JPH0479940B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document transport device for transporting documents around corners. Moreover, this invention
The present invention relates to a transport mechanism such as used in a banking machine to transport checks and other documents that may be combed and folded before being provided to the banking machine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an apparatus capable of handling corner folds of documents to enable them to be transported on conventional trucks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known in banking to use check encoding devices to automatically process checks and related documents. The check encoding device is supplied with stacks of checks, and individual checks are transported through the device for reading data therefrom and for being stacked in the appropriate stacks that are ejected. Minimizing the size of such devices requires the use of tracks having one or more curves rather than the otherwise ideal single straight track structure. Checks and related documents are subjected to mechanical abuse by the public before being accepted into banking equipment. This check may be bent. The folding of the document provides mechanical strength to the document that it does not otherwise have.
Problems therefore exist when handling folded documents, especially when handling documents with folds present in the transport direction. 1st
In addition, folded documents exhibit a larger effective cross-sectional area than would be expected for an unfolded document, and can jam on the sides of narrow openings that would otherwise receive the document. It turns out. The folds in the document provide longitudinal strength to the document to resist forced entry into the aperture.

When the mechanical strength limitations of folded documents are overcome, the documents can tear and collapse causing jams in document transport devices.

Conveyance of a folded document can take place in very large radius corners, where the frictional effect of the folded document against the corner border on the document conveyance may cause the document to stall or collapse. It is not sufficient to cause Due to the additional size required of a document processing device to accommodate large radius corners, it is not advantageous to provide a document processing device in which documents are conveyed around large diameter corners. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a document transport device that is capable of transporting a document folded in a direction existing in the transport direction around a small diameter corner.

A "corner fold" is defined herein as a portion of the leading edge of a document that is folded out of the plane of the document.

Mishandling of checks and banking documents often results in corner folds in the document, meaning that the corners of the document become folded out of the plane of the document. Corner folds add to the width of the document and can prevent the document from entering the document handling track. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that allows documents with folded corners to be made suitable for transport along a document track.

Structure and operation of the invention The present invention is a document conveying device for conveying a document around a corner, and the conveying device has a bending mechanism for guiding an edge of the document in a curved path around the corner. a curved track adjacent to the track outside the corner for supporting the document transversely to the surface of the document and the path; and a brake cylinder spaced apart from the boundary across an entrance to the transport device, the brake cylinder and the border allowing a path between the brake cylinder and the border to allow documents to enter the transport device. When it enters, it works together,
in order to reduce the mechanical strength imparted to the document across the surface of the document due to folds in the direction of the path, the folds in the document that are present in the direction of the path are released, and the driver biasing the document against the curved border so as to flatten against the curved border so that the document can be pliable for completion of the transport around the circumference; , configured to work.

In a first preferred embodiment, a curved track is provided in which the groove receives the lower edge of the document. A curved boundary is provided adjacent to the track. In a first preferred embodiment, this curved boundary is a wall. This wall supports the document against tilting from the track as it curves. Preferably, this wall forms one side of the groove and extends over the entire height of the document. A brake cylinder is provided at the entrance to the document transport on the side of the track opposite the wall and spaced from this wall. The document enters the transport device by passing between the brake cylinder and the wall. The brake cylinder cooperates with the wall to release all longitudinal folds of the document as it enters the transport device.

The document is forced by the driver into the conveyor and around the curve. The driver preferably consists of a driven friction wheel that presses against the idler pinch wheel.
This document preferably has friction wheels and an idler so that it can be pushed around the track.
It is gripped near the edge adjacent to the groove between it and the wheel.

The driver holds the document with the fold open.
Push around the truck and against walls. The document is flattened against the wall, thereby making it flexible for interrupted transport around corners.

The brake cylinder is rotated to advance the document around the track, and when a bend strikes the brake cylinder, the rotation of the brake cylinder forces the corner of the bend toward the wall, thereby preventing the document from jamming. prevent. Preferably, the brake cylinder rotates at a surface speed equal to the transport speed of the document around the track. The brake cylinder is preferably mounted for rotation with the friction wheel, in which case the brake cylinder is preferably mounted coaxially above and for rotation therewith.

The brake cylinder rotates so that the rotation of the brake cylinder tends to push the document forward in the groove.
It is inclined through a small predetermined angle in the direction of document transport. The friction wheel and idler pinch wheel assembly are preferably similarly angled to urge the document through the groove of the track.

In a first example of the first preferred embodiment, the brake cylinder and driven friction wheel combination is preferably driven by motor means coaxially coupled to the driven friction wheel in the vicinity of the track. In the second example of the first preferred embodiment, the brake cylinder assembly preferably includes:
It is driven by a belt drive means which rotates a driven friction wheel.

Preferably, a lip is provided adjacent to the brake cylinder at the entrance of the transport device so as to form a short path between the wall and the brake cylinder in order to gently open the document fold.

In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the curved boundary, in the previous example the wall, is replaced by a plurality of guide cylinders arranged on the far side of the groove outside the curve around the curved track. Everything is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that: First of the second preferred embodiment
In the example, the guide cylinder is an idler cylinder that can be rotated by passing documents that engage it. In a second example of the second preferred embodiment, the guide cylinder is dynamically rotated to assist the document around the track. Where the brake cylinder is rotated by a belt drive mechanism, this belt drive mechanism is preferably adapted to drive the guide cylinder. In a second example variant of the second preferred embodiment, the guide cylinder, like a brake cylinder, is tilted to force the document into the groove in the track.

Both the first and second preferred embodiments are capable of corner folding at the leading edge of the document.
If the corners are bent, apply a brake or brake at the entrance of the conveyor.
Appears between the cylinder and the boundary. If the edge of the corner fold is closer than some predetermined distance from the plane of the document, the corner fold will rest between the brake cylinder and the border and therefore lie within the plane of the document. It is straightened again so that it lies flat. If the edge of the corner fold is separated from the plane of the document by more than a predetermined distance, the interface from the brake cylinder folds the corner fold back against the surface of the document. In either case,
The additional width imparted to the document by corner folds that impedes progress is eliminated.

The invention will be further explained by way of example in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a projection view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

The curved track 10 is provided with a groove 12 in which the lower edge 14 of a document 16 is received. This groove 12
serves to guide the document 16 around the corners formed by the curved track 10. The platform 18 has grooves 1 on the inside of the corners.
2 and a curved boundary in the form of a boundary wall 20 forms the side of the groove 12 outside the corner. Preferably, the boundary wall 20 itself forms the outer boundary of the groove 12. However, it is also possible for the boundary wall 20 to be arranged separate from and simply adjacent to the groove 12. Groove 1
The degree of radial separation between the outer boundary of 2 and the boundary wall 20 can also be made as will become clear from the description below.

Document 16 has one or more longitudinal folds 2
2 may be provided. Longitudinal bend 2
2 need not lie exactly in the direction of transport of the document 16 as indicated by the first arrow 24 so that the fold 22 provides strength to the document 16.
It is only necessary that the bend 22 has a directional component in the conveying direction. The longitudinal folds 22 are undesirable and provide mechanical strength to the document 16 that resists bending of the document 16 both in the transport direction and across the surface.

A driven friction wheel 28 engages the document 16 near the lower edge 14 of the document 16. A driven friction wheel is rotatably mounted on platform 18. Brake cylinder 30 is mounted coaxially on driven friction wheel 28. The brake cylinder 30 rotates with the friction wheel 28 and is fixed thereto. Both of these are driven by a coaxial direct drive motor 32 mounted near the platform 18 and connected to the coupling between the brake cylinder 30 and the driven friction wheel 28 by a direct drive shaft 34 through a penetration in the platform 18. Provides rotational driving force to the

Brake cylinder 30 is bent document 1
6 route between the brake cylinder 30 and the boundary wall 20
spaced from the boundary wall 20 by a distance sufficient to fit between the boundary wall 20 and the boundary wall 20. This boundary wall 20 is provided with an inlet lip 36 adjacent to the brake cylinder 30.

As the bent document 16 is engaged by the friction wheel 28, the bent document 16 is pulled together with the inlet lip 36 into the space between the brake cylinder 30 and the boundary wall 20. Any sharp corners of the fold can slide against the curved surface of the brake cylinder 30 and the sloped surface of the inlet lip 36, so that this bend
The width may be slightly wider than the clearance between 6 and 6. Furthermore, the rotation of the brake cylinder 30 causes the brake cylinder 30 to offset all sharp folded edges and to retract in the direction of the space between the brake cylinder 30 and the boundary walls 20,36. It works in such a way that it

The combination of entry lip 36 and brake cylinder 30 creates a shortened path for documents 16 as they advance along track 10. The curvature of the cylindrical surface of the brake cylinder 30 and the entrance lip and wall 20 cooperate to continually reduce the amount of width that can accommodate the document 16, thereby reducing the fold 22 of the document 16. to release.
By releasing the folds 22, the mechanical strength imparted to the document 16 that resists bending of the document in both directions across its path and surface is reduced. The remaining small angle that is allowed to remain at the apex of each fold 22 is
6 is not sufficient to resist the elasticity due to jamming against the boundary wall 20. Documents 16 and boundary wall 20
The friction between the edges causes the document 16 to slide against it despite all remaining folds, thereby flattening the document 16 against the boundary wall 20 and forming a continuous line around the groove 12. The entire structure is flexible for transportation.

The force for flattening the document 16 against the boundary wall 20 is provided by a friction wheel 28 and in part from a direct drive motor 32 via a brake cylinder 30. Direct drive motor 32 may be a brush commutated or brushless commutated motor whose speed is regulated, or it may be a step motor. Direct drive may be provided via a gearbox.

2 is a view of the conveying device of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A' in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1; FIG. This direct drive motor 32 has been omitted for simplicity.

Friction wheel 28 rotates in engagement with an idler pinch wheel 38 mounted on the inlet platform 40 of track 10 on the opposite side of groove 12. Brake cylinder 30 is mounted such that its axis is parallel to the plane of boundary wall 20 adjacent entrance lip 36 and parallel to the surface of document 16 as it enters the transport mechanism. It is not necessary that the axis of the brake cylinder 30 be exactly parallel to the wall 20 at the entrance to the tracks 10,12. The brake cylinder 30 can be tilted to accommodate wider folds 22 in one portion of the document 16 than in other portions of the document 16 without departing from the operation of the invention as described above. Similarly, the proportions of idler pinch wheel 38 and driven friction wheel 28 can be reversed, with idler wheel 38 being instead driven by motor 32 and directly on document 16, as well as when document 16 is present. Rotation is imparted to the friction wheel 28 by indirectly mechanically frictionally coupling the document 16. In either case, rotation of the driven friction wheel 28 imparts rotation to a brake cylinder 30 that is coaxially mounted to the friction wheel 28.

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus of FIG. 1 viewed along line B--B' in the direction of the arrow. Again, direct drive motor 32 has been omitted for simplicity.

The axis 42 of the brake cylinder 30 is oriented at 90° to the direction of transport of the document 16 so that the rotation of the brake cylinder 30 forces the document 16 within the groove 12 as the document 16 passes along the track 10. is tilted by an angle θ away from . The axis of the friction wheel 28 is similarly inclined and also forces the document 16 within the groove 12. Although idler wheel 38 is preferably tilted as well, one skilled in the art will appreciate that idler wheel 38 is tilted as well.
It will be appreciated that 8 may be placed in other planes.

Friction wheel 28 and idler wheel 38
The combinations are used in the preferred embodiments of this invention merely to illustrate preferred examples. Document 1 along track 10 in groove 12
All other methods of transporting 6 can also be used. Brake cylinder 30 may be independently rotatable. brake cylinder 30
preferably rotates at a surface speed equal to the speed at which the document 16 is transported around the track 10. In the preferred embodiment shown here, this is
The diameter of the brake cylinder 30 is connected to the friction wheel 28.
This is achieved by making the diameter the same as that of the The brake cylinder 30 can be rotated at a surface speed greater than the transport speed of the document 16 to force the document 16 further into the groove 12 of the track 10. Similarly, the brake cylinder 30 is made of a low-friction material so that whenever there is a difference between the transport speed of the document 16 and the surface speed of the brake cylinder 30, the document 16 slides without impediment to it. Can be configured.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is
Provides transport of the document 16 through an angle of 90°.
It should be understood that this document may be conveyed at an angle greater or less than 90°. Additionally, it should be appreciated that additional drivers may be included around the truck 10 to move the document 16. This additional driver allows the document 16 to move more quickly through the friction wheel 28 and idler wheel 38 within the truck 10.
A special pair of friction drive wheels 28 and idler wheels 38 may be provided arranged to grip the document 16 before it passes completely from the other pair.

FIG. 4 shows a variation on the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the transport mechanism can be mounted on a flat surface without any penetrating elements below the level of the track 10. In place of the direct drive motor 32, a belt drive motor 44 is provided that drives the motor 44 around a pulley 48 on the belt drive motor 44.
and is provided for driving the brake cylinder 30 and friction wheel 28 combination by a belt 46 passing around a waist 50 between the brake cylinder 30 and the friction wheel 28 . This belt drive motor 44 can be mounted substantially in the plane of the track 10 and a protrusion of the conveying device below the plane of the track 10 is therefore unnecessary. Although the constricted portion 50 is shown fairly large in FIG. 4 for clarity, in reality the brake cylinder 30 is
The brakes 22 are arranged so as to engage the maximum number of folds 22 across the width of the document 16 for opening the document 16.
The length of cylinder 30 should be as small as possible to enclose. As an alternative configuration, the constriction 50 may be made as a simple slot within the surface of the brake cylinder 30.

FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The wall 20 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that the wall 20 has been replaced by a plurality of rows of guide cylinders 52 located on the track 10 outside the bend in the shoulder 54 of the track 10. be.
Guide cylinder 52 forms a path for document 16 identical to that formed by wall 20. First guide cylinder 5 in track 10
2, by virtue of its curved surface, effectively performs the same action performed by wall 20 and entrance lip 36 shown in FIG. The guide cylinder is
Although shown as having the same diameter as brake cylinder 30, it should be appreciated that guide cylinder 52 has a different diameter than brake cylinder 30. Furthermore, the guide cylinders 52 do not have to have the same diameter as each other.

In a first example of the second preferred embodiment, guide cylinder 52 is an idler cylinder. The guide cylinder 52 is connected to the shoulder 54 of the truck 10.
It is mounted so that it can rotate around its axis. When the document 16 hits the guide cylinder 52, the guide cylinder 52 rotates due to the friction of the document 16 and provides less frictional resistance to the path of the document 16 than would be provided by the wall 20 of FIG. A guide cylinder is mounted with its axis parallel to the surface of the document 16 and at right angles to the path of the document 16.

In a second variant of the second preferred embodiment, the guide cylinder 52 is driven. Guide cylinder 5
2 is driven to rotate at a surface speed equal to the transport speed of the document 16. This document 16 therefore has no friction against the guide cylinder 52. Each of the guide cylinders 52 can be rotated by an independent motor. The guide cylinders 52 may be rotated by a common motor. Similarly, both guide cylinder 52 and brake cylinder 30 may be rotated by the same motor. In this second variant of the second preferred embodiment, the guide cylinder 52
Brake cylinder 30 for pushing within 2
Similarly, it is angled so as to be inclined in the transport direction of the document 16. The guide cylinder 52 is
It can be operated in conjunction with the pair of friction wheels 28 and pinch wheels 38 in the same way that brake cylinders are operated.

Although the second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is shown used in conjunction with a direct drive motor 32, the embodiment of FIG. It should be recognized that 48, 46, and 50 can be equally used and provide the same space saving effect.

In the preferred embodiments described so far, the angle of inclination θ of the axis of the brake cylinder is between 5° and
Selected to be within 10°. This angle θ
is the track 12 and the brake cylinder 30.
, interfaces 20 , 52 , friction wheels 28 and idler wheels 38 may be selected to have different values depending on the friction properties of the document 16 .

FIG. 6A shows the document 16 with its corners folded. An example number 53 to be read by the banking device is provided adjacent the lower edge 14 of the document 16. Document 16 is transported in the direction of second arrow 54. The folded corner 56 is folded away from the document 16 by folding it along the fold line 58 from the plane of the document 16, as shown by the third arrow 60.
occurs at the leading edge 57 of.

FIG. 6B shows the result of passing the document 16 through the transport device of FIGS. , document 16
is far enough away from the plane of when pushed back,
The folded corner 56 is folded as shown by the fourth arrow 62 and lies flat against the plane of the document 16. One example digit 53 to be read by the device (by means not shown) is located at the bottom edge 14 of the document 16.
6B, the corner folds 56 shown in FIG. 6B allow the document 16 to be flexible and to operate in approximately the same manner as if the corner folds 56 were not present, without in any way impairing subsequent movement of the reader. give similar cross-sectional areas. The document 16 is thereby advanced to conventional document handling and transport equipment.

FIG. 6C shows the document 16 of FIG. 6A passing through the transport device of FIGS. Brake to be returned
It is sufficiently close to the plane of the document 16 to rest between the cylinder 30 and the borders 20,52. The rotation of the brake cylinder 30 causes the document 16 to catch the corner fold 56 due to friction.
This has the effect of drawing out the corner fold 56 within the plane of .
In this case, brake cylinder 30 is preferably rotated at a surface speed that exceeds the linear velocity of document 16 within track 10.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the corner fold 56 is the document 16 on which the brake cylinder 30 is placed.
However, the corner fold 56 on the other side of the document 16 engages with the border 20,
It should be noted that it is also folded back towards the document 16. If the boundary 20 consists of a series of driven guide cylinders 52 as shown in FIG. The first guide cylinder 52 encounters the document 16 so that the corner folds 56 of the document 16 can be unfolded and brought back into the plane of the document 16 as shown in FIG. 6C.
It may be driven at a surface velocity greater than the linear velocity of document 16 transport.

Although the document 16 shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C was not shown as having a longitudinal fold 22, the document 16 shown in FIGS.
It should be noted that the document 16 of FIGS. B and 6B may similarly include longitudinal folds 22.

The invention and its embodiments so far described have the advantage of regulating the document 16, such that it can be handled by prior art document handling devices after passing through the transport device described for the invention. Therefore, the invention can simply be used as a document adjustment station without the need to rotate the document 16 through a certain angle. Therefore, the document 16 is moved by the drivers 38, 28 to the border areas 20, 5.
2, it is only necessary that the track 10 be bent by a small enough angle to break the longitudinal bend 22. Similarly, brake cylinder 30 and border 2 cooperate to reduce and eliminate obstacles to document advancement caused by corner folds 56.
The function of 0,52 is to remove the corner crease 56.
It can also be used separately at the beginning of the document handling device as well as throughout it for the readjustment of corner folds 56 that may themselves reestablish themselves during the transport of the document 16.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first modification of the first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows arrow A in Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along line -A'; Figure 3 shows the line B- in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along line B'; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second modification of the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment. Figures 6A, 6B and 6C respectively show the folding of the corner of the document before it is delivered to all the transport devices of the previous figures;
indicates corner folds that are folded back against the document, as well as corner folds that fold back into the plane of the document;
It is a diagram. In the figure, 10 is a curved track, 12 is a groove, 14 is a lower edge of a document, 16 is a document, 18 is a platform, 20 is a boundary wall, 22 is a longitudinal bend, 28 is a driven inspection wheel; 30
is a brake cylinder, 32 is a direct drive motor, 34 is a drive shaft, 36 is an inlet lip, 36 is a boundary wall, 38 is an idler pinch wheel, 44 is a belt drive motor, 46 is a belt, 48 is a pulley, 50 Waist part, 5
2 is a guide cylinder, 54 is a shoulder, 57 is a leading edge of a document, and 58 is a folding line.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A document transport device for transporting a document around a corner, comprising: a curved track for guiding an edge of the document in a curved path around the corner; a driver for pushing a document along a path; a curved border adjacent to the track outside the corner for supporting the document across the surface of the document and the path; and an entrance to the transport device. A brake disposed in a certain spatial relationship with respect to the boundary crossing the
a cylinder, the brake cylinder and the boundary portion comprising:
When a document enters said conveying device by a path between them, there are in said path direction in order to reduce the mechanical strength imparted to the document across the surface of the document by bends in said path direction. cooperating to unfold the folds of the document; and then the driver causes the document to flatten against the curved edges to complete the conveyance around the corner. A document transport device operative to force a document against said curved boundary so as to be pliable. 2. If the edge of a corner fold of a document is initially at a distance less than a certain distance from the plane of the document, by returning the corner fold to the plane of the document, or by , if the corner fold is initially located at a distance greater than the predetermined distance from the plane of the document, the corner fold of the document is brought back into the plane of the document by returning the folded part of the corner fold to the surface of the document. 2. The document transport device of claim 1, wherein said brake cylinder and said boundary portion co-operate to provide a transition to a document transport device. 3. The brake cylinder is operated to rotate at a surface speed equal to the transport speed of the document in order to prevent jamming of folded documents as well as to assist in advancing the document along the path. A document conveying device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The axis of the brake cylinder lies in a direction having a component parallel to the path, such that rotation of the cylinder forces the edge of the document into the curved track. document transport equipment. 5 the curved track comprises a slot in the base and the curved border extends across the width of the document and forms an edge of the slot outside the curved track; A document conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a wall that protects the document. 6 said wall is provided with an inlet lip adjacent to said brake cylinder, said lip for introducing documents into the wide end of the short path and for moving the document towards the narrow end of the short path; the lip is provided to form a short path for the document between itself and the brake cylinder, whereby the distance between the brake cylinder and the wall is such that the distance between the lip and the brake cylinder is such that the distance between the lip and the Claim 5, which may become progressively shorter as it moves along said curved path due to the gradual opening of the bends.
Document conveyance device as described in Section. 7. The document conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the boundary portion includes a plurality of guide cylinders arranged along the curved path. 8. The document transport apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of guide cylinders comprises one or more idler cylinders that can be automatically rotated by the path of the document thereon. 9. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the plurality of guide cylinders comprises one or more driven cylinders that can be rotated to assist in advancing the document along the tortuous path. Document transport device. 10 said driven cylinder may be further operated to advance a document within said curved track;
A document conveying device according to claim 9. 11. Claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a driven friction wheel in press-fitting engagement with an idler wheel at the entrance to the conveying device through which documents can be introduced into the conveying device by introduction therebetween. The document conveyance device according to any one of Items 1 to 10. 12. Claim 11, wherein said driven friction wheel is operable to apply a force to a document to propel it within said curved track.
Document conveyance device as described in Section. 13. The document transport device of claim 11 or 12, wherein the driven friction wheel is coupled to the brake cylinder to impart the rotation. 14. The document transport device of claim 13, wherein the brake cylinder is mounted coaxially and for rotation with the driven friction wheel. 15. Claim 13, wherein the driven friction wheel is coupled to receive rotational power from a coaxially coupled direct drive motor.
15. The document conveying device according to item 1 or 14. 16. the driven friction wheel is coupled to receive rotational force from a belt drive mechanism;
A document conveying device according to claim 13 or 14. 17. The document conveyance device according to claim 16, wherein the belt drive mechanism is coupled to apply rotational force to the driven cylinder.