EP0523305A1 - Device for handling securities such as banknotes, comprising satellite wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

A central roller (70) is driven in continuous movement by a toothed belt (85) and drive rollers (88,89). On its axis (7) is mounted a movable assembly comprising a bracket (92) supporting a idler roller (90) resiliently biased towards the central roller, this assembly being driven separately by the rollers (79,78), a toothed belt (75 ) and a drive system (MC, 77). An incoming ticket is inserted between the rollers (70 and 90). The axis of the roller (90) remains fixed until the bill has exceeded it in a predetermined manner. After that, the mobile assembly (92) is rotated at a controlled angular speed, greater than that of the roller (70), so that the bill is continuously maintained between the central roller (70) and the idler roller (90) , but that this same idler roller (90) moves towards the end of the bill, until it is released into a receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to the processing of securities, in particular banknotes.

In a known automatic dispenser, the banknotes are extracted from a cassette and then driven in translation by a roller conveyor. They then arrive on a group of one or more impellers. Each ticket enters an inter-blade space. The movement of the wheel brings it to a receptacle where the banknote will abut, almost flat, to stack with other banknotes. The battery thus obtained is finally delivered to the user.

It is necessary that a cash dispenser is fast, with maximum operational reliability for both the banker and his client.

The paddlewheel devices, which have their own technical limits, are not entirely satisfactory.

The present invention provides a device of another kind.

• un convoyeur d'entrée propre à assurer la translation d'un titre à la fois,
• un réceptacle comportant un premier flan formant butée pour arrêter un billet et permettre son empilement sur un second flan, et
• des moyens de transfert de titres un par un entre la sortie du convoyeur d'entrée et ce réceptable.

This device is of the type comprising:

• an input conveyor capable of translating one title at a time,
• a receptacle comprising a first blank forming a stop to stop a banknote and allow it to be stacked on a second blank, and
• means for transferring securities one by one between the output of the input conveyor and this receptacle.

• un galet central, tournant à vitesse contrôlée, en particulier à vitesse constante,
• un équipage, mobile à rotation coaxialement au galet central, et porteur d'au moins un galet périphérique fou ou satellite, rappelé élastiquement vers le galet central, cet équipage possédant une position d'attente dans laquelle le point de tangence du galet central et du galet fou est sensiblement dans l'axe du convoyeur d'entrée, et
• des moyens de commande qui réagissent à une avance prédéterminée d'un titre entre le galet central et le galet périphérique, en entraînant temporairement ledit équipage à une vitesse angulaire dépassant celle du galet central d'une manière contrôlée, de sorte que le galet fou dépasse l'extrémité du titre avant que celle-ci ne rencontre le premier flan du réceptacle.

According to the invention, instead of paddle wheels, these transfer means include:

• a central roller, rotating at controlled speed, in particular at constant speed,
• a crew, mobile in rotation coaxially with the central roller, and carrying at least one idler or satellite peripheral roller, resiliently biased towards the central roller, this crew having a waiting position in which the point of tangency of the central roller and the idler roller is substantially in the axis of the input conveyor, and
• control means which react to a predetermined advance of a title between the central roller and the peripheral roller, by temporarily driving said equipment at an angular speed exceeding that of the central roller in a controlled manner, so that the idler roller exceeds the end of the ticket before it meets the first blank of the receptacle.

In practice, the periphery of the central roller and part of the movable assembly, with the idler roller, will cross the first blank by a notch thereof. Of course, there can be several central roller systems and idler roller, if the width of the title or titles requires.

More particularly, the mobile assembly comprises, for each idler roller, a support in the general shape of a coated U, one end of which is mounted for independent rotation coaxially with the central roller, while the other supports the idler roller for free rotation, l opening of the U being turned towards the conveyor in said waiting position.

In a particular embodiment, the central roller and the moving element are driven by a belt, preferably a toothed belt, respectively permanently and on command.

The moving part can comprise two idle diametrically opposed rollers, or three idle rollers regularly distributed at 120 °.

Of course, in the case where several mobile units are provided, they carry the same number of idle rollers.

The control means advantageously consist of at least one stepping motor, for precisely controlling the angular displacement of the moving element.

It includes a title detector placed downstream of the idle roller standby position, in a predetermined position.

According to a particularly important aspect of the invention, the elastic return of the idler roller towards the central roller is adjusted according to the thickness and the rigidity of the titles.

• la figure 1 illustre schématiquement un dispositif à roues à aubes selon la technique antérieure;
• la figure 2 illustre en perspective la structure détaillée d'un moyen de transfert selon la présente invention;
• la figure 3 illustre de façon schématique et plus particulière un mode de réalisation de l'entraînement du dispositif selon l'invention;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective permettant de mieux comprendre le dispositif, tel qu'illustré sur la figure 3; et
• les figures 5A à 5F sont des schémas très simplifiés permettant de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement des moyens d'entraînement selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, as well as the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 schematically illustrates a paddle wheel device according to the prior art;
• Figure 2 illustrates in perspective the detailed structure of a transfer means according to the present invention;
• Figure 3 illustrates schematically and more particularly an embodiment of the drive of the device according to the invention;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view to better understand the device, as illustrated in Figure 3; and
• Figures 5A to 5F are very simplified diagrams for better understanding the operation of the drive means according to the invention.

The attached drawings essentially contain elements of a certain nature. They therefore form an integral part of the description. As such, they can not only help to better understand it, but also contribute to the definition of the invention, if necessary.

In FIG. 1, the reference 1 designates the outlet of a roller conveyor, which carries a ticket B. We see here the last train of rollers, consisting of four pairs of rollers each comprising an upper roller 10 and a lower roller 10 , with a specific suffix for each pair. Such a dispenser is intended for several types of tickets. It is designed for banknotes with the largest dimensions.

In the previous embodiments, one or more impellers are mounted on the shaft of a motor 40, which may be a stepping motor. We see here three paddle wheels 5-1 to 5-3, only the blades of the wheel 5-1 being represented schematically, to simplify the drawing.

The banknote stacking and bundling receptacle consists mainly of two blanks 61 and 62. They form an angle close to 90 between them. The vertical blank 61 is indented at 61-1, 61-2 and 61-3 to allow the passage of the three impellers 5-1 to 5-3.

The stack of banknotes finally obtained is illustrated at P in the receptacle.

FIG. 2 illustrates in more detail one of the banknote transfer members capable of replacing the impellers, on its axis 7.

This axis 7 supports a roller for toothed belt 79 and a so-called "central" roller 70.

This assembly can therefore rotate freely, driven by the roller 79. The drive is done at constant speed, and can be provided by a stepping motor, or by a regulated direct current motor, or in direct connection with the transport upstream ticket.

On this assembly, by ball bearing, is mounted the movable assembly which comprises a front flange 80-A, the latter secured to a roller 89 suitable for driving by toothed belt, and a rear flange 80-R. These flanges include three brackets, distinguished by the suffixes 1, 2 and 3. We will only describe one of them.

These brackets consist of side blanks 91-1 and 92-1, joined by a spacer 93-1.

The cutting of the flanges 80-A and 80-R means that these brackets 91-1 and 92-1 define a shape of a lying U, open here to the left.

The brackets 91-1 and 92-1 define the upper part of the U. Near their free end, they support a peripheral roller 90-1. The axis of this roller is recalled towards the central roller 70 by elastic strips such as 94-1, and its rear counterpart which is best seen in 94-2 on the suffixed crew 2.

The drawing also shows, in 95-2 and 96-2, supports for the axes incorporated in brackets 91-2 and 92-2, respectively.

This mobile assembly therefore consists of three idle rollers, mounted on their respective brackets, and resiliently recalled by the springs 94 towards the central roller 70, under controlled force.

Of course, on the shaft 7, it is possible to mount several crews of this type, if the width of the tickets or tickets so requires.

It is immediately noted that these devices have a relatively smaller radial size than traditional paddle wheels.

Furthermore, part of the device will pass through the notches such as 61-1 to 61-3, formed in the vertical blank of the dressed receptacle, as illustrated in FIG. 1 for the prior art.

As previously indicated, the central roller can be driven at constant speed by a stepping motor or by a DC motor or by direct drive with the upstream transport. Its drive does not necessarily have to be synchronized with that of the peripheral roller, as soon as the speed is properly stabilized.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the central roller 70 is split in 70A and 70B and driven, via the pulley 79, by the rollers 83 and 86 of the input conveyor. The mobile equipment consists of brackets 91.92 and idler rollers 90A and 90B also split.

A roller 89 formed on the bracket 92 is driven by a toothed belt 75 from a drive roller 78 mounted on a shaft 77. Controlled drive means MC act on the shaft 77 to carry out the drive of the brackets such as 92 and therefore rollers such as 90A and 90B. These drive means are for example a stepping motor, associated with an open loop drive servo.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A to 5F.

In FIG. 5A, the axis of the idler roller 90 is substantially vertical to the axis of the central roller 70, so that the point of tangency between these two rollers is substantially in the axis of output of the input conveyor tickets 1 (Figure 1). The central roller 70 rotates at constant speed, and consequently drives the idler roller 90 to rotate at the same linear speed, its axis however remaining stationary.

A ticket B arrives at the same linear speed, and engages between the two rollers 90 and 70. It is recalled that the pressure of the roller 90 on the roller 70 is adjusted by the springs 94, taking into account the thickness and the rigidity of the tickets.

In FIG. 5B, the banknote B has started to penetrate between the two rollers 90 and 70.

In FIG. 5C, the ticket B has advanced, and its right end reaches the point where a detector D operates.

This detector is located in a predetermined position relative to the standby position of the roller 90. Its location is preferably provided outside the area where the brackets 91 and 92 operate. It can be a banknote detector arranged in the manner of a photoelectric barrier, or better of a banknote detector by reflection of an optical signal, for example.

As soon as the detector has perceived the arrival of the end of the ticket, the roller 90 is then driven by its mobile assembly at an angular speed greater than that of the central roller 70. The means described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4 therefore enter in office.

The axis of the roller 90 will then now progress towards the right end of the ticket B, while the roller 90 nevertheless rolls on the central roller 70, and therefore continues to ensure with it the maintenance of the ticket.

The angular speed imparted to the mobile assembly 90 is adjusted so that, in the position of FIG. 5E, the roller 90 has passed the right end of the bill, which is therefore then released, but in a position where it will be able to tilt to fall onto the bottom of receptacle 62.

After that, the roller 90 which, with part of the movable assembly and the central roller 70, will have passed through a notch in the blank 61, will return at high speed to the waiting position illustrated in FIG. 5F.

This description assumes that there is only one crazy pebble. When there are several, it is of course not the same roller, but its immediate follower in a clockwise direction which will come to be placed in the waiting position.

It is noted for this purpose that with two rollers distributed at 180, there will immediately exist a roller in the standby position, as soon as the one who has just worked will have released the ticket in the receptacle consisting of the blanks 61 and 62.

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that it allows the processing of many types of tickets with a simple, space-saving system, practically requiring only a presence detector, and above all permanently ensuring the maintenance of the ticket. until it is placed in the receptacle 6.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, and extends to any variant in accordance with its spirit. For example, there has been described above a certain drive system for the mobile unit or units. Of course, those skilled in the art will be able to make many variations. Likewise, although two or three groups of rollers 90 are currently preferred, a higher number can be envisaged.

Claims (10)

Device for processing securities, in particular banknotes, of the type comprising: - an input conveyor (1), suitable for translating one title at a time, a receptacle (6), comprising a first blank (61) forming a stop to stop a banknote and allow it to be stacked on a second blank (62), and - means (5) for transferring securities one by one between the output of the input conveyor and this receptacle,

characterized in that the transfer means include: - a central roller (70), rotating at a controlled speed, - an equipment (92) mobile in rotation coaxially with the central roller, and carrying at least one idler peripheral roller (90), resiliently biased (95) towards the central roller, this crew having a waiting position in which the point tangency of the central roller and the idler roller is substantially in the axis of the input conveyor, and - control means (MC) which react to a predetermined advance of a title between the central roller and the peripheral roller by temporarily driving said equipment at a speed exceeding that of the central roller in a controlled manner, so that the roller crazy goes beyond the end of the title before it meets the first blank of the receptacle. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the central roller (70) rotates at constant speed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the periphery of the central roller (70) and part of the movable assembly (92), with the idler roller (90), pass through the first blank by a notch (61 -1 to 61-3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the moving assembly comprises, for each idler roller (90), a support (92) in the general shape of a coated U, one end of which is mounted in independent rotation coaxially with the central roller, while the other supports the idler roller, the U-shaped opening being turned towards the conveyor in said waiting position. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the central roller and the moving element are driven by belt (85.75), respectively permanently and on command. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile assembly carries two diametrically opposite idle rollers (90). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mobile assembly carries three idle rollers (90) regularly distributed at 120. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (MC) comprise at least one stepping motor. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means comprise a title detector (D) placed downstream from the standby position of the idler roller, in a predetermined position. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic return (95) of the idler roller towards the central roller is adjusted as a function of the thickness and the rigidity of the titles.

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