Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Multiple supplies
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-11
2001-02-20
Skaggs, H. Grant (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Multiple supplies
C271S009070, C271S009120, C271S009130, C271S122000, C271S126000, C271S157000, C271S162000, C271S303000, C271S263000, C902S015000, C902S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189881
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to sheet dispensing apparatus, for example banknote dispensing apparatus.
Banknote dispensers are well known and typically accommodate a number of individual note storage cassettes, each of which contains one particular denomination of note. During a dispense operation, the apparatus determines the combination of notes which is required and then selects appropriate notes as required from the corresponding stores. The combination is then fed to a dispense outlet. In some cases, this requires a large volume of notes of each denomination to be stored which not only requires a large volume of space but also requires that a large value is contained within the dispenser leading to security problems.
Banknote recirculating devices have been designed which both dispense and accept banknotes. In this case, the banknotes which are accepted are fed to a common store ready for dispensing. The system has to maintain a record of the order in which the different banknotes have been stored and this is then referred to during a dispense operation. When the correct combination of notes does not exist sequentially, the intermediate notes have to be recirculated once again or fed to a reject location. This is time consuming and can result in notes being continually recirculated leading to damage and the possibility of jamming.
Some more compact feeding systems are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,782. In each of these systems, a pair of sheet stores is provided on either side of a feed member which can be pivoted into contact with one or other of the stores so as to feed sheets from the appropriate store. The problem with this approach is inserting the feed member between the stores. Since the feed member is urged against the sheets in one or other of the stores, there is a risk of the sheets buckling or tearing during this set up process. Alternatively, each of the two sheet stores must be inserted individually whilst the feed system is actuated towards the other store or store position, or each store must be inserted substantially at right angles to the sheet feed direction.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, sheet dispensing apparatus comprises at least one pair of sheet stores; and a transport system for transporting sheets from the stores to a dispense position, the transport system including, for each pair of sheet stores, a common feed member which, upon relative movement between the common feed member and the stores, can be moved between a pair of feed positions in each of which it engages a sheet in a respective one of the pair of stores so as to enable sheet(s) to be withdrawn from the corresponding store, characterised in that the common feed member is able to take up also a neutral position in which, even if actuated, no sheets are fed from either store.
With this invention, the advantages of separate stores, which may be used for different denominations, and the use of a common feed member for withdrawing sheets from both stores are maintained. However, by enabling the common feed member to take up a neutral position, it is possible to insert the feed member between the pair of sheet stores without risk of sheet buckling and the like. The result of this is that the loading of sheet stores into the apparatus can be achieved in a much more automated fashion while reducing the need for operators to check that the loading process has been completed successfully.
In some cases, the pair of sheet stores can be located manually relative to the common feed member so that thereafter the relative positions of the common feed member and the stores can be adjusted in accordance with the store from which sheets are to be withdrawn.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, sheet dispensing apparatus comprises at least one pair of sheet stores; and a transport system for transporting sheets from the stores to a dispense position, the transport system including, for each pair of sheet stores, a common feed member which, upon relative movement between the common feed member and the stores, can be moved between a pair of feed positions in each of which it engages a sheet in a respective one of the pair of stores so as to enable sheet(s) to be withdrawn from the corresponding store and is characterised in that the apparatus further comprises an adjustment system for causing relative bodily movement between the stores and the common feed member so that the stores and the common feed member can be arranged relative to each other in a first position to enable the common feed member to be moved into engagement with sheets in either store, and in a second position in which the common feed member cannot be moved into engagement with sheets in either store.
With the first and second aspects of this invention, the advantages of separate stores for different sheet types and the use of a common feed member for withdrawing sheets from both stores are maintained.
In the sheet dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the common feed member is able to take up a neutral position whilst in the sheet dispensing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention the feed member can be decoupled from the driving mechanism. Accordingly, in both cases it is possible to insert the feed member between the pair of sheet stores without risk of sheet buckling and the like. This is by virtue of the sheets been unable to engage a fixed feed member surface.
The result of this is that the loading of sheet stores into the apparatus can be achieved in a much more automated fashion while reducing the need for operators to check that the loading process has been completed successfully.
In the preferred arrangement, the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention further comprises an adjustment system for causing relative bodily movement between the stores and the common feed member so that the stores and the common feed member can be arranged relative to each other in a first position to enable the common feed member to be moved into engagement with sheets in either store, and in a second position in which the common feed member cannot be moved into engagement with sheets in either store. The provision of such an adjustment system allows the stores automatically to be located relative to the common feed member in the first position. It also allows the stores more easily to be loaded into the remainder of the apparatus at the second position without risk of interference from the common feed member.
Most conveniently, in the second position the stores can be laterally removed from the remainder of the apparatus. In one example, the lateral direction may be substantially vertical but in the preferred example, the lateral direction is substantially horizontal.
The or each pair of stores may be provided individually but a much simpler approach can be achieved when the or each pair of stores is provided in a tray slidably mounted relative to the common feed member. Not only does this simplify the construction and handling of the stores but in addition simplifies the form of the adjustment system. Thus, in the preferred arrangement, the adjustment system comprises one or more pivoted arms coupled with a drive motor operable selectively to pivot the arms so as to cause bodily movement of the stores to the first position.
Where the stores are provided on a common tray, only a small number of pivoted arms is required for the adjustment system to cause all the stores to be moved to the first position.
Where the adjustment system moves the stores vertically from the second to the first position, further pivoting of the arms back to their initial position will allow the stores to return to the second position under gravity. Alternatively, some form of additional movement device is preferably provided to cause the stores to move back to the second position. This might be additional pivoted arms, a compression spring or the like.
Although the invention is applicable for use with a single pair of sheet stores, typ
Bolton Roger Walter
Price John Gerwyn
Taylor Deborah Suzanne
De La Rue International Limited
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Skaggs H. Grant
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