U.S. patent application number 10/456681 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for strapping of bank notes.
Invention is credited to Dopfer, Peter, Hofmann, Frank, Osterberger, Peter.
Application Number | 20030226455 10/456681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7714652 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030226455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dopfer, Peter ; et
al. |
December 11, 2003 |
Strapping of bank notes
Abstract
The invention relates to a strapper for bank notes and a bank
note processing apparatus having such a strapper. Especially
reliable and fast strapping is possible if a guide for forming a
strap loop around a bank-note bundle to be strapped that is brought
into an inside area surrounded by the guide has elements for
holding the strap only in its lateral edge areas when it is
inserted into the guide, and when the strap is pulled it can be
pulled together tightly out of the guide into the inside area
around the bank-note bundle located therein.
Inventors: |
Dopfer, Peter; (Geltendorf,
DE) ; Hofmann, Frank; (Dachau, DE) ;
Osterberger, Peter; (Munchen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
7714652 |
Appl. No.: |
10/456681 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
100/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 13/06 20130101;
B65B 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
100/29 |
International
Class: |
B65B 013/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2002 |
DE |
102 25 705.1 |
Claims
1. A strapper (10) for bank notes (BN), characterized in that a
guide (20) for forming a strap loop around a bank-note bundle (BN)
to be strapped that is brought into an inside area (9) surrounded
by the guide (20) has elements (22, 61) for holding the strap (17)
only in its lateral edge areas when it is inserted into the guide
(20), and when the strap (17) is pulled it can be pulled together
tightly out of the guide (20) into the inside area (9) around the
bank-note bundle (BN) located therein.
2. A strapper according to claim 1, characterized in that the
elements (22, 61) are parts of side walls (23, 24) and formed by
wall areas, such as grooves (22) and/or projections (61).
3. A strapper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
side walls (23, 24) are movable apart laterally.
4. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
in that control of the motion of the side walls (23, 24) is
effected without a separate drive.
5. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
in that the strapper (10) includes means (55) for automatically
inserting the strap (17) into the guide and/or automatically
pulling the strap (17) out of the guide (20).
6. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
by a collecting plate (6) located in the inside area (9) or adapted
to be brought thereinto for depositing the bank-note bundle (BN) to
be strapped.
7. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
in that the collecting plate (6) has a curved deposit surface (40)
for the bank-note bundle to be strapped for strapping the bank
notes in a curved position by tightening the strap (17) enclosing
the bank-note bundle (BN).
8. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
by a cutting element (32) for cutting off the strap (17) from a
strap supply device (15) and/or one or more clamping elements (31,
34) for clamping the strap (17) and/or a welding element (33) for
welding two strap areas to form a closed strap loop, whereby the
cutting element, the clamping elements or the welding element (33)
are displaceable in the strapper (10) by automatic control with
respect to the guide (20).
9. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
in that one of the clamping elements (31) has a through hole (36)
through which the strap (17) to be subsequently inserted into the
guide (20) is guided.
10. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
by a separate welding plate (43) against which the welding element
(33) is urged for welding the two strap areas.
11. A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized
in that the collecting plate (6) has a gap (42) for being pushed
onto the separate welding plate (43).
12. A bank note processing apparatus (1) having a transport device
(2) for transporting bank notes to a strapper (10) having the
features of at least one of the above claims.
13. A bank note processing apparatus according to claim 12,
characterized in that the strapper (10) is fastened to a linear
pull-out (11) of a housing of the bank note processing apparatus
(1).
14. A bank note processing apparatus according to claim 12 or 13,
characterized in that the linear pull-out (11) has fastening means
(12) for detachably fastening a bin (7) for strapped and/or loose
bank notes (BN).
15. A bank note processing apparatus according to any of claims 12
to 14, characterized in that the collecting plate (6) is movable
between a strapping position in the inside area (9) of the guide
(20) and a stacking position in which bank notes can be stacked on
the collecting plate (6) by a stacking device (5).
16. A bank note processing apparatus according to any of claims 12
to 15, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has two vibration
elements (52, 53) acting in differdifferent directions for flush
alignment of bank notes stacked on the collecting plate (6) in both
the longitudinal and the transverse directions.
17. A bank note processing apparatus according to any of claims 12
to 16, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has operating
elements for performing a strapping process controlled by the user
for strapping bank-note packets brought into the inside area (9)
manually, so that the apparatus can also be used as a hand
strapper.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a strapper for bank notes and a
bank note processing apparatus having such a strapper.
[0002] DE 199 43 496 A1 from the applicant discloses a deposit
apparatus for bank notes wherein bank notes during stacking by a
stacking wheel are deposited either directly loose in a container
or are previously strapped. In the latter case, bank notes are
stacked on a collecting plate located above the container. The
collecting plate is then moved laterally into a strapper, a strap
pulled over the bank-note packet and movable collecting plate, the
plate pushed back beyond the area of the container, and the
strapped stack stripped off there and deposited in the container.
Print data relating to the strapped bank-note packet are printed on
the strap immediately during or after strapping. The strapper is
moreover designed to swivel in the form of a door of a housing of
the apparatus.
[0003] On these premises, the problem of the present invention is
to provide an improved strapper for bank notes and a bank note
processing apparatus having such a strapper.
[0004] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claims 1 and
12. The further claims describe preferred examples.
[0005] One of the ideas of the present invention is thus that a
guide for forming a strap loop around a bank-note bundle to be
strapped that is brought into an inside area surrounded by the
guide has elements permitting the strap inserted into the guide to
be held only in its lateral edge areas, and when the strap is
pulled it can be pulled together tightly out of the guide into the
inside area around the bank-note bundle located therein.
[0006] It is thus possible in especially reliable and quick fashion
to preform a strap loop in the guide that can then, merely by
pulling on this preformed loop, be pulled together firmly around
the bank-note packet inwardly through an opening between the
lateral guide elements and tightened.
[0007] It is emphasized that this is only one of the advantageous
ideas of the present invention and that the individual features of
the dependent claims and/or the examples stated in the description
can be used advantageously in any combination, also completely or
at least partly independently of each other and of the subject
matter of the main claims.
[0008] This also applies for example to the ideas of the side walls
of a strap guide that are movable apart laterally, the curved
deposit surface for bank notes to be strapped, the clamping element
preferably having a through hole for the strap, providing a
separate welding plate, vibrating bank notes stacked on a bank-note
tray in two different directions, and using a fully automatic
strapping apparatus as a hand strapper.
[0009] Further advantages of the present invention will result from
the examples to be explained in more detail with reference to the
enclosed drawings, in which
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a deposit device with
a strapper of a bank note processing apparatus;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the deposit device
with a strapper according to FIG. 1;
[0012] FIGS. 3a-3d show schematic front views of a part of the
strapper according to FIG. 1 in four consecutive operating
states;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a guide of the
strapper according to FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the guide
according to FIGS. 1 and 4, along line I-I according to FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of an alternative
collecting plate of a deposit device;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of a collecting
plate with a curved surface for stacked deposit of bank notes to be
strapped; and
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a different
collecting plate with a curved surface for stacked deposit of bank
notes to be strapped and with a gap for a welding plate.
[0018] In the following, various ideas of the present invention
will be explained in more detail with respect to an example for
bank note processing apparatus 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 5. This
apparatus may be sorting apparatus 1 or any other type of
processing apparatus for bundling and strapping bank notes. A
bundle refers here to a stack of one or in particular more bank
notes. For clarity's sake, components of such an apparatus 1 that
are known in the art and not essential for understanding the
invention are omitted or shown only schematically in the
drawing.
[0019] In the case of sorting apparatus 1, apparatus 1 will include
e.g. an input for inputing a loose stack of bank notes and a test
device for testing single drawn-in bank notes, which is not shown,
and transport device 2 for supplying tested bank notes to one of a
plurality of deposit devices 3 in dependence on given sorting
criteria. A plurality of deposit devices 3 can be disposed side by
side in sorting apparatus 1, a single one of which is shown in FIG.
1 in a front view facing the user, and in FIG. 2 in a side view.
Via a diverter and transport channel 4, bank notes can be supplied
singly to deposit device 3 and stacked there by a stacking device,
such as stacking wheel 5 with stripping plate 14.
[0020] As described in more detail in DE 199 43 486 A1 from the
applicant, bank notes can either be deposited directly in an
upwardly open storage container, such as cassette 7, located below
stacking wheel 5, or alternatively stacked loose for strapping on
collecting plate 6 which is moved for this purpose by an actuator
(not shown) to a position located directly below stacking wheel 5
and above opening 8 of cassette 7. Shifting collecting plate 6 to a
position corresponding roughly to that according to FIG. 2 shifts
the loose stacked bank notes forward into passing area 9 of
strapper 10 in which they are subsequently strapped.
[0021] Strapper 10, whose components will be described more
precisely in the following, is fastened to linear pull-out 11 also
having receiving means 12 for insertion of cassette 7. Linear
pull-out 11 can be pulled out of the housing (not shown) of
apparaapparatus 1 forward, in direction V. The remaining components
of apparatus 1, such as components 2-6, are firmly installed in the
housing and not pulled out at the same time.
[0022] As mentioned above, in the known solution according to DE
199 43 486 A1 the strapper is fastened, in contrast, to the front
side of the machine in a swiveling door. Changing cassettes is more
difficult because the cassette is not moved out of the housing
simultaneously by opening the door but must be removed from the
interior thereof with little free space.
[0023] The inventive apparatus, however, makes it possible that
after linear pull-out 11 is pulled out, cassette 7 can be removed
easily, e.g. by being tilted away laterally, and moreover there is
ready accessibility to the interior of the housing of apparatus 1,
e.g. for maintenance work. Since strapper 10 is disposed on the
front side of apparatus 1, it is especially easy to replace or
change strap material.
[0024] Moreover, the inventive variant with linear pull-out 11 has
the further advantage that a plurality of deposit devices 2 shown
in FIG. 1 can be installed close together side by side, if
required, to keep the dimensions of apparatus 1 small. Such a
compact assembly is impossible in the known system with a swiveling
door, since the doors, in particular their outer lining, always
have a given thickness that prevents complete opening when adjacent
deposit devices 3 are present.
[0025] Strapper 10 is constructed as follows. It has rack 13
connected firmly or detachably with linear pull-out 11. On the
front side, rack 13 can have a cover, which for example has only
passing area 9 as an opening. The figures do not show this optional
cover. Rack 13 firstly has strap delivery spool 15 fastened
replaceably thereto. Strapping tape 17, or strap 17 for short,
unwound from delivery spool 15 can be supplied via deflection
rollers 16 to guide 20 of strapper 10. Said guide surrounds passing
area 9 approximately in a loop shape. Passing area 9 is
consequently inside area 9 of strapper 10, said inside area being
surrounded by loop-shaped guide 10 and receiving a bank-note bundle
to be strapped. As to be recognized in particular in the
perspective view according to FIG. 4 and the cross-sectional view
according to FIG. 5, guide 20 includes sliding surface 21 on which
the strap can slide while being guided laterally guided laterally
between two grooves 22 for wrapping around collecting plate 6 with
bank notes BN stacked thereon which is inserted into passing area 9
and not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 2 said lateral guide
grooves 22 are thus located on the right and left sides of rack 13.
In FIG. 3a the course of strap 17 makes clear the course of guide
grooves 22 in which strap 17 is mounted laterally in this operating
position. The strap is thus guided through grooves 22 only in its
lateral edge areas, while the strap is free in the area between
groove projections 61.
[0026] Further, strapper 10 includes printer 26 that is disposed
firmly on rack 13 before guide 20 and used for printing strap 17,
before it is supplied to guide 20, with data about the bank notes
to be strapped immediately thereafter. Printing will preferably be
done only when all bank notes to be strapped, e.g. a predetermined
number of 100 bank notes for example, have already been stacked on
collecting plate 6. This has the advantage that e.g. before a
change of denomination whereby fewer than 100 bank notes are
stacked, no strap that might then already be printed faultily need
be predispensed and cut off.
[0027] Strapper 10 moreover includes multifunctional tool 30
fastened in rack 13 and used for clamping, welding and cutting the
strap during the strapping process, its structure and function
being apparent especially from FIGS. 3a to 3d. Multifunctional tool
30 has first clamping element 31, cutting element 32, welding
element 33 and second clamping element 34 that are mounted in
vertically displaceable fashion in frame 35. Left-hand clamping
element 31 has through hole 36 in the upper area through which
strap 17 can be pushed in guided fashion, as indicated by the
dashed line.
[0028] At the beginning of a strapping process, multifunctional
tool 30 is spaced downward from collecting plate 6. By active drive
of deflection roller 55, which is directly upstream of guide 20,
the strap is unrolled in the clockwise direction from delivery
spool 15, the front end of strap 17 passes through a guide (not
shown) through hole 36 of clamping element 31 and then runs in area
27 into grooves 22 of guide 20 to form a strap loop. Further guide
plates (not shown) ensure precise transfer of strap 17 between the
individual components.
[0029] FIG. 3a shows the state in which strap 17 has already run
around completely in guide 20 while laterally guided in grooves 22,
so that front end 38 of strap 17 is located immediately below
collecting plate 6. Now multifunctional tool 30 or its components
31 to 34 are shifted upward by an associated actuator, during or
after insertion of strap 17 a little further into guide 20.
Shifting multifunctional tool 30 or its components 31 to 34 is done
until upper side 37 of clamping element 31, through whose hole 36
strap 17 has been pushed, urges a front area of strap 17 against
the underside of collecting plate 6, thus clamping strap 17 in this
area, as corresponds to the representation according to FIG. 3b. An
alternative variant with separate welding plate 43 will be
described more precisely in the following in particular in
connection with FIG. 8.
[0030] Subsequently, the direction of rotation of the drive of
deflection roller 55 is reversed to the counterclockwise direction,
causing strap 17 to be pulled out of guide 20 through hole 36,
thereby tightening strap 17 so that it tightly encloses collecting
plate 6 with bank notes BN stacked thereon. Then components 32 to
34 are shifted upward relative to clamping element 31 already
located in the stop position, i.e. clamping position, until the
upper side of second clamping element 34 also clamps strap 17 wound
around collecting plate 6 at a further position, as illustrated in
FIG. 3c.
[0031] Then firmly interconnected cutting and welding elements 32
and 33 are shifted further upward relative to the two clamping
elements 31, 34 located in the stop state, i.e. the clamping state,
thereby first cutting off strap 17 in the area of through hole 36
and urging the cut-off end through welding unit 33 against the
underside of front end 38 of strap 17, the two ends then being
welded together by the supply of heat, as shown in FIG. 3d. Cutting
and welding elements 32 and 33 are also movable toward each other
slightly in the vertical direction for example by bias with springs
of different strength.
[0032] In the present case the welding unit is e.g. welding die 33.
Subsequently, multi-functional tool 30 is shifted downward again,
thereby ending the strapping process. In accordance with the
procedure in DE 199 43 496 A1, collecting plate 6 can now be now be
moved back to the area above cassette 7 and bank-note bundle BN
stripped off to be deposited in cassette 7 through opening 8.
[0033] As mentioned above, strap 17 slides at the beginning of the
strapping process on sliding surface 21 in guide 20, being
laterally guided in grooves 22, as indicated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. To
permit the strap to be tightened by withdrawal in the transition
from FIG. 3b to FIG. 3c, strap 17 must be moved out of guide
grooves 22. It is basically conceivable for walls 23, 24 having
grooves 22 to be connected integrally or otherwise rigidly with
each other and wall 25 of sliding surface 25, and for strap 17 to
be deformed upon withdrawal and thus jump out of grooves 22 to be
able to lie tightly against bank-note packet BN.
[0034] Since this procedure is trouble-prone, an alternative is for
one side wall 23, 24 or both side walls 23, 24 having grooves 22 to
be movable apart preferably laterally. Especially preferably, this
moving apart is effected passively, i.e. without separate active
servomotors for side walls 23, 24. Thus, side walls 23, 24 can be
held together e.g. only by at least one clamp 29 embracing them and
wall 25 as a spring, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Side walls 23, 24 can be opened solely by the withdrawal and thus
tightening of strap 17 against the spring force of clamp 29 to
release strap 17 from grooves 22.
[0035] Further alternatives are conceivable for opening grooves 22
without a separate drive. Thus, multifunctional tool 30 can be
rigidly connected with a mechanism that, when multifunctional tool
30 is shifted upward, engages a gap between the two side walls 23,
24 either directly, e.g. in the form of a wedge, to urge the walls
apart. Said engagement can be effected e.g. on the right and/or
left edge areas of guide 20 in the views according to FIGS. 1 and
4. Further, it is possible that when multifunctional tool 30 is
shifted e.g. a wedge-shaped rod is urged upward, thereby pressing
on balls mounted between side walls 23, 24 in their edge areas in
gap 28 and urging them and thus side walls 23, 24 outward.
[0036] In the former variant with nonadjustable side walls 23, 24,
it is necessary for tightening strap 17 that strap 17 is guided in
grooves 22 only in its lateral edge areas while being free in the
area therebetween, i.e. the area between the two groove
projecprojections 61. In the cases where side walls 23, 24 are
movable apart, this construction is also especially preferred in
order to permit the necessary amount of displacement to be kept
small, but it is basically also conceivable that when strap 17 is
supplied the free space between groove projections 61 is small or
nonexistent and strap 17 can thus be inserted into guide 20 with
complete guidance, i.e. from all sides.
[0037] It is emphasized that grooves 22 for lateral guidance refer
not only to depressions in side walls 23, 24, but side walls 23, 24
can also be outwardly open and have a passage in this area. In the
view according to FIG. 5, wall areas 62 are e.g. lacking in this
case. Such a guide only between wall areas 21 and 62 is possible
especially when strap 17 is already supplied in directed fashion to
guide 20 in the transport direction.
[0038] Hereinabove, bank note processing apparatus 1 was described
in different variants with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Numerous
further alternatives are conceivable.
[0039] To prevent bank notes from slipping or dropping during
stacking or shifting of collecting plate 6, they can be pressed
together by a clamping element pressing on them from above.
[0040] Additionally or alternatively, there can also be lateral
limiting walls for collecting plate 6 that limit the stacking
surface of collecting plate 6 in the longitudinal and/or transverse
direction and can serve e.g. to prevent the upper bank notes from
dropping while a stacking process is underway. All or at least some
of the lateral limiting walls will preferably be designed to be
adjustable in position. Adjustment can fulfill two functions.
Firstly, it can serve to adjust the format, i.e. the size of the
stacking surface, for example in dependence on the denomination of
the bank notes to be subsequently stacked. Alternatively or
additionally, it can serve to set the limiting walls vibrating to
thereby support flush alignment of bank notes during stacking.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a corresponding example. Collecting plate 6 has
limiting walls on several sides, at least two of which are not
themselves part of collecting plate 6. In FIG. 6 these are back
wall 52 and left wall 53. The latter are fastened to a housing of
apparatus 1 so as to limit the stacking surface of collecting plate
6 in a stacking posiposition in which bank notes can be stacked on
collecting plate 6 e.g. by stacking wheel 5. Wall 53 is not
simulatneously moved when the collecting plate is shifted into the
strapping position, e.g. in accordance with the position according
to FIG. 2. Walls 52, 53 are set vibrating by actuator 54 during
stacking. Preferred vibration frequencies are in an order of
magnitude of a few hertz, e.g. from 3 to 5 hertz. To prevent
slipping down during vibration, an opposing wall will be connected,
likewise loosely or alternatively firmly, with collecting plate 6
on each opposite side of collecting plate 6. On the front side
facing the user of apparatus 1, i.e. in the right-hand area of the
view according to FIG. 6, this is e.g. flap 50 as a further one of
the limiting walls. Said flap is fastened to collecting plate 6 and
mounted pivotally around axle 51 in the direction of arrow D. Thus,
the bank notes are not only held reliably on collecting plate 6,
but the user also has easy access to the stacked bank notes after
opening flap 50, e.g. in case of a disturbance. Vibration in two
mutually perpendicular directions produces especially effective
flush alignment of bank notes in all directions, which is very
advantageous during subsequent strapping in contrast to vibration
in only one direction.
[0042] In the hitherto described embodiment, bank notes BN to be
strapped are stacked on flat collecting plate 6. Strap 17 is then
pulled around collecting plate 6 with bank-note packet BN located
thereon and collecting plate 6 subsequently pulled out of closed
strap 17.
[0043] However, this causes the strapping to be loosened after
removal of collecting plate 6. To minimize this effect, collecting
plate 6 must be as thin as possible, which significantly reduces
the mechanical loading capacity of collecting plate 6.
[0044] Therefore, surface 40 of collecting plate 6 on which bank
notes BN to be strapped are deposited in a loose stack preferably
has a curved design. This is illustrated by way of example in FIG.
7. The collecting plate is thus curved on the stacking side, i.e.
surface 40. This has the following advantage, that bank notes BN
are likewise strapped in a curved position on curved surface 40 of
collecting plate 6 after firm tightening of strap 17. After removal
of collecting plate 6 from closed strap 17, bank notes BN can then
be bent back into the flat stacking position without the strapping
being loosened because the strap would be too long. Collecting
plate 6 can therefore have a thicker and mechanically more stable
design, and moreover its geometry be suitably chosen to selectively
adjust the tightness of strap 17. Since curving of the bank notes
is effected by the action of the strap itself, no additional
clamping or bending element is required, which greatly simplifies
the constructional effort.
[0045] FIG. 8 shows a further alternative. In underside 41 of
collecting plate 6, which is likewise curved as in FIG. 7, there is
depression 42 having the following function. In the example
according to FIG. 3, welding die 33 must press firmly against the
underside of collecting plate 6 to weld together the cut-off ends
of the strap. This can lead to undesirable bending and thus strong
wear, in particular with thin collecting plates 6. The alternative
according to FIG. 8, in contrast, is based on the idea of providing
opposing element 43 separate from collecting plate 6 and rigidly
mounted on rack 13, and urging welding die 33 against rigidly
mounted opposing element 43, thereby avoiding undesirable
mechanical load on movable collecting plate 6. In the special case
of FIG. 6 this opposing element is flat welding plate 43 onto which
depression 42 of collecting plate 6 can be pushed as well. Welding
plate 43 is likewise shown in FIG. 4 for clarity's sake.
[0046] A further special embodiment permits strapper 10 in
apparatus 1 also to be used as a hand strapper. This application is
possible because strapper 10 is located on the side of apparatus 1
facing the user. In this case, strapper 10 or apparatus 1 will have
an operating unit by which a user can initiate an operating process
even when apparatus 1 itself is not stacking any bank notes.
[0047] In particular, this strapping process controlled by the user
can preferably include a step of moving out collecting plate 6 to
the strapping position approximately in accordance with FIG. 2, in
order to place the bank-note packet to be strapped on collecting
plate 6 located in passing area 9 by hand in this position and
then, through a further operating input, start the strapping
process in accordance with the sequence of FIGS. 3a to 3d. When
strapping is completed, the packet can be removed by hand or placed
in cassette 7 in accordance with the described procedure in case of
fully automatic stacking and strapping.
[0048] Besides fully automatic strapping of bank notes, whereby the
arriving transport and strapping of bank notes are effected
automatically without manual intervention, machine 1 can
consequently be used additionally as a hand strapper e.g. in
processing breaks, e.g. so that bank notes to be reworked by hand
can be quickly strapped on the same machine.
[0049] Preferably, it is moreover possible for the user to input
data via the operating unit that are printed on strap 17 by printer
26. Alternatively to depositing the bank-note bundle to be strapped
on moved-out collecting plate 6, it can also be provided that the
user inserts the packet himself into passing area. 9 from outside
when collecting plate 6 is moved in, i.e. has not passed through
passing area 9, and holds the packet e.g. himself during
strapping.
[0050] While it was described hereinabove that both loose and
strapped bank notes can be deposited in common cassette 7, it can
also be provided that there are different bins for different bank
notes. Thus, there can be at least one bin 7 for loose bank notes
and at least one further cassette, disposed e.g. behind cassette 7,
i.e. to the left thereof in FIG. 2, for strapped bank-note bundles,
to which the bank notes are moved e.g. by collecting plate 6 after
strapping.
[0051] To prevent injuries during operation of the apparatus, in
particular when the user triggers the strapping process or at least
individual concomitant steps, such as predispensing the strap to
guide 20, manually by input means, e.g. by pressing a button, it
can be provided that a further input means, e.g. a further input
button, is mounted on the apparatus beside the aforementioned input
means and spaced more than a handbreadth therefrom. This is
intended to ensure that the operator must simultaneously press the
buttons with both hands during the action so that no hand is free
to reach inadvertently into the strapping guide.
* * * * *