Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering – Rotary conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-02
2004-06-29
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering
Rotary conveyor
C209S534000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06755415
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a sheet-processing apparatus for depositing sheets, in particular banknotes, in stacks, and also relates to a process for setting up such a sheet-processing apparatus.
The invention will be explained hereinbelow specifically using the example of a banknote-processing apparatus, but it goes without saying that it is also possible for other “sheets” to be processed by the sheet-processing apparatus.
Banknotes occurring in relatively large quantities can be processed by known sheet-processing apparatuses such that damaged and/or worn banknotes are separated from banknotes in good condition and are deposited in different depositing compartments. It is also possible for banknotes of different formats and/or denominations to be sorted and deposited as stacks in different compartments.
Known sheet-processing apparatuses usually contain a separator which separates banknotes from a stack of banknotes of different qualities (banknotes in good condition and those in poor condition, banknotes of different formats, etc.), transfers the separated banknotes to a transporting unit and, with the aid of a sensor device, checks quality features in order to form depositing criteria, whereupon the banknotes are transported from the transporting unit to different depositing compartments, in dependence in each case on the depositing criteria determined. Each depositing compartment is assigned a stacker wheel. A stacker wheel contains stacker fingers which run helically on a disk-like or roller-like carrier, the wheel being driven in a direction which is counter to the orientation of the stacker-finger tips.
The separated banknotes, which are being processed in respect of their selection criteria by the sensor device and are directed to one of the plurality of stacker wheels in accordance with the selection criteria, are directed into a sheet compartment which is formed between in each case two adjacent stacker fingers. The individual stacker fingers have a smaller width than the banknotes and have their outer ends running through a stop wall of a depositing compartment. The banknotes located in the individual sheet compartments are moved towards the base of the depositing compartment by the rotation of the stacker wheel, while the leading edge of the banknote, directed toward the center of the stacker wheel, is retained against the stop wall of the depositing compartment and moved along said wall in the direction of the base of the depositing compartment.
Such sheet-processing apparatuses with the individual components are known. You are referred, for example, to DE 29 02 068 C2, which discloses a separator. A typical feature for a separator is a stack of sheets (stack of banknotes) which is moved against a retaining rack, in the vicinity of which is located a separator wheel, certain locations of which are subjected to negative pressure. The rotational speed of said separator wheel determines the frequency at which individual banknotes are discharged by the separator.
In order that the sheet-processing apparatus operates properly and the individual sheets (banknotes) are deposited correctly in the individual depositing compartments, each sheet compartment in each stacker wheel should only accommodate a single sheet. For this reason, the rotational speed (excluding in phase position) of the individual stacker wheels is set such that—in dependence on the frequency at which the separator discharges the banknotes—not more than one banknote passages into a sheet compartment. The rotational speed of the stacker wheels is expediently set such that, on average, more than one sheet compartment is available for one banknote in each case.
In the case of the known sheet-processing apparatus, although the abovementioned setting of the rotational speed of the individual stacker wheels achieves a situation where no more than one banknote should pass into a sheet compartment of the stacker wheel, it may nevertheless be the case that a banknote strikes against a stacker-finger tip by way of its leading border. In the worst-case scenario, the banknote is slung out of the apparatus and possibly prevents other banknotes from being deposited. It is at least the case, however, that the banknotes coming into contact with the tip of a stacker finger are braked in an undefined manner and, accordingly, are not deposited correctly. Banknotes which pass into two sheet compartments, that is to say pass into the helical wheel obliquely in front of and behind the associated stacker-finger tips, may likewise affect the operation of other banknotes being deposited.
In the case of relatively small sheet-processing apparatuses, such as counting machines, which have a separator, a transporting unit, sensors and one or more depositing compartments, the separator is frequently designed as a friction-wheel separator. In addition, it is possible for the housing and/or the transporting unit to be opened, for example for eliminating jams. This results in further problems when banknotes are deposited in the depositing compartments.
The object of the invention is to specify a sheet-processing apparatus of the type described above which ensures that the individual sheets are accommodated correctly in a sheet compartment of a stacker wheel and, accordingly, are deposited neatly.
It is also intended to specify a process which is intended for setting up a sheet-processing apparatus of the type described above and which guarantees that the sheet-processing apparatus operates properly, that is to say that the individual sheets are deposited correctly at all times.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the rotational speed of the stacker wheels is synchronized with the frequency of the sheets discharged by the separator, to be precise such that each sheet entering into the sheet compartment of the stacker wheel passes approximately centrally through the opening between two adjacent stacker-finger tips. The phrases “the sheet passes centrally through the opening of the sheet compartment”, “the sheet enters approximately centrally between two stacker-finger tips of a sheet compartment” and the like, in the present context, mean that the sheet running into a sheet compartment is spaced apart, by way of its leading edge, to a sufficient extent both from the tip of the preceding stacker finger and from the tip of the following stacker finger, that is to say cannot in any case collide with the tip of a stacker finger. In the invention, the use of a common drive motor, with rigid mechanical coupling, would force the separator and the stacker wheels to run synchronously. Nevertheless, in order to achieve in-phase synchronization, that is to say in order for each sheet to run centrally into a sheet compartment of the stacker wheel, it is necessary to set the position of the separator wheel relative to the position of the stacker wheels. For this purpose, in the case of the common drive motor, a clutch is then arranged, in conjunction with a brake, between said drive motor and the separator. Before the beginning of the stacking operation, the drive motor is set in motion until the separator reaches a previously defined synchronizing position. The separator is then uncoupled from the common drive motor. The brake keeps the separator in the defined synchronization position. The stacker wheels (together with the sheet-transporting means) are then rotated further by the drive motor until they too have reached the previously defined synchronizing position, that is to say until the synchronization-signal transmitter assigned to the stacker wheels supplies the synchronizing pulse. At that moment, the force fit between the common drive motor and the separator is re-established, with the result that the separator and stacker wheels then rotate synchronously in phase.
The above initializing sequence can be carried out before the sheet-processing apparatus is brought into operation in each case, but at least following each instance of intervention in the machine, for example following each cleaning operation or following e
Linck Ralf
Wagner Alois
Werner Frank
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Bower Kenneth W
Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
Walsh Donald P.
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