Apparatus for handling sheet-like objects

Abstract: It is provided an apparatus for handling sheet-like objects, comprising drum means (17), having essentially the form of a cylinder and the length of a peripheral enclosure of the drum means being larger than the length of a sheet-like object, hole means (74) formed inside of the drum means such that a sheet-like object is insertable into the hole means, and discharge means (76) arranged in the drum means, pulled in at the time of a normal rotation of the drum means, and projecting from the peripheral enclosure at the time of a reverse rotation of the drum means.

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus for handling sheet-like objects, in particular to a count and discharge apparatus for counting and discharging a sheet-like object like a paper or a sheet object of a synthetic resin. Especially, the invention relates to a count and discharge apparatus for sheet-like objects for correctly counting and discharging bank notes. Concretely, the field of this invention relates to a count and discharge apparatus used for bank notes, such as automatic vending machines, such as a ticket vending machine, a currency-exchange machine, and a change machine currently used for retail trade. In addition, although the typical sheet-like object in this invention is a bendable bank note, the sheet-like object includes a deflectable stock certificate, a valuable security such as a credit, or a boarding season ticket, a vehicle excursion ticket, a telephone card, etc. A conventional discharge apparatus for bank notes, which is a conventional discharge apparatus for sheet-like objects, is disclosed by the detailed statement of JP-A-6-32514 (see also EP 0 575 711 A), for example. This apparatus is a momentary storage apparatus for bank notes. This apparatus has a transfer apparatus for bank notes, a temporary storage apparatus for bank notes, and a control apparatus. The temporary storage apparatus comprises a drum which has an endless belt, an open and close device for guiding a bank note, a drive unit for the whole apparatus, the control apparatus of the whole apparatus, and a sensor. The endless belt pushes one bank note to the drum, and bank notes are stored in the form of a bundle. A drive unit rotates the drum in a normal direction and in a reverse direction. If the drum turns once for 360°, the bank note supplied from the transfer apparatus is stacked on the cylinder surface of the temporary storage apparatus, and it is stored in a bundle. If the drum is rotated in the opposite direction, the stacked bundle is put back to the transfer apparatus through the connection part of the temporary storage apparatus. Here, an outline of the apparatus is explained. The complicated mechanism is disclosed by the above-mentioned detailed statement. Document EP 0 395 047 A2 discloses an apparatus for handling sheet-like objects, comprising drum means, having essentially the form of a cylinder and the length of a peripheral enclosure of the drum means being larger than the length of a sheet-like object, and discharge means arranged in the drum means, pulled in at the time of a normal rotation of the drum means, and projecting from the peripheral enclosure at the time of a reverse rotation of the drum means. Document US 4 470 590 forming the preamble of claim 1 discloses a stacking device for paper sheets comprising an essentially cylindrical rotating drum means in form of a blade wheel. The blade wheel comprises a ring-shaped wheel and blades projecting from its peripheral surface. The blades are formed spirally, with the interval between the tips widened and the interval between the roots narrowed. In operation a paper sheet is inserted between two blades, transported with the rotation of the blade wheel and, after about half a revolution of the blade wheel, deposited on a stacking member. The object of this invention is to offer an apparatus for handling sheet-like objects of a simple structure which does not need the complicated mechanism, which was mentioned above. This object is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. The invention offers an apparatus which attains the simplification of structure concretely, and counts sheet-like objects reliably, and discharges them speedily. In addition, it is offered the simplification of the apparatus structure and a large amount of reservoirs for the sheet-like objects. In other words, this invention can make the maintenance of the whole apparatus simple, can make the count and discharge of the sheet-like object reliable, and can make the velocity of discharge and of the sheet-like objects quick. Further features and advantages follow from the following description of embodiments in connection with the attached figures, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a count and discharge apparatus for counting and discharging bank notes as an embodiment of the apparatus for handling sheet-like objects according to this invention in a schematic manner; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment partially cut for explaining the principal part of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing the drum of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an expanded sectional view showing the device of Fig. 2 from the right-hand side; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation view of the device of Fig. 1; Figs. 7 to 10 are sectional views for explaining a usual operation of the embodiment; Figs. 11 to 13 are sectional views for explaining an operation of the embodiment; Figs. 14 to 17 are sectional views for explaining a usual operation of the embodiment; and Figs. 18 to 21 are sectional views for explaining an operation of the drum. As to the lower part of Fig. 1, a big substrate 99 is provided in form of a rectangle. A pair of side boards 10 and 11 in form of an R extend upwards from the substrate 99. The count and discharge apparatus for bank notes shown in the figures is an embodiment of the apparatus for handling sheet-like objects according to this invention, and it is fixed by the side boards 10 and 11. First, the outline of Figs. 1 and 2 is explained. Next the count and discharge apparatus for sheet-like objects is explained. First, many sheet-like objects (illustration omitted) are accumulated on a fairly big elevator apparatus 12 shown down in the diagram. The laminated sheet-like objects (bank notes, illustration omitted) are gradually lifted upwards by means of a stepping motor 13 and a gear mechanism of the elevator apparatus 12. In addition, a drive of the stepping motor 13 is controlled by a signal from a signal-processing unit (illustration omitted), such as a CPU. A hollow sending apparatus 14 (refer to Figs. 2 and 4) in form of a trapezoid is arranged above the elevator apparatus 12. The sending apparatus 14 absorbs one sheet, i.e. the top sheet object on the elevator apparatus 12, by sucking. The sending apparatus 14 is equipped at the upper part with an intake fan 15 and a small tyre 16 for sending out a sheet-like object. The absorbed one sheet is sent out leftward in Fig. 4. Moreover, a drive of the sending roller 16 is controlled by the signal-processing unit via a stepping motor 9 (refer to Figs. 5 and 6) and a gear train. The sheet-like object from the sending apparatus 14 is sent into a drum 17 by four small tyres 8 (refer to Fig. 4) attached to one shaft 7. A rectangular guide board 32 is arranged to each side of the small tyres 8, respectively, and a total of six guide boards 32 are fixed between the two side boards 10, 11 of the count and discharge apparatus via a rod and a spacer. In addition, the shaft 7 can be rotated in a positive (normal) and a reverse direction by the stepping motor 6 and the gear train, and a drive of the shaft 7 is controlled by the signal-processing unit. Moreover, a roller 5 for pressing a sheet-like object is arranged near the small tyre 8. And the roller 5 is rotatably arranged on a heavy and thick arm 4 (refer to Fig. 2). Moreover, each sheet of the sheet-like objects sent into the drum 17 is confirmed by optical sensors 3 and 2. Moreover, each sheet-like object is accumulated into the later-explained cover object 18 of the drum 17. In addition, the sensor 3 confirms whether a sheet-like object is completely sent into the drum 17. Moreover, the sensor 2 confirms whether the number of the sheet-like objects sent in completely equals one. Moreover, the drum is rotatable in the positive (normal) and the reverse direction by the stepping motor 19 and the gear mechanism and the drive of the drum is controlled by the signal-processing unit. In addition, the cover object 18 having a curved form is pivotably mounted between the side boards 10, 11 of the count and discharge apparatus. The cover object 18 opens and closes the drum 17. The drum 17 for stacking, which is the principal part of the embodiment of this invention, is explained in a schematic manner, referring to Fig. 3. As to Fig. 3, a centre long rod is a revolving shaft 71, and a gear 72 is fixed on the left-hand side (in Fig. 3) of the revolving shaft 71. The drum 17 is actuated or rotated by the stepping motor 19 via this gear 72, etc., and the angle of rotation of the drum 17 is detected by the encoder 20. In addition, the revolving shaft 71 is rotatable in the positive (normal) and the reverse direction, and since a drive of the revolving shaft 71 is controlled by the signal-processing unit, the revolving shaft 71 can stop at a desired angle. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3, three thick disks 73 are attached to the revolving shaft 71 at equal intervals, and the revolving shaft 71 is fixed to the discs 73. A disc 73 is made by piling up 3 sheets of the disc. A large long and slender hole 74 in form of a C is opened over the entirety of the circumference part of the disc 73. A protrusion 75 is formed on a part of the circumference of the disc 73. In addition, the centre part of the disc 73, which forms the long and slender hole 74, occupies a fairly large area. Thereby, the contact resistance with a sheet object becomes small. As to the upper part of Fig. 3, a projecting claw 76 has an L shape. The claw is slidably contained between the sheets of the disc on both sides which are part of the disc 73 (refer to Fig. 21 from Fig. 18). A longitudinal rod 77 penetrates through a hole formed in the three discs 73 and each claw 76. Thereby, the rod 77 is movable within the hole. In addition, a small roller 78 is fixed at each end of this rod 77 (refer to Fig. 6). Moreover, one end of a longitudinal spring 79 is fixed to the disc 73, and the other end of the spring 79 is fixed to a rod 70, which couples the three claws 76. The claw 76 is pulled by the spring 79. In addition, the rod 70 penetrates through a hole formed in the three discs 73, respectively, and thereby the rod 70 is movable within the hole. An adjustment body 81 has nearly the form of an X. The adjustment body 81 is slidably arranged at the side surface of a disc 73. One end 80 of the adjustment body 81 can joint with and separate from the rod 77. One end of a longitudinal spring 82 is fixed to the disc 73, and the other end of the spring 82 is fixed to the adjustment body 81. The adjustment body 81 is pulled by the spring 82. In addition, the tensile direction of springs 79 and 82 is set up so that it may become a mutual reverse direction. Below, the structure of the upper-part of the count and discharge apparatus is explained. A tray 21 of a fairly big rectangle form is fixed almost at a level with the top part of the two side boards 10 and 11 of the count and discharge apparatus. When the sheet-like object sent into the drum 17 is a pile of 2 sheets or 3 sheets, etc., the sheet-like objects are collected in the tray 21. Two small tyres 22 for collecting sheet-like objects are arranged at the inner end side of the tray 21. The tyres are rotatably and pivotably mounted between the side boards 10, 11 (refer to Fig. 4). In addition, the pivot axis 23 is rotatable in the positive (normal) and the reverse direction by the shaft 7 via the pulley and belt 24. A guide board 25 in form of an F is arranged at the upper part on both sides of the small tyres 22, respectively. A total of four guide boards 25 are fixed between the boards 10 and 11 of the apparatus (refer to Fig. 5). Rollers 26 and 27 are vibratably attached at the guide boards 25 against the small tyres 22 (refer to Fig. 5). Furthermore, a guide claw 28 in form of a J is arranged underneath on both sides of the small tyres 22, respectively. The guide claws 28 are fixed between the two side boards 10, 11 of the count and discharge apparatus via a rod and a spacer. As to this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, an operation is explained, wherein a sheet-like object from the sending apparatus 14 is stacked by means of the drum 17. First, the sheet-like object (e.g. bank note) S is sent into path P between the small tyres 8 and the rollers 5 as shown in Fig. 7. Next, the sheet-like object S is picked up by the small tyres 8 rotated counterclockwise and is sent into the long and slender hole 74. It is detected by the sensor 3 that the sheet-like object S is completely sent into the long and slender hole 74, and the drum 17 is rotated clockwise, as shown in Fig. 8. The drum 17 is further rotated clockwise, as shown in Fig. 9. Although the sheet-like object S moves due to the contact resistance, the motion of the sheet-like object S is stopped by a stopper piece 29 of the guide board 25. If the drum 17 is further rotated clockwise from this condition, the motion of the sheet-like object S is prevented by the stopper piece 29 which is fixed. For this reason, the sheet-like object S is further extracted from the long and slender hole 74. In this way, as shown in Fig. 10, the extracted sheet-like object is stored in a stack chamber R by means of the drum 17 further rotated clockwise. The stack chamber R is positioned on the inside of the cover object 18. In addition, when a bended or crumpled sheet-like object S is positioned near the small tyre 8, the sheet-like object is pushed in by the steps of a protrusion 75 formed on the outside of drum 17 and rotated in stack chamber R. Moreover, when the drum 17 rotates clockwise from Fig. 9 to Fig. 10, the sheet-like object is instantly pushed with a frictional resistance of protrusion 75. The inner end of the sheet-like object S is regulated by the stopper piece 29, and the inner end of the sheet-like object S is arranged. The drum 17 returns to the original position by revolving through 360° from Fig. 7 to Fig. 10, as mentioned above. The drum stands by for accepting the following sheet-like objects. In the above-mentioned case, the pair of small rollers 78 is fixed at the ends of the long rod 77. The roller 78 passes the inner side of a cam 30 of a pair of cams of a shuttle-race-back-type fixed at each of the two side boards 10 and 11 (refer to Figs. 18 and 19). Fig. 18 shows the condition in which the small roller 78 has began to contact the interior of the cam 30 which displaces the small roller 78 relative to the revolving shaft 71. Fig. 19 shows the condition in which the small roller 78 finishes passing the interior of the cam 30. As clear from the drawings, via the small roller 78 the rod 77 is depressed against the one end 80 of the adjustment body 81 and the spring 82 is lengthened. However, since a claw 76 has a long hole, it is not moved (refer to Fig. 19). If the small roller 78 is free from the fixed cam 30, the stability (spring force) of spring 82 will work. As a result, the rod 77 and the small roller 78 return to the original position via the one end 80 of the adjustment body 81 (refer to Fig. 18). In addition, as to the lower part of the stack chamber R, an open and close piece 31 is suitably arranged to open and close a path or to prevent the reverse flow from a lower part. Especially, the open and close piece 31 has a spring (illustration omitted), preventing a sheet-like object S from a not intended discharge to the externals from the stack. If a pile SS of two sheet-like objects S sent into the long and slender hole 74 by the small tyre 8 and the roller 5 is detected by the sensor 2, as shown in Fig. 11, the small tyre 8 will be rotated in the reverse clockwise direction. At the same time, the drum 17 is rotated fairly counterclockwise and stopped at a position of a predetermined angle (refer to Fig. 12). If the drum 17 stops at the position of the predetermined angle, the path to the small tyre 8 will be blocked up by the protrusion 75. As a result, the path P of sheet-like object S is closed (refer to Fig. 12). In this case, even when the drum 17 stops, sheet-like objects SS will be pinched between the small tyre 8 and the roller 5, which are rotating in the reverse direction. For this reason, the sheet-like objects SS are extracted from the long and slender hole 74 and sent out in the outer direction. The sheet-like objects SS sent out in the outer direction are guided by the long guide claw 28 and a short guide piece 33 and sent upwards (refer to Fig. 12). The sheet-like objects SS sent upwards are pinched by the small tyres 22 and the rollers 26 and 27 rotated clockwise and are collected in tray 21 (refer to Fig. 13). In this way, one sheet per one sheet of the sheet-like objects S are stacked in chamber R of the cover object 18, and the sheet-like objects S are accumulated in a sheet-bundle B in a desired number of sheets, as it is shown in Fig. 14. When the cover object 18 is pivoted around an axis 1, the cover object 18 is lifted. Then the sheet-bundle B can be taken out of the stack chamber R. The structure of the cover object 18 and the guide board 25 may be changed. The cover object 18 may be supported with a spring. Thereby, sheet-bundle B can be thickened and the stack of the sheet-like objects S can be done in large quantities. Moreover, relating to Fig. 14, the position of the whole apparatus can be made reverse with respect to the upper and lower sides, and the stack of sheet-like objects S is installed below in chamber R. In this case, the size of the stacks can be increased greatly. Moreover, the apparatus can be installed in a horizontal direction by rotating right-angled. In addition, although the drum 17 shown in Fig. 3 is using three discs 73, it can use two discs 73. Moreover, if the width of a disc 73 is enlarged, the disc will be formed by a piece of the cylinder. Moreover, if the size of rectangular sheet-like objects S is considered, the width of the sheet-like objects S may be larger than the width of the drum 17 or smaller. Furthermore, if the length of rectangular sheet-like objects S is considered, the length of the peripheral enclosure of the drum 17 is larger than that of the sheet-like objects S to be stacked. In addition, although the peripheral edge of the long and slender hole 74 of a drum 17 is formed in form of a C, the shape of the peripheral edge can be formed in form of a swirl type or a U. If the sheet-like objects S are accumulated in a desired number in sheet-bundle B at the inner side of the cover object 18, as shown in Fig. 14, the drum 17 rotates counterclockwise by the signal from the signal-processing unit through the signal from sensor 3, as shown in Fig. 15. If drum 17 is rotated counterclockwise, the small roller 78 is guided on the exterior of the fixed cam 30 and the three claws 76 are projected from drum 17 (refer to Figs. 3 and 21). Furthermore, if drum 17 is further rotated counterclockwise, the small roller 78 will be free from the fixed cam 30. The inner end of sheet-bundle B arranged by the stopper piece 29 is pressed against the drum 17 by means of the three claws 76 and is held (refer to Fig. 16). In the above-mentioned case, the pair of small rollers 78 currently fixed by the ends of the long rod 77 pass along the exterior of the pair of cams 30 fixed at the two side boards 10 and 11 (refer to Figs. 20 and 21). Fig. 20 shows the condition in which the roller 78 has begun to contact one half of the peripheral surface of the cam 30 to displace rod 77 relative to revolving shaft 71 by means of the small roller 78. Fig. 21 shows the condition that the small roller 78 has passed the other half of the peripheral surface of the cam 30. As it is clear from the drawings, the rod 77 is lifted against the spring 79 via the small roller 78. Thereby, the claw 76 is projected in the outer direction (refer to Fig. 21). And, when the small roller 78 is free from the fixed cam 30, the stability (spring force) of spring 79 works, the claw 76 moves in the direction to the inside and returns to an original position (refer to Figs. 20 and 21). In addition, as to the above-mentioned operation as shown in Fig. 15, the long and slender protrusion 75 which is shown in Fig. 15 blocks the path for the side of path P. In this way, the return to path P is blocked for sheet-bundle B. In this way, the sheet-bundle B held to the drum 17 by the three claws 76 is guided by the inner wall and the guide board 32 of the cover object 18 by the further anticlockwise rotation of drum 17. The open and close piece 31 is opened and the drum 17 stops, as shown in Fig. 17. A part of sheet-bundle B is exposed to hang down and is pulled downwards. Thereby, sheet-bundle B will be removed from the claw 76 of drum 17. If sheet-bundle B is not removed and remains, drum 17 will rotate reverse in the clockwise direction after a certain constant time, and sheet-bundle B will be contained in stack chamber R, as shown in Fig. 16. The trouble by sheet-bundle B having remained can be prevented beforehand. In addition, although the point of claw 76 is formed in the L shape, the point can be of a pin type, rod type or board type. In this case, since sheet-bundle B is discharged without pinching, a tray (illustration omitted) needs to be placed below. Moreover, in order to pick and hold on both sides of sheet-bundle B, the structure of claw 76 has to be complicated, but a claw 76 which only discharges sheet-bundle B results in a simple structure. For example, if the claw 76 with the point in form of a pin is fixed to the shaft 77, the one end of spring 79 is pivotably mounted to shaft 77 and the other end of spring 79 is fixed to the disc 73. Then the adjustment body 81, etc., can be omitted. In this case, spring 79 is formed in a curved shape and is extended. By this, the point of the pin type claw 76 is projected from the surrounding wall of disc 73 by means of the fixed cam 30 and the small roller 78 or is drawn-in. This invention, an embodiment of which is described above, has the following effects. A drum is only rotated in the one direction, and sheet-like objects can be stacked simply. A sheet-like object is discharged only, if the drum is rotated in the reverse direction. In addition, it is possible to reliably stack and arrange the sheets one by one. A sheet-like object can be discharged simply by the reverse rotation.

Claims: An apparatus for handling sheet-like objects, comprising drum means (17) being rotatable and having essentially the form of a cylinder, the length of the circumference of the drum means (17) being larger than the length of a sheet-like object (S), elongate slot means (74) formed inside the drum means and extending in the direction of the circumference thereof, such that a sheet-like object is insertable into the slot means (74) from outside the periphery of the drum means (17), and stopper means (29) fixed at a predetermined angular position with respect to the drum means for preventing a movement of a sheet-like object which is inserted in the slot means (74) beyond the angular position, characterized in that the slot means (74) has a form allowing it to completely store the length of a sheet-like object (S), a cover means (18, 25) surrounding at least part of the circumference of the drum means and spaced therefrom to form a stack chamber (R) is provided, and a reversible rotating means (5, 8) for sending a sheet-like object (S) into the slot means (74) and for extracting a sheet-like object (S) from the slot means (74) is provided at the periphery of the drum means (17), so that, as the drum means (17) rotates in a first direction, a sheet-like object (S) inserted into the slot means (74) is ejected from the slot means (74) and transferred to the stack chamber (R), and, as the drum (17) rotates in a second direction, a sheet-like object (S) inserted into the slot means (74) is extracted from the slot means (74) to be collected. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising discharge means (76) arranged in the drum means, adapted to be pulled in at the time of a normal rotation of the drum means in the first direction, and projecting into the stack chamber (R) at the time of a reverse rotation of the drum means in the second direction. The apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the discharge means (76) is adapted to selectively press a sheet-like object against the periphery of the drum means. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drum means (17) consists of a plurality of discs (73). The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a protrusion means (75) is formed on a part of the periphery of the drum means (17). The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by sensor means (2, 3) confirming the presence of sheet-like objects (S, SS). The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a control for controlling the apparatus such that supplied sheet-like bodies (S) are stacked in the stack chamber (R) to a bundle (B) by rotation of the drum means (17) in the normal direction and a bundle of a prescribed number of sheet-like objects is discharged by rotation of the drum means (17) in the reverse direction.

Inventors: EHARA TAKASHI, EHARA, TAKASHI
Applicants: ASAHI SEIKO CO LTD, ASAHI SEIKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G07D11
IPC codes: B65H39, G06K13, B65H29, G07D11