The present invention claims priority from International Patent Application IT 102023000001515 filed Jan. 31, 2023, the disclosure thereof is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a method and system for storing flexible documents in a storing and issuing module, the storing and issuing module being configured to store and issue flexible documents such as banknotes and paper documents, the method and system configured for being used in a flexible document receiving and dispensing device allowing in a simple, reliable, and effective way handling larger storage capacity than traditional equipment.
In the following, reference will be mainly made to banknotes as flexible documents. However, it should be noted that the method and system according to the invention may be used to store and issue any other type of flexible documents, including paper documents such as checks, notes, certificates and licenses, still remaining within the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the attached claims.
Equipment for automatic deposit and withdrawal of banknotes are used not only in banking sites but also in retail sites, as help for tellers or as customer-operated machines.
This kind of equipment includes banknote receiving and dispensing devices, optionally having function of recycling, each one comprising one or more storing and issuing modules which can be removably mounted within a respective housing, wherein each module is configured to store a given banknote denomination, also depending on the size thereof.
The number of employed modules determines denominations and/or types of banknotes to be handled, as well as dimensions and cost of the equipment.
In fact, in use, the different denominations or types of banknotes are associated to a very different number of storing and issuing operations. For example, a module receiving denominations of banknotes of greater circulation, such as 20 euros and 50 euros banknotes, normally needs to satisfy high request of storing and issuing operations, often varying over time, and it can easily become full or empty thereby limiting functionality of the whole device. To compensate for this drawback, the addition of modules for storing and issuing banknotes with greater circulation in an equipment for automatic deposit and withdrawal of banknotes could be considered. However, this would result in high costs and is not efficient for storage room dimensioning.
A prior art device for storing and issuing single denomination banknotes is disclosed in document EP2104638. As schematically shown in
At conveying section 120 the storing and issuing module is provided with photoelectric sensors 140 (at a preset distance form opening d110-140) configured for detecting the presence of banknotes in respective areas of detection of the conveying section 120 and sending a corresponding activation signal(s) causing activation of the motor associated to storage roller 70. The storing and issuing module is also provided with an electronic unit 80 and holding means, such as pairs of pinch-rollers (not represented in
The maximum distance in the conveying section 120 between the opening 110 and the holding means and the distance between the holding means and the outer diameter of the storage roller 70 must be smaller than the smallest size of the denominations to be stored on or issued from the storage roller 70, for instance such distance must be lower than 62 millimeters for five euros (€ 5) banknotes.
The electronic unit 80 of the storing and issuing module of the prior art is programmed for controlling the holding means and the motor of the storage roller 70 based on the physical parameters of the device, the length of the banknote and in response to signals from the photoelectric sensors 140, so as to store the banknotes on the storage roller with void space queuing providing substantial contact between the input edge of an entering banknote and the output edge of a last stored banknote.
Such prior art storing and issuing module has a great reliability. Nevertheless, it has a limited storage capacity up to 600 banknotes, and also can be subject to frequent jamming, caused by banknotes overlapping on transport tape 170. The banknotes, in fact, during their transport on conveyor belt and inside the storing and issuing module, can accidentally contact parts of the equipment, if they are not perfectly planar (which is frequent, especially if the banknotes to be stored are used ones). This causes their rotation with respect to a longitudinal axis of conveyor belt and their consequent partial overlapping on transport tape 170, when they are stored in the storage and issuing module. Such partial overlapping can cause the jamming of the equipment, its temporary stop and requires maintenance operations, thereby increasing the operating costs.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow in a simple, reliable and effective way maximizing storage capacity of flexible documents, such as banknotes to be stored in and issued from a storing and issuing module, while reducing jamming events caused by their partial overlapping.
It is a specific subject matter of the present invention a method for storing a series of flexible documents in a system, each flexible document having a front side and a rear side and the system comprising:
According to another aspect of the invention, said position information provided by said sensor group, said at least one external sensor unit and said internal sensor unit can comprise at least the angular displacement α(n) of the sensed flexible document B(n), with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y and the minimum linear distance Y(n) of the sensed flexible document B(n) from one lateral edge of said conveyor belt or transport tape.
According to a further aspect of the invention, said position information of the next flexible document B(n+1) can be provided by one between sensor group and at least one external sensor unit, whichever sensed the next flexible document B(n+1) last, and
said position information for flexible document B(n) can be provided by one between the sensor group, the at least one external sensor unit and the internal sensor unit, whichever sensed the flexible document B(n) last.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, said actual minimum distance dpred can be a function of the time interval Rcc between the time instant tj(n) at which the rear side of flexible document B(n) would engage with transport tape and start moving therewith inside the storing and issuing module, and the time instant tj(n+1) at which the rear side of the next flexible document B(n+1) would engage with transport tape and start moving therewith inside the storing and issuing module, estimated based on the last available position information of flexible document B(n) and the next flexible document B(n+1).
According to another aspect of the invention, said actual minimum distance dpred can be a function of:
According to a further aspect of the invention, said speed vt(t) of transport tape can be adjusted according to an updated pattern defining over time a line segment or chain of line segments, optionally an isosceles trapezoidal pattern.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, said updated pattern can be based on:
According to another aspect of the invention, if position information for the next flexible document B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt toward the storing and issuing module is provided after said internal sensor unit stops sensing said flexible document B(n), and/or if the next flexible document B(n+1) is not within a predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module, said method can comprise:
According to a further aspect of the invention, transitional stop time interval:
According to an additional aspect of the invention, after position information for the next flexible document B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt toward the storing and issuing module is obtained or the next flexible document B(n+1) that had been sensed before the internal sensor unit stopped sensing flexible document B(n) moves within the predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module, said method can comprise:
According to another aspect of the invention, said method can comprise, after step F:
It is also a specific subject matter of the present invention a system for storing a series of flexible documents, each flexible document having a front side and a rear side, comprising:
It is further a specific subject matter of the present invention a computer program product comprising instructions to cause the system above to execute the steps of the method above described.
It is an additional a specific subject matter of the present invention a computer-readable medium having stored thereon said computer program product.
The present invention will be now described, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
In the Figures identical reference numerals will be used for alike elements.
With particular reference to
Such a system 100 comprises at least one storing and issuing module (in
The system 100 also comprises at least one external sensor unit 40, each one arranged along conveyor belt 20 between sensor group 30 and the storing and issuing module 10, at a pre-set distance from the storing and issuing module 10, and configured for sensing the passage of each banknote B(n) of the series, at that pre-set distance from the storing and issuing module 10, and providing at least position information thereof, with respect to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the external sensor unit 40 is only one, placed in proximity of the storing and issuing module, for example at 172 mm from the storing and issuing module 10. However, the skilled person would easily understand that other external sensor units 40 could be provided along conveyor belt 20, for example arranged at locations where conveyor belt 20 makes sharp bends inside the receiving and dispensing device and it is most probable that the banknotes are subject to undesired rotation with respect to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y, so that position information of the sensed banknote B(n) can also be obtained after those sharp bends.
According to the invention, the dimension information provided by sensor group 30, see
The position information that can be provided by both sensor group 30 and the at least one external sensor unit 40 comprises at least the angular displacement of each sensed banknote B(n) with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y of conveyor belt 20, and the minimum linear distance (Y in
With reference to the angular displacement of each sensed banknote B(n) with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y of conveyor belt 20, as anticipated above, the banknotes can be subject to rotation while they are transported on conveyor belt 20 and, therefore, their front side (i.e, the side of the banknote facing the storing and issuing module) can be not perfectly perpendicular to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y of conveyor belt 20 and can show, instead, an angular displacement or skew, corresponding to an angle α(n) represented in
Position information provided by sensor group 30 as represented in FIG. 4, also comprises the time interval, referred to as rate30, between a time instant at which a front end of a next banknote B(n+1) is sensed by sensor group 30 and the time instant at which sensor group 30 has sensed a front end of a previous banknote B(n) of the series transported on conveyor belt 20. Of course, if the banknotes sensed by sensor group was the very first one and second of the series, no time interval between banknotes could be provided by sensor group 30 for the first banknote. Optionally, sensor group 30 can also provide the denomination of the sensed banknote B(n), see references ID in
System 100 for implementing the present invention further comprises a central processing unit 50, which is directly or indirectly operatively connected to the sensor group 30, the at least one external sensor unit 40 and the storing and issuing module 10, and is configured to receive, process and store at least dimension information and position information, when it is provided by the sensor group 30 and the at least one external sensor unit 40, and send corresponding signals to the storing and issuing module 10, according to the method of the present invention, that will be described in the following.
With particular reference to the storing and issuing module 10 (in the present description, for simplicity, reference will be made to a system comprising only one storing and issuing module 10 as represented in
The storing and issuing module 10 comprises, in fact, a storage roller 70 and also a feeding-roller (the latter not shown in the Figures) as well as respective motors (also not shown in the Figures), the motors being configured to coordinately actuate the storage roller 70 and the feeding-roller, upon receipt of a suitable control signal.
The storing and issuing module 10 also comprises one transport tape 170, having one end connected to storage roller 70 and the other end connected to feeding-roller. The transport tape 170, during banknotes storage operations and due to corresponding coordinated activation of the above motors, is configured to be unrolled from feeding-roller and rolled on storage roller 70 along a forward path such that it is moved along a linear path with a linear speed vt(t), at the end of conveying section 120, before being rolled around storage roller 70.
The storing and issuing module 10 also comprises an internal sensor unit 140, arranged along the linear conveying section 120 at a pre-set distance from opening 110 and configured for sensing the passage of each banknote B(n) of the series, at that pre-set distance from opening 110, on the linear conveying section 120 and providing at least position information thereof, with respect to said longitudinal symmetry axis y-y. The position information provided by the internal sensor unit 140 is the same as provided by the at least one external sensor unit 40, i.e. the angular displacement or skew angle α(n) of each sensed banknote B(n) with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y and the minimum linear distance Y(n) of the banknote B(n) from the lateral edge of transport tape 170.
With reference to the at least one external sensor unit 40 and the internal sensor unit 140, they both can comprise a plurality of sensors of any suitable kind, optionally two photo-sensors, spaced apart from each other of a distance dps, along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal symmetry axis (according to the plan view of
Accordingly, position information can be provided twice by the external sensor unit 40 and the internal sensor unit 140. The angular displacement α(n), for example, can be calculated as soon as the front side of the entering banknote B(n) has been sensed by at least two sensors of the corresponding (external or internal) sensor unit and also as soon as the rear side of the banknote B(n) has been sensed by at least two sensors of the of the corresponding (external or internal) sensor unit.
The skilled person, however, will easily understand that other configurations of the at least one external sensor unit 40 and internal sensor unit 140 are possible. They could be image sensors of any suitable kind, or arrays of photo-sensors arranged in any suitable way or even cameras, as long as they can sense the passage of the banknotes on conveyor belt 20 and transport tape 170, at predefined distances, outside and inside the storing and issuing module 10 respectively, and determine position information as described above, with respect to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y.
The storing and issuing module 10 further comprises holding means arranged at conveying section 120 at a predefined distance from the internal sensor unit 140, which are configured to be actuated for engaging an entering banknote B(n) with transport tape 170, when the entering banknote B(n) has completely entered the storing and issuing module, i.e. when the rear side of that banknote, passing through opening 110, has disengaged from input transport rollers 60-60′. In detail, the holding means include two pair of pinch-rollers 80 and 80′ arranged below and above transport tape 170. The pinch-rollers are configured to mutually shift under control of electromagnets (the electromagnets not being shown in the Figures).
With such a configuration of system 100, it will be noted that any banknote B(n), transported by conveyor belt 20 into the storing and issuing module 10, enters the storing and issuing module 10 at constant conveying speed vc and only when its rear side (as shown in
The substantially constant conveying speed vc at which conveyor belt 20 moves is, for example, about 1400 mm/s.
Transport tape 170 linear speed vt(t), instead, has a conventional pattern showing a constant speed value V at regime operational conditions, i.e. apart from transitional start and stop time intervals of the storage roller 70 driving motor, where linear speed of transport tape vt(t) shows a constant (positive or negative) acceleration between zero and the constant speed value V or vice-versa. The constant speed value V of transport tape linear speed vt(t) at regime operational conditions depends on:
As an example, for storage of 5 euros banknotes in a storing and issuing module, constant speed value V of transport tape linear speed at regime operational conditions, i.e. not considering transitional start and stop time intervals of the storage roller 70 driving motor, is about 469 mm/s.
The storing and issuing module 10 also comprises one processor 150, operatively connected at least to the central processing unit 50 and to the storage roller 70 and feeding roller motors, the holding means 80-80′ and the internal sensor unit 140. The processor 150 is configured to receive, process and store at least said signals transmitted by the central processing unit 50 and at least the position information of each banknote of the series sensed by the internal sensor unit 140, and send corresponding control signals at least to the storage roller 70 driving motor, and holding means 80, 80′.
Processor 150 is also configured to determine the pattern of linear speed vt(t) of transport tape 170 during storage of a banknote B(n), according to invention method 1, and send corresponding control signals to the storage roller 70 motor and holding means 80-80′.
Method 1 of the present invention for storing a series ( . . . , B(n−1), B(n), B(n+1), . . . ) of flexible documents, more particularly banknotes, in a storing and issuing module 10 of the system 100 described above, is indicated in
Then, method 1 comprises determining when the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing each banknote B(n) entering inside the storing and issuing module 10 (step B), i.e. the front side of banknote B(n) enters a field of view of its sensors, and if (step C) a next banknote B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt 20 toward the storing and issuing module 10 is sensed and corresponding position information for the same is provided to the central processing unit 50 and forwarded to processor 150 before said internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing that banknote B(n), having that banknote moved further closer to storage roller 70 inside the storing and issuing module 10, and also if the next banknote B(n+1) is within a predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module 10, then invention method 1 comprises calculating at following step D an actual minimum distance dpred, along an axis yMIN-yMIN parallel to longitudinal symmetry axis y-y, that would be left on transport tape 170, between the rear side of the entering banknote B(n) and the front side of the next banknote B(n+1), if transport tape 170 moved according to the conventional pattern of transport tape linear speed vt(t), having a constant speed value V at regime operational conditions.
According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the actual minimum distance dpred between such banknotes is calculated based on dimension information and the last obtained position information on banknote B(n), the last obtained position information on the next banknote B(n+1) and known design parameters of the system, as will be better described below.
Further to that, method 1 of the invention comprises, at following step E, comparing the actual minimum distance dpred calculated at step D with the desired minimum distance dd above and, (at step F) if the actual minimum distance dpred is different from the desired minimum distance dd, invention method 1 comprises adjusting, by sending corresponding control signals through processor 150, linear speed vt(t) of transport tape 170 with respect to the conventional pattern, between the time instant tj(n) at which banknote B(n) is engaged with transport tape 170 and the time instant tj(n+1) at which the next banknote B(n+1) is engaged with transport tape 170 inside the storing and issuing module, such that:
With particular reference to the last obtained position information of banknotes B(n) and B(n+1), it should be noted that, when the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing banknote B(n), the last obtained position information for the next banknote B(n+1) is provided by one between sensor group 30 and at least one external sensor unit 40, whichever has sensed the next banknote B(n+1) last. In fact, when the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing the entering banknote B(n), the following scenarios are possible. It is possible that the next banknote B(n+1):
Moreover, after the internal sensor unit 140 has started sensing the entering banknote B(n), and before the internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing it, when the banknote B(n) has moved further inside the storing and issuing module 10 toward storage roller 70, in other words during sensing of banknote B(n), other scenarios are possible for the next banknote B(n+1). During sensing of an entering banknote B(n), in fact, it can happen that the next banknote B(n+1):
Moreover, position information for banknote B(n) can be provided by one between the sensor group 30, the at least one external sensor unit 40 and the internal sensor unit 140, whichever has sensed the banknote B(n) last. In fact, banknote B(n) entering the storing and issuing module 10 has certainly already passed through the sensor group 30 and the at least one external sensor unit 40, when the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing it. However, position information on banknote B(n) can also be provided by the internal sensor unit 140 during sensing, as already explained above. For example, when the internal sensor unit 140 is provided with two sensors as explained above with reference to system 100, i.e. in case where two photo-sensors are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal symmetry axis y-y (see for example plan view of
Just to give few examples, some of the cases described above are graphically represented in
With reference now to step D of invention method 1 and the calculation of the actual minimum distance dpred that would be left between the entering banknote B(n) and the next one B(n+1) on transport tape 170 if transport tape 170 moved at a linear speed vt(t) according to the conventional pattern, it should be noted that according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such actual minimum distance dpred is also a function of the time interval between the time instant tj(n) at which the rear side of entering banknote B(n) would engage with transport tape 170 and start moving therewith inside the storing and issuing module 10, and the time instant tj(n+1) at which the rear side of the next banknote B(n+1) would engage with transport tape 170 and start moving therewith inside the storing and issuing module. This time interval, which will be referred to in the following as estimated rate value or Rcc, can also be easily calculated based on the last obtained angular displacement of both the entering banknote B(n) and the next one B(n+1), banknotes dimension H and L, and other system parameters. Of course, the estimated rate value Rcc is a lower value than the rate value provided by sensor group 30 (rate30), if the entering banknote B(n) underwent a rotation or slew down during its trip toward the storing and issuing module 10.
In a first non-limiting example, in a case where position information on B(n+1) is provided by the external sensor unit 40 as represented in
where delay is the time interval between the time instant at which the external sensor unit 40 started sensing the next banknote B(n+1) and the time instant at which the internal sensor unit 140 started sensing the entering banknote B(n), which can be easily obtained by processor 150.
In a second not limiting example, where position information on B(n+1) is provided by sensor group 30, as represented in
With reference to the calculation of the estimated rate value Rcc, the skilled person will easily understand that the formula used to determine that value differs based on the mutual position between banknote B(n) and the next banknote B(n+1). If, with the same system described above, banknotes had, for example, opposite angular displacements with respect to an axis parallel to longitudinal symmetry axis y-y, as represented in
Of course, the skilled person will easily understand that the indications above regarding the quantification of the estimated rate value Rcc are purely exemplary and many other equivalent ways could be used to determine that value, depending also on system configuration, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
Going back to the invention method 1, once the estimated rate Rcc is determined, then two parameters are calculated by processor 150, namely (as represented, for example, in
Parameters err(n) and err(n+1) can be calculated, as functions of the last obtained respective position information (angular displacements α(n) and α(n+1)) of the banknotes and given known system parameters. For example, in case the internal sensor unit 140 comprised two photo-sensors spaced apart from each other of distance dps, where input transport rollers 60-60′ comprised two couple of rollers placed of the same distance dps, given conveyor belt 20 width w20, and in case |α(n)|≥|α(n+1)| then (see
x4(n) corresponding to the distance of banknote B(n) from the lateral edge of conveyor belt 20 where the entering banknote B(n) and the next banknote B(n+1) are closer to each other.
In view of the above, the actual minimum distance dpred that would be left between the entering banknote B(n) and the next banknote B(n+1) if transport tape 170 moved according to the conventional speed pattern, can be easily calculated as a function of Rcc, err(n) and err(n+1) and other system parameters.
For example, in a case according to the second non-limiting example above (
In case the entering banknote B(n) was, instead, the very first one of the series, then dpred must be calculated as explained above and based on system parameters, also taking into account the fact that (see
However, as already indicated above with reference to the estimated rate value Rcc, the skilled person would readily understand that many other equivalent ways could be used, to determine dpred, depending also on system configuration, without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
According to the invention method 1, once dpred is known, at step F the speed of transport tape 170 is adjusted with respect to the conventional pattern so that the desired minimum distance dd along said axis yMIN-yMIN parallel to longitudinal symmetry axis y-y is left on transport tape 170 between the rear side of the entering banknote B(n) and the front side of the next banknote B(n+1), and when at tj(n+1) the next banknote B(n+1) is engaged with transport tape 170, the linear speed value of transport tape 170 is the constant speed value V of the conventional pattern of transport tape linear speed vt(t) at regime operational conditions.
According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, linear speed vt (t) of transport tape 70 during storage of the entering banknote B(n) is adjusted with respect to the conventional pattern, according to an updated pattern, defining over time a line segment or chain of line segments, optionally an isosceles trapezoidal pattern.
More particularly, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the updated pattern of transport tape 170 linear speed vt(t) is a function of:
In
As represented in that Figure, given the estimated values of Rcc, dpred and dd and an acceleration value a of transport tape 170, which can be easily obtained by the system, it is possible to calculate the transitional time interval of an initial deceleration ΔTdec, after which transport tape 170 can run at a constant speed vt, before being brought back to constant speed value V of conventional speed pattern, after a transitional acceleration time interval having a duration over time equal to that of the initial deceleration (ΔTacc=ΔTdec).
On the contrary, see
Of course, the skilled person will easily understand that in case the entering banknote B(n) was the very first one of the series, then the formulas involved in the determination of the first transitional acceleration/deceleration time interval and corresponding value of constant speed vt should be adjusted in a way known to the skilled person, to take into account the fact that (see
Method 1 according to the invention optionally comprises after step F, a following step I comprising determining when banknote B(n) has moved further inside the storing and issuing module 10 so that the internal sensor unit 140 has stopped sensing it, and updated position information at least on banknote B(n) is available. In this case, at step L, invention method 1 comprises, repeating steps D to F (in the Figures indicated as steps D1, E1 and F1) with:
For example, the case could occur wherein the next banknote B(n+1) is sensed by the at least one external sensor unit 40 only between the time instant at which the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing the entering banknote B(n) and the time instant at which the internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing the entering banknote B(n). In this case, according to the invention method 1, the actual minimum distance dpred can be calculated (updated) twice:
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention method, this second adjustment of transport tape linear speed vt(t) can be carried out during a time interval ΔTadj1 comprised between the time instant tSTOP2(n) at which the internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing banknote B(n) and the time instant at which it is estimated that the next banknote B(n+1) is also engaged with transport tape (tj(n+1)=tj(1)+Rcc), minus the possible acceleration/deceleration transitional time interval calculated during previous adjustment at step F, as shown in
In
As for the first adjustment already discussed above, the formulas need to be obviously adjusted in case the entering banknote B(n) was the very first one of the series, based on parameters ΔTst, ΔTj and ΔT0 already discussed above.
However, the skilled person will clearly understand that many other pattern for transport tape linear speed during both the first and optionally the second adjustment could be used for storage of the entering banknote B(n), without exceeding the scope of protection of the present invention, as long as at tj(n+1) when the next banknote B(n) in engaged with transport tape 170, the value of transport tape speed is the constant value V of the conventional pattern and the desired minimum distance dd between banknote B(n) and B(n+1) is left.
Going back to the invention method 1, in case position information for a next banknote B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt 20 toward the storing and issuing module 10 was obtained after the internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing that banknote B(n), and/or if the next banknote B(n+1) is not within a predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module 10 when it is sensed before the internal sensor unit 140 stops sensing that banknote B(n), step G is provided, wherein linear speed vt(t) of transport tape 170 is brought to zero, over a transitional stop interval as will be better explained below.
In fact, it could happen that the next banknote B(n+1) is sensed so late for example by sensor group 30, during storage of banknote b(n) inside the storing and issuing module 10, that even if transport tape linear speed vt(t) was adjusted (reduced) in order to “wait” for its entrance into the storing and issuing module 10, transport tape 170 would still move too much toward storage roller 70 and the requirement of the desired distance dd between banknotes could not be met.
The transitional stop time interval above, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention could be a pre-set time interval. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transitional stop time interval could be calculated based on position information of the entering banknote B(n), if no information on the next banknote B(n+1) were already available. In this case a minimum stop distance could be calculated, which should be covered during the transitional stop time interval, for example equal to:
under the assumption that the next banknote will have the same position information of B(n), where Δjoin(n) is the estimated distance covered by transport tape 170 from the time instant at which transport tape 170 starts moving and the time instant tj(n+1) at which the next banknote B(n+1) is engaged with transport tape 170.
Transport tape 170 rests at least until (at step H) position information for the next banknote B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt 20 toward the storing and issuing module 10 is obtained or the next banknote B(n+1) that had been sent before the internal sensor unit 140 stopped sensing banknote B(n) moves within the predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module 10, so that it is possible to store it inside the storing and issuing module 10 at the desired distance dd from banknote B(n+1).
When position information for the next banknote B(n+1) transported on conveyor belt 20 toward the storing and issuing module 10 is obtained and the next banknote B(n+1) is within the predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module 10 or the next banknote B(n+1) that had been sensed before the internal sensor unit 140 stopped sensing banknote B(n) moves within the predetermined storage distance dST from the storing and issuing module 10, after step H, invention method 1 comprises calculating at following step D2 an actual minimum distance dpred, along an axis yMIN-yMIN parallel to longitudinal symmetry axis y-y, that would be left between the rear side of the entering banknote B(n) and the front side of the next banknote B(n+1) on transport tape 170, if transport tape 170 moved according to the conventional pattern of transport tape linear speed vt(t). In this case, according to the conventional pattern, transport tape speed vt(t) is zero and would start increasing with constant acceleration according to the conventional pattern after the next banknote B(n+1) is sensed by the external sensor unit 40, as described above, or when it is sensed by the internal sensor unit 140.
Also in this case, as for step D described above, the actual minimum distance dpred between such banknotes is calculated based on dimension information and the last obtained position information on banknote B(n), the last obtained position information on the next banknote B(n+1) and known design parameters of the system.
After step D2, the invention method 1 comprises, at following step E2, comparing the actual minimum distance dpred calculated at step D2 with the desired minimum distance dd above and, (at step F2) if the actual minimum distance dpred is different from the desired minimum distance dd, invention method 1 comprises adjusting linear speed vt(t) of transport tape 170, by sending corresponding control signals through processor 150 and within the time instant tj(n+1) at which the next banknote B(n+1) is engaged with transport tape 170 inside the storing and issuing module, such that the desired minimum distance dd along said axis yMIN-yMIN parallel to longitudinal symmetry axis y-y is left on transport tape 170 between the rear side of the entering banknote B(n) and the front side of the next banknote B(n+1).
In this case, the next banknote B(n+1) is considered as if it was the first banknote of the series (as described above) and, after step F2, the invention method 1 is moved back to step B.
As soon as the information about the next entering banknote B(n+1) is available, transport tape linear speed can be adjusted with respect to the conventional pattern as explained above, so that, when the next banknote B(n+1) is engaged with transport tape 170, the speed is equal to the constant value V of conventional pattern (
In other circumstances, for example when too much time passes by between banknote B(n) and the next banknote B(n+1), the next banknote B(n+1) is considered the very first one of the series and will engage transport tape during the transitional start time interval thereof where speed is lower than V and varies at constant acceleration (
In case the actual minimum distance dpred calculated at step D2 is equal to the desired minimum distance dd above, no adjustment of transport tape linear speed vt(t) is implemented and the invention method 1 moves back to step B where the process is repeated when the internal sensor unit 140 starts sensing the next banknote inside the storing and issuing module 10.
In view of the above, it is clear that invention system 100 and method 1 overcome the drawbacks posed in the preamble of the present description. In fact, considering the last obtained position information on each entering banknote B(n) and the next one B(n+1) of the series allows to more accurately determine the actual actual minimum distance therebetween, and to better adjust speed vt(t) of transport tape 170 so that, despite angular displacement of banknotes occurring along conveyor belt 20 or inside the storing and issuing module 10, an increased number of non-overlapping banknotes can be stored. The number of banknotes stored in a single storing and issuing module is increased and at the same time, the risk of jamming is reduced.
Further to that, since any adjustment of transport tape 170 speed vt(t) is carried out independently between a banknote B(n) and the next banknote b(n+1) of the series, any series of banknotes wherein banknotes enter the system at the same nominal rate and having the same angular displacement is handled by invention method 1 and system 100 at constant transport tape 170 speed vt(t), which is advantageous in terms of system management economy.
The preferred embodiments of this invention have been described and a number of variations have been suggested hereinbefore, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make other variations and changes without so departing from the scope of protection thereof, as defined by the attached claims.
For example, the skilled person would easily understand that even though the invention has been described for a system and method for storing banknotes having the same denomination, the present system and method can also be easily used for storing a series of banknote having different denominations. In this case, the formulas indicated above, should be adapted to consider as height parameter H, the height of the banknote between B(n) and the next one B(n+1) having the highest height.
Also, system 100 and method 1 of the invention can be implemented in devices other than receiving and dispensing ones. For example, they can be implemented only in receiving devices. Moreover, system 100 of the invention can comprise two or more storing and issuing modules 10, as represented, for example, in
As a final remark, it is to be noted that in the present description reference is made to a system 100 where the central processing unit 50 forwards dimension and position information obtained by sensor group 30 and the external sensor unit 40 to processor 150 of a storing and issuing module 10. However, if the system 100 according to the invention had only one storing and issuing module 10, dimension and position information provided by sensor group 30 and the external sensor unit 40 could be sent directly to processor 150 for calculation of the pattern of the linear speed of transport tape 70 as disclosed above.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102023000001515 | Jan 2023 | IT | national |