Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6637739
-
Patent Number
6,637,739
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 13, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 28, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Cohen; Colin P.
- Carstens, Yee & Cahoon, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 270 5218
- 101 232
- 100 2
- 100 3
- 100 5
- 100 6
- 100 25
- 100 26
- 100 27
- 100 28
- 156 443
- 156 468
- 053 396
- 053 412
- 053 414
- 053 416
- 053 419
- 053 450
- 053 447
- 053 117
- 053 234
- 053 529
- 053 586
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A group of banknotes aligned and stacked on a longitudinal axis is positioned at the work station of a banding device by a clamp type gripper that compresses a first longitudinal portion of the group along the direction of the axis, ready to be secured with at least one band of strip material; as the compressive force is applied, parts of the notes forming a second longitudinal portion of the group, not directly compressed by the gripping device, are caused to fan out at the top and bottom ends of this same second portion, and accordingly, the banding device includes a finger and a locating surface impinging respectively on the two ends of the second portion and operating in conjunction to compact and smooth the parts of the banknotes coinciding with these same ends.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for banding groups of sheets.
The invention finds application to advantage in machines by which banknotes, in particular soiled banknotes, are ordered into groups and transferred to a strapper/bander by which at least one band is looped around each single group of notes.
It is well known that banks need to move notable amounts of paper money around on a daily basis, whether central banks by which new banknotes are issued, or trading banks through which the notes are circulated. To this end, banknotes are first sorted into groups and then placed for the purposes of transportation into relative bags or cassettes.
To ensure they can be ordered and transported without the risk of breaking up and to prevent their being tampered with, the groups are secured with bands serving to keep the notes together and minimize opportunities for robbery or pilfering.
Generally speaking, banknotes are fed singly and in succession into a machine of the aforementioned type and, having been examined and sorted according to denomination and/or type, directed separately toward the outlets of respective channels along which the groups are formed.
In this way stacks of single banknotes are formed at each of the outlets and, as the single notes are accumulated in a predetermined number corresponding to one group, taken up and transferred to a station at which it will be suitably strapped or banded.
In view of the considerations mentioned above, the strapping or banding operation needs to be fast and accurate, resulting in an end product characterized by strength and quality.
The prior art embraces machines for strapping and banding groups of banknotes comprising a unit by which a group of notes is gripped, a unit by means of which a continuous strip of material decoiling from a roll is advanced and positioned around the group of notes, and a cutting and sealing unit by which the continuous strip is severed to produce a discrete length and the two ends of the separated length are secured together to form a band.
One of the drawbacks encountered in such machines is attributable to the fact that when the group of sheets is taken up by the gripping device, which operates generally by impinging on the two opposite end faces of the group and applying a compressive force, the section subjected to the gripping action is compacted substantially into a wad, whereas the parts of the sheets not subjected directly to the gripping action tend to fan out in relation to the compacted part.
This effect is especially noticeable in the case of soiled banknotes, due to their imperfect surface flatness and irregular appearance, and to the fact that they are creased.
Because the banding operation is carried out, of necessity, while the group of notes is subject to the action of the gripping device, the positioning of the strip and the arrangement of the banknotes at the fanned-out areas may be incorrect, with the result that the shape of the group of notes when banded appears irregular.
Accordingly, and for the reasons outlined above, machines of the type in question are limited in terms of operating capacity, lacking in precision and not altogether reliable.
The object of the invention is to set forth a device for banding groups of sheets, in particular soiled banknotes, around which bands can be applied both accurately and in such a way as to guarantee strength and quality of the end result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The stated object is realized according to the invention in a device for banding groups of sheets appearing substantially parallelepiped in shape, wherein the sheets are caused to accumulate along a longitudinal stacking axis, taken up by respective gripping means engaging two longitudinally opposite ends of at least a first longitudinal portion of the resulting group and fed thus to a station where at least one band of a strip material is applied.
The device disclosed comprises compacting means designed to compress at least a second longitudinal portion of the single group not engaged by the gripping means, in such a way as to position the group of sheets in a configuration of readiness for application of the band.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
illustrates a preferred embodiment of a banding device according to the present invention, shown schematically in a front elevation and with certain parts omitted for clarity;
FIG. 2
illustrates the device of
FIG. 1
, shown schematically in a side elevation and with certain parts omitted for clarity;
FIGS. 3
to
7
illustrate certain details of
FIG. 2
, shown schematically in a side elevation and in a succession of operating steps;
FIG. 8
shows the same details as in
FIGS. 3 .
. .
7
in a further operating step, viewed schematically in an elevation from the opposite side;
FIG. 9
illustrates a further embodiment of the device in
FIG. 1
, viewed schematically in a side elevation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIG. 1
of the drawings,
1
denotes a device, in its entirety, for banding groups
2
of sheets consisting, in the example illustrated, of soiled banknotes
3
. A device of the general type in question is disclosed in application B099A 000548 for Italian patent, to which reference may be made for a full description; such a device
1
typically comprises a bed or frame
4
supporting a vertical bulkhead
5
. The bulkhead
5
in its turn supports a station
6
where at least one band
7
is fastened around a group
2
of banknotes
3
stacked along a longitudinal axis A in such a way that the group
2
appears substantially parallelepiped in shape when formed. The device
1
also comprises a feed unit
8
serving to direct a continuous strip
9
of material, from which the band
7
will be obtained ultimately, toward a gripper
10
that is positioned to take up the strip
9
and disposed in such a way that one jaw constitutes a locating surface
11
offered to the bottom of the group
2
. The gripper
10
is carried and guided around a circular path C through the agency of a positioning mechanism
12
set in motion by a motor
13
and comprising an annular element
14
that occupies a plane parallel to the bulkhead
5
, supported thus by a plurality of freely revolving grooved rollers
15
mounted to respective shafts
16
disposed with axes perpendicular to the bulkhead
5
. Also forming part of the device
1
are a plurality of pivots
17
about which the strip
9
is looped, a cutter device
18
by which the band
7
is separated from the strip
9
, and a sealing device
19
by which the band is secured.
In the example of
FIG. 1
the bulkhead
5
presents an opening
20
, extending longitudinally and parallel to the stacking axis A, through which a compacting device denoted
21
is able to address the group
2
of banknotes
3
positioned in the neighborhood of the banding station
6
.
As illustrated in
FIG. 2
, the group
2
of banknotes
3
is held in a gripping device
22
that operates by compressing the stacked notes between two arms
23
and
24
, top and bottom respectively, connected to a column
25
supported in turn by drive means
26
of conventional embodiment illustrated only in part.
The arms
23
and
24
engage the group
2
of notes
3
by way of corresponding jaws
27
and
28
pivotable about respective axes
27
b
and
28
b
disposed parallel to the stacking axis A, impinging respectively on the top end
29
and the bottom end
30
of a first longitudinal portion
31
presented by the group
2
. The jaws
27
and
28
are rotatable about the relative axes
27
b
and
28
b
and present respective mutually parallel surfaces
27
a
and
28
a
offered in contact to the group
2
; each of the parallel surfaces
27
a
and
28
a
establishes a respective plane Q and Q
1
lying substantially perpendicular to the stacking axis A and occupied by the corresponding ends
29
and
30
aforementioned.
The group
2
of banknotes
3
also presents a second longitudinal portion
32
extending parallel to the first portion
31
and, in a configuration assumed when the band
7
is applied, disposed facing the station
6
. In like manner to the first portion
31
, the second portion
32
presents two ends
33
and
34
, top and bottom respectively, of which the bottom end
34
engages in contact with the aforementioned locating surface
11
when assuming a configuration in which the band
7
is applied.
The group
2
of banknotes
3
also presents a third longitudinal portion
35
extending parallel to the first and second portions
31
and
32
. The third portion
35
is disposed facing the first portion
31
on the side opposite from the second portion
32
and, again in like manner to the first and second portions
31
and
32
, presents two ends
36
and
37
, top and bottom respectively.
The compacting device
21
is rendered capable of movement in a direction parallel to the stacking axis A along two columns
38
a
and
38
b
through the agency of a ballscrew type actuator
39
extending parallel to the columns
38
a
and
38
b
and driven in its turn by a conventional motor
40
coupled to a transmission composed of two pulleys
41
and
42
and a relative belt
43
.
The columns
38
a
and
38
b
and the ballscrew
39
are supported by a horizontal plate
5
a
uppermost and mounted to the frame
4
at the bottom. The plate
5
a
is connected rigidly to the bulkhead
5
and serves also to support the motor
40
.
As illustrated to advantage in
FIGS. 3
to
8
, the compacting device
21
comprises a first slide
44
rendered capable of movement on a second slide
45
, in a direction G transverse to the stacking axis A, through the agency of an actuator
46
mounted to the second slide
45
with the rod
47
connected to the first slide
44
.
The first slide
44
exhibits the shape essentially of a letter “H” and presents two rods
44
a
and
44
b
, parallel one to another and both to the transverse direction G, slidable in respective cylindrical bores
45
a
and
45
b
afforded by the second slide
45
(see FIG.
8
).
The first and second slides
44
and
45
move as one in the direction denoted H on the columns
38
a
and
38
b
, which are coupled with respective cylindrical bores
48
a
and
48
b
afforded by the selfsame second slide
45
. The ballscrew actuator
39
engages with a threaded bore
45
c
afforded by the second slide
45
.
The compacting device
21
comprises a finger
49
by which the banknotes
3
of the group
2
are compacted. The finger
49
is attached to a lever
50
mounted rotatably to a pivot
51
of which the axis
51
a
of rotation lies transverse to the stacking axis A.
The lever
50
presents a first or bottom end
52
and a second or top end
53
. The top end
53
affords a pin-eye
54
by way of which the lever
50
is linked to the rod
55
of an actuator
56
mounted to the first slide
44
. The bottom end incorporates a sector gear
57
of which the center of rotation coincides substantially with the axis
51
a
of the pivot
51
.
The sector gear
57
meshes with a rack
58
afforded by one end
59
of the first slide
44
, facing toward the banding station
6
. Also rigidly associated with this same end
59
of the slide
44
is a housing
60
of parallelepiped shape occupied by the lever
50
and the rack
58
, of which two faces
61
and
62
extend mutually parallel and perpendicular to the axis
51
a
of rotation of the pivot
51
. Each face
61
and
62
presents a relative slot
63
extending substantially parallel to the transverse direction G, of which the function is to support and guide one respective end of the pivot
51
.
In operation, observing
FIG. 2
, a group
2
of notes coming from an infeed station (not indicated in the drawings) is taken up between the arms
23
and
24
of the gripping device
22
and positioned by the drive means
26
next to the banding station
6
.
The parts of the banknotes
3
coinciding with the opposite ends
29
and
30
of the first longitudinal portion
31
of the group
2
are constrained by the jaws
27
and
28
of the two arms
23
and
24
to occupy planes parallel with the planes Q and Q
1
defined by the respective surfaces
27
a
and
28
a
of the selfsame jaws
27
and
28
, which engage in direct contact with the top and bottom banknotes
3
of the group
2
.
The gripping action of the jaws
27
and
28
on the ends
29
and
30
of the first longitudinal portion
31
has the effect also of compressing the group
2
, and as a direct result of this compression there will be a fanning-out of those parts of the banknotes
3
coinciding with the opposite ends
33
-
34
and
36
-
37
of the longitudinal portions
32
and
35
not subject to the gripping action of the jaws
27
and
28
.
As discernible in
FIG. 2
the gripping device
22
is caused by the drive means
26
to place the bottom end
34
of the second longitudinal portion
32
on the locating surface
11
afforded by the gripper
10
, in direct contact, occupying the same plane Q
1
as that established by the adjacent jaw
28
. This is brought about by a combination of two movements: first, the group
2
is translated parallel with the stacking axis A in the direction of the arrow denoted F
1
and into contact with the locating surface
11
, thereby eliminating the fanned-out effect at the end
34
of the longitudinal portion
32
and causing the parts of the notes nearest this same end
34
to assume a configuration parallel with the gripping plane Q
1
; second, the group
2
is translated parallel to the transverse direction G and in the direction of the arrow denoted F
2
in such a way as to smooth those parts of the notes lying at the end
34
in contact with the locating surface
11
.
In the position of
FIG. 3
, the finger
49
of the compacting device
21
is angled downwards by the actuator
56
, of which the extending movement forces the top end
52
of the lever
50
to rotate, causing the sector gear
57
to interact with the rack
58
.
With the finger
49
occupying this angled position the compacting device
21
is translated downwards, en bloc, by the action of the ballscrew
39
and the motor
40
, following the direction denoted H to the point at which the selfsame finger
49
is brought into contact with the fanned-out banknotes
3
at the top end
33
of the second longitudinal portion
32
of the group
2
, as indicated in FIG.
4
.
As soon as the finger
49
enters into contact with the banknotes
3
, the group
2
will begin to oppose the compressive action of the descending device
21
, generating a reaction force which is transmitted by degrees to the finger
49
. The reaction force does not halt the downward progress of the compacting device
21
, but causes the finger
49
to describe a movement made up of three distinct components, the first a rotational movement about the axis
51
a
of the pivot
51
, the second a translational movement relative to the group
2
of notes in the transverse direction G, and the third, a downward movement resulting from the aforementioned descent of the entire compacting device
21
in the direction H parallel to the stacking axis A.
As illustrated sequentially in
FIGS. 5
,
6
, and
7
, the relative motion between the finger
49
and the group
2
of notes
3
has the effect of gradually eliminating the fanned-out configuration at the top end
33
of the longitudinal portion
32
, bringing the corresponding notes substantially parallel with the plane Q of the relative jaw
27
and smoothing them at one and the same time.
FIG. 7
illustrates a group
2
of banknotes
3
ready for the application of the band
7
, after the manner described in reference B099A 000548 above.
Once a band
7
of strip material
9
has been placed around the second longitudinal portion
32
of the group
2
of banknotes
3
, as illustrated in
FIG. 8
, the jaws
27
and
28
of the gripping device
22
are caused to rotate about their respective axes
27
b
and
28
b
and position the group
2
with the third longitudinal portion
35
facing the station
6
in readiness for the application of a second band
7
. At this point, operating in conjunction with the locating surface
11
and accomplishing a series of steps identical to those described and illustrated in
FIGS. 3
to
7
, the compacting device
21
will proceed to compact and smooth the ends
36
and
37
presented by the third longitudinal portion
35
of the group
2
.
Thereafter, the gripping device
22
is caused by the drive means
26
to distance the banded group
2
of banknotes
3
from the station
6
, so that the banding device
1
can admit a further group
2
.
FIG. 9
shows an alternative embodiment of the banding device
1
that comprises a second compacting device
21
located below the group
2
in such a way as to interact with the bottom end
34
of the second longitudinal portion
32
, thereby dispensing with the locating surface
11
. The second slides
45
of the two compacting devices
21
will have respective bores
45
a
with threads of opposite hand coupled to a single ballscrew
39
, so that the slides are drawn together along the direction H of movement when the screw rotates in one direction, and distanced one from the other along the selfsame direction H when the screw rotates in the opposite direction.
Claims
- 1. A device for banding groups of sheets appearing substantially parallelepiped in shape, wherein the sheets are made to accumulate along a longitudinal stacking axis, taken up by respective gripping means engaging two longitudinally opposite ends of at least a first longitudinal portion of the resulting group, and fed thus to a station where at least one band of a strip material is applied comprising compacting means designed to compress at least a second longitudinal portion of the single group not engaged by the gripping means, in such a manner as to position the group of sheets in a configuration of readiness for application of the band.
- 2. A device as in claim 1, comprising gripping means embodied in the manner of a clamp such as will compress the first longitudinal portion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal stacking axis and establish planes disposed substantially perpendicular to the stacking axis which the two ends of the first longitudinal portion of the group are constrained respectively to occupy, wherein the parts of the sheets that constitute the second longitudinal portion of the group, not engaged by the gripping means, are caused to fan out at least partially during the compressing action, the second portion presents a first end and a second end located at the top and bottom opposite extremities of the group along the longitudinal stacking axis, and the compacting means comprise at least one finger impinging on one of the two ends of the second longitudinal portion in such a way as to compact the selfsame second longitudinal portion and bring the end into a position substantially occupying the respective plane.
- 3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the finger impinges on the second longitudinal portion of the group of sheets describing a movement in relation to the selfsame second portion that is dictated by a law of motion deriving from a combination of at least two distinct components, of which a first consists in an angular movement of the finger about an instantaneous axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal stacking axis, and a second consists in a rectilinear movement of the finger and the group of sheets one relative to another, parallel with the longitudinal stacking axis.
- 4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the law of motion dictating the movement of the finger comprises a third component, consisting in a rectilinear movement along a direction transverse both to the instantaneous axis of rotation and to the longitudinal stacking axis, serving to smooth the second longitudinal portion.
- 5. A device as in claim 3 or 4, wherein the finger impinges on one end of the second longitudinal portion, operating in conjunction with a substantially flat locating surface disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal stacking axis and impinging on the opposite end, in such a way as to compact and smooth the second longitudinal portion.
- 6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the locating surface and the group of sheets are invested with relative motion deriving from a combination of at least two components, of which a first consists in a rectilinear movement parallel with the stacking axis whereby the surface and the group are brought into contact one with another and a second consists in a rectilinear movement one relative to the other along the direction transverse to the stacking axis.
- 7. A device as in claims 23, or 4, wherein the finger is carried by a first slide capable of movement in a direction parallel to the stacking axis at least between a first raised limit position in which the compacting device is at rest, and a second lowered limit position in which the group of sheets is compacted.
- 8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the first slide is slidably associated with a second slide, capable of movement in relation thereto along the transverse direction between an at-rest position in which the finger lies outside the dimensional compass of the banding station and an operating position in which the finger is disposed within the compass of the station, the second slide being slidably associated with at least one respective guide column extending parallel to the longitudinal stacking axis.
- 9. A device as in claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the finger is secured to a lever rotatable about a pivot, of which the axis coincides with the axis of rotation, and presenting a downwardly directed first end affording a sector gear concentric with the pivot and meshing with a rack afforded by the first slide, the pivot being slidably translatable in a slot integral with the first slide and disposed substantially parallel to the rack.
- 10. A device as in claim 9, wherein the lever presents an upwardly directed second end connected to an actuator carried by the first slide and serving to move the finger between an at-rest position substantially parallel with the locating surface, and an operating position of engagement with the group in which the finger is angled as the result of the lever being rotated about the axis of the pivot.
- 11. A device as in claim 4, comprising two fingers impinging respectively on the two ends of the second longitudinal portion.
- 12. A device as in claim 5 wherein the finger is carried by a first slide capable of movement in a direction parallel to the stacking axis at least between a first raised limit position in which the compacting device is at rest, and a second lowered limit position in which the group of sheets is compacted.
- 13. A device as in claim 12, wherein the first slide is slidably associated with a second slide, capable of movement in relation thereto along the transverse direction between an at-rest position in which the finger lies outside the dimensional compass of the banding station and an operating position in which the finger is disposed within the compass of the station, the second slide being slidably associated with at least one respective guide column extending parallel to the longitudinal stacking axis.
- 14. A device as in claim 6 wherein the finger is carried by a first slide capable of movement in a direction parallel to the stacking axis at least between a first raised limit position in which the compacting device is at rest, and a second lowered limit position in which the group of sheets is compacted.
- 15. A device as in claim 14, wherein the first slide is slidably associated with a second slide, capable of movement in relation thereto along the transverse direction between an at-rest position in which the finger lies outside the dimensional compass of the banding station and an operating position in which the finger is disposed within the compass of the station, the second slide being slidably associated with at least one respective guide column extending parallel to the longitudinal stacking axis.
- 16. A device as in claim 5 wherein the finger is secured to a lever rotatable about a pivot, of which the axis coincides with the axis of rotation, and presenting a downwardly directed first end affording a sector gear concentric with the pivot and meshing with a rack afforded by the first slide, the pivot being slidably translatable in a slot integral with the first slide and disposed substantially parallel to the rack.
- 17. A device as in claim 16, wherein the lever presents an upwardly directed second end connected to an actuator carried by the first slide and serving to move the finger between an at-rest position substantially parallel with the locating surface, and an operating position of engagement with the group in which the finger is angled as the result of the lever being rotated about the axis of the pivot.
- 18. A device as in claim 6 wherein the finger is secured to a lever rotatable about a pivot, of which the axis coincides with the axis of rotation, and presenting a downwardly directed first end affording a sector gear concentric with the pivot and meshing with a rack afforded by the first slide, the pivot being slidably translatable in a slot integral with the first slide and disposed substantially parallel to the rack.
- 19. A device as in claim 18, wherein the lever presents an upwardly directed second end connected to an actuator carried by the first slide and serving to move the finger between an at-rest position substantially parallel with the locating surface, and an operating position of engagement with the group in which the finger is angled as the result of the lever being rotated about the axis of the pivot.
- 20. A device as in claim 7 wherein the finger is secured to a lever rotatable about a pivot, of which the axis coincides with the axis of rotation, and presenting a downwardly directed first end affording a sector gear concentric with the pivot and meshing with a rack afforded by the first slide, the pivot being slidably translatable in a slot integral with the first slide and disposed substantially parallel to the rack.
- 21. A device as in claim 20, wherein the lever presents an upwardly directed second end connected to an actuator carried by the first slide and serving to move the finger between an at-rest position substantially parallel with the locating surface, and an operating position of engagement with the group in which the finger is angled as the result of the lever being rotated about the axis of the pivot.
- 22. A device as in claim 8 wherein the finger is secured to a lever rotatable about a pivot, of which the axis coincides with the axis of rotation, and presenting a downwardly directed first end affording a sector gear concentric with the pivot and meshing with a rack afforded by the first slide, the pivot being slidably translatable in a slot integral with the first slide and disposed substantially parallel to the rack.
- 23. A device as in claim 22, wherein the lever presents an upwardly directed second end connected to an actuator carried by the first slide and serving to move the finger between an at-rest position substantially parallel with the locating surface, and an operating position of engagement with the group in which the finger is angled as the result of the lever being rotated about the axis of the pivot.
Priority Claims (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| BO99A0696 |
Dec 1999 |
IT |
|
US Referenced Citations (9)
