WO2009020350A2

WO2009020350A2 - Media skew adjusting apparatus for media dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2009020350A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang-Ho Moon; Gi-Taek Lim
Original assignee: Lg N-Sys Inc.
Priority date: 2007-08-08
Filing date: 2008-08-06
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Also published as: CN101542544A; EP2188789A2; KR20090015466A; KR101388325B1; EP2188789B1; WO2009020350A3; EP2188789A4; CN101542544B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser. In the present invention, coupling gears that are the last gears of a power transmission unit are mounted to both ends of an interlocking rotational shaft, which has both the ends rotatably supported on frame plates. The power transmission unit serves to transmit driving force of a driving source. First and second clutches are provided to be coupled to the coupling gears, wherein the clutches selectively transmit the driving force of the driving source. First and second driving shafts are rotatably installed to the frame plates together with the first and second clutches, respectively. Feed rollers for conveying a medium are installed on the driving shafts, respectively. Idle rollers are installed in correspondence to the feed rollers, respectively. In the meantime, brake assemblies are further employed for more accurately controlling the rotations of the feed rollers. According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that it is possible to securely adjust skew of a medium to thereby enhance the operational performance of the automatic media dispenser.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

MEDIA SKEW ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR MEDIA DISPENSER [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an automatic media dispenser, and more particularly, to a media skew adjusting apparatus for adjusting and eliminating skew of a medium with respect to a conveying direction when the medium is conveyed in an automatic media dispenser.

[Background Art] The term "media" used herein indicates, for example, bills, checks, tickets, certificates, and the like. The media include various objects having a very small thickness compared with width or length thereof.

In order to determine a type, counterfeit or not, and normality or not of a medium, an automatic media dispenser treating such media identifies identifying factors, such as a magnetic strip, an image, a watermark, fluorescent ink, numerals and characters printed on the medium, hi order to accurately identify the medium, the medium should be conveyed without skew with respect to a conveying path thereof, that is, in a state where the medium is not inclined with respect to the conveying direction so that the above identifying factors on the medium should be accurately identified. Fig. 1 illustrates that the skew amount of a medium is sensed in an automatic media dispenser.

That is, first and second optical sensors 1 and 2 are provided on a conveying path of a medium m. The optical sensors 1 and 2 are positioned at both lateral sides of a conveying direction of the medium m, wherein the optical sensors 1 and 2 sense a location of a leading end of the conveying medium m to sense the skew amount of the medium m.

More specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, if the advance amounts of both lateral sides of the leading end of the medium m differ from each other with respect to the conveying direction (direction of an arrow A), i.e., if skew is generated, times at which the first and second optical sensors 1 and 2 respectively sense the leading end of the medium m are different from each other. The difference between the times at which the first and second optical sensors 1 and 2 respectively sense the leading end of the medium m means that the medium m is skew.

If the medium is skew with respect to the conveying direction as described above, the following problems occur. If the medium m is skew with respect to the conveying direction, there is a problem in that the identifying factor for identifying the medium m cannot be accurately obtained. That is, if the medium m is skew with respect to the conveying direction, a location of the identifying factor of the medium m does not correspond to a location of an image pickup unit at a location where the medium m is identified. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the medium m is not identified accurately.

In the automatic media dispenser, in general, if the skew amount of the medium m exceeds a reference value, the medium m is ejected and then stored separately. In this situation, due to the skew of the medium m generated during the conveyance thereof, there is a problem in that the medium m cannot be used, although it is normal, thereby giving inconvenience to a customer.

In addition, if the medium m which is skewed with respect to the conveying direction is conveyed, when the media m are laminated, a lamination state thereof is not regular. Thus, the customer should additionally rearrange the media m after receiving them. In addition, in a case where the media m are laminated in the automatic media dispenser, there is a problem in that the lamination state thereof is not regular, so that the operation of the automatic media dispenser after laminating the media is unstable. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. The present invention is to provide a skew adjusting apparatus for adjusting skew of media. [Technical Solution]

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser, which comprises a pair of frame plates provided at a certain interval; a power transmission unit installed to the frame plate to transmit driving force of a driving source; first and second clutches installed to the frame plates, respectively, and selectively transmitting the driving force transmitted through the power transmission unit; first and second feed rollers installed on first and second driving shafts, the first and second driving shafts being independently rotated by the driving force transmitted through the first and second clutches, the first and second feed rollers being rotated and brought into contact with both sides of a medium to convey the medium; and first and second idle rollers provided in correspondence to the first and second feed rollers and cooperating with the first and second feed rollers to convey the medium. The media skew adjusting apparatus may further comprise first and second brake assemblies for controlling the rotations of the first and second driving shafts, respectively.

The brake assembly may comprise a stopper being rotatable about a hinge pin at one end and having a friction portion formed at the other end thereof, thereby controlling the rotation of the first or second driving shaft; and a solenoid connected to the stopper to control the rotation of the stopper.

The media skew adjusting apparatus may further comprise a disk installed to each of the first and second driving shafts, whereby the friction portion of the stopper comes into close contact with an outer circumference surface of the disk to control the rotation of the disk. The hinge pin may be a common rotational center of the stoppers of the first and second brake assemblies.

The power transmission unit may comprise an interlocking rotational shaft having both ends rotatably supported on the frame plates; a driving gear installed at one end of the interlocking rotational shaft to be rotated by the driving source; and coupling gears provided at both the ends of the interlocking rotational shaft to transmit the driving force to the first and second clutches.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser, which comprises a pair of frame plates provided at a certain interval, one of the frame plates being provided with a driving source; feed rollers installed on driving shafts rotatably installed to the frame plates, the feed rollers being brought into contact with both sides of a medium to convey the medium; idle rollers provided in correspondence to the feed rollers and cooperating with the feed rollers to convey the medium; and clutches for selectively transmitting driving force of the driving source to the driving shafts to control the rotations of the feed rollers. The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the feed rollers comprises a first feed roller being brought into contact with a left side of the medium and a second feed roller being brought into contact with a right side of the medium.

The first and second feed rollers are installed on first and second driving shafts, respectively, the first and second driving shafts being separately installed to the frame panels.

The media skew adjusting apparatus may further comprise first and second brake assemblies for controlling the rotations of the first and second driving shafts, respectively.

The media skew adjusting apparatus may further comprise a disk installed to each of the first and second driving shafts, whereby the friction portion of the stopper comes into close contact with an outer circumference surface of the disk to control the rotation of the disk.

The hinge pin may be a common rotational center of the stoppers of the first and second brake assemblies.

The media skew adjusting apparatus may further comprise a power transmission unit installed to the frame plate to transmit the driving force of the driving source.

The power transmission unit may comprise an interlocking rotational shaft having both ends rotatably supported on the frame plates; a driving gear installed at one end of the interlocking rotational shaft to be rotated by the driving source; and coupling gears provided at both the ends of the interlocking rotational shaft to transmit the driving force to the first and second clutches. [Advantageous Effects]

According to the skew adjusting apparatus of the present invention having the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to adjust skew of a medium conveyed in an automatic media dispenser, so that accurate conveyance and identification of the media can be performed.

In addition, the present invention has the effects that the media can be laminated neatly on a specific area of the automatic media dispenser to thereby enable a customer to take up the media satisfactorily and the following operation of the automatic media dispenser can be performed more smoothly by using the laminated media. [Description of Drawings]

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating that the skew amount of a medium is sensed in an automatic media dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating that the skew amount of a medium is sensed at fore and aft positions of the media skew adjusting apparatus of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view showing the operation of the media skew adjusting apparatus of the present invention. [Best Mode]

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a media skew adjusting apparatus for an automatic media dispenser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the preferred embodiment of the media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser according to the present invention. According to the figure, a pair of frame plates 10 having a general flat shape are provided to face each other at a certain interval. A media conveying path 12 through which a medium m is conveyed is defined between the frame plates 10.

A driving source 14 is installed at one side of the frame plate 10. The driving source 14 provides a driving force for conveying the medium m. Of course, the driving source 14 may be separate from what provides the driving force for conveying the medium m. In addition, the driving source 14 is not necessarily installed to the frame plate 10.

The driving force of the driving source 14 is transmitted through a power transmission unit 16. A gear train, a belt mechanism or a combination thereof may be used as the power transmission unit 16. An interlocking rotational shaft 18 is provided such that both ends thereof are rotatably supported on the frame plates 10. A driving gear 20 of the power transmission unit 16 is provided at one end of the interlocking rotational shaft 18. The driving gear 20 is a portion to which power is transmitted from the driving source 14. The interlocking rotational shaft 18 rotates along with the driving gear 20. Coupling gears 22 and 22' are installed at both the ends of the interlocking rotational shaft 18, respectively. Each of the coupling gears 22 and 22' is provided at a position facing an outer surface of the frame plate 10. The coupling gears 22 and 22' are the last gears of the power transmission units 16 and 16'.

First and second clutches 24 and 24' are installed to both the frame plates 10, respectively. The first and second clutches 24 and 24' are installed on first and second driving shafts 26 and 26' rotatably installed to the frame plates 10, respectively. Such first and second clutches 24 and 24' serve to selectively transmit driving force, which is transmitted through the coupling gears 22 and 22', to the driving shafts 26 and 26'.

A first feed roller 28 and a second feed roller 28' are mounted on the driving shafts 26 and 26', respectively. Each of the feed rollers 28 and 28' rotates to be in close contact with one surface of the medium m and to convey the medium m.

First and second idle rollers 32 and 32' mounted to an idle shaft 30 are employed so that the medium m can be brought into close contact with the feed rollers 28 and 28'. The idle rollers 32 and 32' make a pair with the corresponding feed rollers 28 and 28, respectively, to enable the medium m to be conveyed therebetween. The idle rollers 32 and 32' are rotated by the medium m conveyed by the feed rollers 28 and 28' and guide the conveyance of the medium m. It is preferred that the idle shaft 30 be rotatably supported to the frame plates 10. Although it is not shown in the figure that the idle shaft is supported directly to the frame plate 10, it is preferable that the idle shaft be supported to the frame plates 10. Meanwhile, in order to stop the rotation of the feed rollers 28 and 28', first and second brake assemblies 34 and 34' are employed. Since the driving force for rotating the feed rollers 28 and 28' is transmitted through the clutches 24 and 24', it is not necessarily to employ the brake assemblies 34 and 34'. However, it is preferable to employ the brake assemblies 34 and 34' in order to more precisely control the feed rollers

28 and 28'.

Here, the configuration of the brake assemblies 34 and 34' will be described.

Each of first and second stoppers 38 and 38' is formed in a generally "L" shape and has one end rotatably supported through a hinge pin 36. Friction portions 40 and 40' are provided on the distal ends of the stoppers 38 and 38', respectively, and are selectively brought into close contact with outer circumference surfaces of disks 42 and 42' installed on the first and second driving shafts 26 and 26', respectively. The disks 42 and 42' are rotated together with the driving shafts 26 and 26', respectively. The friction portions 40 and 40' are brought into close contact with the disks 42 and 42', whereby the rotation of the driving shafts 26 and 26', more specifically the feed rollers 28 and 28', are controlled.

In the meantime, the contact and separation of the stoppers 38 and 38' with and from the disks 42 and 42' are controlled by first and second solenoids 44 and 44'. The solenoids 44 and 44' may be installed to the frame plates 10 or on brackets (not shown) protruding from the frame plates 10, respectively. Plungers (to which reference numerals are not assigned) of the solenoids 44 and 44' are connected to the stoppers 38 and 38, respectively, so that the stoppers 38 and 38' are rotated about the hinge pin 36 as the plungers protrude and retreat.

Although the present embodiment is configured so that the stoppers 38 and 38' are rotated about only the hinge pin 36, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. That is, the stoppers 38 and 38' may be rotated individually about different hinge pins.

Hereinafter, the operation of the media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser according to the present invention so configured will be described in detail. First of all, Fig. 3 shows the configuration for measuring the skew amount of the medium m at fore and aft positions of the skew adjusting apparatus of the present invention. That is, at a relatively upstream portion of the conveying path of the medium m, a first upstream optical sensor 51 and a second upstream optical sensor 52 are disposed in a line which is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the media m and measure the skew amount of the medium m which is conveyed. In addition, at a downstream portion of the conveying path after the medium passes through the skew adjusting apparatus, a first downstream optical sensor 54 and a second downstream optical sensor 55 are disposed in a line which is perpendicular to a conveying direction of the medium m.

Here, a process of calculating a halt time of the feed roller 28 or 28' according to the skew amount of the medium m will be described briefly with reference to Fig. 3. If the skew amount of the medium m is "α" as a result of the calculation based on the measurement by the first and second upstream optical sensors 51 and 52, the halt time of the feed roller 28 or 28' can be calculated using the following equation.

L x tanα = v x t

where "L" is a distance (mm) between the sensors (or between the feed rollers), "v" is a linear velocity (mm/s) of the medium, and "t" is a halt time of a roller.

On the basis of the calculated halt time, it is possible to block the power transmission to the feed roller 28 or 28' to adjust the skew of the medium m.

For example, in a case where a left side of the medium m advances relatively further ahead with respect to the conveying direction thereof as shown in Fig. 3, the rotation of the first feed roller 28 is stopped so that the medium m can be conveyed without skew. When the skew which causes a left side of the medium m to be relatively further ahead is sensed by the measurement of the first and second upstream optical sensors 51 and 52, the first clutch 24 blocks the driving force transmitted by the coupling gear 22 so that the driving force is not transmitted to the first driving shaft 23. As a result, the first feed roller 28 installed on the first driving shaft 26 is not rotated, so that the corresponding portion of the medium m becomes in a relatively stationary state. At this time, the second clutch 24' transmits the driving force transmitted via the coupling gear 22' to the second driving shaft 26' as it is, thereby allowing the second feed roller 28' to be rotated continuously.

Meanwhile, in order to more securely stop the rotation of the feed roller 28, the first brake assembly 34 operates. That is, the plunger of the first solenoid 44 pulls the first stopper 38, so that the friction portion 40 comes into close contact with the outer circumference surface of the disk 42 to prevent the disk 42 from being rotated. If the rotation of the disk 42 is stopped as described above, the first driving shaft 26 on which the disk 42 is installed is completely stopped. Then, after the rotation of the first feed roller 28 is stopped for a certain time, the first solenoid 44 is operated to separate the first stopper 38 from the disk 42. Accordingly, the first driving shaft 26 can be rotated again, and if the driving force of the driving source 14 is transmitted to the first driving shaft 26 by the first clutch 24, the first feed roller 25 can be rotated to convey the medium m. As described above, if the rotation of the first or second feed roller 28 or 28' is selectively stopped for a certain time according to a skew state of the medium m, the medium m can be conveyed without skew.

In the meantime, a skew state of the medium m in which skew is eliminated by the apparatus of the present invention can be confirmed by the first and second downstream sensors 54 and 55 shown in Fig. 3. If the elimination of the skew is confirmed, the medium is continuously conveyed and the next step is carried out. If the skew is not eliminated, the medium m may be conveyed to an additional storage container, or conveyed in reverse and then pass through the skew adjusting apparatus once again.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated above but is defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes thereto within the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

For example, the configuration of the brake assemblies 34 and 34' is not necessarily limited to that of the illustrated embodiment. That is, there is an advantage in that the configuration in which the rotations of the disks 42 and 42' are controlled by the solenoids 44 and 44' and the stoppers 38 and 38' is simple in mechanism and inexpensive. If the cost is not considered, however, the brake assemblies having the various configurations may also be employed.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1 ]

A media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser, comprising: a pair of frame plates provided at a certain interval; a power transmission unit installed to the frame plate to transmit driving force of a driving source; first and second clutches installed to the frame plates, respectively, and selectively transmitting the driving force transmitted through the power transmission unit; first and second feed rollers installed on first and second driving shafts, the first and second driving shafts being independently rotated by the driving force transmitted through the first and second clutches, the first and second feed rollers being rotated and brought into contact with both sides of a medium to convey the medium; and first and second idle rollers provided in correspondence to the first and second feed rollers and cooperating with the first and second feed rollers to convey the medium.

[Claim 2]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first and second brake assemblies for controlling the rotations of the first and second driving shafts, respectively.

[Claim 3] The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the brake assembly comprises a stopper being rotatable about a hinge pin at one end and having a friction portion formed at the other end thereof, thereby controlling the rotation of the first or second driving shaft; and a solenoid connected to the stopper to control the rotation of the stopper. [Claim 4]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a disk installed to each of the first and second driving shafts, whereby the friction portion of the stopper comes into close contact with an outer circumference surface of the disk to control the rotation of the disk. rClaim 5]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hinge pin is a common rotational center of the stoppers of the first and second brake assemblies.

[Claim 6] The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit comprises an interlocking rotational shaft having both ends rotatably supported on the frame plates; a driving gear installed at one end of the interlocking rotational shaft to be rotated by the driving source; and coupling gears provided at both the ends of the interlocking rotational shaft to transmit the driving force to the first and second clutches.

[Claim 7]

A media skew adjusting apparatus of an automatic media dispenser, comprising: a pair of frame plates provided at a certain interval, one of the frame plates being provided with a driving source; feed rollers installed on driving shafts rotatably installed to the frame plates, the feed rollers being brought into contact with both sides of a medium to convey the medium; idle rollers provided in correspondence to the feed rollers and cooperating with the feed rollers to convey the medium; and clutches for selectively transmitting driving force of the driving source to the driving shafts to control the rotations of the feed rollers.

[Claim 8]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the feed rollers comprises a first feed roller being brought into contact with a left side of the medium and a second feed roller being brought into contact with a right side of the medium.

[Claim 9]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second feed rollers are installed on first and second driving shafts, respectively, the first and second driving shafts being separately installed to the frame panels.

[Claim 10]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising first and second brake assemblies for controlling the rotations of the first and second driving shafts, respectively.

[Claim 11 ]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the brake assembly comprises a stopper being rotatable about a hinge pin at one end and having a friction portion formed at the other end thereof, thereby controlling the rotation of the first or second driving shaft; and a solenoid connected to the stopper to control the rotation of the stopper.

[Claim 12]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a disk installed to each of the first and second driving shafts, whereby the friction portion of the stopper comes into close contact with an outer circumference surface of the disk to control the rotation of the disk.

[Claim 13]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hinge pin is a common rotational center of the stoppers of the first and second brake assemblies.

[Claim 14] The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a power transmission unit installed to the frame plate to transmit the driving force of the driving source. [Claim 15]

The media skew adjusting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power transmission unit comprises an interlocking rotational shaft having both ends rotatably supported on the frame plates; a driving gear installed at one end of the interlocking rotational shaft to be rotated by the driving source; and coupling gears provided at both the ends of the interlocking rotational shaft to transmit the driving force to the first and second clutches.