NL9301320A - Device for bundling together a stack of flat objects, for example banknotes - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for bundling together a stack of flat objects, having a relatively narrow strip of film-like material which is wrapped around the bundle which is formed, with its loose end attached to that part of the strip which has been wrapped around the bundle, comprising: a) feed means for the said strip; b) a holder for accommodating the said stack, which holder has a base for supporting the stack and to which holder one or more clamping jaws are added, which can be moved towards this base and away from the base, in order to keep the said stack clamped between the base and the said clamping jaws, while the said holder can be rotated about an axis which is substantially parallel to the said base and substantially transverse with respect to the feed direction of the said strip, and can be moved to and fro substantially transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the said axis and substantially parallel to the said base, between a stack-holding position and a rotation position; c) means for joining the loose end of the said strip; and d) means for driving the said holder and the said clamping jaws, a separate drive unit being provided in each case for the rotation and the reciprocating movement of the said holder and for the movement of the said clamping jaws, which drive units are coupled to a central control unit which is designed to actuate the said drive units independently of one another.

Description

Device for bundling a stack of flat objects, for example banknotes.

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

A so-called "strapper" is known, in which the movements of the holder and the clamping jaws are controlled in dependence on one another from one central drive unit. For this purpose, said clamping jaws and the holder are coupled to said drive unit via direct gear transmissions and adjustable cams and stops.

In practice, this known apparatus exhibits considerable malfunctions, and is also subject to great wear, and is therefore sensitive to maintenance. For example, the dropping of the bundles from the holder does not take place reliably, which is disadvantageous for the further processing thereof. In addition, the working capacity is limited. This device is also expensive to manufacture, since many transmission parts are required.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved "strapper".

For this purpose, a "strapper" is provided, the drive of the holder and the clamping jaws being independently controlled. This arrangement is such that only the position of the machine delivering the stacks is taken into account. Thus, for example, the rotation of the holder is not controlled depending on the position of, for example, the clamping jaws, or the sliding movement of the holder.

In the following the invention is further elucidated on the basis of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the annexed drawings. Hereby shows:

Figures 1-10 schematically in side view, partly in section, parts of the device according to the invention in different working positions;

Figure 11 schematically in side view, partly in section, the device according to the invention;

Figure 12 shows in more detail the holder with clamping jaws of the device according to figure 11.

Figure 11 shows the device 1 according to the invention, which is also referred to as a "strapper". It comprises a holder 2, as shown in more detail in fig. 12, with a bottom 3 for placing a stack of sheets thereon, for instance banknotes 5 (see fig. Ι-ΙΟ). Clamping jaws 4 are movable above the bottom 3 between a clamping position (shown in solid lines) and a release position (shown in dotted lines). To this end, these clamping jaws 4, two of which are arranged parallel to each other and at a distance from each other, are guided with a proximal end 6 (fig. 12) in a slot 7. made in a part 8 connected to the bottom 3 on the holder 2 As can be seen in more detail from Fig. 12, the slot 7 first rises vertically from the level of the bottom 3, and then turns into a circular arc part. In the known manner, this circular arc portion covers approximately 180 ° (fig. 11). However, as shown in Fig. 12 in dotted lines, according to the invention the slot 7 can be designed in such a way that the circular arc part bends by at most 90 °, and changes into a straight part 9 tangentially thereto, thereby in the movement of advantageously steer the clamping jaws 4 in such a way that as little hindrance as possible is caused to the stack 5 when it is placed in and removed from the holder 2.

For driving the proximal end 6 of the clamping jaws, they are connected to a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit 10, through a conventional knee lever mechanism 11. The unit 10 is pivotally attached to the holder 2. Figure 12 shows the. two extreme positions between which the unit 10, mechanism 11 and clamping jaws 4 are movable; drawn in one position, the other in dotted lines.

The container 2 is further mounted on a disk 12, which is rotatable about its center. This disc 12 is driven coupled via a toothed belt 13 to a stepper motor 14, which is only schematically shown here. This stepper motor 14, together with the disc 12, is mounted on a slide 15. This slide 15 is coupled reciprocally in the direction of the arrow A. with a piston-cylinder unit 16. The mechanical connection between the unit 16 and the carriage 15 is realized by means of a magnetic coupling known per se.

Thus, the holder 2 is movable to and fro according to arrow A, rotatable with the disc 12, and the clamping jaws 4 can be opened and closed. For driving the clamping jaws 4, the pneumatic unit 10, for example, is connected to a power supply (not shown) via a line with a rotary coupling included therein, the axis of rotation of which is located concentrically with that of the disc 12.

As shown in Figs. 1-10, stacks 5 are fed via a feed unit 17 only schematically shown here. As shown, the individually fed sheets are collected until a predetermined number is collected therein. The sheets originate, for example, from a sorting unit for, for example, banknotes. It goes without saying that the stack 5 can also be formed directly in the holder 2 by supplying separate sheets.

Also shown in FIGS. 1-10 is a strip feeding unit 18, for a strip 19. The end part 20 thereof is held with blowing means (not visible) in the position shown in FIG. 1, in order to lie on the bottom 3 of the holder 2 before the stack 5 enters it. The unit 18, as shown in FIGS. 1-10, is pivotable to and from the container 2 against the action of a spring means, as usual. Furthermore, a sealing and cutting unit 21 is arranged, for cutting the strip 19 after wrapping the stack 5, and heat sealing the loose end thereof to the part thereof wound around the stack 5.

With reference to Figs. 1-10, the operation of the device 1 is discussed:

Figure 1 shows the starting position of the container 2, and the units 17, 18 and 21. When a stack is formed in the unit 17, the holder 2 is pushed forward by means of the cylinder 16 (fig.

11). The part 20 of the strip 19 comes to rest on the bottom 3, and on top of that the stack 5 from the unit 17 (fig. 2). Then, in Fig. 3, the clamping jaws 4 are closed on the bottom 3 by energizing the unit 10, with which the stack 5 is clamped. The holder 2 is then moved back to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that unit 17 is released and can also be moved back. During that movement, the unit 18 is swung along with the holder 2, in order to prevent the part 20 between the stack 5 and the bottom 3 from being pulled out. The holder 2 is then rotated through 360 ° by operation of the stepper motor 14, which is indicated with arrow B in Fig. 5, with which the strip 19 is wound around the stack 5. Then, in Fig. 6, the unit 21 is activated, for cutting and sealing the strip 19. The stack 5 is now bundled. Fig. 7 shows how the unit 21 is moved to the starting position. Then, the holder 2 is rotated about 180 ° by the disk 12 and the stepper motor 14, to the position shown in Fig. 8. In that position, the clamping jaws 4 are moved away from the bottom 3 while energizing the unit 10 (fig. 9). As a result, the bundle 5 falls out of the holder 2 for further processing. The holder 2 is then moved back to the starting position by controlling the stepper motor 14 (fig. 10). In the meantime, the unit 17 has been filled with a next stack 5. The described cycle can be repeated.

Since the units 10, 14 and 16 for the drive of the holder 2 (rotation and translation), and the drive of the clamping jaws 4, operate independently of each other, and are independently energized by means of a central computer unit (not shown), provides a particularly free scheme. The units 10, 14 and 16 can of course also be designed differently. It is important that for the different movements of the holder 2 and the clamping jaws 4 separate drive units are provided, which can be actuated independently of one another and can be controlled depending on the position of the feed unit.

Claims (5)

Device for bundling a stack of flat objects, for example banknotes, with a relatively narrow strip of foil-shaped material, which is wrapped around the shaped bundle with the loose end thereof attached to the part of that strip wrapped around the bundle, comprising: a supply means for that strip; b) a holder for receiving the stack therein, which holder has a bottom for supporting the stack thereon, to which holder one or more clamping jaws are added, which are movable towards and from the bottom for interposing between the bottom and that keeping clamping jaws clamped of said stack while said holder is rotatable about an axis directed substantially parallel to said bottom and directed substantially transversely of the feeding direction of said strip, and is reciprocally displaceable substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of said axis and substantially parallel to that bottom between a stack receiving position and a rotating position; c) means for connecting the loose end of said strip; and d) means for driving said holder and said clamping jaws, wherein said strip supply means and said holder are designed and controlled such that in the bundle receiving position of said holder a strip part is placed on the bottom of said holder by means of said strip supply means, before the stack included in said holder, characterized in that for the rotation and the reciprocating movement of said holder and for the movement of said clamping jaws a separate drive unit is provided, which are coupled to a central control unit, which is configured to energize those drive units independently. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the axis of rotation of said holder is rotatably coupled to an electric stepper motor, that the clamping jaws are connected to a linear motor via a transmission, and that said holder is drivable is coupled to a linear motor acting in the reciprocating motion of that container. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said holder is drivably coupled to said linear motor via magnetic means. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping jaws are guided with a proximal end in a guide slot, which has a substantially straight handle portion extending from the level of the bottom of said container substantially perpendicular to the plane of said bottom thereof and a Subsequently, it has a substantially circular arc-shaped part, characterized in that the circular arc-shaped part describes a circular arc of at most 90 °, and that a substantially tangentially extending straight portion which connects to that circular arc portion. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit energizes the individual drive units in dependence on the position of the stack feeder, to which the device is connected, and for this purpose is coupled with an observation means to that feeder.