Abstract:
Cassettes incorporating at least one container are fed in succession by a first conveyor to a loading station of a machine equipped with channels along which loose banknotes are directed and formed into ordered stacks at outlets of the single channels; the stacks are picked up from each outlet singly and in succession by a clamp mounted to a column-like support and transferred cyclically toward the loading station, where empty cassettes are positioned by a mechanism comprising a shelf and a frame with the bottom of the open container parallel to a side face of the stack. On reaching the station, the clamp and column are maneuvered in such a way as to place the stack in the cassette with the edges of the notes resting against the bottom of the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of placing groups of sheets, particularly banknotes, in cassettes. 
     The invention finds application to advantage in machines by which banknotes are first ordered into stacks, singly or in bundles, and then loaded into respective cassettes; reference is made directly to this same art field in the following specification, albeit with no limitation in scope implied. 
     Machines of the type in question consist typically in a plurality of stacking modules with respective formation channels. The banknotes are fed in singly and in succession, examined and sorted according to denomination and/or type, then directed selectively toward respective independent outlets afforded by the channels. 
     In this way stacks of single banknotes are formed at each of the outlets. As the notes accumulate in predetermined numbers, the stacks are picked up and transferred to a release station, then taken from the station by hand and put into relative cassettes designed especially for their secure custody, and for their transportation to banks if envisaged. 
     Conventional cassettes of the type in question comprise a container, and a lid hinged permanently or detachably to the container. The container is also equipped internally with a device by which the stacked notes placed in the cassette are retained in stable fashion. 
     Given that the operation of placing the stacks in the cassettes is performed manually in machines of the type outlined above, there will inevitably be an area, coinciding substantially with the station at which the stacks are released, where the process of placing and securing the notes in the respective containers is slowed down, and this in turn clearly affects the profitability of the machine overall by slowing down the entire processing cycle. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a machine for the formation of notes into ordered stacks, embodied in such a way that the connection with the cassettes and the operation of placing and securing the stacks in the corresponding container can be fully automated in a simple, effective and economical manner. 
     The prior art embraces machines in which notes can be stacked at the outlets of the formation channels either individually, as already intimated, or in bundles, already checked and strapped or banded. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a machine such as will perform the aforementioned operation automatically and with equal ease whether handling stacks of single notes or stacks of notes in bundles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The stated objects can be realized, according to the present invention, by adopting a method for placing groups of sheets in cassettes, particularly banknotes emerging from the checking station of a machine comprising a plurality of stacking modules each provided with a respective formation channel along which the notes are directed to form at least one ordered stack of banknotes at an outlet of the channel, substantially parallelepiped in shape with side faces parallel to a stacking axis, wherein the X cassette comprises at least one container. 
     The method disclosed comprises the steps of taking up successive stacks of banknotes cyclically from each outlet though the agency of pickup and transfer means; transferring each stack to a release and load station; feeding a succession of empty cassettes cyclically and synchronously with the operation of the pickup and transfer means toward an area of substantial proximity to the release and load station; positioning the cassette and the pickup and transfer means one relative to another in such a way as to allow their mutual interaction; placing each successive stack in the relative cassette with the edges of the banknotes resting against the bottom of the container. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for placing groups of banknotes into cassettes, capable of implementing the method disclosed. 
     The object in question is realized in a machine by which groups of sheets, particularly banknotes, are placed in cassettes, comprising a plurality of stacking modules each provided with a respective formation channel along which banknotes emerging from a checking station are directed in such a manner as to accumulate at an outlet of the channel into at least one ordered stack, substantially parallelepiped in shape and disposed with side faces parallel to a stacking axis, wherein the cassette comprises at least one container. 
     Such a machine comprises cassette feed means by which empty cassettes are directed in succession into an area of substantial proximity to a release and load station; pickup and transfer means capable of movement sequentially, and synchronously with the cassette feed means, between at least two operating positions including a first position in which the pickup and transfer means take up a stack of banknotes from the single outlet, and a second position in which the stack is directed by the pickup and transfer means toward the release and load station; and positioning means located in substantial proximity to the release and load station, of which the function is to position the cassette relative to the pickup and transfer means in such a manner as will enable the pickup and transfer means, when in the second operating position, to place the relative stack in the empty cassette with the edges of the banknotes resting against the bottom of the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the machine according to the present invention in a first preferred embodiment, viewed schematically and in perspective, and with certain parts omitted for clarity; 
     FIGS. 2 to  6  illustrate details of FIG. 1 in a succession of operating steps whereby a stack of banknotes is placed in a respective cassette; 
     FIG. 4 a  shows a detail of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the machine according to the present invention in a second preferred embodiment, viewed schematically and in perspective and with certain parts omitted for clarity. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings,  1  denotes a machine, in its entirety, for placing groups of sheets into respective cassettes  2 , the sheets being banknotes  3  in this particular instance. 
     The machine  1  comprises a plurality of stacking modules  4  with respective formation channels  5 , substantially of the type as described in Italian patent application no. BO96A 000284 of which the content is imported into the present specification; banknotes  3  emerging from a checking station  6  are directed down each channel  5  and along a respective stacking axis  7  toward a relative outlet denoted  8 , and formed into an ordered stack  9  of substantially parallelepiped form disposed with the side faces  10  parallel to the stacking axis  7 . The cassettes  2  are of a conventional type designed specifically to contain the stacks  9  of banknotes  3 , consisting in a container  11  with a predominating longitudinal axis  11   a , and a bottom denoted  11   b , enclosed by a lid  12  which is hinged to the container  11  along one of the two top transverse edges  13  (see FIG.  5 ), either permanently or detachably. 
     In the example of FIG. 1, the machine  1  comprises pickup and transfer means  14  disposed and embodied in such a way as to take up a stack  9  of notes  3  from each outlet  8  of each stacking channel  5  and transfer it toward a release and load station  15  where the stack  9  is placed by the selfsame pickup and transfer means  14  in the container  11  of the cassette  2  with the notes  3  disposed on edge and with one side face  10   a  of the stack offered to the bottom  11   b  of the container  11 . 
     Observing FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , it will be seen that pickup and transfer means  14  comprise a clamp  16  carried on a column type support  17  extending along an axis  18  substantially parallel to the stacking axis  7 . The column support  17  is mounted at the base  19  to a carriage  20  slidable on respective ways  21  that extend along a first predetermined transfer path P 1  passing substantially across the front of the stacking modules  4  and of the release and load station  15  in a direction substantially transverse to the stacking axis  7 . 
     In addition, the base  19  of the column support  17  is coupled to the carriage  20  by way of interposed cross slide means  22 , conventional in embodiment and indicated only in part (FIG.  4 ), thus rendering the support  17  capable of movement back and forward relative to the carriage in directions denoted F 1  and F 2  respectively, along a second predetermined transfer path P 2  substantially perpendicular to the first path P 1 . 
     The clamp  16  is equipped with two jaws  23  of “U” shape, top and bottom respectively, positioned in such a way that the stack  9  of banknotes  3  can be taken up and compacted between them, of which the opening and closing movement is brought about substantially along the axis  18  of the support  17  through the agency of conventional drive means not illustrated in the drawings. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the machine  1  also comprises feed means  24  for the cassettes  2 , consisting in a substantially horizontal first infeed conveyor  25  composed of a pair of belts  26  looped around respective pulleys  27  and designed to direct a succession of empty cassettes  2  along a first predetermined feed path P 3  in a corresponding direction denoted F 3  toward means  28  by which the cassettes  2  are positioned. 
     The positioning means  28  consist in respective holding and handling means  29  comprising a shelf  30  onto which each cassette  2  is directed and brought to a halt, a frame  31  supporting the shelf  30 , and a hydraulic or mechanical jack  32 . The frame  31  is cantilevered from the jack  32  and able thus to move up and down on the jack when in operation, carrying the shelf  30  between a raised first position of substantial alignment with the runout of the first conveyor  25 , in which the empty cassettes  2  are received, and a second lowered position in which the shelf occupies the release and load station  15 . The shelf  30  is hinged along a relative axis  33  to a portion  34  of the frame  31  positioned near to the jack  32 , rotatable thus about the axis  33  relative to the frame  31  through the agency of a motor  35  aligned on the axis  33 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4  and  5 , the shelf  30  is provided substantially at the corners with four upright elements  36  serving to restrain and support the cassette  2 , of which the top ends, disposed in pairs either side of the predominating longitudinal axis  11   a  of the container  11 , also serve to support two respective shafts  37  disposed substantially parallel with the selfsame longitudinal axis  11   a.    
     Each shaft  37  carries two rigidly associated curved brackets  38  which in turn carry respective check rails  39  capable of movement during operation of the machine, through the agency of drive means  40  operating on each shaft  37 , between an at-rest position outside the dimensional compass of the container  11 , in which no contact is made with the stack  9  of notes  3  placed in the container  11  by the pickup and transfer means  14 , and an operating position in which the check rails  39  are rotated into the container  11  and onto a side face  10   a  of the stack  9  opposite from the face  10   a  in contact with the bottom  11   b  of the container  11 . 
     In the example of FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , where the cassette comprises a lid  12  hinged detachably to the container  11 , the machine  1  is equipped with means  42 , positioned at the runout of the first conveyor  25 , by which to open the lid  12  of the cassette. 
     Such means  42  comprise an arm  43  supported at one end by an upright bulkhead  44  of the machine  1 , of which the remaining end is equipped with gripping means  45  of the type utilizing suction cups  46 . The arm  43  is rotatable thus about an axis  47  disposed substantially transverse to the aforementioned feed path P 3 , through the agency of conventional means not indicated in the drawings, between a position of engagement in which the gripping means  45  are aligned with and caused to lay hold on the lid  12 , and an open position in which the lid  12  is rotated 90° or thereabouts and set substantially vertical, allowing it to be separated from the container  11  at the moment, during operation, when the container is directed down by the frame  31  toward the release and load station  15 . 
     Still with reference to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the cassette  2  is equipped internally with a respective clip  49  serving to compact the stack  9  of notes  3  internally of the container  11 . The clip  49  is capable of movement along a track  50  associated with the bottom  11   b  of the container  11 , opposing the action of spring means (not illustrated, being conventional in embodiment) by which it will be forced normally toward an at-rest position, parked substantially against one of the two transverse walls  51  and  52  of the container. The clip  49  is capable of movement between the at-rest position, and an operating position assumed when a stack  9  of notes  3  is taken up and offered to the bottom  11   b  of the container  11  and thereupon compacted by the selfsame clip  49  against the opposite transverse wall  51  of the container through the action of the spring means. 
     To this end, one of the two shafts  37  will carry an arm  53  by which the clip  49  can be primed. The projecting end of the arm  53  exhibits a retaining element  54  by which the clip  49  is engaged, whilst the remaining end is keyed to the shaft  37 , along which it is caused to slide through the agency of the drive means  40  operating in conjunction with relative transmission means of conventional type (not indicated) located internally of the shaft  37 ; the arm  53  is also caused by these same means to rotate between an at-rest position outside the dimensional compass of the container  11 , and an operating position in which the clip  49  is engaged by the retaining element  54 . Having engaged the clip  49 , the arm  53  slides along the shaft  37 , dragging the clip  49  into the operating position ready to compact the stack  9  of notes. 
     In operation, referring to the embodiment of the machine described thus far and to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the carriage  20  is set in motion along the first transfer path P 1 , sliding along the ways  21  in the direction denoted F 4  in FIG. 1, in such a way that the column support  17  and the clamp  16  advance cyclically to a first operating position in which the clamp  16  draws into alignment with a stacking module  4  and stops in front of the outlet  8  of the corresponding channel  5 . Having reached this first position, the support  17  advances along the second transfer path P 2 , sliding on the carriage  20  in the direction denoted F 1  in FIG. 1 by way of the base  19  and the slide means  22 , from a retracted transfer position occupied when advancing along the first transfer path P 1 , toward a first forward position in which it engages the outlet  8  of the channel  5 , whereupon the jaws  23  will take up the stack  9  of banknotes  3  formed previously in the channel along the stacking axis  7 . With the stack  9  held secure, the support  17  returns to the retracted position, moving in the direction denoted F 2  in FIG. 2, and begins to advance along the first transfer path P 1  in the direction denoted F 5  in FIG. 2, toward the release and load station  15 . 
     Meanwhile in another operating cycle synchronized with that of the column support  17  described above, a series of empty cassettes  2  will be proceeding singly and in succession on the first conveyor  25 , advancing along the first feed path P 3  and in the direction denoted F 3  toward the shelf  30 , which currently occupies the raised first position of substantial alignment with the runout of the first conveyor  25 , ready to receive. 
     Once the cassette  2  has been positioned on the shelf  30 , the arm  43  carrying the gripping means  45  will rotate about the relative axis  47  and bring the suction cups  46  into contact with the lid  12  in the position illustrated in FIG.  1 . The suction cups grip the lid  12  and the direction of rotation of the arm  43  is reversed, with the result that the lid  12  flips through 90° approximately on its hinge edge  13  into a substantially vertical position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in such a way that it can be detached from the container  11 . 
     The jack  32  begins to lower the frame  31  in the direction denoted F 7  in FIG. 2, and at the same time the motor  35  causes the shelf  30  to rotate about its hinge axis  33  relative to the frame  31  in the direction denoted F 6 . It will be discernible from FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  and from the foregoing description that in transferring from the raised first position of alignment with the first conveyor  25  (see FIG. 1) to the second position occupying the release and load station  15 , the empty container  11  describes two distinct movements of which one is a straight descent parallel with the axis  48  of the jack  32 , and the other a rotation about the hinge axis  33 . As a result of these same two combined movements, the container  11  is brought into the station  15  with its longitudinal axis  11   a  vertically disposed and parallel to the stacking axis  7 , and with the bottom  11   b  substantially parallel to the face  10   a  of the stack  9  of notes  3  gripped between the jaws of the clamp  16  carried by the column support  17 , which in the meantime will have moved into the station  15  and now stands directly in front of the open container  11 . 
     At this point the column support  17  moves forward along the second transfer path P 2  in the direction denoted F 1  in FIG. 1 and, in exactly the same manner as when picking up the stack, described previously, advances from the retracted position to a second forward position in which the stack  9  is inserted into the container  11  with the forward most side face  10   a  resting against the bottom  11   b.    
     At the moment the stack  9  locates against the bottom  11   b  of the container  11 , the check rails  39  are rotated from their at-rest position toward the inside of the container and brought to rest on the side face  10   a  of the stack  9 , restraining the notes against the bottom  11   b  of the container so that the clamp  16  can release the stack  9  and the support  17  is free to draw back to its intermediate transfer position. 
     During the step of releasing the stack  9  inside of the container  11 , the priming arm  53  is caused by the drive means  40  to move into the operating position and the associated retaining element  54  to engage the clip  49 . The arm  53  thereupon draws back along the shaft  37  with the result that the clip  49  is also dragged along and caused in turn to assume its operating position ready to compact the stack  9  released by the clamp  16 . 
     On completion of the step whereby the stack  9  is released and loaded into the container  11 , the frame  31  is returned by the jack  32  to the raised position, the shelf  30  rotates about the relative hinge axis  33  in the direction opposite to that denoted F 6 , regaining the substantially horizontal position in the same plane as that occupied by the frame  31 , and the container  11  is restored to the raised first position of alignment with the first conveyor  25 , allowing the lid  12  to be reattached to the hinge edge  13  as indicated in FIG.  5 . 
     Once the lid is closed through the action of the gripping means  45  and the arm  43 , rotating about the axis denoted  47 , the cassette  2  will again be in the position occupied initially and indicated in FIG.  1 . 
     Observing FIGS. 2,  3  and  7  and the raised position of substantial alignment with the first conveyor  25  occupied by the shelf  30  onto which the cassettes  2  are directed, the machine  1  will be seen also to comprise means  55  by which filled cassettes  2  are removed and distanced from the selfsame shelf  30 ; in the example of FIG. 3, these consist in a push rod  56  supported by the upright bulkhead  44  of the machine  1  in a position beneath the arm  43 , and a second out feed conveyor  57 , comprising first and second belts  58  and  59  extending one alongside the other, along which the filled cassettes are carried away. The two belts  58  and  59  are looped around respective pulleys  60  and extend parallel to the belts  26  of the first conveyor  25  along a feed path denoted P 4 . The function of the second conveyor  57  is to direct the filled cassettes  2  away along a predetermined direction F 8  toward a receiving and processing station indicated schematically by the block denoted  61  in FIG.  1 . An entry portion  62  of the second conveyor  57  is equipped with respective slide means  63  supporting the containers  11  of the cassettes and operating in conjunction with the push rod  56  to transfer the cassettes  2  from the shelf  30  to the conveyor  57 , which is positioned at a level slightly lower than the shelf. The slide means  63  consist in a pair of shafts  64  extending parallel to the belts  58  and  59  and located one on either side of the first belt  58 , in such a manner that one of the shafts  64  is positioned between the belts  58  and  59 . The shafts  64  are equipped with respective wheels  65  at either end and carried by a frame of conventional embodiment (not indicated), by which the wheels  65  can be moved between a raised position, lying at a height above the top branch  66  of the belts  58  and  59 , and a lowered position lying at a height below that of the same top branch  66 . 
     In operation, on completion of the cycle whereby a stack  9  of banknotes  3  is taken up and placed in a respective container  11 , and with the cassette  2  occupying the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the shafts  64  are elevated to the raised position, in which the wheels  65  lie above the top branch  66  of the belts  58  and  59  substantially on a level with the shelf  30 . The push rod  56  now moves away from the bulkhead  44  of the machine  1  and directs the cassette  2  transversely to the two feed paths P 3  and P 4  onto the wheels  65 , as indicated in FIG.  7 . The moment that the cassette  2  is in a position straddling both the belts  58  and  59  of the second conveyor  57 , the shafts  64  drop to the lowered position, whereupon the cassette  2  is released by the wheels  65  onto the conveyor  57  and transferred toward the receiving and processing station  61 . 
     All of the cycles described thus far are repeated in succession for each empty cassette  2  destined to be filled with a respective stack  9  of banknotes  3 . 
     In the example of FIG. 7 the machine  1  is equipped with a cassette storage device or magazine  67  set above the first and second conveyors  25  and  57 , infeed and out feed respectively, in a substantially median position relative to the two feed paths P 3  and P 4 . The magazine  67  incorporates two storage columns  68  and  69  for each of the conveyors  25  and  57 , positioned in series along the feed paths P 3  and P 4 . As discernible from FIG. 7, each column  68  and  69  is equipped on the two side walls parallel to the first and second conveyors  25  and  57  with respective belts  70  between which the cassettes  2  are gripped and moved along the columns  68  and  69 . 
     The columns  68  and  69  are surmounted by means  71  of which the function is to transfer the single cassettes  2  from one column to the other in the direction of the respective feed paths P 3  and P 4 . Such transfer means  71  are of conventional type, and indicated schematically in FIG. 7 by a single block. 
     Each individual cassette  2  may be fitted with a lock  72  by means of which the lid  12  is secured to the container  11 , and in this instance the shelf  30  will also be equipped with means  73  of conventional embodiment for unfastening the lock  72 , of which the operation is timed with that of the means  42  for opening the lid  12 . In the example of FIG. 6 the lid  12  is hinged to the container  11  along one of the longitudinal edges  13 , again either permanently or detachably. 
     The operation of opening a longitudinally hinged lid  12 , performed by the relative means  42 , is no different to the same operation when implemented on a lid  12  hinged transversely to the container  11 , except that the opener means  42  rotate about an axis parallel to the hinge edge  13 . 
     Finally, the machine would be equipped with an electronic device able to write and/or read a code identifying the contents of the cassette  2 , i.e. the number of banknotes  3  and possibly the type or denomination. The device in question, indicated schematically in FIGS. 1,  6  and  7  by a block  74 , is located between the runout of the first conveyor  5  and the entry portion  62  of the second conveyor  57 .