U.S. patent application number 13/266502 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for bag and sealing method and apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CASH DYNAMICS LLP. Invention is credited to Robert Wright.
Application Number | 20120047854 13/266502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40791892 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120047854 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wright; Robert |
March 1, 2012 |
BAG AND SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS
Abstract
A device for receiving sheet documents or coins from sheet
document or coin processing equipment and sealing the sheet
documents or coins in a bag. The device comprises a bag retainer
for holding the bag, in a vertical orientation such that an open
end of the bag is uppermost, thereby allowing falling sheet
documents or coins discharged by the sheet document or coin
processing equipment to collect in the bag, and a heat sealer for
sealing the open end of the bag.
Inventors: |
Wright; Robert; (Epping,
GB) |
Assignee: |
CASH DYNAMICS LLP
Ilford, Essex
GB
|
Family ID: |
40791892 |
Appl. No.: |
13/266502 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
April 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2010/050675 |
371 Date: |
October 27, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/476 ; 248/97;
383/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 66/1352 20130101;
B29C 66/346 20130101; B29C 65/224 20130101; B29C 66/0044 20130101;
B29C 66/83241 20130101; E05G 7/001 20130101; B29C 66/8122 20130101;
B29C 66/8161 20130101; B29C 66/1122 20130101; B29C 66/43121
20130101; B29L 2031/7128 20130101; B29C 66/8122 20130101; E05G
1/005 20130101; G07D 11/0093 20130101; B29K 2827/18 20130101; B29C
65/38 20130101; B29C 66/849 20130101; B29C 66/81821 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/476 ; 248/97;
383/33 |
International
Class: |
B65B 7/00 20060101
B65B007/00; B65D 33/00 20060101 B65D033/00; B65B 67/04 20060101
B65B067/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2009 |
GB |
0907252.1 |
Claims
1.-43. (canceled)
44. A device for sealing sheet documents or coins in a bag, the
device being adapted for receiving sheet documents or coins from
sheet document or coin processing equipment in use, the device
comprising a bag retainer for holding the bag, in use, in a
vertical orientation such that an open end of the bag is uppermost,
thereby allowing falling sheet documents or coins discharged by the
sheet document or coin processing equipment to collect in the bag,
and a heat sealer for sealing the open end of the bag.
45. A device according to claim 44, wherein the bag retainer is
adapted to hold the bag, in use, such that the open end of the bag
is directly above a closed end of the bag, thereby allowing
vertically falling sheet documents or coins discharged by the sheet
document or coin processing equipment to collect on the closed end
of the bag.
46. A device according to claim 44, wherein the device further
comprises an opening through which falling sheet documents or coins
discharged by the sheet document or coin processing equipment may
pass, in use, into the open end of the bag, wherein the opening is
defined by a pair of flaps, each flap of which is movable between a
first position in which a bag may be brought into engagement with
the bag retainer and a second position in which the flaps hold the
open end of the bag so that it does not impede the passage of
falling sheet documents or coins into the bag.
47. A device according to claim 46, wherein each flap of the pair
of flaps clamps a respective portion of the open end of the bag
against a respective side wall of the device when the flap is in
the second position.
48. A device according to claim 44, further comprising at least one
finger movable between a first position in which the bag may be
brought into engagement with the bag retainer and a second position
in which the at least one finger contacts the side of the bag, in
use.
49. A device according to claim 48, further comprising a controller
adapted to cause the at least one finger to move repeatedly between
the first and second positions, thereby shaking the bag to ensure
sheet documents do not adhere to the bag.
50. A device according to claim 44, further comprising a pair of
opposed fingers, wherein each finger of the pair of opposed fingers
is movable between a first position in which the bag may be brought
into engagement with the bag retainer and a second position in
which the respective finger contacts a respective side of the bag,
in use.
51. A device according to claim 50, further comprising a controller
adapted to cause each finger of the pair of opposed fingers to move
repeatedly between the first and second positions, thereby shaking
the bag to ensure sheet documents do not adhere to the bag.
52. A method for sealing sheet documents or coins in a bag, the
method comprising: holding a bag in a vertical orientation such
that an open end of the bag is uppermost, thereby allowing falling
sheet documents or coins discharged by a sheet document or coin
processing equipment to collect in the bag; receiving at least one
sheet document or coin from the sheet document or coin processing
equipment in the bag; and sealing the open end of the bag.
53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising holding the
bag such that the open end of the bag is directly above a closed
end of the bag, thereby allowing vertically falling sheet documents
or coins discharged by the sheet document or coin processing
equipment to collect on the closed end of the bag.
54. A method according to claim 52, further comprising clamping the
open end of the bag in a defined position such that the open end of
the bag does not impede the passage of falling sheet documents or
coins into the bag.
55. A method according to claim 52, further comprising, prior to
the step of sealing the open end of the bag, moving at least one
finger from a first position in which the bag may be brought into
position for holding in the vertical orientation such that the open
end is uppermost to a second position in which the finger contacts
a gusset portion in a side of the bag, thereby assisting the
folding of the gusset portion.
56. A method according to claim 55, further comprising moving the
at least one finger repeatedly between the first and second
positions, thereby shaking the bag to ensure sheet documents do not
adhere to the bag.
57. A method according to claim 52, further comprising, prior to
the step of sealing the open end of the bag, moving a pair of
opposed fingers from a first position in which the bag may be
brought into position for holding in the vertical orientation such
that the open end is uppermost to a second position in which each
finger contacts a gusset portion in a respective side of the bag,
thereby assisting the folding of the gusset portion in each
respective side of the bag.
58. A method according to claim 57, further comprising moving each
finger of the pair of opposed fingers repeatedly between the first
and second positions, thereby shaking the bag to ensure sheet
documents do not adhere to the bag.
59. A bag comprising: an open end and a closed end joined by four
side walls, of which two opposing side walls are gusseted; a
rectangular frame for holding the closed end in a rectangular
shape; and a retaining element by which the bag may be retained, in
use, in a vertical orientation such that an open end of the bag is
uppermost, thereby allowing falling sheet documents or coins
discharged by the sheet document or coin processing equipment to
collect in the bag, wherein the retaining element comprises a pair
of mounting rails disposed at the top of the two opposing, gusseted
side walls, each mounting rail having an articulated joint, each
articulated joint being co-axial with a central axis on a
respective one of the gussets such that the mounting rails may fold
along with the gusset; wherein each of the four side walls has a
first thickness, and additional layers of the first thickness are
preferably provided in a sealing region on each of the non-gusseted
side walls such that when the gusseted side walls are folded
inwardly the sealing region has a uniform thickness.
60. A bag according to claim 59, further comprising a heat sealer
for sealing the open end.
61. A sheet document or coin processing apparatus comprising a
device according to claim 44, and comprising a sheet feed mechanism
arranged to impart an upward curve or fold to each sheet document.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a device and method for sealing
sheet documents or coins in a bag. It also relates to a bag
suitable for use with the device and method.
[0002] The use of cash-recycling machines in banks and large
retailers is becoming increasingly common. Cash is normally
collected from these site by `Cash-in-Transit` (CIT) companies. It
is clearly vitally important than any cash-in-transit is carried
securely to avoid any theft and that any attempt to interfere or
tamper with the container that the cash is transported in is
immediately apparent.
[0003] CIT companies have developed various, more or less, secure
ways of handling currency in order to transport it. Traditionally,
to transport secure goods, bulky locked metal cassettes containing
the sheet documents or coins were removed from cash-recycling
machines by the CIT companies and moved in the CIT companies'
secure vans. A number of issues have arisen by transferring the
valuable goods in this way.
[0004] Firstly, the bulkiness of the cassette greatly limited the
amount of sheet documents or coins that the CIT companies can
transfer. Standard practice for the CIT companies is to remove the
cassettes for cash machines, load them onto fortified trucks and
transport them to a desired location. The size and weight of the
cassettes is substantial in relation to the amount of cash
contained within them, making them awkward to handle. In addition,
the cassettes are expensive items in their own right.
[0005] Secondly, although it is standard practice for the cassettes
to contain a locking mechanism, often these locks are quite
rudimentary. In many cases, neither the locking mechanism nor the
cassette itself provides a way of detecting an attempt, either
successful or unsuccessful, to access the items inside the
cassette. In other cases, tamper evident capabilities are provided,
although these employ complicated and expensive mechanisms to
provide such capabilities.
[0006] EP0852279 discloses a bag for storing cash which can be
sealed after the cash has been loaded into it. This overcomes some
of the problems mentioned above, being lighter and cheaper than a
cassette. However, loading cash into the bag is complicated,
requiring cash handling equipment to be fitted with dedicated
transport elements to introduce the cash into the bag through a
narrow inlet slot formed in the bag. Alignment between the bag and
the transport elements is clearly critical. Furthermore, the design
of the bag does not lend itself to being easily stacked with other
bags of the same type because the sealed inlet slot interferes with
adjacent bags. The bags are also unsuitable for use with coins.
[0007] In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there
is provided a device for sealing sheet documents or coins in a bag,
the device being adapted for receiving sheet documents or coins
from the sheet document or coin processing equipment in use, the
device comprising a bag retainer for holding the bag, in use, in a
vertical orientation such that an open end of the bag is uppermost,
thereby allowing falling sheet documents or coins discharged by the
sheet document or coin processing equipment to collect in the bag,
and a heat sealer for sealing the open end of the bag.
[0008] Hence, the invention provides a device which allows bags to
be loaded with sheet documents or coins simply by allowing these to
fall out of the transport mechanisms of cash handling machinery at
the appropriate point along the transport through the open end of
the bag. The invention can therefore be easily used with existing
cash handling machinery without extensive modification; alignment
between the bag and the machinery is not critical and no dedicated
transport elements are required. Furthermore, the use of bags
ensures that cost can be minimised (which is important as the bags
are destroyed during monitored opening as part of the
cash-in-transit process) and it is easy to detect tampering as this
will involve destruction of the bag or seal. In addition, the use
of this device allows bags to be sealed whilst still within sheet
document or coin processing equipment, which reduces the
possibility of pilfering as may occur if the bag was removed for
manual sealing.
[0009] The device and bags can accept documents such as banknotes
delivered (for example, by discharge from the transport of a
banknote or other sheet document processing equipment) in a
horizontal plane, which is important for efficient stacking within
the bag. This is needed because a large number of banknotes must be
collected in each instance for economic reasons and because the
space available in banknote processing equipment is limited.
[0010] The term "sheet documents" in this specification includes
paper currency and other security documents.
[0011] The bag retainer may comprise one or more hooks, each of
which engages with a corresponding eyelet disposed at the open end
of a bag in order to hold the bag in the desired position.
[0012] However, in another embodiment, the bag retainer comprises a
pair of opposed runners, each of which is adapted to engage, in
use, with a corresponding retaining rail on the bag. Typically, the
pair of opposed runners lie parallel to each other.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the bag retainer is adapted to
hold the bag, in use, such that the open end of the bag is directly
above a closed end of the bag, thereby allowing vertically falling
sheet documents or coins discharged by the sheet document or coin
processing equipment to collect on the closed end of the bag. Thus,
if the closed end of the bag is rectangular and the bag has
parallel sides perpendicular to the closed end, the combined action
of the device and the bag is to ensure that bank notes or other
rectangular documents "float" down into the bag in an ordered
manner and form a neat stack in the bottom of the bag. This
maximises stacking potential, both in terms of efficient use of
space within the bag and stacking of the filled bags after
sealing.
[0014] It will be appreciated from the foregoing that it is useful
for the bag structure to be such that when it is held open with the
open end above the closed end, the rectangular closed end lies
flat. This can be achieved through suitable choice of bag material
or some kind of stiffening means for the closed end. In the example
to be described below the stiffening means is a wire frame.
[0015] The heat sealer may comprise a first sealing bar movable
between a first position in which a bag may be brought into
engagement with the bag retainer and a second position in which a
first heating element mounted on the first sealing bar is brought
into contact with a bag, in use.
[0016] In this case, the heat sealer preferably further comprises a
pressure bar disposed in opposition to the first sealing bar when
in the second position such that the first sealing bar and pressure
bar trap the bag, in use, between them.
[0017] Alternatively, the heat sealer may further comprise a second
sealing bar movable between a third position in which a bag may be
brought into engagement with the bag retainer and a fourth position
in which the second sealing bar is disposed in opposition to the
first sealing bar when in the second position such that the first
and second sealing bars trap the bag, in use, between them.
[0018] Preferably, a second heating element is mounted on the
second sealing bar.
[0019] Normally, the first and second sealing bars are pivotally
movable between the first and second positions and third and fourth
positions respectively.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the second and fourth positions
are such that first and second sealing bars are symmetrically
arranged and move by equal amounts between the first and second
positions and the third and fourth positions respectively. This
ensures that the bag shape is not distorted during sealing helping
the bag to lie flat to assist stacking.
[0021] The welding or sealing line made by the heat sealer cannot
be made at the rim of the bag defining the open end because the bag
retainer holds the open end in a fixed location. Indeed, in the
embodiment described below a pair of flaps in conjunction with
runners in the bag retainer hold the open end of the bag in an
essentially rectangular shape. The welding bars cannot be
positioned at this level (i.e. in line with the rim of the bag
defining the open end) because this would impede the loading and
removal of the bag. By allowing the first and second sealing bars
to retract into the first and third positions, the bars can be
stowed in a position where they will be out of the way of the bag
during loading and unloading. Aside from making loading and
unloading operations easier, this also results in a very compact
device because the welding bars can be positioned at the same level
as the bag retainer. In practice, we have found that a device
having a depth of only 30 mm (when the bars are retracted into the
first and third positions) can be realised.
[0022] The device may further comprise an opening, for example in
the bag retainer, through which falling sheet documents or coins
discharged by the sheet document or coin processing equipment may
pass, in use, into the open end of the bag.
[0023] In one embodiment, the opening is defined by a pair of
flaps, each of which is movable between a first position in which a
bag may be brought into engagement with the bag retainer and a
second position in which the flaps hold the open end of the bag so
that it does not impede the passage of falling sheet documents or
coins into the bag.
[0024] Each of the pair of flaps may clamp a respective portion of
the open end of the bag against a respective side wall of the
device when in the second position.
[0025] The device may also comprise at least one finger movable
between a first position in which a bag may be brought into
engagement with the bag retainer and a second position in which the
finger contacts the side of the bag, in use.
[0026] Preferably, the device comprises a pair of opposed fingers,
each of which is movable between a first position in which a bag
may be brought into engagement with the bag retainer and a second
position in which it contacts a respective side of the bag, in
use.
[0027] The device may further comprise a controller adapted to
cause the or each finger to move repeatedly between the first and
second positions, thereby shaking the bag to ensure sheet documents
do not adhere to the bag. This assists in dislodging documents that
have become attracted to the bag by static electricity.
[0028] There is also provided in the following a kit comprising a
device as described above and at least one bag. Preferably the
closed end of the bag is rectangular and the bag has parallel sides
perpendicular to the closed end. The bag structure is preferably
such that when it is held open with the open end above the closed
end, the rectangular closed end lies flat.
[0029] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method for sealing sheet documents or coins in a bag,
the method comprising holding a bag in a vertical orientation such
that an open end of the bag is uppermost, thereby allowing falling
sheet documents or coins discharged by a sheet document or coin
processing equipment to collect in the bag, receiving at least one
sheet document or coin from the sheet document or coin processing
equipment in the bag, and sealing the open end of the bag.
[0030] The method typically further comprises engaging a bag with a
bag retainer for holding the bag in a vertical orientation such
that the open end of the bag is uppermost.
[0031] The method will also typically further comprise disengaging
the bag from the bag retainer after the open end of the bag has
been sealed.
[0032] The method preferably further comprises holding the bag such
that the open end of the bag is directly above a closed end of the
bag, thereby allowing vertically falling sheet documents or coins
discharged by the sheet document or coin processing equipment to
collect on the closed end of the bag.
[0033] The step of sealing the open end of the bag may comprise
moving a first sealing bar from a first position in which the bag
may be brought into position for holding in the vertical
orientation such that the open end is uppermost to a second
position in which a first heating element mounted on the first
sealing bar is brought into contact with a bag.
[0034] In this case, the method may further comprise trapping the
bag between a pressure bar disposed in opposition to the first
sealing bar when in the second position.
[0035] Preferably, the step of sealing the open end of the bag
further comprises moving a second sealing bar from a third position
in which the bag may be brought into position for holding in the
vertical orientation such that the open end is uppermost to a
fourth position in which the second sealing bar is disposed in
opposition to the first sealing bar when in the second position
such that the first and second sealing bars trap the bag between
them.
[0036] Typically, the first and second sealing bars move pivotally
between the first and second positions and third and fourth
positions respectively.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the second and fourth positions
are such that first and second sealing bars are symmetrically
arranged and move by equal amounts between the first and second
positions and the third and fourth positions respectively. As
mentioned above, this ensures that the bag shape is not distorted
during sealing helping the bag to lie flat to assist stacking.
[0038] Of course, the method normally further comprises activating
the first heating element, thereby sealing the bag.
[0039] The method may also further comprise activating a second
heating element mounted on the second sealing bar.
[0040] In one embodiment, the method further comprises clamping the
open end of the bag in a defined position such that the open end of
the bag does not impede the passage of falling sheet documents or
coins into the bag.
[0041] The method may also comprise, prior to the step of sealing
the open end of the bag, moving at least one finger from a first
position in which the bag may be brought into position for holding
in the vertical orientation such that the open end is uppermost and
a second position in which the finger contacts a gusset portion in
a side of the bag, thereby assisting the folding of the gusset
portion.
[0042] In this case, the method preferably further comprises, prior
to the step of sealing the open end of the bag, moving a pair of
opposed fingers from a first position in which the bag may be
brought into position for holding in the vertical orientation such
that the open end is uppermost and a second position in which each
finger contacts a gusset portion in a respective side of the bag,
thereby assisting the folding of the gusset portions.
[0043] Typically, the method further comprises moving the or each
finger repeatedly between the first and second positions, thereby
shaking the bag to ensure sheet documents do not adhere to the bag.
As mentioned above, this assists in dislodging documents that have
become attracted to the bag by static electricity.
[0044] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a bag comprising open and closed ends joined by a
plurality of side walls, at least one of which is gusseted; a frame
for holding the closed end in a desired shape; and a retaining
element by which the bag may be retained in a device according to
the first aspect, in use.
[0045] This bag provides many advantages over prior art bags.
Firstly, the use of an open end allows sheet documents and coins to
be easily collected in the bag as discussed above. Further, the use
of a frame assists with holding the bag's shape as the documents or
coins are collected. The frame is also much cheaper than the use of
a solid plate, as has been used in the prior art. The retaining
element allows the bag to be easily brought into engagement with
the device of the first aspect so that it may be held with its open
end in the correct position. The gussets allow the bag to expand in
width to accommodate sheet documents and to lie flat when empty or
partially filled.
[0046] The sheet documents or coins collect on the closed end of
the bag. The fact that sheet documents stack neatly on the closed
end after simply being allowed to fall out of sheet document
processing equipment into the bag was unexpected and a particularly
important benefit of this invention, as it allows the simple
approach described herein to be adopted.
[0047] Typically, the frame is rectangular so as to hold the closed
end of the bag in a rectangular shape and the bag has four side
walls, of which two opposing side walls are gusseted.
[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining element comprises a
pair of mounting rails disposed at the top of the two opposing,
gusseted side walls.
[0049] Each mounting rail may have an articulated joint, each
articulated joint being co-axial with a central axis on a
respective one of the gussets such that the mounting rails may fold
along with the gusset.
[0050] In one embodiment, each of the four side walls has a first
thickness, and additional layers of the first thickness are
provided in a sealing region on each of the non-gusseted side walls
such that when the gusseted side walls are folded inwardly the
sealing region has a uniform thickness.
[0051] As noted above the device described above can be
incorporated in coin processing apparatus. Thus in a fourth aspect
of the invention, there is provided a sheet document or coin
processing apparatus comprising a device according to the first
aspect.
[0052] A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention
preferably includes a sheet feed mechanism for delivering the sheet
documents to the bag. In the case of rectangular documents it is
advantageous to feed them short edge first. Further, it has been
found to be helpful if the sheet feed mechanism imparts a slight
upward curvature or fold to the sheets. In the case of rectangular
sheets these are curved along their short edges or folded in the
longitudinal direction. Each of these features helps to ensure that
a sheet exiting the mechanism in a horizontal direction stays
substantially horizontal as it falls vertically and will land major
surface first (rather than edge first) on a flat surface.
[0053] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention for sealing
sheet documents or coins in bags;
[0055] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of movable flaps for clamping
the open end of the bag;
[0056] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a mechanism for assisting
with clearing the sealing region on the bag and folding the
gussets;
[0057] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the heat sealer;
[0058] FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b show a bag for use with the device
illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4; and
[0059] FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective views of a set of forming
rollers suitable for use in feeding sheet documents to a bag with
FIG. 7a showing a sheet document being fed through the rollers.
[0060] FIG. 1 shows a device for sealing sheet documents or coins
in bags. The device is suitable for use so as to receive sheet
documents or coins from sheet document or coin processing equipment
(not shown). The device may be retro-fitted into sheet document or
coin processing equipment or sheet document or coin processing
equipment can be specifically built to contain the device.
[0061] The device comprises a bag retainer frame 1 and two pairs of
arms 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b rotatably mounted on the bag retainer frame
1. Each pair of arms 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b carries a respective sealing
or welding bar 4, 5. The two pairs of arms 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b are
coupled together by gears 6a, 6b which ensure that they rotate in
synchrony. They are driven by a motorised link mechanism (not
shown) coupled to one of the arms. The two pairs of arms 2a, 2b and
3a, 3b are movable between a retracted or parked position in which
the welding bars 4, 5 lie horizontally alongside the bag retainer
frame 1 and a sealing or welding position in which the welding bars
4, 5 come together for sealing bags centrally beneath the bag
retainer frame 1. More details of the heat sealer may be found in
the description of FIG. 4 below.
[0062] A rectangular opening 7 is formed within the bag retainer
frame 4, which is fashioned to suit the maximum dimensions of the
desired sheet documents (typically banknote currency) that will be
used with the device. A pair of flaps 8a, 8b are rotatably mounted
on the bag retainer frame 4. They are movable between open and
closed positions by operation of a lever arm 9. The operation and
purpose of the flaps 8a, 8b will be described in more detail with
reference to FIG. 2 below.
[0063] The bag retainer frame 1 comprises a pair of parallel,
opposed runners 10a, 10b. As will be described below, the bags for
use with the device have mounting rails which can engage with the
runners 10a, 10b. Therefore, a bag may be easily engage and
retained on the bag retainer frame 1 by sliding the mounting rails
into the runners 10a, 10b. Thus, the bag retainer frame 1 holds the
bag in a vertical orientation such that the open end of the bag is
uppermost, thereby allowing vertically falling sheet documents or
coins discharged by the sheet document or coin processing equipment
to collect in the bag. A more detailed description of the bag is
provided below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0064] FIG. 2 shows the moveable flaps 8a, 8b in more detail. The
moveable flaps 8 are arranged in the opening 7 such that they lie
in a parallel and opposed arrangements. The moveable flaps 8 are
pivotally moveable relative to the bag retainer frame 1 between
open and closed positions. The flaps 8a, 8b run the full length of
the opening 7 as can be seen most easily in FIG. 1.
[0065] When in the open position the flaps 8a, 8b are in the
position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. Thus, their lower edges
are withdrawn above the lower edge of the bag retainer frame 1, the
lower edge of the bag retainer frame being defined by the runners
10, 10b. Thus, a bag 11 may be slid onto or off the runners 10a,
10b without the movable flaps 8a, 8b impeding this process.
[0066] When in the closed position, the movable flaps 8a, 8b are in
the position shown by dashed lines. In this position, the movable
flaps 8a, 8b clamp the sides of bag 11 against the side walls of
bag retainer frame 1 and thereby serve to expand bag 11 to conform
to the distance between the flaps 8a, 8b. Thus, a smooth,
unobstructed passage is provided for sheet documents or coins
through the bag retainer frame 1 into the bag 11.
[0067] The flaps 8a, 8b are pivotally movable between the open and
closed positions about respective pivots 12a, 12b as a result of
the actuation of a lever arm 9. The lever arm 9 may be moved by a
motor (not shown) or solenoid (not shown) coupled to it.
[0068] The clamping action of the flaps 8a, 8b (along with a frame
in the bag 11 described below) holds the bag 11 in a rigid,
rectangular format, which again provides a smooth, unobstructed
passage for sheet documents or coins falling into the bag 11. The
weight of the sheet documents or coins assists holding the bag in
this format as they fall in.
[0069] It is also possible for the flaps to be jogged or caused to
oscillate slightly as documents or coins fall into the bag. This is
particularly useful in connection with documents to help to ensure
that they are neatly stacked. The jogging or oscillating motion
would be much smaller than the motion between the open and closed
positions described above and could be achieved through the use of
a small motor or other driver.
[0070] The preferred bag to be described below has a rectangular
closed end. This is deliberate, not so much as the ideal container
for `rectangular` cash notes but in order to cause the notes to
`float` down into the bag from host coin processing equipment in an
ordered manner to maximise stacking potential. In this respect the
bag is not simply a loose sack. Further research on bag features
has indicated that efficient free stacking is an important issue as
most prior art bags need an artificial device to improve
stacking.
[0071] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the device and shows a
mechanism comprising a pair of fingers 13a, 13b which assist with
clearing the sealing region on the bag and folding the gussets. The
fingers 13a, 13b are arranged to rotate about respective pivots
14a,14b such that when in use, the fingers 13a, 13b press in on the
gusseted sides of the bag (as shown by the dashed lines), thereby
folding in the gussets 15a, 15b so that a sealing region near the
open end of the bag 11 is straight and even and may be neatly
clamped by the welding bars 4, 5 for sealing. Thus, a smooth,
straight seal is formed, allowing tampering to be more readily
identified.
[0072] The fingers 13a, 13b may be repeatedly moved at high speed
between the position shown in solid lines and the position shown in
dashed lines so as to shake the sides of the bag 11 in order to
dislodge any sheet documents which have adhered to the bag 11, for
example due to attraction by static electricity.
[0073] In some embodiments of the invention the fingers 13a and 13b
are not be necessary and sheet documents will simply float to the
base of a bag with a rectangular closed end in a neat stack.
[0074] After this, the welding bars 4, 5 are activated, thereby
forming a seal in the seal region of bag 11.
[0075] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the heat sealer.
Welding bar 5, carried by arms 3a and 3b, has an electrically and
thermally insulating strip 16 (for example, made form mica) fitted
along its full length. An impulse heating element 17 is stretched
over the insulating strip 16 and connected at each end of the
welding bar 5 to an electrical supply (via an electronically
controlled switch, such as a relay). A polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE) sheet 18 is wrapped over the element and secured. A plastic
strip 19 running along the full length of welding bar 5 provides an
edge to grip the bag in conjunction a plastic strip mounted on the
other welding bar 4 as described below.
[0076] Welding bar 4, carried by arms 2a and 2b, provides the
reaction force to welding bar 5 when they are driven together for
sealing. Along the front of the welding bar 4 is a sliding member
20, which is urged away from welding bar 4 by a spring 21. This
allows any inconsistencies or unevenness in the sealing region of
bag 11 to be taken up. The front of the sliding member 20 is also
fitted with an insulator 22, which is also covered with a PTFE
sheet 23. A plastic strip 24 running along the full length of
welding bar 4 provides an edge to grip the bag in conjunction with
the plastic strip 19 mounted on welding bar 5.
[0077] As the welding bars 4 and 5 are brought together, the
spring-loaded sliding member 20 applies pressure against the
heating element 17 with a bag trapped in between. The continuing
closure of the welding bars 4 and 5 causes the plastic strips 19
and 24 to clamp the bag. The purpose of the clamping is to stop the
bag dropping down under its own weight when the welding process
causes the sealing region to become molten. The idea of the sprung
bars is to ensure even welding.
[0078] Importantly, a bag cannot be removed from the machine until
all of the flaps 8a, 8b, the fingers 13a, 13b and the welding bars
4, 5 have been retracted. This ensures that the bag cannot be
removed from the device until it has been sealed and released,
which reduces the opportunity for pilfering and tampering, thereby
improving the security of the bag.
[0079] FIGS. 5a and 5b show the bag 11 in detail. The bag 11 has
mounting rails 25 on each of two opposed, gusseted sides of the bag
11. Only one of the mounting rails is shown in FIG. 5a. The bag 11
is welded at the seams. The gussets have a gusset fold point 26,
the position of which is defined by three gusset folds 27a, 27b,
27c emanating from the gusset fold point 26. A similar gusset fold
point (defined in part by fold 27c) will be defined near the closed
end of the bag and the opposite side of the bag has corresponding
gusset folds and gusset fold points.
[0080] As already described, the mounting rails 25 may be engaged
with the runners 10a, 10b as described above. The mounting rails 25
each have an articulated joint 28 break in line with the gusset
fold 27c such that when the fingers 13a, 13b press in the gusset
folds, the articulated joints 28 allows the mounting rails 25 to
conform to the folds. This allows the bag 11 to close completely at
the open end giving a better fold and seal. Each of the articulated
joints 28 may be provided by simply abutting two plastic tubes or
rods within a sleeve formed in the bag 11 to form each mounting
rail 25, the joint being provided by hinging action at the
abutment.
[0081] The closed end 29 of the bag shown in FIG. 6a is held in a
rectangular shape by a rectangular wire frame (not shown) within
the bag 11 corresponding to the shape of the open end when inserted
in the device.
[0082] FIGS. 6a and 6b shows an improvement to the bag 11 in the
sealing region. Specifically, the sides of the bag extend to form
two flaps 30a, 30b at the open end. These flaps 30a, 30b are folded
over the sides as shown before sealing. Thus, the flaps 30a, 30b
ensure that the bag has four thicknesses of material across the
entire sealing region, both in the folded gussets (where the
thickness is made up of the gusseted sides and the plain sides) and
in the remainder of the sealing region (where the thickness is made
up of the plain sides and flaps 30a, 30b). This ensures that the
bag 11 has a uniform thickness in the sealing region and assists
with the sealing process.
[0083] The width and length of the bag 11 are adjusted to accept
the maximum dimensions of banknotes or other sheet documents
required to be collected and its height is adjusted to suit the
volume of documents or banknotes intended for collection.
[0084] Each of the mechanisms described above (e.g. the flaps 8a,
8b; the welding bars 4, 5; and the fingers 13a, 13b) are
electrically driven by motors or solenoids as appropriate operated
by a suitable process controller, which may be linked to sheet
document or coin processing equipment to which the device is
coupled.
[0085] The device described will generally be used with a sheet
document processing equipment (or coin processing equipment) such
as a banknote counter or sorter. The device will be placed beneath
a discharge location of the sheet document processing equipment
such that any sheet documents (e.g. banknotes) discharged at that
location will fall through the opening 7 into a bag 11 fitted to
the device in the manner described above. The bag 11 may then be
sealed as already described and removed from the device by
cash-in-transit personnel.
[0086] FIG. 7 shows a sheet feed mechanism suitable for
incorporation into sheet document processing equipment to discharge
notes to a bag sealing device as described above. The figure shows
a rectangular sheet document 40 such as a bank note about to exit
the feed mechanism which comprises a pair of rollers 41 and 42
mounted on drive axles 43 and 44 respectively. When the roller 41
is driven in the clockwise direction as shown roller 42 is driven
in the opposite direction and the sheet document 40 is fed in the
direction of the arrow shown on the document. The rollers have
mating curved surfaces which together form a slight transverse bend
extending along the longitudinal direction of the sheet
document.
* * * * *