum separation.

Next, the note 1 is gripped by the upper and lower belts 44, 46 by the action of the eccentric wheel 56 on the lower belt 46 and is driven between the guide members 14 as shown in Figure Sc. The separation of the guide members 14 may remain fixed at this stage, or the control circuit 6 may continuously measure the width of the note 1 by means of the light sensitive elements 12 and drive the carriages 18 so that the minimum separation Sc of the guide members 14 corresponds to the measured width Wc of the note 1.

To avoid jamming of the note 1 the minimum separation Sc is again set to be slightly larger than the measured width Wc of the note 1.

In this way, the note 1 is gradually rotated by the edges of the note 1 being driven against the tapered guide members 14. Then, the leading edge of the note 1 passes over one of a pair of sensors 60 located at either side of the transport path just past the inner ends of the guide members 14, as shown in Figure 5d. The minimum separation Sd may continuously be adjusted according to the measured width.

At this point, the control circuit 16 receives a signal from the sensors 60 and responds by sending a control signal to the solenoid 43. Thus, the latches 41 are rotated upwardly and release the pins 40, so that the free ends of the guide members 14 are pulled inwardly by the springs 34 until they abut the indented portion 36 of the carriages 18. The guide members 14 have now assumed a parallel configuration with a separation Se equal to the previous minimum separation Sd. In this way, the note 1 is rotated with its edges parallel to the direction of transport, as shown in Figure 5e.

The control circuit 6 then takes a final measurement of the width Wf of the note 1 and drives the carriages 18 together so that the separation Sf of the passages between the guides is exactly, or only very little greater than, the actual width of the note 1, as shown in Figure 5f. In order to calculate the correct separation Sf, the central circuit 6 may include a table of the accurate widths of the set of bank notes to be handled. The width measurement Wf is used to identify which note is present and the accurate width is read from the table, thereby overcoming any limitations in the accuracy of the arrays of light-sensitive elements 12. Thus, the note 1 is accurately centred in the transport path.

The guide members 14 are maintained in their final configuration until the note 1 has been driven completely past the sensors 60. At that point, the guide members 14 are driven to their maximum separation Sg as shown in Figure 5g. In this position, the guide members 14 are laterally apart from the upper and lower belts 44 and 46. It is therefore possible to pivot the upper part of the transport mechanism, including the upper belt 44 and the idler pulley 52, about the drive shaft 49 of the drive pulley 48 in order to free a jammed note, or for servicing. The pins 40 ride under the latches 41 until they are positioned outside the latches 41 which then fall so as to engage the pins 40. If no further notes are detected by the photosensor 4, the flap 10 is closed. In any event, the apparatus then again assumes the position shown in Figure 5a.

An alternative guide member 14' in an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The guide member 14' has a pair of LEDs 80, 82 set into its upper inner surface a small distance 6 away from its side wall. The LEDs 80, 82 are positioned towards respectively the downstream and upstream ends of the guide member 14'. Photodiodes 84 and 86 are set into the lower inner surface of the guide member 14' in positions opposite the respective LEDs 80, 82 and are connected to the control circuit 6.

In a variant of the final adjustment described above with reference to Figure Sf, using the alternative guide members 14', the guide members 14' are driven together until the sides of the note 1 pass between each of the LEDs 80, 82 and the corresponding photodiodes 84 and 86, so interrupting the light falling on the photodiodes 84, 86. In response to this interruption, the control circuit 6 drives the carriages apart by a small distance until the photodiodes 84 and 86 are no longer occluded. In this way, a small clearance is automatically left between the sides of the guide members 14' and the note 1 so that the note 1 can be driven onwards without jamming.

Also, the risk of crushing the note 1 between the guide members 14' is reduced since the photodiodes 84, 86 detect the proximity of the note 1 to the sides of the guide members 14'.

As shown in Figure 6a, both the leading and trailing edges of the internal side wall of the guide member are chamfered. The trailing edges are chamfered so that, when the guide member 14' is in its tapered position (as for example in Figures 5a and 5d), the corners of the trailing edges do not snag the note 1.

In an alternative embodiment, the light sensitive elements 12 are dispensed with and the LEDs 8G, 82 and photodiodes 84, 86 are used as the sole means for measuring width. The guide members 14' are maintained in their position of maximum separation (as in Figure 5g) until at least one of the sensors 60 detects the note 1, signifying that the front edge of the note is beyond the guide members 14'. The trailing edges of the guide members 14' are driven together until the photodiodes 84 on each side are occluded. Then the leading edges of the guide members 14' are released by the latch mechanism 38 and the final adjustment is carried out as described above. Alternatively the guide members 14' may be permanently mounted in a parallel configuration on the carriages 18 without the latch mechanism 38, and the guide members 14' may be driven together until the photodiodes 84, 86 are both occluded, before the final adjustment is carried out.

In a variant of the first example, only one of the guide members 14 may be pivotally mounted, while the other guide member 14 is fixed to the carriage 18 in a position parallel to the transport path.

A second example of alignment apparatus is shown in Figure 7. In this example, like parts to those of the first example are referred to using the same reference numerals. However, in this example, the guide members 14 and carriages 18 are replaced by a single guide member 70 which is mounted only for lateral movement perpendicular to the direction of transport of the note. Moreover, the upper belt 44 is replaced by an eccentrically mounted rubber wheel 72 which is rotatable about an axis 74 at an angle 6 relative to the lateral direction 76, 6 being between about 5 and 850 but preferably between 100 and 300.

The eccentrically mounted rubber wheel 72 periodically forces the note 1 against the lower belt 46 and drives the note against the guide member 70 so that the note is aligned parallel to the direction of transport.

Then, the width of the note 1 is measured by the light sensitive elements 12, which in this example are preferably positioned downstream of the guide member 70. Finally, the guide member 70 is moved laterally inwardly to centre the note 1 in the document path.

The leading edges of the guide members 14 and 70 may be chamfered to facilitate the passage of the note. In an alternative to the second example, the wheel 72 is mounted on the guide member 70.

Preferably, the initial positions of the guide members 14, 70 are positioned laterally beyond the sides of the aperture 2 to avoid snagging the note 1 as it is inserted and to render them invisible to the user.

A further embodiment, which incorporates some features of the first and second examples, will now be described with reference to Figure 8.

In this embodiment, guide members 14a and 14b are pivotally mounted on carriages 18 as in the first example. The left-hand guide member 14a carries an eccentrically mounted wheel 72 having an axis of rotation offset by a small angle e relative to the perpendicular width of the guide member 14a, as in the variant of the second example described above. The wheel 72 is driven in antiphase to the eccentric wheel 56 so that the belts 44 and 46 are pressed together and the note 1 is driven against the guide member 14a alternately. The same motor is used to drive the eccentric wheels 56, 72 and the drive pulleys 48, 50 with the eccentric wheel 72 being connected to the motor by a drive belt. In this way, a motor need not be mounted on the guide member 14a and the inertia thereof is reduced.

The internal height of the guide member 14a tapers towards the side wall, so that the left side of the bill is prevented from crumpling when it abuts the guide member 14a. The guide member 14a has a pair of LEDs 80, 82 and photodiodes 84, 86 positioned as in the alternative guide member 14' described above. The guide member 14b has only one LED 88 and oppositely positioned photodiode 90, located approximately halfway along the guide member 14b in the direction of transport. During final alignment, the guide members 14a, 14b are moved together until the photodiodes 84, 86 and 90 are all occluded, and the guide members 14a, 14b are then moved apart until the photodiode 90 is just uncovered. The eccentric wheel 72 continues to drive the note 1 against the side of the guide member 14a, so that the photodiodes 84, 86 are still occluded. In this way, some separation is achieved between the note 1 and the guide member 14b, while the note 1 is positioned against the guide member 14a. In a variant, the guide member 14b is dispensed with and the light sensitive elements 12 are used to judge when the bill is centred.

An additional feature which may be applied to any of the above examples or embodiments is shown in Figures 9a and 9b. A pivotable barrier 94, which is rotatable about a vertical axis P perpendicular to the transport path, is provided downstream from the guide members 14. In Figure 9a, the note 1 is skewed and is prevented from passing too far out of the guide members 14 by the barrier 94. If a further drive mechanism is positioned just downstream of the centring device, there is a risk that the leading corner of the note 1 may be seized by the further drive mechanism before the note is aligned. The barrier 94 prevents this from occurring. Once the note is aligned, as shown in Figure 9b, the barrier 94 is then retracted below the transport path and the note 1 is driven out from the guide members 14 to the further drive mechanism.

Figure 10 shows an alternative means for driving the carriages 18 in opposite directions.

The undersides of the carriages 18 are fixed to respective points 98, 99 on opposite sides of a belt 97 or cord which is mounted on a pair of pulleys 95, 96 having vertical axes of rotation. One of the pulleys 95 is driven by a stepper motor 100 so as to drive the carriages 18 apart or together. The stepper motor 100 is controlled by the control circuit 6.

In the alternative described above in which the guide members 14' are permanently mounted in a parallel configuration, the guide members 14' may be fixed directly to the belt 97.

The skilled person will be aware of mechanical and electronic equivalents to the parts used in the specific embodiments. Such equivalents are nevertheless considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Although some of the above features are described in relation to a specific one of the embodiments, it will be apparent to the skilled person that compatible features from different embodiments may be used in combination.

The above examples and embodiments are also described and certain aspects thereof claimed in UK patent application no. 9419247.3.

Claims

1. A method of aligning a bank note, comprising: moving a guide towards the bank note so as to align the bank note, detecting the proximity of the bank note to a portion of the guide and interrupting the movement of the guide in response to the proximity detection.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: moving the guide away from the bank note by a small distance such that the proximity thereof is no longer detected.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide comprises an elongate guide member having first and second detectors positioned towards respective ends of the guide member, said step of detecting the proximity of the bank note comprising detecting the presence of the bank note at each of said first and second detectors.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide comprises a pair of guide members positioned on opposite sides of a transport path, the step of moving the guide comprising reducing the separation between the pair of guide members.

5. Apparatus for aligning a bank note, comprising: a guide having a proximity detector arranged to detect the proximity of the bank note to the guide; and means for moving the guide towards the bank note until the proximity detector detects the proximity of the note.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the moving means is arranged subsequently to move the guide away from the note until the proximity thereof is no longer detected.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the guide comprises an elongate guide member and the proximity detector comprises first and second detectors positioned towards respective ends of said elongate guide member, the proximity detector being arranged to detect the presence of said bank note at each of said first and second detectors.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the guide comprises a pair of guide members positioned on opposite sides of a transport path, the means for moving being arranged to reduce the separation between the pair of guide members.

9. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6a and 6b of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of aligning a bank note, comprising: measuring a distance across the bank note; and moving a guide against the bank note by a distance determined according to the measured distance, so as to align the bank note.

11. A method of aligning a bank note, comprising: taking a first width measurement of the bank note; moving a guide against the bank note by a distance determined according to the first width measurement so as partially to align the bank note; rotating the guide so as to straighten the bank note; and taking a second width measurement of the bank note and moving the guide against the bank note by a variable distance according to the second width measurement so as substantially to align the bank note.

12. A method of aligning a bank note on a transport path, comprising: positioning a guide to form a tapered passage along the transport path; propelling the bank note into the tapered passage; positioning the guide to form a substantially parallel passage along the bank note path; measuring a width of the bank note; and reducing the width of the substantially parallel passage to substantially the width of the bank note.

13. Apparatus for aligning a bank note on a transport path, comprising: means for propelling the note along the transport path; a guide mounted for pivotal and translational movement; means for pivoting the guide to form a tapered passage along the transport path; means for pIvoting the guide to form a substantially parallel passage along the transport path; means for measuring a width of the note; and means for translating the guide to reduce the width of the substantially parallel passage to substantially the width of the note.

14. Apparatus for aligning a bank note comprising: a guide arranged to align the bank note; a retractable barrier arranged to prevent the bank note from being transported from the guide; and means for retracting the barrier when the bank note is aligned.

15. A method of aligning a bank note, comprising: receiving the note through an aperture; blocking the aperture when the note has passed through the aperture; and moving a guide so as to align the note; wherein the guide includes a first portion adjacent the aperture, said first portion being moved only when the aperture is blocked.

16. Apparatus for aligning a bank note, comprising an aperture for receiving the note; a guide positioned behind the aperture and having a portion adjacent the aperture; a barrier movable to block the aperture; means for moving the barrier to block the aperture when the note is located past the barrier, and means for actuating at least the portion of the guide adjacent the aperture only when the aperture is blocked.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A method of aligning a bank note, comprising: moving a guide towards the bank note so as to align the bank note, detecting the proximity of the bank note to a portion of the guide and interrupting the movement of the guide in response to the proximity detection.