Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/12—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers
  • B65H29/14—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by means of the nip between two, or between two sets of, moving tapes or bands or rollers and introducing into a pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/20—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders
  • B65H29/22—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders and introducing into a pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/52—Stationary guides or smoothers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/58—Article switches or diverters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
  • B65H31/04—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates
  • B65H31/08—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another
  • B65H31/10—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another and applied at the top of the pile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
  • B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
  • B65H31/3027—Arrangements for removing completed piles by the nip between moving belts or rollers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
  • B65H31/34—Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles
  • B65H31/36—Auxiliary devices for contacting each article with a front stop as it is piled
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
  • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
  • B65H2301/4223—Pressing piles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
  • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
  • B65H2301/4225—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles in or on special supports
  • B65H2301/42254—Boxes; Cassettes; Containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
  • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
  • B65H2301/4226—Delivering, advancing piles
  • B65H2301/42262—Delivering, advancing piles by acting on surface of outermost articles of the pile, e.g. in nip between pair of belts or rollers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
  • B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
  • B65H2301/4226—Delivering, advancing piles
  • B65H2301/42264—Delivering, advancing piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. conveyor, carriage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
  • B65H2402/30—Supports; Subassemblies; Mountings thereof
  • B65H2402/31—Pivoting support means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
  • B65H2404/10—Rollers
  • B65H2404/11—Details of cross-section or profile
  • B65H2404/111—Details of cross-section or profile shape
  • B65H2404/1114—Paddle wheel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
  • B65H2404/20—Belts
  • B65H2404/26—Particular arrangement of belt, or belts
  • B65H2404/261—Arrangement of belts, or belt(s) / roller(s) facing each other for forming a transport nip
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
  • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
  • B65H2404/63—Oscillating, pivoting around an axis parallel to face of material, e.g. diverting means
  • B65H2404/632—Wedge member
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2408/00—Specific machines
  • B65H2408/10—Specific machines for handling sheet(s)
  • B65H2408/13—Wall or kiosk dispenser, i.e. for positively handling or holding material until withdrawal by user
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
  • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
  • B65H2553/41—Photoelectric detectors
  • B65H2553/412—Photoelectric detectors in barrier arrangements, i.e. emitter facing a receptor element
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2601/00—Problem to be solved or advantage achieved
  • B65H2601/10—Ensuring correct operation
  • B65H2601/11—Clearing faulty handling, e.g. jams
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2601/00—Problem to be solved or advantage achieved
  • B65H2601/30—Facilitating or easing
  • B65H2601/32—Facilitating or easing entities relating to handling machine
  • B65H2601/321—Access
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
  • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
  • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
  • B65H2701/1912—Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like

Definitions

• This document relates to a sheet document processor which is intended in particular for dispensing banknotes.
• the processor is constructed in a sheet metal framework which will be housed in a suitable enclosure in use.
• a cross-sectional view of the processor is shown in Figure 1 , which shows the following subassemblies:
• a vertical transport 100 which receives notes from a separate sheet feeding unit to which the processor is attached in use.
• a bi-directional horizontal transport 200 located above the vertical transport which receives the notes conveyed by the vertical transport.
• a pair of diverters 300 and 400 which can divert notes from the horizontal transport.
• a bundler 600 which receives notes from the horizontal transport and stacks them into a bundle.
• a drive motor and transport driving mechanism 799 (only the drive motor is visible in Figure 1).
• the processor may also comprise optional transport extensions to locate the output locations further from the processor, although these are not shown in Figure 1.
• the metal framework is shown in Figures 2 to 5.
• the processor is constructed between two pressed sheet steel side plates 1 and 2.
• the side plates 1 and 2 are joined by a metal base plate 3, a vertical plate 4, a horizontal plate 5 and a U- shaped horizontal member 6.
• the various subassemblies which make up the document processor are attached to at least one of the side plates 1 and 2. Some of the items making up the subassemblies are attached to brackets fixed (by screws or spot welding) to the side plates 1 and 2. These includes a bracket 7 to support the main drive motor 720, a bracket 8 to support the diverter motors 301 and 401 , a bracket 9 to support the motor 630 for driving the registration gate 615, a bracket 10 to support the motor 616 for the bundler 600, and brackets 11 and 12 to support some of the idlers and bearings. There is also a cover 13 for a handwheel for driving the transport by hand
• Figures 6 to 11 illustrate some of the features of the pressed steel side plates 1 and 2 which aid assembly of the processor.
• a cut-out 14 in side plate 1 is shown.
• the cut-out 14 is used for attaching a wiring loom to the side plates 1 and 2 by way of a tie wrap.
• the tie wrap is loosely secured around the wiring loom and then fitted over the end 16 onto the stem 15 where it is tightened to hold the wiring loom firmly in place.
• the shape of the end 16 prevents the tie wrap from sliding off the stem 15.
• Figure 7 shows another type of cut-out 17 in side plate 1. This cut-out has three
• the far end bearing 22 is located in its receiving aperture in the furthest side plate 2 and the near end bearing 23 is slid into position in one of circular sections 19 and 20.
• the near end bearing 23 is held in place by a bearing retainer 24 which is held in place by a self-tapping screw 25 screwed
• FIG 9 shows an alternative mounting arrangement that is used with some of the shafts that make up the transport system, specifically those which are spring mounted so that they can move apart from opposing shaft and roller assemblies
• a shaft 26 is supported by two bearings 27 and 28.
• a bearing end- cap 29 is fitted over bearing 28 and introduced through circular section 20.
• the bearing 27 is pushed into another bearing end-cap 30 which is already mounted on side plate 2.
• the end-cap 29 is then pushed into position in circular section
• the shaft is capable of moving against the spring tension in springs 31 and 32 which are hooked at one end into lugs 33 and 34 in end-caps 30 and 29 and at the other end onto features provided on the side plates 1 and 2.
• the displacement between opposing shafts can therefore automatically adjust to accommodate note bundles of different thicknesses.
• Figures 10 and 11 shows the mounting arrangement for the exit paper guide 119
• a flat horizontal section of the exit paper guide 119 is located on top of a tab 35 and the mounting flange is located between tabs 36 and 37. These tabs 35, 36 and 37 constrain the location of the exit paper guide 119 so that it cannot be installed incorrectly. This is particularly important as the positioning of the exit paper guide 119 is critical to the correct operation of the transport.
• Figure 12 shows a cross-section through the processor in which extraneous components have been hidden so that the transport path is more clearly visible.
• the horizontal transport 200 can operate bi-directionally. In a first mode, it feeds notes received from the vertical transport 100 in a leftwards direction towards bundler 600. When the transport is operating in this direction, the notes may be diverted by either of diverters 300 or 400 into reject cassette 500.
• the transport feeds bundled notes from the bundler 600 to output location A. If a bundle of notes is not retrieved from output location A then it is retracted by the horizontal transport 200 and diverted into reject cassette 500.
• the bundler 600 is also capable of presenting notes at output location B.
• FIG. 13 to 16 show the vertical transport 100 in detail.
• Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the vertical transport 100.
• This comprises an inner plastic moulding 101 and an outer plastic moulding 102 on which all the other parts of the vertical transport 100 are mounted.
• the inner plastic moulding 101 and outer plastic moulding 102 are hinged together along their bottom edges by way of two stub shafts coupled to outer plastic moulding 102 and supported by bearings 104 and 105 fitted into inner plastic moulding 101.
• the inner plastic moulding 101 and outer plastic moulding 102 are held together by a latch system which comprises two hooks 106 and 107 which engage with pins 108 integral with the inner plastic moulding 101.
• the pin which engages with hook 107 is not visible in any of the figures.
• the hooks 106 and 107 are fitted to outer plastic moulding 102 by way of a shaft 109.
• the shaft 109 can be rotated against torsion spring 110 relative to the outer plastic moulding 102 using lever 111. This disengages the hooks 106 and 107 from pins 108 and allows the outer plastic moulding 102 to be rotated around the two stub shafts relative to inner plastic moulding 101. Access to the interior of the vertical transport 100 can therefore be gained for the purposes of jam clearance and other maintenance.
• the outer plastic moulding 102 has three belts 112a, 112b and 112c entrained around respective rollers mounted on shafts 103, 113 and 114 which can rotate freely within bearings which support the shafts 103, 113 and 114 on outer plastic moulding 102.
• Providing three parallel belts 112a, 112b and 112c is advantageous as it helps to prevent skew of the notes as they are transported.
• Figures 15 and 16 show details of the inner plastic moulding 101. As can be seen, this has three belts 115a, 115b and 115c which correspond to belts 112a, 112b and 112c.
• the belts 112a, 112b and 112c lie adjacent the corresponding belts 115a, 115b and 115c. Thus notes may be transported by movement of the belts 112a, 112b, 112c, 115a, 115b and 115c together.
• the belts 115a, 115b and 115c are entrained around respective rollers mounted on shafts 116, 117 and 118 which can rotate freely within bearings which support the shafts 116, 117 and 118 on inner plastic moulding 101.
• the rollers mounted on shafts 103, 113, 114, 116, 117 and 118 are all centrally grooved as can be seen best from the rollers on shaft 117 in Figure 16.
• the belts 112a, 112b, 112c, 115a, 115b and 115c are T-shaped in cross-section, the ridge forming the T-shape running in the grooves in the rollers. This helps prevent the belts 112a, 112b, 112c, 115a, 115b and 115c from riding off the rollers.
• exit paper guide 119 into the horizontal transport 200.
• the positioning and shape of the exit paper guide 119 is critical as discussed above. It must lie below the level at which the notes run within horizontal transport 200 so that this can operate bi-directionally.
• Figure 15 also shows a pair of apertures 120a and 120b in inner plastic moulding 101 through which double detector rollers pass into the path of passing notes.
• the rollers run against hardened steel wear pads 121a and 121b which are inserted into outer plastic moulding 102.
• the double detector has the function of detecting the thickness of passing notes. If overlapped notes (i.e. a double or greater thickness note) passes through the vertical transport then this can be detected and used as the basis for diverting the note using the reject diverter.
• the double detector is shown in Figures 17 and 18.
• the rollers 120a and 120b are mounted for free rotation on the ends of lever arms 122a and 122b which are biased by torsion springs 123a and 123b against wear pads 121a and 121 b.
• the wear pads 121a and 121b form datum surfaces from which the detector is calibrated.
• the other ends of the lever arms 122a and 122b are formed into flags 124a and 124b, each of which lies between a respective infrared light emitting diode (LED) 125a and 125b and photodiode126a and 126b.
• the LEDs and photodiodes are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) 127.
• PCB printed circuit board
• the flags 124a and 124b partially eclipse the beam of light between the LEDs 125a and 125b and photodiodes126a and 126b.
• the note thickness therefore directly controls the signal which is generated by the photodiodes 126a and 126b, thereby allowing double thickness documents passing through the vertical transport 100 to be detected.
• the double detector is calibrated during setup by feeding single notes through the double detector and adjusting the gain of the amplifiers which receive the signals from photodiodes 126a and 126b to provide an output of around 1 volt.
• a double thickness note is detected if the measured signal drops by around 30% from this nominal 1 volt value.
• Figure 19 shows a view of the horizontal transport 200 with all extraneous components hidden.
• Figure 20 shows a view of the horizontal transport 200 with the top rollers and associated parts hidden from view for clarity.
• the top part of the horizontal transport 200 is built between two side frames 201 and 202 which are moulded from plastic.
• the top part comprises three T-shaped belts 203a, 203b and 203c entrained around grooved rollers mounted on seven shafts.
• These shafts include the six shown by reference numerals 204, 205, 206, 207, 208 and 209 in Figure 19.
• the seventh shaft is hidden from view in Figure 20 it lies directly beneath shaft 208 and its location may be seen from Figure 12 (the location being generally indicated by reference numeral 238).
• Shafts 204 and 209 bear crown rollers (which are also grooved) to assist the belts from tracking back to the correct location if they become dislodged.
• the side frames 201 and 202 are held together rigidly by beams 210, 211 and 212.
• the lower part of the horizontal transport is split into sections.
• the first section is to the left of the exit paper guide 119 in Figure 2O.
• This comprises three T- shaped belts 213a, 213b and 213c entrained around grooved crown rollers mounted on shafts 214 and 215.
• the middle section (between the exit paper guide 119 and the diverters) comprises three T-shaped belts 216a, 216b and 216c entrained around grooved rollers mounted on shafts 217, 218, 219 and 220.
• the path followed by the belts is also governed by plain rollers mounted on shafts 221 and 222 which lie outside the belt.
• the last section is formed by belts 223a, 223b and 223c entrained around rollers on shafts 224 and 225.
• the rollers on shaft 224 are simple grooved rollers whilst those on shaft 225 are crown rollers.
• the note path between the middle section and the last section is dictated by the diverters 300 and 400. When these are in their normal (i.e. non-diverting) state as shown in Figure 20 the notes are guided straight over the top of them between the middle and last sections.
• two paper guides 226 and 227 are provided which help to prevent the corners of passing notes them from catching in static parts of the processor as they pass through the horizontal transport 200.
• the top part of the transport is hinged so that it may be rotated relative to the bottom part for the purposes of jam clearance and other maintenance.
• the latch release mechanism to allow the top part to be hinged is built around shaft 228 and is shown in detail in Figure 21. This shows a lever 238 which allows the shaft 228 to be rotated against torsion spring 229.
• the shaft is mounted to the side frames 201 and 202 on bearings which are located under respective bearing caps 230. Rotation of shaft 228 causes latch members 231 to be rotated such that they can be brought past latch members 232 (this is the condition shown in Figure 21).
• the latch members 232 are spring loaded to return to the position shown in Figure 21 and are mounted on the bundler 600. When the top part is replaced to its latched location the latch members 231 force latch members 232 out of their way. The latch members 232 then return to their normal location holding latch members 231 and hence the top part of the horizontal transport 200 in place.
• Figure 22 shows how the seven shafts 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 and 238 are mounted between the side frames 201 and 202. This is shown by example with reference to shaft 207 in Figure 22.
• the rollers and bearings are fitted to the shaft 207 and a bearing retainer 233 fitted to the nearest bearing 234.
• the bearing at the other end of the shaft 207 is then passed through the hole in side frame 202 and into position in side frame 201.
• the bearing retainer is then screwed into place in side frame 202 to hold the shaft 207 in place.
• Shafts 214 and 225 are mounted to the side plates 1 and 2 by way of springs (as explained already with reference to Figure 8) so that they can move to accommodate note bundles of different thickness. This is necessary because they are directly opposed to shafts 204 and 209 and must separate from them to allow thick bundles to pass. In other regions of the horizontal transport this spring mounting is not required as . there is sufficient resilience in the belts and the shafts are not directly opposite.
• Figures 19 and 20 show details of a track sensor for detecting the passage of documents along the horizontal transport 200.
• This sensor comprises an LED 235 and a phototransistor 236 mounted in the bottom part of the horizontal transport 200 and an optical fibre 237 mounted in the top part of the horizontal transport.
• the passage of a note along the horizontal transport 200 interrupts a beam of light between the LED 235 and optical fibre 237, thereby causing the signal generated by phototransistor 236 to be interrupted or to fluctuate.
• the passage of the note can therefore be detected.
• This type of sensor is described in a co-pending PCT application filed on even date by De La Rue International Limited.
• Figure 23 shows a detailed view of the diverters 300 and 400 with all other extraneous parts hidden.
• the diverter 300 is used to divert retracted notes that have not been retrieved by a user from location A to the reject cassette 500 whilst the divert 400 is used to divert rejected notes that are to be diverted before they reach the bundler 600 (for example, because the note is suspected in fact to be two overlapped notes).
• Figure 24 shows a perspective view of diverter 300.
• the diverters 300 and 400 are moved between their normal state (as shown in Figure 23) and their diverting state by activating the respective dc motor 301 or 401.
• the rotation of dc motors 301 and 401 is coupled to the diverter shafts 302 and 402 via pinions 303 and 403, toothed belts 304 and 404 and pulleys 305 and 405.
• the diverters 300 and 400 are rotated in an anticlockwise direction (as seen from the viewpoint of Figure 23).
• the rotation of the diverters 300 and 400 is limited by respective end stops 306 and 406 which strike a feature on the static part of the processor (for example, on the metal framework) when the diverter has moved to its maximum extent..
• Each diverter 300 and 400 has four vanes.
• the vanes 307a, 307b, 307c and 307d of diverter 300 are clearly visible in Figure 24.
• diverter 300 When diverter 300 is in its diverting state it diverts notes downwardly between parallel belts 216a to 216c and belts 308a to 308c entrained around rollers mounted on shafts 309 and 310.
• diverter 400 When diverter 400 is in its diverting state it diverts notes downwardly between parallel belts 408a to 408c entrained around rollers mounted on shafts 409 and 410 and parallel belts 411a to 411c entrained around rollers mounted on shafts 412 and 413.
• An optical sensor system is formed from a pair of optical emitters and a pair of optical receivers. These are mounted on sensor blocks 311 and 312 shown in Figure 1.
• Each of sensor blocks 311 and 312 carries an optical receiver and optical emitter, the optical emitter of sensor block 311 being in optical communication with the optical receiver of sensor block 312 and the optical emitter of sensor block 312 being in optical communication with the optical receiver of sensor block 311.
• the passage of a note down either of the diverting paths associated with diverters 300 and 400 causes the two beams of light to be interrupted allowing the passage of the note to be detected.
• the light is infrared in wavelength.
• Figure 25 shows a perspective view of the reject cassette 500 which receives notes that have been diverted by either of diverters 300 or 400.
• the reject cassette 500 has a top shell 501 and a bottom shell 502.
• the top shell 501 and bottom shell 502 are hinged together such that the top shell 501 can be opened to enable access to notes stored in the bottom shell 502.
• the reject cassette 500 has a handle 503 for removing the reject cassette 500 from the document processor.
• Figures 26 and 27 show the handle assembly in more detail.
• the handle 503 is mounted to the top shell 501 by way of two pins 506 and 507 which slide in grooves 508 and 509 in handle 503.
• the handle 503 may therefore be pulled forwards when it is desired to remove the reject cassette 500.
• the handle is coupled to a pin 510 which in turn is coupled to a spring 511 entrained around pulley 512 and fastened to handle tray 513.
• the handle 503 is pulled back to the position shown in Figures 25 and 26 when it is released.
• Two shutters 504 and 505 are provided which are only opened when the reject cassette 500 is inserted in the processor.
• Figures 28 and 29 (in which the top shell 501 has been hidden) show in detail how the shutters 504 and 505 are operated.
• the shutters 504 and 505 are integral with side members 514 and 515 which can slide on base plates 516 and 517.
• the base plates 516 and 517 are screwed to top shell 501 to hold the side members 514 and 515 in place.
• prongs 518 and 519 (which are fitted to the processor) pass through apertures in the top shell 501 and engage with plungers 520 and 521 which push against springs 522 and 523.
• This can be seen in Figure 29 in which the side members 514 and 515 and shutters 504 and 505 have been hidden.
• the disc rollers 524 and 525 fall into slots (not shown) in the prongs 518 and 519.
• the movement of the prongs 518 and 519 is coupled to the shutters in 504 and 505 so as to expose the corresponding openings in the top shell 501.
• the prongs 518 and 519 are coupled such that their motion is coupled to the shutters 504 and 505 in both directions as explained in EP0263679.
• the disc rollers 524 and 525 are forced out of the slots in prongs 518 and 519 and the springs 522 and 523 push the plungers 520 and 521 back to the position shown in the Figures.
• the shutters 504 to 505 also return to their original positions to obscure the openings in top shell 501.
• the bundler is shown in Figures 31 to 36. It is built around a top plate 601 and a base plate 602.
• the top plate 601 houses two T-shaped belts 603a and 603b entrained around grooved rollers on shafts 604 and 605.
• the belts 603a and 603b are exposed through apertures in the underside of top plate 601 as can be seen from Figure 33.
• a pair of flails 608a and 608b is also mounted on shaft 606.
• the flails are exposed through apertures in the underside of top plate 601.
• the flails are made from flexible rubber and act to force notes received from the horizontal transport 200 into a stack which is formed on base plate 602.
• the tines on each of flails 608a and 608b are in two parallel rows circumferentially offset from each other. This increases the surface acting on the notes.
• the base plate 602 also comprises a pair of belts 609a and 609b which are directly opposed by belts 603a and 603b.
• Belts 609a and 609b are T-shaped and are mounted on grooved rollers on shafts 610 and 611.
• Shaft 610 is coupled to the transport drive mechanism via gears 612 and 613 and hence shaft 614.
• the notes When the notes are received from the horizontal transport 200 they are stacked on base plate 602 by the flails 608a and 608b which has the same rotational speed as the transport although the linear speed at the tips of the flails 608a and 608b is much higher.
• the flails 608a and 608b not only force the notes into the stack in a downward direction against base plate 602 but they also force the stack towards a registration plate 615 shown in Figure 34.
• the base plate 602 is movable relative to the top plate 601 so that it can accommodate different sizes of stack.
• the base plate 602 is moved downwards as more notes are added to the stack.
• Figure 35 shows the mechanism for moving the base plate 602.
• a motor 616 is coupled to gear 617 (via a pinion mounted on motor 616) and then via shaft 618 to gear 619.
• Gears 617 and 619 act as pinions in a rack and pinion assembly with racks 620 and 621.
• rotation of the motor 616 causes linear vertical movement of the base plate 602.
• a timing wheel 622 is mounted at the end of shaft 618 and passes through the slot in an optical sensor 623.
• the optical sensor 623 detects the passage of the slots in the timing wheel 622 as it rotates and hence can detect the amount of rotation of shaft 618.
• the vertical displacement between top plate 601 and bottom plate 602 can therefore be monitored.
• the vertical motion of base plate 602 is constrained to the correct path by stays 624, 625, 626 and 627. These are each attached to a static part of the processor.
• the stays 624 and 625 guide the motion of the racks 620 and 621.
• the stays 626 and 627 receive projections 628 and 629 from the sides of base plate 602 in grooves to guide the motion of the base plate 602. This ensures that the motion is vertical.
• the registration gate 615 is also movable so that notes can be fed from the bundler 600 to the output location B.
• a motor 630 drives a gear 631 via a pinion 632.
• the gear 631 is mounted on shaft 633 along with worm gear 634 which is coupled to gear 635 and hence via shaft 636 to gear 637.
• Rotation of the motor 630 therefore causes rotation of the two gears 635 and 637.
• These gears 635 and 637 engage with racks 638 and 639 which are integral with the registration gate 615.
• the gate 615 may therefore be moved in a vertical direction by operation of motor 630.
• a timing wheel 641 is mounted on shaft 633. This wheel cooperates with an optical sensor (not shown) as described above with reference to the base plate 602 so that the degree of movement of the gate 615 can be monitored and controlled.
• the vertical motion of the registration gate is constrained to the correct path by a guide on each side. Only one guide 640 is shown on the right hand side but one is also provided on the left hand side. The guide 640 bears against the gate 615 to ensure that its motion is vertical.
• a pair of optical sensors is fitted to the top plate 601 and base plate 602 to detect the passage of notes into and out of the bundler 600 over either the front edge or back edge.
• the optical sensors each comprise an optical transmitter
• the bundler 600 receives notes from the horizontal transport 200 and used the flails 608a and 608b to stack them against the base plate 602 and registration gate 615. As more notes are added to the stack, the separation between the base plate 602 and the top plate 601 is increased appropriately. When the stack is formed, the base plate 602 is driven back towards the top plate 601 to compress the stack slightly. This compression is assisted by springs (not shown) coupling the top plate 601 and base plate 602. The stack of notes can then either be fed by belts 603a, 603b, 609a and 609b back into horizontal transport 200 for delivery to output location A or the registration gate 615 can be lowered and belts 603a, 603b, 609a and 609b can advance the stack to output location B.
• a main drive pulley 700 is fitted to the motor and couples with a pair of toothed belts 701 and 702.
• Belt 701 is entrained around pulley 703 which drives one half of the vertical transport 100, pulley 704 which drives the first section of the horizontal transport 200 via toothed belt 706 and pulley 707, and pulley 705 which meshes with gear 708 to drive top part of the horizontal transport 200.
• Tension is maintained in belt 701 by spring loaded tensioner 709 and idler 711.
• the other half of the vertical transport 100 is driven by gear 710 which meshes with pulley 703.
• Belt 702 is entrained around pulley 712 and pulley 713 which drive the shafts of the diverter 400 and the last section of the bottom part of horizontal transport 200. Tension is maintained in belt 702 by spring loaded tensioner 714 and idler 715.
• Pulley 712 is coupled via gears 713, 714, 717 and 718 in conjunction with toothed belts 715 and 716 to provide drive to the top and base plates 601 and 602 of the bu ⁇ dler.
• Figure 38 shows how main pulley 700 is driven by motor 720 via pinion 721 and gear 722 which is coupled to the same shaft 723 as main pulley 700.
• the main pulley 700 has a ring of slots formed around its circumference. The passage of these slots is detected by an optical sensor 724 through which they pass and this enables the speed of the transport to be detected and controlled.
• Figures 39 to 41 show a first transport extension with a length of 85mm which can be used to move output location B.
• the extension comprises upper and lower covers 800 and 801. These are hidden in Figures 40 and 41.
• the extension comprises four shafts 802, 803, 804 and 805, each of which bears grooved crown rollers. Three T-shaped belts 806a, 806b and 806c are entrained around these rollers.
• Shafts 802 and 805 are mounted in bearings fitted to the covers 800 and 801.
• Shafts 803 and 804 are movable against torsion springs 807, 808, 809 and 810 so that note bundles of different thicknesses may be accommodated.
• the extension comprises two optical sensors, the first comprising optical emitters 811 and 813 and optical receivers 812 and 814, and the second comprising optical emitters 815 and 817 and optical receivers 816 and 818. Passage of a note bundle between opposed emitters and receivers will obscure the beam of infrared light allowing the bundle to be detected.
• the first sensor detects the passage of the bundle out of the extension whilst the second sensor detects the passage of the note into the extension from the processor.
• Figures 42 to 444 show a second transport extension with a length of 321mm which can be used to move output location A.
• the extension comprises upper and lower covers 900 and 901. These are hidden in Figures 43 and 44.
• the extension comprises four shafts 902, 903, 904 and 905 which bear grooved crown rollers.
• Three T-shaped belts 906a, 906b and 906c are entrained around these rollers.
• the other five shafts 920, 921, 922, 923 and 924 all carry plain grooved rollers.
• the belts 906a, 906b and 906c are also entrained around these rollers.
• Shafts 902, 905, 920, 921 , 922, 923 and 924 are mounted in bearings fitted to the covers 900 and 901.
• the extension comprises three optical sensors, the first comprising optical emitters 911 and 913 and optical receivers 912 and 914, and the second comprising optical emitters 915 and 917 and optical receivers 916 and 918. Passage of a note bundle between opposed emitters and receivers will obscure the beam of infrared light allowing the bundle to be detected.
• the first sensor detects the passage of the bundle out of the extension whilst the second sensor detects the passage of the note into the extension from the processor.
• the third sensor comprises a single emitter 925 and receiver 926 and detects the passage of notes along the transport extension.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
• Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-02-19 WO PCT/US2008/002118 patent/WO2009105060A2/fr active Application Filing
• 2009
  • 2009-02-19 WO PCT/GB2009/000457 patent/WO2009103980A1/fr active Application Filing

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