JPH038657A - Seat stacker - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate clogging and inaccurate delivery of a sheet by providing a control device to move a guide means to a sheet receiving position when arrival of the sheet is detected. CONSTITUTION: Passing of a sheet on a transfer means 16 to supply the sheet to a space between a carrying member 1 and a guide member 6 is detected by a detection means 11. The guide means 6 is moved to a sheet receiving position by a control means 10 when arrival of the sheet is detected in accordance with a signal from this detection means 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet stacker and a method of operating such an apparatus.

A stacker wheel is used. One case was BP-
0211814. This example consists of a circular member having a number of radially outwardly opening slots, each into which a sheet is fed by a transport device and which moves from a sheet receiving position to a sheet stacking position as the wheel rotates. At this position, the sheet is peeled from the slot by the peeling plate and falls onto the stack plate. One of the problems with this type of equipment
First, it is extremely important to synchronize the arrival of the sheet into the machine with the slot in the wheel; if this is not done, the leading edge of the sheet will not fit properly into the slot and jams may occur. This results in inaccurate feeding. Another problem is the large size of such devices, and yet another problem is the loose retention of the sheets by the stacker wheels.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
[Means for Solving the Problems] Various sheet stackers have already been developed, and according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the sheet stacker is
In other words, the carrier member to be stacked moves between the sheet receiving position where sheets can be fed between the guide member and the carrier member and the stack holding position where the sheets are stacked and held on the carrier member by the guide member. a sheet stacking apparatus comprising a reciprocating guide member for reciprocating the movement of the guide member, a control means for controlling the movement of the guide member, a transport means for supplying the sheet into the space between the carrier member and the guide member, and a transport means for controlling the passage of the sheet in the transport means. It consists of a sensing means for sensing,
To provide a sheet stacker, wherein the control means of the sheet stacking device is responsive to a signal from the sensing means to move the guide means to a sheet receiving position when the arrival of a sheet is sensed. It is in.

The present invention eliminates the need to rotate the conventionally used stacker wheels, does not require precise synchronization of sheet arrival speed and movement of the guide members, and furthermore, the device is more compact than stacker wheels. It has the advantage of Preferably, the transport means are adapted to grip the sheet fed into the space between the carrier member and the guide member. Thus, the sheets are fed directly to the stacking device in a controlled manner, which solves the problem of loose stacker wheel retention.

Typically, the transport means uses cooperating belts that grip the sheet therebetween, but vacuum-based devices can also be used.

The guide member may consist of a plate, in which case the sheet may be attached to the plate due to the vacuum generated by the rapid movement of the plate. Accordingly, the guide member preferably comprises a set of teeth or an elongated member.

According to this mechanism, not only the inertia of the member is reduced, but also the inertia of the member is reduced.
Adhesion problems are also eliminated.

It is particularly preferred if the guide member is made of an electrically conductive material such as carbon fibre. This is because the strong, lightweight material minimizes inertia while reducing static electricity generated during sheet movement. This is particularly important when handling banknotes.

Preferably, the carrier member is moved from a starting position relative to the guide member, the carrier member being oriented towards this starting position such that it remains substantially parallel to the guide member when it is in the stack holding position. Be biased. If this movement is not possible, increasing the size of the stack on the carrier member will prevent the guide member from moving into a position where the stack is securely held, which is undesirable in the case of large stacks. By moving the carrier member such that the carrier member and the guide member remain substantially parallel, it is ensured that the stack of sheets is always retained when the guide member is in the stack holding position.

In order to obtain the above-mentioned movements, the carrier member may be pivotally connected to the support.

The carrier member may also be biased from its starting position by conventional biasing means such as compression springs. However, it is preferred to provide damping means to dampen the effect of the biasing means. This damping effect prevents the carrier member from returning elastically to its starting position whenever the guide means is moved into the sheet receiving position. This prevents undesired rocking of the carrier.

A dashpot or the like may be used as the buffer means.

If the carrier member is made of a pair of plates, the damping means preferably comprises a single-shaped member that engages both plates. Typically, the single-shaped member is connected to a piston/cylinder mechanism. In this case, the T-shaped member is preferably offset from the axis of the piston/cylinder mechanism to prevent rotation of the member.

In a preferred mechanism, the carrier member and the guide member are pivotable together to selectively obtain a stack of sheets.

Preferably, the control means comprises a reciprocating motor and a coupling member extending between the motor and the guide member such that the reciprocating motion of the motor is coupled to the guide member.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a carrier member onto which the sheets are stacked, a sheet receiving position on which the sheets can be fed between the guide member and the carrier member, and a sheet receiving position on which the sheets are stacked by the guide member. A method for operating a sheet stacker comprising a sheet stacking device including a reciprocating guide member that moves between a stack holding position and a stack holding position, and a control means for controlling movement of the guide member. Detecting the arrival of a sheet, moving the guide member at the sheet receiving position at the same time as the sheet sensing, and then moving the guide member to the stack holding position, thus stacking the sheet on the carrier [5].
A sheet stacker operating method is provided.

According to this configuration, the guide member is normally held in contact with the stack, but when the sheet arrives, the guide member is moved to the sheet receiving position. The guide member may be configured to move to the sheet receiving position and return to the stack receiving position after a certain period of time or when the presence of a sheet between the carrier member and the guide member is sensed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

The device shown in FIG. 1 includes a U-shaped banknote support plate 1 having a slot 2. The device shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the banknote support plate 1 is pivotally connected to a frame (not shown) by a pivot 3, so that the lower end of the banknote support plate 1 is pivotable about the pivot 3. . The lower end of the support plate 1 is provided with a laterally extending foot 4 which engages a stopper 5 when the support plate 1 is in its initial position (see FIG. 3).

A guide member 60 is formed by a set of six carbon fiber teeth 6. These teeth 6 are fixed to shafts 7, which are supported by corresponding frame members, one of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the shaft 7 is rotatable, the teeth 6 pivot between the sheet receiving position shown in FIG. 1 and the stacked sheet holding position shown in FIG. 2 (hereinafter referred to as the stack sheet holding position). . The teeth extend past slots 9 provided in the foot 4 of the banknote support plate l.

The position of the shaft 7 is controlled by a signal from a sensor 11 (described below) such that a crank arm 12 connected to the motor 10 assumes one of two positions. 10. The crank arm 12 is connected via a crank arm 13 to a crank arm 14 that is non-rotatably attached to the shaft 7.

A pair of nylon bristles are attached substantially above the support plate 1 and the teeth 6. As shown in Figures 1 and 7,
The bristles are provided extending between adjacent pairs of teeth 6.

In operation, the banknotes to be stacked are fed along a transport device consisting of rollers and belts (part 16 of which is shown in FIG. 7). A typical feed rate is 800 mm/sec. Sensor 11 aligned with optical sensor 11'
is located at a position to sense the arrival of banknotes at part 16 of the transfer device and sends a signal to motor 10. This causes motor 10 to rotate crank arm 12 and thus cause crank arm 14 to move tooth 6 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the sheet receiving position shown in FIG.

This rotation takes approximately 2 Qms and is completed before the arriving bill leaves the transfer device. The banknote 17 is then fed by the transfer device into the space formed between the tooth 6 and the support plate l, and the banknote enters directly under the needle bristles 15 as indicated by the arrow 18 shown in FIG. It descends by gravity until it engages with W64. The operation of the motor 10 is timed such that the return stroke occurs at predetermined time intervals after the bill exits the transfer device 16 and is activated by a sensor 71 at a suitable location aligned with the light source 70.
sensed by. The return stroke of the motor 10 causes the crank arm 12 to rotate in the opposite direction, moving the teeth 6 towards the banknote support plate l with a period of about 20 m5. During this movement, the teeth 6 guide or push the banknote towards the banknote support plate 1 and, as shown in FIG. Deflect downward. The bristles 15 thus serve to prevent the banknote from returning to its initial position.

When the teeth 6 reach the position shown in Figure 3, they are approximately 15 m
During the recovery period of 5, the continuous operation of the motor 10 holds the banknote in that position, stabilizes the banknote, and clamps the banknote against the banknote support plate 1. When the next banknote is sensed by the sensor 11, the above process is repeated to form a stack of banknotes, for example as shown in FIG.

As mentioned above, the banknote support plate 1 itself is pivoted at reference number 3. The bill support plate l is connected to a rod 19 connected to a piston 20 in a dashpot 21.
is pressed toward the position shown in FIG. A compression spring 22 is installed in the dashpot 21 and presses the piston 20 toward the banknote support plate 1.
On the other hand, the dashpot 21 is filled with oil that cushions the movement of the piston 20. The piston 20 is provided with an orifice 23 through which oil can pass.

Once in the initial position shown in FIG. 3, the compression spring 22 presses the banknote support plate 1 into its starting position in which the foot 4 engages the stopper 5.

In operation, the force that locks the teeth 6 to the support plate 6 causes the support plate 1 to pivot clockwise about the pivot 3 against the bias of the compression spring 22, as shown in FIG. This causes the banknote support plate 1 to assume a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the teeth 6 (as shown in FIG. 4). When picking up the next banknote, the teeth 6 rotate clockwise, thus removing the pressing force from the banknote support plate l. The banknote support plate 1 is therefore pressed towards its starting position under the action of the compression spring.

However, due to the damping effect of the dashpot, the return movement of the banknote support plate l is slower than when the teeth 6 move to the sheet receiving position or return to the stack holding position, so that the teeth 6 move back to the stack holding position. By the time it returns, the banknote support plate 1 will not be completely returned to the position shown in FIG. In this way, large swinging of the banknote support plate 1 is prevented.

First, the position of the stopper 5 is adjusted so that the teeth 6 lie flat on the banknote support plate 1. Thereby, when the first banknote is carried by the teeth 6, it is flattened and held in the active pinch, causing it to release all its possible energy. By carrying out the expansion movement of the banknote support plate 1, a planar contact of the teeth with respect to the already accumulated banknotes is maintained. This planar contact of one banknote with the next squeezes out the air space and allows the banknote to "stun" against the rest of the stack.

Figure 5 shows the dash pot 21 shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Instead of L having a free end engaging the banknote support plate 1 and being pressed by a tension spring 26 towards the banknote support plate 1.
Rotating dashbot 2 that buffers the movement of the letter-shaped arm 25
A modification of the device using 4 is shown.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of the dashpot 21' in which, in addition to the orifice 23, a check valve 27 is provided. This example is a two-speed damper, which makes the clockwise movement of the banknote support plate 1 under the action of the teeth 60 relatively easy, and the return or counterclockwise movement much slower.

A connecting rod 13 that connects the drive motor 10 with the shaft 7
is formed with a coil spring 28. This is equivalent to inserting a short tension spring into the connecting rod. Since the coil spring 28 is normally closed without load and thus acts as a solid rod, the connecting rod 13 acts as a solid piece of wire so that the motor 10 can push the tooth shaft 7. This ensures that the teeth 6 reach the desired position without any time delay.

Returning to the banknote stack, the teeth 6 are able to accommodate changes in angle due to the increased thickness of the banknotes in the stack as the coil spring 28 opens. This allows the motor 10 to always return to its original position without stopping. The torque of the motor is higher than the force exerted by the opening coil spring 28, so the motor is able to overcome that force.

Once the banknote stack has been received, it can be handled in the conventional manner and transferred to the exit hole in the conventional manner. but,
The device is described in UK Patent Application No. 8, which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is particularly suitable for use in dispensers of the type described in the applicant's Japanese patent application filed on the same day, which claims priority from No. 904,566,0.

A second embodiment of the sheet stacker is shown in FIG. 1O, in which a solenoid is used in place of the stepper motor. This sheet stacker is provided between a pair of side plates 100 that are fixed to each other by aluminum tie bars such as tie bars 24, and a side plate 100 that is held by tie bars 101.
A pair of side plates 103 are pivotally mounted between the side plates 100 about the axis of the shaft.

Further, the two banknote support plates 105 can freely pivot around a pivot 107 fixed to the side plate 103.
Nylon pivot pad 106 caulked to 05
It is pivotally attached to the side plate 103 via. Side plate 105
10th by the piston/cylinder shock absorber 108
Pressed into the position shown in the figure. The piston/cylinder shock absorber is fixed to the side plate 100 (by means not shown), and its piston is connected to a T-shaped push bar 109 that is pressed against the underside of the bill support plate 105. This is the same mechanism as the piston 20/dash and pot 21 described above.

A set of six carbon fiber teeth 110 are provided on the banknote support plate 105 and connected to the shaft 104 so that rotation of the shaft 1040 causes the teeth 110 to move between the positions shown in FIG. 10 and the positions shown in FIG. It is pivoted between the position shown and a similar bill receiving position. The tooth 110 is attached to one of the side plates 103 and connected to a bracket 113 pivotally attached to the side plate 103 and connected via a rod 114 to a bracket 115 fixed to the shaft 104. It is controlled by an electric solenoid 111 having a rod 112. The linear movement of the rod 114 causes the shaft 104 to rotate.

In operation, the stacking device of FIG. 1θ is similar to that of the first embodiment. Thus, when the arrival of a bill is sensed, solenoid 111 is actuated to retract piston rod 112 and rotate teeth 110 from bill support plate 105 to their bill receiving position. The banknote then enters between the tooth and the banknote support plate, and as soon as the banknote leaves the transfer device, the solenoid 111 is deenergized and the piston 112 is pulled back under the action of the torsion spring 120, thereby causing the tooth 110 to move back. Rotate it to the position shown in FIG.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a sheet stacker when the teeth are in the sheet receiving position; FIG. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus when the teeth are in the stacked sheet holding position; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the device with some parts cut away; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the device with the banknote support plate in another position;
5 shows a first modification of the damper, FIG. 6 shows a second modification of the damper, FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the needle bristles shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the coil spring shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of the device. In the figure, l...supporting member, 6...teeth, 10...
Control means, 11... Sensing means, 16...
Transfer means, 60... guide member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A carrier member (1) on which sheets are stacked, a sheet receiving position where sheets can be fed between the guide member and the carrier member, and a sheet stacked on the carrier member by the guide member. A sheet stacking apparatus comprising a reciprocating guide member (60) that moves between a stack holding position and a stack holding position, and control means (10) for controlling the movement of the guide member, and between the carrying member and the guide member. The control means of the sheet stacking apparatus is comprised of a transport means (16) for supplying sheets to a space of A sheet stacker adapted to move said guide means to a sheet receiving position when the arrival of a sheet is sensed. 2. The guide member (60) is pivotally mounted between the stack holding position and the sheet receiving position;
A sheet stacker according to claim 1 above. 3. A sheet stacker according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide member (60) comprises a set of teeth (6) or an elongate member. 4. A sheet stacker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said guide member (60) is made of an electrically conductive material. 5. The supporting member (1) is moved from the starting position relative to the guide member (60), and the supporting member (1)
A sheet stacker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide member is biased toward the starting position such that the guide member remains substantially parallel to the guide member when in the stack holding position. 6. A sheet stacker according to claim 5, wherein the carrier member (1) is pivotally connected to a support. 7. In accordance with claim 2, the support member (14) is a pivot point (7) of the guide member (60).
7. A sheet stacker according to claim 6, wherein the sheet stacker is pivotally mounted on the support at a position (3) remote from the sheet stacker. 8. Furthermore, a buffering means (1) for buffering the effect of the bias is provided.
9 to 23).
The sheet stacker according to any of paragraph 7. 9. The supporting member (1) is formed of a pair of plates,
A sheet stacker according to claim 8, wherein said damping means also include a T-shaped member (109) engaging both said plates. 10. The seat according to any of the above claims, wherein the support member (1) has an L-shaped cross section, and in operation the seat rests against the "L" shaped short arm (4).・
Stacker. 11. The control means comprises a reciprocating motor (10) and a coupling member (13) extending between the motor and the guide member (60) such that the reciprocating motion of the motor is coupled to the guide member. A sheet stacker according to any of the above claims. 12. The control means further comprises means for accommodating a smaller amount of movement of the guide member from the sheet receiving position to the stack holding position than in the opposite direction. Sheet stacker described in . 13. Claim 1, wherein the movement amount absorbing means includes a coil spring built into the connecting member (13).
The sheet stacker described in item 2. 14. A sheet stacker according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said transport means are adapted to grip a sheet fed into the space between said gripping member and said guide member. 15. The carrier member (1) onto which the sheets are stacked
and a reciprocating guide member (60) that moves between a sheet receiving position where sheets can be fed between the guide member and the carrier member and a stack holding position where the sheets are stacked and held on the carrier member by the guide member; A method for operating a sheet stacker comprising a sheet stacking device comprising: control means (10) for controlling the movement of a guide member, the arrival of each sheet at said stacking device being sensed; and simultaneously with sheet sensing; moving the guide member to a sheet receiving position and then moving the guide member to a stack holding position, thus stacking the sheets on the carrier member;
How the sheet stacker works. 16. The sheet stacker is configured as described in any one of claims 1 to 14 above,
A sheet stacker operating method according to claim 15.