US3100113A

US3100113A - Check feeding and alining mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3100113A
Application number: US66599A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Bennett; Franklin W Perry
Original assignee: NCR Corp
Current assignee: NCR Voyix Corp; National Cash Register Co
Priority date: 1960-11-01
Filing date: 1960-11-01
Publication date: 1963-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-06
Also published as: GB928000A; FR1304563A; DE1154663B; CH381897A

Description

g- 1963 J. w. BENNETT ETAL CHECK FEEDING AND ALINING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 1, 1960 FIG.|

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Y S T 1 W Y T E EE N m OMW W T T T N m z A w m N K E INN H mm T JF CHECK FEEDING AND ALINING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN W. BEN NETT THEIR ATTORNEYS 6, 1963 1. w. BENNETT ETAL 3,100,113

CHECK FEEDING AND ALINING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 1, 1960 FIG.5

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m T TR EE E MnNP N N m A o NBN "H wwm A NN mm mm H JF United states This invention relates to material-handling devices and more particularly relates to an improved means for the feeding and reversing of bank checks and means for stacking the checks in a predetermined position.

The invention is applied to a data-processing system of the type employed in a bank or other financial institution. Under this system, checks that are received are encoded with the amount of the check and a transaction code to allow for the processing of the checks by data-processing equipment. The checks are then stacked in bundles in a prearranged position for insertion into a check sorter for further processing operation. The use of prior means for feeding and stacking the checks after an encoding operation resulted in the checks being stacked on an edge which was opposite to the way they were to be inserted into the sorter. Also, the checks were sometimes mixed and turned over, requiring the operator to jog the checks so as to aline the edges of each of the checks and to arrange the checks in the position that is required for insertion into the check sorter. In most cases, this required the checks to be reversed. Thus it is an object of this invention to provide an improved material-handling device which will reverse the position of the material handled during a feeding operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved material-feeding device which will feed and aline the material in a prearranged position.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved record-feeding device which will have positive control of the record material throughout the feeding operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide jamatent detecting means which will lock up the parent machine upon the jamming of a check in the stacker, thereby warning the operator of such an occurrence.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for controlling the feeding of the checks so that they may be directed into either of two different receptacle means.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a material-feeding device which is simple to operate, compact, and capable of feeding material at a high rate of speed.

With these and other, incidental, objects in View, the. invention includes certain novel features of construction feeding device, showing the driving means for the feed rollers.

FIG. 3 is a detailed View of the feeding mechanism for reversing the direction of the feed of the checks.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIG. 1, showing a typical check-feeding station.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the details of the check shoe and shows the position of the checks after the stacker operation has occurred.

' the slot 113.

3 1 00,1 13 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 1, illustrating the details of the means for feeding and stacking the checks in an alined position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the check stacker enclosed within a cabinet having a back panel 99 and

side panels

100 and 101. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, it may be seen that the stacker has a rear panel 98, which forms with the back panel 99 a compartment within which is located the driving apparatus for the stacking means, shown more clearly in FIG. 2. The stacker normally has two front panels. One front panel covers the top portion of the stacker, while the other front panel covers the lower part of the stacker. The center section of the stacker is open to facilitate the removal of the checks from the stacking bins, described more fully hereinafter. Located in the right side panel 101 is an aperture 102, through which extends one end of a check feed guide 103. The check feed guide 103 is formed by a top guide 104 and a lower guide 105. Checks are fed into the check guide 103 to be reversed and stacked after a printing operation has occurred in the parent machine.

The stacker is normally associated with a self-contained printing mechanism of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,935,934, issued to Paul H. Williams et al. on May 10, 1960. As disclosed in that patent, the printing mechanism is under the control of a keyboard device which when operated will imprint on the check in magnetic characters the amount of the check. After the printing operation has occurred, the check is fed into the check guide 103, where it is successively engaged between two sets of rollers, each set being composed of a feed roller 107 and a pressure roller 108. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the pressure roller 108 consists of a central portion and a pair of side plates 179, which are slightly larger in diameter than the central portion. The pressure roller 108 is rotatably supported on a yoke member 109 (FIG. 1), the other end of which is biased in an upward direction by a spring 110, supported on the top guide 104. The yoke member 109 is rotatably attached to a support 111, so that, upon the engagement of a check by the rollers, the pressure roller 108 will be rotated in an upward direction against the urging of the spring 110. By this construction, the roller 108 will urge the check into engagement with its associated feed roller 107. Associated with the yoke is an adjustment arm 112, rotatably mounted on the support 111 and having a slot 113. A stud 114, mounted on the yoke 109, is positioned within By this arrangement, the pressure roller 108 is positioned adjacent to but not in contact with its associated feed roller 107. This is required because the central portion of the pressure roller 108 is constructed of nylon, while the feed roller 107 is made of rubber. Contact between these two rollers would result in the destruction of the rubber roller. It will be seen from FIG. 4 that the side plates 179 of the roller 108 overlap the peripheral surface of the feed roller 107 when the pressure roller 108 is positioned in the above-described manner. Thus, when a check or other record document is engaged between the roller 107 and the side plates 179, the record document will be bowed towards the roller 108 and forced into engagement with the feed roller 107 due to the pressure exerted by the side plates 179 on the record material.

After the check has been fed through the first two feed stations, the check enters the reversing section of the stacker by engaging the pressure roller 116 and the feed roller 115 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The construction and action of the pressure roller 116 are similar to those of the pressure roller 108. As shown, the pressure roller 116 is rotatably supported intermediate the ends of a follower arm 117, which in turn is rot-atably supported on a stud 118, mounted on the back panel 99. One end of the follower arm 117 rotatably supports another pressure roller 119, while the other end of the follower arm has a flange portion 120, which is engaged by a tension spring 121, supported by the top guide 104. An adjustment screw 122, supported by the flange 120, is used to adjust the tension which is applied to the follower arm by the spring 121. It will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the pressure roller 116 is positioned in relation to the feed roller 115 by the position of the pressure roller 119 on the follower arm 117. The pressure roller 119 does not require any side plates, due to the fact that both the pressure roller 119 and its associated feed roller 123 are made of nylon. Thus, when the pressure roller 119 is in contact with the feed roller 123, the pressure roller 116 will be positioned adjacent to but not in contact with the feed roller 115. In this position, the side plates of the pressure roller 116 will overlap the feed roller 115, thus engaging any record material that is fed through the check guide 103.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen more clearly that, as the check engages the pressure roller 116, the roller and the follower arm 117 will be rocked clockwise upwardly against the tension exerted by the spring 121. This rotation of the follower arm will also rock the pressure roller 119 from engagement with the feed roller 123 to a position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, thus allowing the check to follow a path indicated by the line 18 4. The check will continue along a path between the top guide 104 and a lower guide 124. This direction of feed will continue as long as the check is engaged by the feed roller 115 and the pressure roller 116. As soon as the check has passed these rollers, the pressure roller 116 will rotate counter-clockwise to its non-operating position under the influence of the tension spring 121. This movement will simultaneously rock the pressure roller 119 into engagement with the check, forcing the check into contact with the feed roller 123. The feed roller 123 is driven in a direction opposite to that of the feed roller 115, which results in the reversal of the direction of feed of the check as it leaves the feeding influence of the roller 115. Since the feed roller 123 is rotating in the opposite direction to that of the feed roller 115, the reversing action of the check will occur immediately after the check has passed the feed roller 115. As a practical matter, the check will be in contact with the feed roller 123 intermittently as it is being fed by the feed roller 115, due to the fact that the distance separating the two feed rollers is less than the normal length of the check being fed. Since the pressure roller 119 is out of contact with the check, the roller 123 has no effect until the pressure roller 119 forces the check into contact with the roller 123 upon the disengagament of the check from the

rollers

115 and 116, as explained previously.

As shown in FIG. 3, the means for driving the feed roller 123 consists of an intermediate gear 125 and a pressure roller 126, which is driven by the feed roller 115. Referring to FIG. 1, the intermediate gear 125 is shown rotatably supported on a stud 127, mounted on the back panel 99. Also rotatably supported on the stud 127 is an arm 128, one end of which is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 129, attached to a stud 130, mounted on the back panel 99. The other end of the arm 128 rotatably supports the pressure roller 126. Due to the biasing action of the spring 129, the pressure roller 126 is continuously urged into contact with the feed roller 115. Also mounted on the feed roller 123 and the pressure roller 126 are gears 175, which are engaged by the intermediate gear 125. From this arrangement, it will be seen that, when a check is disengaged from the

rollers

115 and 116, the feed roller 123, cooperating with the pressure roller 119, will feed the check into engagement with the pressure roller 126 and the feed roller 115. Thus the check is fed in a direction opposite from its original direction and is now ready to be fed into a collecting bin.

Located immediately below the rollers and 1 26 is a check deflector 131, mounted on a shaft 132. The shaft 132 is journaled in the back panel 99. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown attached to the shaft 132 an arm 133, the other end of which has attached thereto a link 134. The link extends horizontally across the back panel, where it engages a lever 135, pivotally supported on a stud 136, mounted on the back panel 99. In FIG. 1, there is shown located below the check guide a solenoid 106, mounted to the back panel 99 by means of screws 137. The plunger of the solenoid 106 is connected to a link 138, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the lever 135 through a slot 139, located in the back panel. The solenoid is controlled from the parent machine and, when energized, will rotate the check deflector 131 by means of the linkage described above to a position which will deflect the check either into an upper check bin, formed by the side panels 140, or into a lower check bin, formed by the side panels 141.

Referring to FIG. 1, the check deflector is shown in a position to deflect the checks into the upper bin. Since the constructions of both bins are identical, the description in this application will be limited to the upper bin only.

The check, after being deflected by the deflector 131, enters the upper check bin through a check chute comprising a top guide 143 and a bottom guide 144. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer edge 145 of the top guide 143 is canted to the left, While the lower guide 144 is substantially cut away, leaving only a narrow ridge, on which the check is guided to a stacked position.

Located adjacent the top guide 143 are two feed rollers, 146 and 148. The first feed roller, 146, cooperates with a pressure roller 147, similar in construction to the pressure roller 108, described previously. As shown in FIG. 6, the feed roller 146 is olfset in relation to the direction of feed of the checks as they leave the check deflector 131. Due to this arrangement, the checks, when engaged by the feed roller 146, will be urged into engagement with the back panel 99, thus providing positive control over the feeding of the checks by the roller 146. The checks are then fed into contact with the feed roller 148. It will be ntoed that the feed roller 146 has a flat surface 180. By this construction, the feed roller 146 will intermittently feed the checks until they are engaged by the feed roller 148, at which time the flat portion of the roller 146 will allow the checks to be positioned by the feed roller 148.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the feed roller 148 is so positioned in relation to the direction of travel of the checks that, once the checks are engaged by the roller 148, they will be rotated counter-clockwise and positioned on a check shoe 149 ('FIG. 1). As seen in FIG. 1, the check shoe 149 is slidably supported at one end by a pair of cross links 150, while the other end of the shoe is attached to a pair of cross links 151. A spring 152 (-FIG. 5), mounted on the cross links, urges the check shoe into engagement with the feed roller 148. Thus, as the checks are fed onto the shoe, they will be urged into engagement with the roller 148, thereby allowing the roller to exert a more positive control over the positioning of the checks. Under the guidance of the roller 148, the checks will be so positioned on the shoe 149 that their leading edges will abut the side panel 153 of the check bin, while the inside edges abut the back panel 99. This provides for the alinement of the edges of the checks as they are stacked on the shoe. It will be seen that, due to the rotation of the check as it reaches the end of the full length of travel, interference from the checks stacked previously will be reduced to a minimum, thus insuring that the checks will be aligned on their leading edges, as required.

It should be noted from FIG. 1 that, as the checks are stacked on the shoe 149, the loose end of a check will droop over the edge of the shoe, due to the fact that the length of the shoe is much shorter than the length of the check. Because of this construction, any check which is crumpled or bent will not interfere wtih the stacking of a succeeding check. Thus the checks will be stacked, and their leading edges will be alined, in such a manner that they may be removed from the stacker and inserted into a sorter without the requirement of jogging the checks to insure that the checks are in the required position.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown located in the check chute a sensing arm 154, attached to the switch arm 155 of a micro-switch 156, mounted on the back panel 99. The function of this switch is to act as a jam detector signalling the jamming of a check in the check chute. Each time a check is fed through the check chute, the arm 154 will be rotated clockwise to open the switch 156, which drops out a relay (not shown) located in the parent machine. In order for the next check to be processed, the relay must be energized, which normally occurs as the switch 156 is closed upon the passing of a check over the arm 154. When a check becomes jammed in the chute, the switch 156 will remain open, thus preventing operation of the parent machine. Such a condition will give suflicient notice to the operator of the jammed condition of the stacker, thus allowing the operator to take steps to eliminate this condition.

In the case where the check deflector 131 is positioned to deflect the check into the lower bin, the checks will enter a check chute formed by a top guide 157 and a lower guide 158. The check will be transported along the chute by the

feed rollers

107, 146, and 148 in the manner described in connection with the upper bin. Also located in the chute is a jam detector device, of the same construction as that disclosed above.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the driving means of the feed rollers utilized in the stacker. Located hori zontally at the top of the stacker is a coupling shaft 159, one end of which is connected to the drive shaft of a motor (not shown) located on the parent machine. The coupling shaft is rotatably supported by a plurality of support blocks 160, each block being mounted on the back panel 99. Mounted on the coupling shaft are a series of bevel gears 161. Each bevel gear 161 drives another bevel gear 162, pinned to one end of a shaft 163 (FIG. 1), the other end of which supports a feed roller. Operation of the coupling shaft by the motor will drive each feed roller through the above gear arrangement. Another bevel gear, 181, also located on the coupling shaft 159, drives a gear 182, which is mounted on a shaft 164, to which is connected a pulley 165. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that each of the feed rollers associated with the feeding of the check after it has left the check deflector has a similar pulley 166. As shown, one set of pulleys is driven by means of a belt 167, while the other set of pulleys is driven by a belt 168. Associated with these two belt systems are a pair of idler pulleys 169, with slide means '170 for adjusting the tensions of the belt systems. Thus each feed roller is driven at a constant speed by the motor located in the parent machine.

While the form of the invention shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet-feeding mechanism, the combination of a first means for feeding a sheet along a first path;

means located in said first path for deflecting the leading edge of the sheet along a second path;

second feeding means located along said second path and Within a sheet length from said first feeding means, said second feeding means feeding the sheet along a third path the direction of which is substantially opposite to the first and second paths;

means located adjacent the first and second paths supporting said first and second feeding means, said means being operable by the engaging of the sheet by said first feeding means for automatically disabling the second feeding means;

and means engaging said supporting means for operating said supporting means whereby said second feeding means engages said sheet for feeding the sheet along said third path upon the disengagement of the sheet from said first feeding means.

2. In a sheet-feeding apparatus, the combination of first means for feeding a sheet along a first path;

means located in said first path for deflecting said sheet into a second path located at an angle with said first path;

second means located adjacent said second path and within a sheets length of said first feeding means for feeding said sheet along said second path in a reverse direction;

a member rotatably mounted adjacent said first and second paths and supporting said first and second feeding means, said member being rotated by the engagement of said sheet with said first feeding means whereby said second feeding means is disabled;

and means engaging said rotatable member for urging said member in a direction whereby said second feeding means is moved into an engaging position with said sheet by the disengagement of the sheet from said first feeding means. 7

3. In a sheet-reversing device, the combination of means for advancing a sheet along a predetermined path including at least a first and a second pair of rollers positioned along said path and within a sheets length of each other, each pair comprising a stationary feed roller and a movable pressure roller;

power means for driving the first feed roller in one direction;

means for driving the second feed roller in a direction opposite to the first feed roller;

a rotatable arm positioned adjacent said path and supporting both first and second pressure rollers, said arm being rotated to a first position by the engagement of the first pressure roller with said sheet wherein said second pressure roller is moved to a disabling position, and being moved to a second position by the disengagement of said sheet With said first pressure r-o-ller wherein said second pressure roller engages said sheet;

and means continuously urging said arm into said second position whereby a sheet is advanced successively in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said driving means of the second feed roller includes a gear train driven by said first feed roller.

5. In a record-sheet-feeding device,

means for advancing a record sheet along a predetermined path comprising a first and a second set of rollers located along said path within a distance less than the length of a record sheet of each other, each set being driven in an opposite direction; and

a rotatable arm positioned adjacent said path and supporting a roller of each set, said arm being rotated to a position disabling the roller of said second set by the engagement of the roller of the first set with the leading edge of a record sheet and being rotated to another position by the disengagement of the record sheet from the roller of the first set whereby the roller 0f the second set engages the record sheet for advancing the [record sheet in a direction opposite to the direction advanced by the first set of rollers.

6. In a record-sheet-feeding apparatus, the combination of a first means for feeding a record sheet along a first predetermined path;

a second means for feeding a record sheet along a second predetermined path substantially opposite to 1 said first predetermined path, said second means being positioned within a sheets length of said first feeding means;

means for guiding the record sheet from the first feeding means to the second feeding means;

a member rotatably mounted adjacent said first and second paths and supporting both feeding means, said member being movable to a first position 'by the engagement of a record sheet by said first feeding means wherein said second feeding means is moved to a disabled position and to a second position by the disengagement of the record sheet from said first feeding means wherein the second feeding means engages and feeds the record sheet along said second path;

third feeding means positioned along said second predetermined path, said means including a drive roller having a portion of its circumferential contact surface removed whereby said record sheet is fed along said path only during the engagement of said record sheet by the contact surface of said drive roller;

and fourth feeding means positioned along said second predetermined path and within a sheets length of \said third feeding means, said fourth feeding means being mounted in an ofiset position in relation to 'said third feeding means whereby the record sheet is rotated during a feeding operation by said fourth feeding means only when the cutaway portion of the driveroller of the third feeding means is positioned adjacent the record sheet.

7. In a record-sheet-reversing device, the combination a first set of rollers for advancing a record sheet along a first path comprising a pressure roller and a driving roller;

a curved record sheet guide located in said first path for deflecting the record sheet from said first path to a second path, said'second path being at, a substantial angle with said firstpath;

a second set of rollers positioned along the deflected path and within a sheet length of said first set of rollers for feeding the record sheet along a third path the direction of which is. substantially opposite to said first and second paths, said second set of 'rollers'comprising a pressure roller and a driving roller;

a rotatable arm mounted intermediate its ends adjacent the first and second paths and supporting on one of its ends the pressure rollers of both the first and second sets of rollers, said arm being rotated by the engagement of a record sheet by the pressure roller of said first set of rollers whereby the pressure roller of said second set of rollers. is moved to a nonengaging position;

and resilient means engaging the other end of said rotatable arm for constantly urging said arm in a direction whereby the pressure roller of said second set of rollers is moved into an engaging position with said record sheet upon the disengagement of said record sheet from the pressure roller of the first set of rollers for advancing said record sheet along said third path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,191 Whelon Oct. 15, 1935 2,841,394 Stobb July 1, 1958 2,901,246 Wagner Aug. 25, 1959 2,914,320 "Petre Nov. 24, 1959 'Strickholm Apr. 19,

Claims

1. IN A SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION OF A FIRST MEANS FOR FEEDING A SHEET ALONG A FIRST PATH; MEANS LOCATED IN SAID FIRST PATH FOR DEFLECTING THE LEADING EDGE OF THE SHEET ALONG A SECOND PATH; SECOND FEEDING MEANS LOCATED ALONG SAID SECOND PATH AND WITHIN A SHEET LENGTH FROM SAID FIRST FEEDING MEANS, SAID SECOND FEEDING MEANS FEEDING THE SHEET ALONG A THIRD PATH THE DIRECTION OF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY OPPOSITE TO THE FIRST AND SECOND PATHS; MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT THE FIRST AND SECOND PATHS SUPPORTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND FEEDING MEANS, SAID MEANS BEING OPERABLE BY THE ENGAGING OF THE SHEET BY SAID FIRST FEEDING MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISABLING THE SECOND FEEDING MEANS; AND MEANS ENGAGING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WHEREBY SAID SECOND FEEDING MEANS ENGAGES SAID SHEET FOR FEEDING THE SHEET ALONG SAID THIRD PATH UPON THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHEET FROM SAID FIRST FEEDING MEANS.