Abstract:
Banknotes are processed using a machine equipped with a number of modules by which predetermined numbers of notes are ordered in bundles secured with at least one band and then transferred to a unit to be strapped in groups; an intermittently driven conveyor equipped with pockets operates in conjunction with the modules to direct the bundles in a predetermined succession, according to a previously established sequence, toward a stacker located at an outfeed end of the conveyor. The bundles are stacked in set numbers to form groups in which the predetermined succession is maintained as the single bundles pass along a stacking axis, preserving an initial sequence of code and serial number with which the banknotes are fed initially into the bundling modules.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a machine by which bundles of sheets, in particular banknotes, are ordered and fed to a unit for the assembly of the bundles in groups. 
     The invention finds application to advantage in machines by which banknotes are ordered and wrapped in bundles, and thereafter in groups of bundles; indeed reference is made directly to this same art field in the following specification albeit with no limitation in scope implied. 
     The prior art affords currency processing systems equipped with a plurality of modules through which banknotes received from a fitness checking unit are fed in succession and bundled; the single notes are supplied to each module from the checking unit in a sequence determined by code and serial number. 
     Bundles consisting in a predetermined number of banknotes are formed in each of the modules and fed gradually toward a relative outlet, where a stack is formed. The stacks of bundles are then taken up cyclically and randomly by one or more pickup and transfer devices, on receipt of a control signal from sensors located at each outlet, and directed toward a further machine unit. 
     Whilst the machines outlined above are effective enough in forming and transferring the stacks of bundles, they are unable to maintain the initial infeed sequence of code and serial number when the bundles of notes are assembled subsequently into groups. In other words, the numerical progression is abandoned both during throughput of the single stacks and at the stage where the stacks are taken up by the pickup and transfer means. 
     The object of the invention is to set forth a machine for ordering and feeding groups of bundled banknotes to a strapper/bander unit, such as will overcome the aforementioned drawback while allowing the assembly of the bundles into ordered groups. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The stated object is realized according to the invention in a machine for ordering and feeding bundles of sheets, in particular banknotes, to a unit by which the bundles are strapped in groups. 
     Such a machine will comprise at least one module for the formation of bundles consisting each in a predetermined number of banknotes secured by at least one band, also a receiving conveyor by which the bundles emerging from the module are fed in a predetermined succession toward a stacker located at an outfeed end of the conveyor and serving to place a predetermined number of bundles one on top of another in such a manner as to assemble groups in which the predetermined succession is maintained as the bundles advance along a respective stacking axis. 
    
    
     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 a machine embodied according to the present invention, seen schematically and in perspective, associated with a system for checking and feeding banknotes; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an outfeed end of the machine in FIG. 1, seen schematically in perspective and in a different embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a detail of FIG. 2, illustrated schematically in perspective and in a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3, illustrated schematically in perspective and in an alternative embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 shows the outfeed end of the machine of FIG. 1, illustrated schematically in perspective and in a further embodiment; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragments of FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed schematically in perspective and in greater detail. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings,  1  denotes a machine, considered in its entirety, for ordering and feeding bundles  2  of banknotes  3  to a unit  4  by which the bundles  2  are then strapped or banded in groups  5 . The machine  1  is associated on the infeed side with a system  6  comprising a plurality of conventional bundling modules, by which the single banknotes  3  are checked initially as being fit for use and then fed through a banding mechanism; three modules are indicated in the example of FIG. 1, denoted  7 ,  8  and  9  respectively viewing from right to left. 
     Each such module  7 ,  8  and  9  is in receipt of a succession of banknotes  3  arranged in order of code and serial number and directed along a formation channel  10 ; once the single notes have accumulated to a predetermined number, they are fed through a banding mechanism of conventional embodiment (not illustrated) forming part of the single module  7 ,  8  and  9 , by which at least one band  11  is applied to each stack of notes to form a bundle  2 . As each bundle  2  is completed by an individual module, the system  6  will supply that same module with more notes, maintaining the sequence of code and serial number. Secured typically with a single band  11  positioned toward one end, the completed bundles  2  pass further along the formation channels  10  to the relative outlets  12 , which are spaced apart at a predetermined pitch p 1 . 
     In the example of FIG. 1, bundles  2  emerging from the modules  7 ,  8  and  9  are taken up onto a conveyor  13  composed of two parallel belts  14  and  15  occupying a common plane and extending along a substantially horizontal first feed path P 1 , looped around respective pulleys  16  and  17  of which at least two, denoted  17  in the drawings, are driven by a motor  18 . The belts  14  and  15  are separated one from the other by a predetermined distance so as to establish a gap  19 , and interconnected by a plurality of transverse slats  20  serving to create a succession of pockets  21  distributed uniformly at a pitch denoted p 2 , each designed to accommodate a respective bundle  2 . 
     The machine  1  comprises a master control unit  22  to which the operation of the motor  18  and the coupled pulleys  17  is interlocked in such a manner as to index the conveyor  13  along the first path P 1  in a given direction D 1  through steps p 3  of which the length is a multiple of the pitch p 2  selected for the pockets  21 , thereby causing the bundles  2  to advance along the first path P 1  in a predetermined succession and in a predetermined order that will depend on the order in which the single banknotes  3  are introduced initially into each of the bundling modules  7 ,  8  and  9 . 
     The machine  1  further comprises orienting means denoted  23  in their entirety, located along the feed path P 1  followed by the conveyor  13  and beyond the bundling modules  7 ,  8  and  9  in the conveying direction D 1 , by which the single bundles  2  can be rotated through 180° from the position assumed initially in the pockets  21  of the conveyor  13 . 
     In the example of FIG. 1, orienting means  23  comprise three grippers  24  arranged in series along the feed path P 1  and spaced apart one from the next by a distance T equal to the pitch p 2  separating two successive pockets  21  of the conveyor  13 . Each gripper  24  consists in a pair of mutually opposed gripping elements  25  and  26 , and more precisely a bottom element  25  and a top element  26 , disposed with axes  27  perpendicular to the first feed path P 1  and occupying positions on opposite sides of the conveyor  13 , of which the ends facing one another are equipped with respective pads  28  designed to enter into contact with a bundle  2  of notes. 
     The grippers  24  are power driven and interlocked singly to the master control unit  22  in such a way that each can be rotated about its own axis  27  and made to alternate between a non-operating position in which the two respective pads  28  are distanced one from another, allowing the bundles  2  to pass unhindered along the feed path P 1  in the conveying direction D 1 , and an operating position in which the pads  28  are directed along the gripper axis  27  and through the gap  19  between the belts  14  and  15  to close on a bundle  2  of notes. 
     Also forming part of the machine  1  is a stacker  29 , positioned at the outfeed end of the conveyor  13 , which comprises a stacking channel  30  extending along a vertical stacking axis  31  and compassed by four vertical and mutually parallel bars  32  serving to restrain the bundles  2  laterally. The stacker  29  further comprises a companion element  33  embodied as a platform  34  serving to support and guide the bundles  2 , which is capable of movement between a raised position substantially of alignment with the conveyor  13 , at the mouth of the channel  30 , and a lowered position coinciding substantially with the bottom of the channel  30 , at a height determined by the number of bundles  2  making up one group  5 . The finished group appears substantially parallelepiped in shape, presenting a top face, a bottom face, and four side faces parallel with the stacking axis  31 . 
     The bottom of the channel  30  is positioned over a rail  35  disposed transversely to the feed path P 1  and associated with a slide  36  carrying a pusher  37  by which the groups  5  or bundles  2  are transferred to a collection station  38 . 
     As illustrated to advantage in FIGS. 2,  6  and  7 , the collection station  38  comprises a pair of mutually opposed gathering elements  39  positioned to engage respective end portions of the group  5  coinciding with two opposite side faces. 
     As discernible in FIG. 7, each such element  39  presents a profile of U shape, established by a frontal member  40  and two mutually opposed lateral members  41  with splayed free edges, and is capable of movement brought about by respective actuator means  42  between a spread position, in which the two elements  39  are distanced one from another as indicated in FIG. 7 by phantom lines, and a closed position, indicated by solid lines, in which a group  5  of bundles  2  is gripped and transferred to a strapper/bander station  43  where the group  5  will be secured with a strap  44 . 
     The strapper/bander station  43  illustrated is of the type disclosed in application n° BO99A 000548 for Italian Patent, filed also in the name of the present applicant, to which reference may be made for a description. The relative unit will be seen to exhibit a gantry type structure  45  affording a passage  46  by which the station  43  is compassed in its entirety. 
     In operation, when three bundles  2  are secured with relative bands  11  and placed at the outlets  12  of the three modules  7 ,  8  and  9 , the conveyor  13  will have been indexed along the first feed path P 1  by the motor  18  in response to a signal from the master control unit  22  and brought to a halt with three empty pockets  21  in transverse alignment with the three outlets  12  of the modules  7 ,  8  and  9 . It will be evident therefore that the pitch p 1  of the outlets  12  is identical to the pitch p 2  of the pockets  21 . 
     Once the bundles  2  are in the pockets  21 , three signals are relayed to the control unit  22  by three proximity sensors  47  occupying respective positions along the conveyor  13  adjacent to the positions assumed by the three pockets  21  during the previous pause, whereupon the motor  18  is piloted to index the conveyor  13  through a step p 3  three times the pitch p 2  of the pockets  21  in such a way that three more empty pockets  21  are placed to receive three further bundles  2  from the modules  7 ,  8 , and  9 , and the three bundles  2  taken up during the previous pause are brought into alignment with the orienting means  23 , which will come into operation during the next pause of the conveyor  13 . The need for such orienting means  23  is dictated by the off-center positioning of the bands  11  around the bundles  2 : in effect, if all bundles  2  of a group  5  were to be positioned with the band  11  at the same end, the resulting block would be higher at one end than the other, hence unstable, and stacking would be made difficult. 
     To prevent such a situation from arising, the master control unit  22  will be programmed, perhaps utilizing an input signal from proximity sensors  47  that are capable also of verifying the position of the band  11  on each successive bundle  2 , to pilot the operation of the grippers  24  on the basis of a set logic in such a way that the orientation of the bundles can be reversed selectively and the single successive bundles  2  positioned with the relative bands  11  alternately to one side of center and the other on arrival at the runout of the conveyor  13 . 
     More exactly, it is not in fact essential that each single bundle  2  be oriented oppositely to the bundles preceding and following; the orientation might equally well be changed every two bundles, for example, or in any other convenient sequence. It is important only that the groups  5  should be of substantially parallelepiped geometry and regular height. 
     Following the action of the orienting means  23 , the bundles  2  are directed from the conveyor  13  to the channel  30  of the stacker  29  in a predetermined succession, one being placed on top of the next on the platform  34  of the companion element  33  in such a way that the predetermined succession established along the conveyor  13  is maintained unchanged in the accumulating group  5 . 
     Each time the conveyor  13  indexes accordingly, three bundles  2  are transferred to the stacker  29 , and this continues until the group  5  is completed. At this point, after the group has been transferred by the pusher  37  toward the collection station  38  and the companion element  33  vacated, the selfsame companion element returns to the raised position of alignment with the outfeed end of the conveyor  13 , ready to admit a further succession of bundles  2 . The cycle is repeated for each group  5 . 
     In the event that the number of bundles  2  making up the single group  5  happens not to be a multiple of the number of bundles  2  advanced with the single step indexed by the conveyor  13 , the machine  1  will comprise a table  48  located at the runout of the conveyor  13 , between the outfeed end and the mouth of the channel  30  afforded by the stacker  29 . The table  48  is disposed parallel to the platform  34  of the companion element  33  and capable of assuming a non-operating position outside the compass of the channel  30 , also an operating position in which the passage to the stacking channel  30  is blocked and the bundles  2  surplus to requirements are retained temporarily on the table. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , the machine  1  may be required to process two or more types of banknotes  3  differing in size and/or denomination; in this instance there will be a second stacker  49  at the outfeed end of the conveyor  13 , identical in embodiment to the first stacker  29 , to which the bundles  2  are supplied by connection and transfer means denoted  50 . When in operation, the means  50  in question will be positioned so as to bridge the space above the channel  30  of the stacker  29 . 
     In the case of FIG. 3, connection and transfer means  50  comprise a second conveyor  51  arranged in series with and below the runout of the conveyor  13 , described above, capable thus of movement between a retracted position, as considered in relation to the aforementioned conveying direction D 1 , in which the mouth of the channel  30  afforded by the first stacker  29  is vacated, and an operating position in which the mouth of the channel  30  is closed and the bundles are directed toward the second stacker  49 . 
     Likewise in the example of FIG. 4, connection and transfer means  50  comprise a chute  52  arranged in series with the conveyor  13  and hinged about an axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulleys  17 . The chute  52  consists in a set of prongs and is rotatable between a lowered position, indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 4, in which the mouth of the stacking channel  30  is vacated, and a raised operating position in which the mouth of the channel  30  is closed and the bundles are caused to drop into the second stacker  49 . 
     As discernible also from FIGS. 1,  2  and  5 , the strapper/bander unit  4  can be positioned in line with the conveyor  13 , or set at right angles as in FIG.  5 . 
     Similarly, the path P 2  followed by the gathering elements  39  when taking up the groups  5  can extend in line with or parallel to the first feed path P 1  followed by the conveyor  13 , or transverse to the selfsame path P 1 .