U.S. patent application number 11/884657 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for document storage system.
This patent application is currently assigned to DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED. Invention is credited to Fritz Zwahlen.
Application Number | 20080149660 11/884657 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35840752 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080149660 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zwahlen; Fritz |
June 26, 2008 |
Document Storage System
Abstract
A document storage device for storing sheet documents is
disclosed. The device comprises a band (3), which can be wound onto
a document storage roller (2) such that sheet documents can be
stored between adjacent windings of the band on the document
storage roller and which can be unwound from the document storage
roller thereby dispensing the stored documents, and a scraper
assembly rotatable about a pivot (21) and comprising a scraper (19)
and an end stop (20), each for contacting the band on the document
storage roller. The scraper assembly is urged by a first biassing
element (22) such that the end stop maintains contact with the band
on the document storage roller at a point distal from the pivot
relative to the point of contact of the scraper with the band on
the document storage roller.
Inventors: |
Zwahlen; Fritz; (Ammerzwil,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Assignee: |
DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL
LIMITED
BASINGSTOKE
GB
|
Family ID: |
35840752 |
Appl. No.: |
11/884657 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 16, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2006/004268 |
371 Date: |
August 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2701/1912 20130101;
B65H 2301/4191 20130101; B65H 5/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/70 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/28 20060101
B65H005/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2005 |
GB |
0525870.2 |
Claims
1. A document storage device for storing sheet documents, the
device comprising a band, which can be wound onto a document
storage roller such that sheet documents can be stored between
adjacent windings of the band on the document storage roller and
which can be unwound from the document storage roller thereby
dispensing the stored documents, and a scraper assembly rotatable
about a pivot and comprising a scraper and an end stop, each for
contacting the band on the document storage roller, the scraper
assembly being urged by a first biassing element such that the end
stop maintains contact with the band on the document storage roller
at a point distal from the pivot relative to the point of contact
of the scraper with the band on the document storage roller.
2. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
documents are dispensed from the document storage roller at a point
between the points of contact of the scraper and the end stop with
the band on the document storage roller.
3. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the end
stop is a roller.
4. A document storage device according to claim 1, further
comprising a band roller upon which the band may be wound.
5. A document storage device according to claim 4, wherein the band
can be selectively wound between the band roller and the document
storage roller so as to store and dispense documents from the
document storage roller.
6. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the band
is entrained around one or more rollers mounted on the scraper
assembly.
7. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
documents are conveyed to the document storage roller via a
document transport system.
8. A document storage device according to claim 7, wherein the
document transport system comprises a belt drive for delivering the
documents to and from the band.
9. A document storage device according to claim 7, wherein the
document transport system comprises a diverter for diverting
documents either into the document transport system or into an
alternative document path.
10. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
scraper assembly comprises a support to which the scraper is
pivotally mounted.
11. A document storage device according to claim 10, wherein the
scraper is urged by a second biassing element towards the document
storage roller.
12. A document storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
scraper is formed from a resilient material.
13. A document storage device according to claim 4, wherein the
document storage roller and the band roller are driven by
independent motors.
14. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a document storage system that
stores sheet documents between adjacent windings of a band wound
onto a storage roller.
[0002] Such types of document storage systems are well known,
particularly for storage of documents of value such as banknotes.
They typically comprise a band roller and a document storage
roller, to each of which are attached the opposite ends of a band.
The band roller stores the band that is not currently in use, and
the band is transferred, by rotating the two rollers, from the band
roller onto the document storage roller when it is desired to store
a banknote. The banknote to be stored is supplied to the band near
to where it is wound onto the document storage roller such that the
banknote is entrapped between adjacent windings of the band on the
document storage roller.
[0003] By rotating the two rollers in the opposite direction, the
band is transferred from the document storage roller to the band
roller. Documents stored between the windings on the document
storage roller are thus released.
[0004] It has been found necessary to provide a scraper to assist
with releasing documents from the document storage roller. The
scraper is a blade-like element that is urged into contact with the
band on the document storage roller and engages the leading edge of
documents as they are released to ensure that they peel off the
band and into a document transport system for onward
conveyance.
[0005] However, existing scraper systems suffer from poor
reliability due to local variations in the diameter of the document
storage roller. These variations are caused by the thickness of
documents stored on the document storage roller between the
windings of the band. The variations are transmitted into the
scraper system through a roller forming part of the scraper system,
which engages the document storage roller, acting as an end stop.
The scraper system thus experiences unwanted radial motion during
storage and dispensing of documents. This radial motion can cause
the scraper to lift off the band, and the leading edge of documents
may then not be engaged by the scraper, if the scraper does not
reestablish contact with the band quickly enough.
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a document
storage device for storing sheet documents, the device comprising a
band, which can be wound onto a document storage roller such that
sheet documents can be stored between adjacent windings of the band
on the document storage roller and which can be unwound from the
document storage roller thereby dispensing the stored documents,
and a scraper assembly rotatable about a pivot and comprising a
scraper and an end stop, each for contacting the band on the
document storage roller, the scraper assembly being urged by a
first biassing element such that the end stop maintains contact
with the band on the document storage roller at a point distal from
the pivot relative to the point of contact of the scraper with the
band on the document storage roller.
[0007] By repositioning the end stop relative to the prior art, and
thereby ensuring that the point of contact between the end stop and
the document storage roller is further from the pivot than the
point of contact between the scraper and the document storage
roller, the amount of motion suffered by the scraper as a result of
the radial motion picked up by the end stop is very much reduced.
This is because the amount of rotation around the pivot caused by
the radial motion is reduced as the end stop has been moved further
away from the pivot than the scraper. Thus, the abovementioned
problem has been overcome.
[0008] The biassing element is normally a helical spring. By
reducing the amount of rotation around the pivot, the force exerted
by this spring is more or less constant and is more predictable and
controllable. This helps reduce damage caused by continuous
bouncing of the end stop against the document storage roller as
high peak forces caused by large radial motion of the end stop are
less likely to be encountered. In the past, it has been found that
the band can become damaged or even suffer movement along the axis
of the document storage roller as a result of these peak
forces.
[0009] Furthermore, by placing the end stop as described, the
scraper assembly can approach the document storage roller more
closely. This allows the first pinch roller of a transport system
to be disposed more closely to the document storage roller for more
reliable transportation of documents.
[0010] The documents are typically dispensed from the document
storage roller at a point between the points of contact of the
scraper and the end stop with the band on the document storage
roller. The band is also withdrawn from the document storage roller
at the document dispensing point, and of course, lies adjacent the
document between the document and the end stop.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the end stop is a roller. For
example, it may be a bearing roller, a ball race or a needle
roller, and it may be made from a suitable metal, such as steel, or
from a suitable plastic material, such as nylon. Alternatively, the
end stop may simply be a non-rotating follower.
[0012] The document storage device normally further comprises a
band roller upon which the band may be wound.
[0013] The band can be selectively wound between the band roller
and the document storage roller so as to store and dispense
documents from the document storage roller.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the band is entrained around one
or more rollers mounted on the scraper assembly.
[0015] The documents are typically conveyed to the document storage
roller via a document transport system. The document transport
system may comprises a belt drive for delivering the documents to
and from the band. The document transport system preferably
comprises a diverter for diverting documents either into the
document transport system or into an alternative document path.
[0016] The scraper assembly normally comprises a support to which
the scraper is pivotally mounted. The scraper is preferably urged
by a second biassing element towards the document storage roller.
The scraper may be formed from a resilient material.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the document storage roller and
the band roller are driven by independent motors.
[0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows the document storage device when the document
storage roller is empty; and
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the document storage device when the document
storage roller is full.
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a document storage device, typically for
banknotes. In FIG. 1, the device is shown in a state where no
documents have been stored, and in FIG. 2, the device is shown full
to capacity.
[0022] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device, often known
as a roll storage module, comprises a band roller 1 and a document
storage roller 2, with a band 3 extending between them. The band 3
is entrained about rubber roller 4, roller 5 and drive roller 6 on
its path between band roller 1 and document storage roller 2.
[0023] The band roller 1 and the document storage roller 2 are each
driven by respective independently controlled motors, only one of
which is shown at 7. By driving the two motors 7 in a storage
direction, the band 3 is transferred from the band roller 1 to the
document storage roller 2, as shown in FIG. 2. By reversing the
direction (i.e. driving in a dispensing direction), the band 3 is
transferred from the document storage roller 2 to the band roller
1, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] As the band 3 is transferred from the band roller 1 to the
document storage roller 2 or vice versa, the rubber roller 4,
roller 5 and drive roller 6 are driven by the band 3. Rubber roller
4 is fitted with a sensor 11 which detects the length of band 3
that has been transferred (and, by derivation, the speed of
transfer of band 3). This sensor 11 typically comprises a disc (not
shown) with slots provided around its circumference. Light emitted
by a light emitting diode (not shown) is interrupted and
transmitted intermittently as the disc rotates with the rubber
roller 4. The transmitted light is detected by a detector (not
shown) and this produces a pulsed output from sensor 11. By knowing
the linear distance of travel of band 3 that corresponds to each
pulse, it is possible to monitor the distance travelled by the band
by counting the pulses. The speed of travel of the band 3 can be
determined by measuring the time between pulses.
[0025] Drive roller 6 is connected to a gear (not shown) that
meshes with gear 8. In turn, this meshes with a gear (not shown)
connected to transport roller 9. Thus, as band 3 drives the drive
roller 6, the transport roller 9 is caused to rotate. This drives
the transport belt 10, which is entrained about transport roller 9
and another roller (not shown) at its upper end. The transport belt
10 forms a pinch at its upper and lower ends with rollers 12a and
12b respectively.
[0026] Rollers 13, diverter roller 14 and rollers 16 form part of
an external transport system. They cooperate with corresponding
rollers or belts that are not shown to convey documents along a
transport path defined between the rollers 13, diverter roller 14
and rollers 16 and the corresponding rollers or belts. A diverter
17 is provided which can be moved into a diverting position to
cause a document to be diverted from this transport path. If the
diverter 17 is in the diverting position then a document, after
being conveyed past rollers 13, is forced by the diverter 17 into
the pinch between diverter roller 14 (which is driven by the
external transport system) and pinch roller 15. Otherwise, the
document is conveyed onwards to rollers 16. Diverted documents are
picked up by the pinch between transport belt 10 and roller
12a.
[0027] A document sensor system 18 is provided adjacent the
transport belt 10. This can detect the passage of a document.
Hence, it can be used to confirm that a diverted document has been
safely conveyed to the document storage roller 2, or to detect a
jam, for example, if diverted document is not detected within a
predetermined period of time after it has been diverted from the
external transport system. The sensor system 18 works by detection
of reflected or transmitted light.
[0028] The roller 5, drive roller 6, transport roller 9, transport
belt 10 and rollers 12a and 12b are all mounted on a rotatable
scraper assembly. Also mounted on this scraper assembly are a
scraper 19 (made from a suitable plastic such as polyamide-66,
which may be reinforced with glass fibres) and a bearing roller 20.
The entire assembly is free to rotate around a pivot 21. It is
biassed to rotate towards the document storage roller 2 by way of a
helical spring 22. This causes the assembly to be pulled towards
the document storage roller 2 such that the bearing roller 20 makes
contact with it. In effect, bearing roller 20 is acting as an end
stop to the rotation of the scraper assembly around pivot 21.
[0029] The scraper 19 is pivotally mounted on the scraper assembly
at pivot 23. It is independently biassed towards the document
storage roller 2 by way of a second helical spring 24, extending
between pivot 21 and a hook 25 on the scraper 19.
[0030] The operation of the device will now be described. When a
document being conveyed along the external transport is to be
stored, the diverter 17 is moved to the diverting position to cause
the document to be diverted into the pinch between diverter roller
14 and pinch roller 15.
[0031] As the document is driven through diverter roller 14 and
pinch roller 15, the motors 7 driving the band roller 1 and
document storage roller 2 are driven in the storage direction so
that the band 3 is transferred from the band roller 1 via the
rubber roller 4, roller 5 and drive roller 6 to the document
storage roller 2.
[0032] This causes the transport belt 10 to be driven from drive
roller 6 via gear 8 and transport roller 9. The document to be
stored is thus picked up in the pinch between the transport belt 10
and the pinch roller 12a. It is conveyed to the pinch between
transport belt 10 and the pinch roller 12b. The document to be
stored is then entrapped between the band 3 as it passes from drive
roller 6 to the document storage roller 2 and the band 3 already
wound onto document storage roller 2. Thus, the document is stored
between adjacent windings of the band 3 on the document storage
roller 2. Further documents may be stored in this way until the
entire band 3 has been transferred from band roller 1 to the
document storage roller 2. This can be detected by sensor 11 if the
length of band 3 is known.
[0033] As more documents are stored, and thus more of band 3 is
transferred to the document storage roller 2, the diameter of
document storage roller 2 effectively increases. This can be seen
clearly in FIG. 2, in which the diameter of the document storage
roller 2 is approximately 125 mm compared to approximately 60 mm in
FIG. 1 when no documents are stored, and the diameter of the band
roller 1 has correspondingly reduced from approximately 74 mm to
approximately 29 mm.
[0034] Due to the increase in diameter of the document storage
roller 2, it is necessary for the scraper assembly to rotate around
pivot 21 to accommodate the increase in diameter and to ensure that
documents are delivered correctly. Bearing roller 20 forces the
scraper assembly to rotate around pivot 21 as the diameter of the
document storage roller 2 increases because it bears on the
outermost revolution of band 3 on the document storage roller
2.
[0035] As the diameter of the document storage roller 2 increases,
the optimum angle for scraper 19 to make contact with the band
changes. By allowing scraper 19 to pivot around pivot 23 (under the
spring tension of helical spring 24), the optimum angle can be
maintained. As can be seen from the detailed sections "A" shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, when the diameter of document storage roller 2 is at
a minimum the angle subtended between the scraper 19 and the band 3
is 57.5.degree., and when the diameter is at a maximum the angle is
72.2.degree.. Thus, the optimum angle is maintained at all
times.
[0036] When it is desired to dispense a document, the motors 7 are
driven in the dispensing direction, opposite to the storage
direction. Thus, the band 3 is transferred back from the
document-storage roller 2 to the band roller 1. This has the effect
of releasing notes from between the adjacent windings of the band 3
on document storage roller 2 as the outermost winding is removed
from the document storage roller 2 and withdrawn towards the band
roller 1. The leading edge of each document is engaged by the
scraper 19 as it is released from the band 3. Effectively, the
scraper 19 prevents the document from adhering to the band 3 and
ensures that it is picked up by the pinch between transport belt 10
and roller 12b. The document can then be driven back out of the
device onto the external transport system for subsequent
handling.
[0037] As more and more documents are dispensed, the diameter of
document storage roller 2 diminishes again, whilst that of band
roller 1 is augmented as it withdraws the band 3. The helical
spring 22 acts to rotate the scraper assembly towards the document
storage roller 2 as its diameter diminishes, limited by the bearing
roller 20. Since the bearing roller 20 is relatively far away from
the pivot 21 compared with the scraper 19, the movement of the
scraper 19 caused by angular rotation around pivot 21 as a result
of radial motion imparted to bearing roller 20 as the document
storage roller 2 dispenses documents is minimised. This helps
scraper 19 to maintain contact with the band so that it can
reliably engage the leading edge of documents being dispensed.
* * * * *