Patent WO-2024003705-A1 (WO)
Inventor: COLECCHIA ENRICO
IPC: B65H29/00
Filed: 2023-06-26
Abstract: Method (1) for storing a series of flexible documents in a system (100), the system (100) comprising one storing and issuing module (10), one conveyor belt (23), configured for supporting and transporting the flexible documents toward the at least one storing and issuing module (10) at known conveying speed v c (t), one sensor group (9), configured to sense any flexible document B(m) transported on the conveyor belt (23) and provide corresponding sensing information, and a central processing unit (19), operatively connected to the sensor group (9) and the at least one storing and issuing module (10); wherein in the at least one the storing and issuing module (10) one opening (20) is formed, the storing and issuing module (10) having at least a storage roller (50) actuated by a motor (60); one transport tape (52) configured to be dragged in rotation by the storage roller (50) around the same; holding means (53, 54) configured for engaging each flexible document B(m) with the transport tape (52) along a linear path of transport tape (52) where transport tape (52) can be moved at linear speed before being rolled on storage roller (50); one processor (80), operatively connected to at least the sensor group (9), the storage roller (50), motor (60), and holding means (53, 54); the method (1) comprising, for an m th  flexible document B(m) of the series, the steps of: (1.1) sensing, through sensor group (9), sensing information regarding flexible document B(m), (1.2) providing within a known prediction time instant t p (m) from sensing, the sensing information to processor (80); (1.3) determining, through the processor (80): based on the received sensing information and conveying speed v c (t) of conveyor belt (23), a subsequent joint time instant t j (m), wherein the rear end of the flexible document B(m) will have entered the storing and issuing module (10) and will be engaged by the holding means (53-54) with the transport tape (52), based on a diameter of an assembly formed by storage roller (50) and transport tape (52) rolled together with any previously engaged flexible document around the storage roller (50), an acceleration value (a t ), and based on the acceleration value (a t ), a deceleration value (dec t ); (1.4) calculating a pattern of linear speed  Vt ( m )(t) at which transport tape (52) must be moved by storage roller (50), after prediction time instant t p (m) such that, at estimated joint time instant t j (m), a predetermined desired distance d d  on the transport tape (52) is left between the front end of the flexible document B(m) and a rear end of a flexible document B(m-1) of the series, last engaged by the transport tape (52), if any, based on the sensing information; the determined joint time instant t j (m), acceleration (a t ) and deceleration (dec t ) values; and a linear speed profile  Vt(m-1) (t) determined by said processor (80) for the previous flexible document B(m-1), if any; and (1.5) controlling actuation of the holding means (53-54) at t j (m) and, based on the pattern of linear speed v t ( m )(t), one or more respective control signal to the motor (60), causing control of the storage roller (50) rotation, and a movement of the transport tape (52) according to the calculated speed pattern v t ( m )(t).