Angled Currency Processing System

• US 20100108463A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Sakowski, Stanley P., Fitzgerald, Robert B., Lynch, Alan T., Renz, Mark B., Hallowell, Curtis W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/206
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 27/08 Bundling paper sheets, envelopes, bags, newspapers, or other thin flat articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33 Modifying, selecting, changing orientation
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33212 about an axis parallel to the direction of displacement of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers

Abstract

An angled arrangement of a currency document handling device and a second unit and an angle arrangement of two currency document handling devices, components of the same, and methods of coupling and using the same. For example, a currency document processing system for processing currency documents including currency bills comprises a currency handling device, a first currency document receiving unit, and a first angular transport unit. The first currency document receiving unit is adapted to receive at least some bills processed by the currency handling device. The first angular transport unit is adapted to receive bills from the currency handling device and transport bills to the first currency document receiving unit. The angular transport unit is adapted to be coupled between the currency handling device and the first currency document receiving unit such that the currency handling device and the first currency document receiving units are angled relative to each other such as by ninety degrees (90°).

Claims

1-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A currency document processing system for processing a stack of currency documents including currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the system comprising:

a currency handling device having an input receptacle configured to receive currency documents including bills to be processed, an evaluation unit comprising one or more detectors configured to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill, a plurality of output receptacles configured to receive at least some of the bills processed by the evaluating unit, and a transport mechanism defining a transport path between the input receptacle, past the evaluating unit, and the plurality of output receptacles, the transport mechanism being configured to transport each bill individually along the transport path, the currency handling device being configured to route bills into the plurality of output receptacles or to transport bills out of the handling device based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles contains bills having the same denomination;

a first currency document receiving unit configured to receive at least some bills processed by the evaluating unit, the first currency document receiving unit having a flat top lying in a first generally horizontal plane; and

a first angular transport unit, the angular transport unit configured to receive bills from the currency handling device and transport bills individually to the first currency document receiving unit, the angular transport unit having a transport mechanism configured to rotate bills from approximately forty five degrees (45°

to approximately one hundred thirty-five degrees (135°

about a vertical axis as the bills are transported individually through the angular transport unit, the first angular transport unit having a flat top lying in the first generally horizontal plane.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein the first angular transport unit has a bottom and wherein the distance between the top and the bottom of the first angular transport unit is about 3½

feet.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein the first currency document receiving unit comprises a first strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills.

74. The system of claim 73 further comprising:

a second strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills, the second strapping unit having a flat top lying in the first generally horizontal plane; and

a second angular transport unit, the second angular transport unit configured to receive bills from the first strapping unit and transport bills to the second strapping unit, the second angular transport unit having a transport mechanism configured to rotate bills from approximately forty-five degrees (45°

to approximately one hundred thirty-five degrees (135°

about a vertical axis as the bills are transported through the second angular transport unit, the second angular transport unit having a flat top lying in the first generally horizontal plane.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the handling device, the first strapping unit, the first angular transport unit, and the second strapping unit, and the second angular transport unit form a generally U-shaped system.

76. The system of claim 74 configured to transport U.S. currency bills through the system in a wide-edge leading manner.

77. The system of claim 70, wherein the first angular transport unit comprises a first bill rotating section, a second bill rotating section, and an intermediate section between the first and second bill rotating sections, wherein the first bill rotating section is configured to rotate bills approximately 90°

about a first horizontal axis, the intermediate section is configured to rotate bills from approximately 45°

to approximately 135°

about a vertical axis, and the second bill rotating section is configured to rotate bills approximately 90°

about a second horizontal axis, wherein the first horizontal axis is generally normal to the second horizontal axis, and the first horizontal axis and the second horizontal axis are each generally normal to the vertical axis.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein the first angular transport unit is configured to receive bills in a generally horizontal plane from the currency handling device and to transport bills in a generally horizontal plane to the first currency document receiving unit.

79. The system of claim 77 configured to transport bills through the system at a rate equal to or greater than 800 bills per minute.

80. The system of claim 79 configured to transport U.S. currency bills through the system in a wide-edge leading manner.

81. The system of claim 70 configured to transport bills through the system at a rate equal to or greater than 800 bills per minute.

82. The system of claim 70, wherein the first angular transport unit is configured to receive bills in a generally horizontal plane from the currency handling device and to transport bills in a generally horizontal plane to the first currency document receiving unit.

83. The system of claim 82 configured to transport bills through the system at a rate equal to or greater than 800 bills per minute.

84. The system of claim 83 configured to transport U.S. currency bills through the system in a wide-edge leading manner.

85. An angular transport unit for use with a U.S. currency processing system, the angular transport unit comprising:

an input port;

an output port;

a first transport section configured to receive U.S. currency bills traveling one at a time in a first direction along a first axis from the input port;

a second transport section configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about the first axis as the bills move in the first direction, the second transport section comprising at least one guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the first axis;

a third transport section configured to rotate the bills from approximately 45°

to approximately 135°

about a second axis generally normal to the first axis causing the bills to move in a second direction along a third axis;

a fourth transport section configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about the third axis as the bills move in the second direction;

a fifth transport section configured to transport the bills in the second direction to the output port; and

a cabinet having a top lying in a first generally horizontal plane, wherein the transport sections reside in the cabinet.

86. The angular transport unit of claim 85 wherein the third transport section is configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about a generally vertical axis causing the bills to move in a second generally horizontal direction along a second generally horizontal axis, the first axis being normal to the second generally horizontal axis, the second generally horizontal axis being generally normal to the vertical axis.

87. The angular transport unit of claim 85 wherein the cabinet has a bottom and wherein the distance between the top and the bottom of the cabinet is about 3½

feet.

88. The angular transport unit of claim 85, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transport sections are configured to transport U.S. currency bills at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute.

89. The angular transport unit of claim 88 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transport sections are configured to transport U.S. currency bills in a wide-edge leading manner.

90. The angular transport unit of claim 89 further wherein the second transport section comprises a first guide and a second guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the first axis and wherein the fourth transport section comprises a third guide and a fourth guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the third axis.

91. The angular transport unit of claim 85 wherein the first and third axes are generally horizontal axes, wherein the second axis is generally vertical, and wherein:

the first transport section is configured to receive currency bills traveling one at a time in a first generally horizontal direction along the first generally horizontal axis from the input port;

the second transport section is configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about the first generally horizontal axis as the bills move in the first generally horizontal direction, the second transport section comprising at least one guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the first generally horizontal axis;

the third transport section is configured to rotate the bills from approximately 45°

to approximately 135°

about the second generally vertical axis causing the bills to move in a second generally horizontal direction along the third generally horizontal axis, the first generally horizontal axis being normal to the second generally vertical axis, the third generally horizontal axis being generally normal to the second generally vertical axis;

the fourth transport section configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about the third generally horizontal axis as the bills move in the second generally horizontal direction; and

the fifth transport section configured to transport the bills in the second generally horizontal direction to the output port.

92. The angular transport unit of claim 91 wherein the third transport section is configured to rotate the bills approximately 90°

about the generally vertical axis causing the bills to move in the second generally horizontal direction along the third generally horizontal axis, the first generally horizontal axis being normal to the third generally horizontal axis.

93. The angular transport unit of claim 91, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transport sections are configured to transport U.S. currency bills at a rate of at least about 400 bills per minute.

94. The angular transport unit of claim 93 wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth transport sections are configured to transport U.S. currency bills in a wide-edge leading manner.

95. The angular transport unit of claim 94 further wherein the second transport section comprises a first guide and a second guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the first axis and wherein the fourth transport section comprises a third guide and a fourth guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the third axis.

96. A modular U.S. currency bill connecting unit comprising:

a cabinet configured to be coupled to a first U.S. currency bill unit and a second U.S. currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first and second units, the connecting unit and the first and second units are configured in a generally L-shaped manner;

an input port configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the first currency bill unit when the first currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet;

an output port configured to permit U.S. currency bills to be transported to the second currency bill unit when the second currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet; and

a transport mechanism configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the input port and transport them serially to the output port;

wherein the cabinet has a top lying in a first generally horizontal plane.

97. The angular transport unit of claim 96 wherein the cabinet has a bottom and wherein the distance between the top and the bottom of the cabinet is about 3½

feet.

98. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 96 wherein the second U.S. currency bill unit has a flat top and wherein the cabinet is configured to be coupled to the second currency bill unit such that when coupled to the second unit, the top of the second currency bill unit lies in the first generally horizontal plane.

99. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 98 wherein the first U.S. currency bill unit has a flat top and wherein the cabinet is configured to be coupled to the first currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first unit, the top of the first currency bill unit lies in the first generally horizontal plane.

100. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 99 wherein the first currency bill unit and the second currency bill unit are strapping units.

101. The connecting unit of claim 100 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit at a rate of at least about 400 bills per minute.

102. The connecting unit of claim 101 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit in a wide-edge leading manner.

103. The connecting unit of claim 96 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit at a rate of at least about 1000 bills per minute.

104. The connecting unit of claim 103 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit in a wide-edge leading manner.

105. A modular U.S. currency bill connecting unit comprising:

a cabinet configured to be coupled to a first currency bill unit and a second currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first and second currency bill units, the first currency bill unit and the second bill unit are oriented at approximately ninety (90°

degrees from each other;

an input port configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the first currency bill unit when the first currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet;

an output port configured to permit U.S. currency bills to be transported to the second currency bill unit when the second currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet; and

a transport mechanism configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the input port and transport them serially to the output port;

wherein the cabinet has a top lying in a first generally horizontal plane.

106. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 105 wherein the cabinet has a bottom and wherein the distance between the top and the bottom of the cabinet is about 3½

feet.

107. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 105 wherein the second currency bill unit has a flat top and wherein the cabinet is configured to be coupled to the second currency bill unit such that when coupled to the second unit, the top of the second currency bill unit lies in the first generally horizontal plane.

108. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 107 wherein the first currency bill unit is a currency handling device and the second currency bill unit is a strapping unit.

109. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 107 wherein the first currency bill unit has a flat top and wherein the cabinet is configured to be coupled to the first currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first unit, the top of the first currency bill unit lies in the first generally horizontal plane.

110. The currency bill connecting unit of claim 109 wherein the first currency bill unit and the second currency bill unit are strapping units.

111. The connecting unit of claim 105 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute.

112. The connecting unit of claim 111 configured to transport bills through the connecting unit in a wide-edge leading manner.

113. A currency document processing system comprising:

a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths from an input receptacle and past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to two or more currency document receiving units; and

each currency document receiving unit having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit, each currency document receiving unit having a front;

wherein the currency handling device and the two or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally U-shaped manner; and

wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a first one of the currency document receiving units is about 5 feet.

114. The currency document processing system of claim 113 wherein the two or more currency document receiving units comprise two or more strapping units.

115. The currency document processing system of claim 114 wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a second one of the currency document receiving units is about 5⅓

feet.

116. The currency document processing system of claim 113 wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a second one of the currency document receiving units is about 5⅓

feet.

117. A currency document processing system comprising:

a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths from an input receptacle and past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to two or more currency document receiving units; and

each currency document receiving unit having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit, each currency document receiving unit having a front;

wherein the currency handling device and the two or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally U-shaped manner; and

wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a first one of the currency document receiving units is about 5⅓

feet.

118. The currency document processing system of claim 117 wherein the two or more currency document receiving units comprise two or more strapping units.

119. A currency document processing system comprising:

a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths from an input receptacle and past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to one or more currency document receiving units; and

each currency document receiving unit having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit, each currency document receiving unit having a front;

wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a first one of the currency document receiving units is about 5⅓

feet.

120. The currency document processing system of claim 119 wherein the two or more currency document receiving units comprise two or more strapping units.

121. The currency document processing system of claim 120 wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a second one of the currency document receiving units is about 5 feet.

122. The currency document processing system of claim 120 wherein the currency handling device and the one or more currency document receiving units reside in separate cabinets and wherein the cabinets are coupled to each other in a generally L-shaped manner.

123. The currency document processing system of claim 119 wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a second one of the currency document receiving units is about 5 feet.

124. The currency document processing system of claim 119 wherein the currency handling device and the one or more currency document receiving units reside in separate cabinets and wherein the cabinets are coupled to each other in a generally L-shaped manner.

125. A currency document processing system comprising:

a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths from an input receptacle and past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to two or more currency document receiving units; and

each currency document receiving unit having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit, each currency document receiving unit having a front;

wherein the distance between the input receptacle of the currency handling unit and the front of a first one of the currency document receiving units is about 5 feet.

126. The currency document processing system of claim 125 wherein the two or more currency document receiving units comprise two or more strapping units.