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(11) | EP 1 607 355 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device and method for processing planar substrates into packs |
| (57) The machine comprises at least a delivery line (15,16) for alternately feeding a
first and a second rotating drums with magazines (13) in which the bundles of notes
are piled, each said magazines (13) having movable bottoms (18) through a ring (17).
The machine comprises an additional actuating mechanism (20,21,22) which is set to
carry out an independent displacement of individual bottoms of each magazine of each
drum, such that the position of the bottom of each magazine can be individually set
independently of the ring. |
[0003] Such machines and methods are known in the art of printing machines for numbered securities, such as banknotes.
[0004] For example, US patent 5,626,005, the content of which is incorporated by reference in the present application, discloses an apparatus for producing packs of notes from bundles of securities. The apparatus has a distributor with a straight conveying section on which N bundles of notes originating from a stack of sheets of notes are advanced one behind the other up to N predetermined bundle positions. Underneath the conveying section, there are N magazines in the form of vertical compartments which are located vertically underneath the bundle positions. Once all bundle positions are occupied by bundles, the base is swung down so that all N bundles can drop simultaneously into the N successive magazines compartments. After closing the base, the next N bundles pass on the conveying section in their bundle positions and, after opening the base, can drop into the magazines as the second layer. Once packs with a predetermined number of bundles of notes lying one above the other have been formed in these magazines, these packs are pushed by means of slides out of the magazines onto a transporting section fitted next to the magazines for the purpose of further processing.
[0005] Other similar methods and devices for building packs of individual securities are known for example from US patents 4,463,677, 4,653,399, 4,558,615 and GB patent application 2 262 729.
[0006] In a development of such machines, one has used collecting drums to build the packs. Such a development is disclosed, for example, in US patents 3,939,621 and 4,453,707, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in the present application. In the 3,939,621 patent, piles of sheets printed with numbered banknotes are cut into bundles and the bundles are stacked in magazines of a rotary drum bundle collector to form packets in which the notes are sequentially numbered. These packets are wrapped and arranged in a serial ordinator. During delivery to the collector, bundles containing previously marked spoil notes are detected and deviated. The spoil notes are replaced at a substitution station and the bundles remade. Dummy bundles are inserted in gaps left in the delivery line so as to maintain the correct sequence in the collector, and are removed at the collector output and replaced by the respective remade bundles. In the collecting process, the bundles, once cut and bundled, are fed to a collection device formed with two collecting drums by a distribution head such that when one drum is filled, the following bundles are fed to the other drum which is filled in turn, while the filled drum is being emptied. Each drum has as many banknotes magazines as there are printed notes per sheet, for example 24 in the example of this patent. Accordingly, the 24 bundles from one and the same pile of sheets are thus placed in respective successive ones of the 24 magazines of one of the drums. Each drum rotates so that the bundles from successive piles of sheets and which correspond to a given banknote position on the sheets are all stacked in one given magazine of a drum. For example, in each magazine 10 bundles of banknotes are stacked to form a pack in which the notes all originate from a given position on 10 successive piles of sheets. Since in the numbering machine, the same note positions of successive sheets are numbered consecutively, the banknotes of all the bundles and packs are numbered sequentially.
[0007] From US patent 4,453,707, it is known that generally, downstream of the numbering machine designed for printing sequential numbers on printed securities, piles comprising each 100 sheets are formed, so that after cutting these piles, bundles comprising each 100 securities are obtained. Then 10 bundles comprising altogether 1'000 sequentially numbered securities are assembled automatically to form a single pack of 1'000 securities. However, since all securities printed on a same sheet belong to different series and the banknotes superimposed in a same pile of sheets are numbered with sequential numbers in each series, the bundles of securities cut to format which leave the machine must be sorted into packs before the packing operation takes place. During this sorting operation, all the first bundles of the ten piles of sheets are stacked in succession, then all the second bundles of these ten piles and so forth are superimposed to form packets eventually containing each 1'000 sequentially numbered securities, each pack containing 10 bundles.
[0008] The automatic transfer and sorting process utilizes an intermediate storage device comprising two storage magazine drums. One magazine drum is filled with bundles until it is full and then the other drum is filled while the first drum is being discharged step by step of the piles of bundles. An automatic distributing device is placed upstream of the two drums so that incoming bundles are directed to the first drum and, when this first drum is full, to the second drum, thereby allowing the first drum to be discharged.
[0009] This device and this method are particularly useful with a numbering method in which individual prints, i.e. securities, are sequentially numbered in the same note position of a sheet, according to the numbering method described above.
[0010] In another numbering method used in the art, the successive numbering is carried out in neighbouring note positions of a pile of 100 sheets and not in the same note positions of successive piles of 100 sheets. This other method is disclosed for example in EP application 0 598 679, the content of which is incorporated by reference in the present application. In this publication, for a sheet comprising N notes in C columns and L lines place in a matrix-like arrangement, 100 notes of a pile of 100 sheets are numbered successively in the same position (C1;L1) and the next successively numbered 100 notes are not in the same position (C1;L1) of the next 100 piles of sheets but in the neighbouring position of the same pile of sheets (for example C1;L2). Therefore, to collect the successive piles of 100 notes in order to form a pack of 1'000 notes successively numbered, the successive piles of notes cut from a given pile of 100 sheets must be collected sequentially together in the same magazine rather than put into different magazines of a drum, as taught in the prior art mentioned above.
[0011] Accordingly, depending on the numbering method used for the printed matter, i.e. notes, to be collected different collecting machines and processes have to be used in order to properly collect the numbered notes in a sequential manner.
[0012] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to improve the known collecting machines and methods.
[0013] It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a collecting machine that can be used with different numbering methods.
[0014] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a system that can be retrofitted on existing machines.
[0015] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a collecting method for successively numbered objects.
[0017] The invention will be best understood with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows schematically a top view of a collecting machine;
Figure 2 shows schematically a side view in partial cut of the machine of figure 1;
Figure 3 shows schematically a collecting machine in the configuration according to the invention;
Figure 4 shows schematically a side view in partial cut of the machine according to the invention;
Figure 5 show a front view of the actuating mechanism according to the invention.
Figure 6 shows side view of a part of the actuating mechanism according to the present invention.
Figure 7 shows a block-diagram of the collecting process according to the invention.
[0018] In figure 1, a collecting machine is shown which merely corresponds to the machine known from US 3,939,621. In this configuration of machine, it is supposed that the numbering method used for numbering the printed matter, i.e. notes, of successive sheets is the one in which the notes which are in the same note position of successive sheets receive successive numbers, this succession of numbers being continued on successive piles of sheets. Accordingly, each drum 1, 2 comprises as much magazines 3 as they are note positions on a sheet. As is known in the prior art cited above, in order to build packs with notes consecutively numbered, the bundles 4 of notes originating from the same position of a pile of sheets (for example C1;L1 with prints disposed in a matrix-like arrangement on each sheet) have to be put in the same magazine of the drum. In the configuration of figure 1, all the bundles originating from the same pile of sheets (for example 100 sheets), once cut, are brought in succession one behind the other on a conveyor 5 which feeds the drum 1. The first bundle 4 arriving on the conveyor 5 is put in a first magazine 3 of the drum 1, then the drum 1 is rotated from one magazine with respect to the conveyor and the next bundle 4 arriving on the conveyor 5 is put in the next magazine 3 and so on until all the bundles 4 from a given pile of sheets are in a respective magazine 3. Since the number of magazines is equal to the number of note positions on a sheet, once all the bundles originating from a given pile of sheets have been put into a respective magazine 3 of the drum 1, the drum 1 is again in position to receive a next bundle 4 in the first magazine 3 mentioned above and the first bundle 4 of a next pile of sheets is then put into this magazine 3. Then the process repeats itself until all magazines 3 of the drum 1 are full with the predetermined number of bundles 4, for example 10 bundles 4 of each 100 notes. At this moment, the drum 1 being full, the next bundles 4 arriving are fed into the magazines 3 of the second drum 2 with conveyor 6, while drum 1 is being unloaded.
[0019] In order to be able to carry out this process, the bottoms of all magazines 3 in a drum 1 or 2 must be in the same position during collecting of the bundles 4 since each magazine 3 has to contain the same number of bundles 4. As shown in figure 2, a ring 7 is used to position vertically the bottoms 8 of each magazine 3 during collecting. This ring 7 ensures that said bottoms 8 have the same position so that a bundle 4 being pushed in the magazine 3 from the top from the conveyor 5 will not have a long fall thus reducing the risk of a bundle 4 being misplaced in the magazine 3. As shown in figure 4, the bundle is pushed by pushers 9 from the conveyor 5 and falls into the magazine 3. Once all the magazines 3 have been fed with one bundle 4, the ring 7 is displaced downwardly from approximately the height of a bundle and the next series of bundles 4 can be fed into the drum. Once all the magazines 3 are full, the ring 7 is in a lowermost position, as shown with dashed lines in figure 2.
[0020] As mentioned above, the collecting machine disclosed in figures 1 and 2 can be used only with one numbering method of the prints, as defined above in which the successive numbering of notes is made in the same position of successive sheets.
[0021] In the other numbering method used in the art known from EP application 0 598 679, series of successively numbered notes are built in a pile of sheets rather than by collecting successive bundles of the same position in successive piles of sheets. Therefore, when using a collecting machine, one has to be able to collect successive bundles arriving on a conveyor not each in successive magazines of a drum but in the same magazine of a drum until the desired number of bundles have been collected in said magazine.
[0022] A collecting machine which is able to carry out this collecting process is described with reference to figures 3 to 6. In figure 3, the represented collecting machine is similar to the machine of figure 1. It comprises two drums 11, 12 with magazines 13 in which bundles 14 are collected, said bundles being brought by conveyors 15, 16. With the numbering method described above the successive bundles 14 on the conveyor 15, for example 10 successive bundles 14 have to be collected in the same magazine 13 at position A in drum 11, therefore drum 11 must remain in the same position during this collecting operation rather than move after collecting one single bundle 14. In order to carry out this process, it is thus necessary that the bottoms 18 of the magazines 13 are able to move independently when receiving the successive bundles 14 since each magazine 13 is filled independently with the successive bundles 14 on conveyor 15. To this effect, the machine comprises an additional actuating mechanism which is shown in figures 4 to 6. This mechanism comprises at least a motor 20 which drives a belt 21 which in turn displaces the bottom 18 of magazines 13 in an independent manner through a driver 22 while the bundles 14 are being pushed by pushers 19 from conveyor 15 and collected in the magazines 13. As shown in figure 4, two magazines 13 have collected 10 bundles, and one magazine 13 is in a collecting position (corresponding to position A in figure 3) and receiving a first bundle 14 from conveyor 15.
[0023] Once this magazine has received the predetermined number of bundles (for example 10), while drum 11 is being rotated to bring the next empty magazine 13 in position A, the successive bundles 14 arriving are directed by conveyor 16 to drum 12 and are collected in a magazine 13 of drum 12 in the same manner at position B. The magazines 13 are filled alternatively in drum 11 and drum 12.
[0024] The collecting machine still comprises a ring 17 (figure 4) and may also be used in the conventional manner as described above. The collecting machine according to the present invention can be used for both numbering methods indicated above, either with a coordinated displacement of the bottoms 8, 18 through ring 7 (or 17) or with an independent displacement of the bottoms 8, 18 with the additional actuating mechanism.
[0025] As shown in figure 3, positions A and B are collecting positions for the bundles 14 in respective drums 11 and 12 and positions C and D correspond to discharging positions of the bundles 14 collected in each magazine 13 of respective drums 11 and 12.
[0026] Figure 5 shows in a more detailed manner the additional actuating mechanism according to the invention. In this figure, drum 11 is on the right side and drum 12 is on the left side for the sake of representation.
[0027] For each drum 11, 12, the machine still comprises a ring 17, 17' corresponding to the rings 7, 17 of figures 2 and 4. Magazine 26 corresponds to the magazine 13 in position B of figure 3, and magazine 27 corresponds to magazine 13 in position A of figure 3.
[0028] As represented in figure 5, both magazines 26, 27 comprise an extension 28, 29 on which are mounted an axis 30, 31. On the side of the extension 28, 29 facing towards the center of the respective drums 11, 12, two bearings 32, 33 are mounted on said axis 30, 31, said bearings rolling on the respective rings 17, 17' of each drum to allow the rotation of the drums while the position of the bottom of the magazine is being set by said rings 17, 17'.
[0029] The other ends 34, 35 of both axis 30, 31 project from the extensions 28, 29 so as to cooperate with two pushers 22, 23 mounted between said magazines 26, 27. Said pushers 22, 23 are driven independently and are used to displace the respective bottoms 18, 18' of said magazines 26, 27 in an independent manner. As represented in this figure, the bottoms 18,18' can be either displaced through the rings 17, 17' in which case all the bottoms 18,18' of the magazines of a drum 11 or 12 are at the same position or the bottoms 18, 18' are displaced by the pushers 22, 23 and then each bottom 18, 18' of the magazines 26, 27 can be in a desired position which is independent from the position of the bottoms 18, 18' of the other magazines 26, 27 of a same drum 11 or 12. Hence, the addition of the pushers 22, 23 cooperating with the projecting ends 34, 35 of the axis 30, 31 allows the same collecting machine to be used for the two different numbering methods described above.
[0030] To guide the pushers 22, 23, a guide mechanism 36 with slits 37, 38 is mounted in the collecting machine between the drums 11, 12 and the pushers 22, 23 when being used are guided along said guide mechanism 36.
[0031] The mechanism used to drive the bottoms 18, 18' of the magazines, when the rings 17, 17' are not used, that is through the pushers 22, 23, is shown in more detail in figure 6. The mechanism includes for each pusher 22, 23 a motor 20 with a belt 21 which passes along rolls 40, 41 and 42. The belt 21 is attached to the respective pusher 22 or 23 at 43, for example with a plate 44 and moves said pushers 22, 23, hence the bottoms of the magazines 26, 27, upwardly when bundles 14 are to be collected in the magazine 13 and downwardly when said bundles 14 are being collected, according to the description given above in the case when the bundles are numbered consecutively with the same pile of sheets, as shown in figure 4. In addition, a belt spanner 45 can be used to adjust the tension in the belt 21.
[0033] As shown in figure 5, the bottoms 18, 18' are guided on the back 56, 57 of the magazines 26, 27 by slits 61, 62, 63, 64 with corresponding guiding pins 70 to 77 during displacement of the bottoms 18, 18' by means of the rings 17, 17' or pushers 22, 23.
[0034] The process for collecting bundles of notes, such as securities, numbered in a consecutive manner, uses at least a delivery line alternately feeding a first and a second rotating drums with magazines in which the bundles of notes are piled. The process comprises the steps of
-) displacing the bottom of a magazine in an upmost position,
-) feeding said magazine with successive and consecutive bundles arriving one after the other on said delivery line,
-) moving the bottom of said magazine downwards after collection of each said consecutive bundle until a predetermined number of bundles is collected in said magazine,
-) rotating said drum to collect bundles in a next magazine position and finally
-) discharging said magazine containing said predetermined number of bundles when said magazine is in a discharging position.
1. A machine for collecting bundles of notes (4,14), such as securities, numbered in
a consecutive manner, comprising at least a delivery line (5,6,15,16) for alternately
feeding a first and a second rotating drums (1,2,11,12) with magazines (3,13) in which
the bundles of notes are piled, each said magazines (3,13,26,27) having movable bottoms
(18,18') through a ring (7,17,17') which displaces said bottoms in a coordinated manner
such that the bottoms of each magazine of a drum have the same position, wherein the
machine comprises an additional actuating mechanism (20,21,22,23) which is set to
carry out an independent displacement of individual bottoms (18,18') of each magazine
(3,13,26,27) of each drum (11,12), such that the position of the bottom (18,18') of
each magazine (3,13,26,27) can be individually set independently of the ring (17,17').
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism comprises at least
a motor (20) actuating a pusher (22,23) trough a belt (21), said pusher (22,23) cooperating
with the bottom (18,18') of a magazine (3,13,26,27), the displacement of the pusher
(22,23) through the belt (21) driving the bottom (18,18') of the magazine (3,13,26,27)
of said drum.
3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein it comprises two motors (20), each driving
a respective pusher (22,23) through a respective belt (21), one motor with respective
carrier and belt driving the bottoms of the magazines of said first drum, and the
other motor with respective carrier and belt driving the bottoms of said second drum.
4. A machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said pushers (22,23) are mounted
on a guide mechanism (36) with slits (37,38).
5. A process for collecting bundles of notes, such as securities, numbered in a consecutive
manner, with at least a delivery line alternately feeding a first and a second rotating
drums with magazines in which the bundles of notes are piled, each said magazines
having movable bottoms through a ring which displaces said bottoms in a coordinated
manner such that the bottoms of each magazine of a drum have the same position, said
machine further comprising an additional actuating mechanism which is set to carry
out an independent displacement of individual bottoms of each magazine of each drum,
such that the position of the bottom of each magazine can be individually set independently
of the ring, wherein said process comprises the steps of
-) displacing the bottom of a magazine in an upmost position,
-) feeding said magazine with successive and consecutive bundles arriving one after the other on said delivery line,
-) moving the bottom of said magazine downwards after collection of each said consecutive bundle until a predetermined number of bundles is collected in said magazine,
-) rotating said drum to collect bundles in a next magazine position and
-) discharging said magazine containing said predetermined number of bundles when said magazine is in a discharging position.