Conveyor arrangement

Abstract: In a conveying arrangement that includes selector means (ABC) which functions to set a selector slide included in said selector means to either one of two positions (1-2, 1-3) for connecting a first conveyor path (1) with either one of two further conveyor paths (2, 3), the selector slide (A) is actuated by a guide arm (C) for movement of the slide (A) from a first position (A1) to a second position (A2), and vice versa. The selector slide (A) is locked firmly in one of said positions by a locking arm (B) that is moved to and from said locking positions by the guide arm (C). The selector slide carries a fixed pin (A3) for co-action with a first recess or aperture (B1) formed in the locking arm (B), and the recess (B1) has two pin-receiving end positions (B11, B12) corresponding to the two positions (A1, A2) of the selector slide (A). The guide arm (C) is pivotally mounted and has a second recess or aperture (C2) for actuating said pin (A3) and a locking-arm actuating guide pin (C3) for co-action with a camming surface (B2) on the locking arm (B).

Description: The present invention relates to a conveyor arrangement that includes selector means which functions to set a selector slide included in said selector means to either one of two positions for connecting a first conveyor path to either one of two further conveyor paths. The selector slide is moved from a first position to a second position, and vice versa, by means of a guide arm. It is known in connection with banknote handling machines to transport bundles of banknotes, e.g., from a space that accommodates banknote cassettes in the machine, either to an outfeed opening or to a space for nonaccepted banknotes, with the aid of a "carriage" provided with driving cog wheels and cog railways mounted in the machine. The banknotes are thus conveyed to either one of two further conveyor paths over a first conveying path, wherein a selector slide acts as a switch to mutually couple conveyor paths, so as to establish a desired total conveyor path, e.g. comprising the first conveyor path connected via a switch (a path selector) to the further conveyor path that leads either to the outfeed opening or to the space for nonaccepted banknotes. It has been found in practice that cogs on one side of the carriage can "derail" due to the play that occurs as a result of variations in tolerance of the mechanical component parts. Certain assembly problems also contribute to this undesirable effect. This derailment results in the carriage being positioned obliquely on the cog railway, such that position sensors at the end positions of the carriage are unable to "see" the carriage, causing a stop in transportation. Attempts have been made to negate the influence of this play with, e.g., a separate spring arrangement which functions to force the selector slide into its correct position. The carriage, however, will still sometimes derail, despite this improvement. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the causes of such derailment. CH-A-658024 describes a sliding switch for a monorail suspension railway in which a sliding carriage is provided reciprocatable between two working positions in which it connects one track with either of two other tracks. The sliding carriage is moved by rotating a crank arm which cooperates with a link fixed to the sliding carriage. In accordance with the present invention, a conveyor arrangement includes a path selector means which functions to set a selector slide included in the selector means in either one of first and second positions so as to connect a first conveyor path with a respective one of two further conveyor paths, wherein the arrangement includes a guide arm which functions to move the slide from the first position to the second position and vice versa and is characterised by a locking arm movable with respect to the selector slide fully to lock the selector slide in one of said first and said second positions, said locking arm being moved into and out of said locking positions by said guide arm. An example of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a conveyor arrangement having a first conveyor path, path selector means, and further conveyor paths, and shows a selector slide in an outer position; Figure 2 shows the conveyor arrangement according to Figure 1 with the selector slide in an intermediate position; Figure 3 shows the conveyor arrangement according to Figure 1 with the selector slide in a second outer position; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of part of a banknote sorter incorporating the conveyor arrangement of Figures 1 to 3. The conveyor arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 includes a first conveyor path 1 and two further conveyor paths 2 and 3. Located between the first conveyor path and the further conveyor paths is a path selector means A-B-C which includes a selector slide A, a locking arm B and a guide arm C. When the selector slide is in a first position A1 (upper position), the conveyor paths 1 and 2 form a continuous conveyor path 1-2, whereas when the selector slide is in a second position A2 (lower position, see Figure 3), the conveyor paths 1 and 3 together form a continuous conveyor path 1-3. The guide arm C functions to move the selector slide A from the first position A1 to the second position A2, and vice versa, and is locked in each of said positions by means of the locking arm B. The selector slide A has a fixed pin A3 which co-acts with a first recess or aperture B1 in the locking arm B. The recess or aperture B1 has two pin-receiving end positions B11 and B12 which correspond to said two positions A1, A2 of the selector slide. The arrangement includes a pull spring B3 which rotates the locking arm B in a clockwise direction for positive abutment between a camming surface B2 on an external surface of the arm B and a guide pin C3 or the guide arm C. The guide arm C is pivotally mounted about a pivot pin C1 and includes a second recess or aperture C2 which receives, and is arranged to actuate, pin A3 and the locking-arm actuating guide pin C3 arranged for co-action with the camming surface B2 on the locking arm B. When the conveyor arrangement is in the mode shown in Figure 1, the conveyor paths 1 and 2 form a continuous conveying path via the selector slide A in its upper position; the slide A is locked in this upper position by virtue of the pin A3 lying in the upper end position B11, while the locking arm B is locked in the illustrated position by virtue of the abutment of the pin C3 with the camming surface B2 and the pulling force exerted on the locking arm B by the spring B3. As mentioned previously, the conveyor arrangement is particularly suitable for use in banknote sorting equipment and Figure 4 illustrates schematically part of such sorting equipment. The conveyor paths 1-3 are illustrated in Figure 4 and the path selector means of Figures 1 to 3 is indicated at 10. The banknote sorter includes a microprocessor 11 which is connected to a detector 12 such as an optical detector. Banknotes are supplied along the conveyor path 1 in a conventional manner and the detector 12 detects a particular characteristic of the banknotes. This might be their length, width or information on the banknotes. This information is transmitted to the microprocessor 11 which determines whether the banknote should be conveyed to the conveyor path 3 or to the conveyor path 2. If the selector slide A is incorrectly located, the controller 3 activates a stepper motor 13 coupled to the slide A to move the slide to its other position so that the note is conveyed to the correct path. In one case, the conveyor path 2 may be used for conveying unacceptable banknotes. Thus, in the event of transporting banknotes from an infeed opening to a space for nonaccepted banknotes, an event which presumably occurs relatively seldom, the conveyor paths 1 and 3 must be arranged to form a continuous conveying path over the selector slide A in its second (lower) position A2, see Figure 3. The microprocessor 11 installed in the machine sends signals to the stepping motor 13 which causes the guide arm C to rotate anticlockwise around the pivot pin C1, via a gear transmission including a rack and pinion mechanism, the rack on the guide arm C being shown at C4. The following then takes place; see Figure 2. As the guide arm C is rotated anti-clockwise, the guide pin C3 moves downwards and therewith out of its locking position with the locking arm B, which then rotates anti-clockwise. The pin A3 moves out of the end position B11 and is guided downwards by the edge of the recess C2 within the recess or aperture B1. Figure 2 shows an intermediate position of the pin A3 when the selector slide A moves downwards. Figure 3 illustrates termination of the downward movement of the selector slide A. The pin A3 lies in the lower end position B12 and the locking arm B is locked in this position by virtue of abutment of the pin C3 with the camming surface B2 and the pulling force exerted by the spring B3 on the locking arm B. The conveyor paths 1 and 3 thus form a safe, continuous conveying path. A return to the conveyor path 1-2 is made in the manner described in the aforegoing, but in the reverse order.

Claims: A conveyor arrangement that includes a path selector means (ABC) which functions to set a selector slide (A) included in the selector means in either one of first and second positions (1-2, 1-3) so as to connect a first conveyor path (1) with a respective one of two further conveyor paths (2, 3), wherein the arrangement includes a guide arm (C) which functions to move the slide (A) from the first position (A1) to the second position (A2) and vice versa, characterised by a locking arm (B) movable with respect to the selector slide (A) fully to lock the selector slide (A) in one of said first (A1) and said second (A2) positions, said locking arm being moved into and out of said locking positions by said guide arm (C). A conveyor arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the selector slide (A) includes a fixed pin (A3) for co-action with a first recess or aperture (B1) provided in the locking arm (B) and having two pin-receiving end-positions (B11, B12) for said pin (A3) corresponding to said two positions (1-2, 1-3) of said selector slide (A); and in that the guide arm (C) is pivotally mounted and has a second recess or aperture (C2) arranged to actuate said pin (A3) and a locking-arm actuating guide pin (C3) adapted for co-action with a camming surface (B2) on the locking arm (B), whereby with the selector slide (A) in one (e.g. 1-2) of said two positions (1-2, 1-3) the locking arm (B) locks the selector slide (A) in this position and the guide arm (C) locks the locking arm (B) in one (B11) of said end positions (B11, B12). Banknote sorting apparatus comprising a first conveyor path and two further conveyor paths coupled by a conveyor arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2; a detector for detecting a characteristic of a banknote fed along the first conveyor path (1); and a processor connected to the detector for controlling the guide arm (C) to adjust the slide (A) to connect the first conveyor path (1) to the appropriate further conveyor path (2,3).

Inventors: PRICE JOHN GERWYN, SVENSSON LARS, PRICE, JOHN GERWYN, SVENSSON, LARS
Applicants: RUE CASH SYSTEMS AKTIEBOLAG DE, DE LA RUE CASH SYSTEMS AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65H5
IPC codes: E01B25, B65H5, G07D7, B65H29