Sheet handling apparatus

• US 5,240,368 A
• Filed: 09/25/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blackford, Damon J., Graef, Harry T., Crewe, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRIZEK, JANICE LEE
• Application Number:
  US07/765,471
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 209/534, 271/3.1, 271/6, 271/7, 271/12, 271/161, 271/188, 271/209, 271/264, 414/786, 414/789.9, 414/790.3, 414/790.7, 414/788.9, 902/13, 902/16, 902/17
• US Class Current: 414/788.9
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4213 of a limited number of articles, e.g. buffering, forming bundles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/5122 Corrugating; Stiffening
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1114 Paddle wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/25 Driving or guiding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/264 Arrangement of side-by-side belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/268 Arrangement of belts facing a transport surface, e.g. contact glass in copy machine
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/2691 Arrangement of successive belts forming a transport path
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/063 separating from the bottom of pile B65H3/0615, B65H3/0623 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/0638 Construction of the rollers or like rotary separators B65H3/0615 takes precedence; construction of feed or guide rollers B65H27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/0653 for separating substantially vertically stacked articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/3081 by acting on edge of the pile for moving it along a surface, e.g. by pushing
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/023 between a pair of belts forming a transport nip
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/26 Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/10 Mechanical details
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/14 Inlet or outlet ports

Abstract

A device for dispensing sheet media comprising a storage location for storing sheet media to be dispensed; a receiving location accessible to a patron from which the sheet media may be received; a receptacle for retaining sheets of the media; a stacking assembly for stacking individual sheets of the sheet media into a stack; a transport assembly for transporting individual sheets from the storage assembly to the stacking assembly and for transporting sheets of the media from the receiving assembly to the receptacle; a transfer assembly for transferring a stack of sheets from the stacking assembly to the receiving location; and, a divert assembly associated with the transport assembly operable to cause sheets transported from the storage location to the stacking assembly to be diverted to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing sheet media comprising:

storage means for storing sheet media to be dispensed;

receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;

receptacle means for retaining sheets of said media;

stacking means for stacking individual sheets of said sheet media into a stack;

transport means for transporting sequentially individual sheets from said storage means to said stacking means and for transporting sheets of said media from said receiving means to said receptacle means, said transport means comprised of;

generally planar surface means, and

at least three spaced apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said planar surface means wherein said frictional surfaces of said belts are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said planar surface means, said drive belts operable to drive said sheet media along said planar surface means by frictional engagement between said drive belts and said sheet media;

transfer means for transferring one or more of said sheets from said stacking means to said receiving means; and

,

divert means associated with said transport means operable to cause selected sheets transported from said storage means to said stacking means to be diverted to said receptacle means, said stacking means and said divert means forming a portion of said planar surface means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising sensing means for sensing said selected sheets, wherein said divert means causes said selected sheets to be diverted to said receptacle means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said planar surface means defines at least two spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel rails, said rails being parallel to and juxtaposed with said belts to define an undulating passage therebetween.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising control means for coordinating and controlling said stacking means and said divert means.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 further comprising gate means for controlling access to said receiving means.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said gate means is controlled by said control means.

7. A device for dispensing sheet media comprising:

storage means for storing sheet media to be dispensed;

receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;

receptacle means for retaining sheets of said media;

stacking means for stacking individual sheets of said sheet media into a stack,

transport means for transporting individual sheets from said storage means to said stacking means and for transporting sheets of said media from said receiving means to said receptacle means;

transfer means for transferring a stack of sheets from said stacking means to said receiving means;

divert means associated with said transport means operable to cause sheets transported from said storage means to said stacking means to be diverted to said receptacle means;

gate means for controlling access to said receiving means; and

control means for coordinating and controlling said stacking means and said divert means, said control means including a structural member which is rotatable about a fixed axis which includes cam means operatively engaging said stacking means, said divert means and said gate means.

8. A device for dispensing sheet media comprising:

storage means for storing sheet media to be dispensed;

receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;

receptacle means for retaining sheets of said media;

stacking means for stacking one or more sheets of said sheet media into a stack, said stacking means comprised of a generally planar member having spaced-apart, side-by-side rails thereon, said planar member being movable between a first position for stacking said sheet media and a second position;

transport means for transporting individual sheets from said storage means to said stacking means and for transporting sheets of said media from said receiving means to said receptacle means, said transport means comprised of;

generally planar surface means, and

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces of said belts are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means, said planar member of said stacking means being generally parallel to and spaced from said portion of said drive belts which extend along said surface means when said planar member is in said second position, said rails on said planar member being parallel to and juxtaposed with said belts;

transfer means for transferring a stack of sheets from said stacking means to said receiving means; and

divert means associated with said transport means operable to cause sheets transported from said storage means to said stacking means to be diverted to said receptacle means.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said divert means is comprised of a generally planar divert member having spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel rails thereon, said rails being aligned with said rails on said stacking member, said planar divert member being movable along an axis generally parallel to said rails.

10. A device for handling and feeding sheet media comprising:

elongated surface means defining a linear path along which said sheets are driven, said surface means including at least two spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel elongated surfaces, lying in a common plane extending along said linear path;

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means, said portions of said drive belts being parallel to and juxtaposed with said elongated surfaces to define an undulating passage to confine said sheet between said frictional surfaces of said drive belts and said elongated surfaces;

belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts; and

stacking means associated with said drive belts for stacking said sheet media, said stacking means including a plurality of elongated side-by-side parallel surfaces lying in a common plane and being movable between a first location for stacking sheets of said sheet media and a second position wherein said elongated side-by-side parallel surfaces on said stacking means are aligned along said path with said elongated surfaces of said elongated surface means and are co-planar therewith.

11. A device as defined in claim 10 further comprising divert means associated with said drive belts and said stacking means for selectively diverting sheets from said stacking means.

12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said divert means includes a plurality of elongated, side-by-side parallel surfaces lying in the plane defined by the elongated surfaces of said surface means and being aligned therewith, said divert means being movable along said path between a first nondiverting position and a second position wherein said divert means obstructs said stacking means.

13. A device for handling and feeding sheet media comprising:

elongated surface means defining a linear path along which said sheets are driven, said surface means including at least two spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel elongated surfaces, lying in a common plane extending along said linear path;

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means, said portions of said drive belts being parallel to and juxtaposed with said elongated surfaces to define an undulating passage to confine said sheet between said frictional surfaces of said drive belts and said elongated surfaces;

belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts;

stacking means associated with said drive belts for stacking said sheet media;

divert means associated with said drive belts and said stacking means for selectively diverting sheets from said stacking means; and

control means for coordinating movement of said stacking means and said divert means relative to said belts, said control means comprised of a rotatable element movable about a fixed axis having cam surfaces operatively engaging said stacking means and said divert means.

14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein:

said stacking means includes a plurality of elongated side-by-side parallel surfaces lying in a common plane and being movable between a first location for stacking sheets of said sheet media and a second position wherein said elongated surfaces on said stacking means are aligned along said path with said elongated surfaces of said surface means and are co-planar therewith; and

,

said divert means includes a plurality of elongated, side-by-side parallel surfaces lying in the plane defined by the elongated surfaces of said surface means and being aligned therewith, said divert means being movable along said path between a first non-diverting position and a second position wherein said divert means obstructs said stacking means.

15. A device as defined in claim 15 further comprising transfer means associated with said belts for moving a stack of sheets from said stacking means to a receiving location.

16. A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising:

an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a path along which said sheet material is driven;

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means to confine said sheet material between said frictional surface of said drive belts and said surface means;

belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts;

stacking means positioned along said path defined by said first surface means in operative relation with said belts for stacking said sheet material into a uniform stack, said stacking means including;

a generally planar stacking plate capable of reciprocal movement between a first position for stacking said sheet material and a second position wherein said plate is generally co-planar with said surface means and in operative engagement with said belts; and

,

means for aligning one edge of said sheet material into a uniform stack.

17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said aligning means comprises:

a generally planar wall associated with said stacking plate; and

,

a paddle wheel assembly which is operable to engage the surface of said sheets and to urge said sheets against said planar wall.

18. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said paddle wheel assembly comprises:

annular hubs having a plurality of resilient straps extending radially therefrom, wherein said resilient straps are comprised of material capable of gripping said sheet material.

19. A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising:

an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a path along which said sheet material is driven;

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means to confine said sheet material between said frictional surfaces of said drive belts and said surface means;

dispensing means for dispensing said sheet material;

belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts;

storage means for storing said sheet material to be dispensed;

holding means for holding predetermined sheets of said sheet material;

diverting means positioned along said path in operative engagement with said belts for diverting said predetermined sheets from said dispensing means to said holding means, said diverting means including a generally planar divert plate having surfaces defining a portion of said path along which said sheets are driven, said plate being capable of reciprocal movement along said path from a first position for dispensing said sheet material to a second position for diverting said predetermined sheets to said holding means.

20. A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising:

an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a generally planar, straight path along which said sheet material is driven,

transport means to convey sheet material along said path,

stacking means located along said path for stacking said sheet material into a uniform stack, said stacking means being operatively disposed along said path and having a stacking surface alignable with said first surface means to form a portion of said path;

divert means located along said path for diverting selected sheets away from said stacking means into a receptacle for receiving and holding said selected sheets, said divert means being operatively disposed along said path and including divert surface means aligned with said first surface means to form a portion of said path;

dispensing means located at an end of said path for dispensing a stack of one or more of said sheets, said dispensing means including gate means; and

transfer means movable along said path for driving a stack of one or more of said sheet material from said stacking means along said first surface means to said dispensing means.

21. A device as defined in claim 20 wherein said transfer means is comprised of a push plate reciprocally movable from a first position to a second position adjacent said dispensing means.

22. A device as defined in claim 21 further comprising control means for coordinating movement of said divert means and said stacking means.

23. A device as defined in claim 22 wherein said control means, said push plate, said transfer means, and said gate are controlled by a central processing unit.

24. A device as defined in claim 21 wherein said stacking means is comprised of a generally planar stack plate having a planar upper surface, said stack plate being movable between a first position for stacking said sheets and a second position wherein said upper surface of said stack plate is aligned with said first surface means;

and

wherein said divert means is comprised of a generally planar divert plate having a planar upper surface aligned with said first surface means, said divert plate being movable between a first position for dispensing said sheet material and a second position for diverting said selected sheets to said receptacle.

25. An apparatus for dispensing sheet media comprising:

a housing for containing sheet media to be dispensed;

receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;

means for receiving identification information from a patron;

means for utilizing said identification information to determine whether said patron has a dispensing authorization status;

means for receiving dispensing information from a patron;

a computer unit having means for receiving identification information and dispensing information from a patron and for generating output instructional information and control signals in response thereto and;

sheet media dispensing means including;

at least one sheet media transport comprised of generally planar surface means having at least two side-by-side elongated surfaces which lie in a common plane and which extend parallel to each other, said planar surface means defining a generally linear path; and

,

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel endless belts having outer frictional surfaces, each of said belts having a portion thereof extending parallel to said elongated surfaces, said belts being juxtaposed and spaced from said elongated surfaces to form an undulated passage therebetween to receive individual sheets of said sheet media;

belt drive means responsive to said control signals for moving said belts along said generally planar surface means wherein said belts are operative to drive said sheets along said side-by-side elongated surfaces, and

stacking means for stacking said sheet media, and

divert means for diverting irregular sheet media from said stacking means, said stacking means and said divert means including movable surface means positionable to form part of said generally planar surface means.

26. An apparatus for dispensing sheet media comprising:

a housing for containing sheet media to be dispensed;

receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;

means for receiving identification information from a patron;

means for utilizing said identification information to determined whether said patron has a dispensing authorization status;

means for receiving dispensing information from a patron;

a computer unit having means for receiving identification information and dispensing information from a patron and for generating output instructional information and control signals in response thereto;

sheet media dispensing means including;

at least one sheet media transport comprised of surface means having at least two side-by-side elongated surfaces which lie in a common plane and which extend parallel to each other to define a generally linear path,

at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel endless belts having outer frictional surfaces, each of said belts having a portion thereof extending parallel to said elongated surfaces, said belts being juxtaposed and spaced from said elongated surfaces to form an undulated passage therebetween to receive individual sheets of said sheet media wherein said belts are operative to drive said sheets along said surfaces;

stacking means disposed along said path for stacking said sheet media, said stacking means includes elevated rails having elongated surfaces which are movable between a first position wherein a stack of sheet media may be formed on said elongated surfaces and a second position wherein said elongated surfaces are aligned with said elongated surfaces of said surface means and in operative relationship with said belts; and

divert means disposed along said path for diverting irregular sheet media from said stacking means.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein said stacking means is comprised of:

a stacking plate having elevated rails thereon, the upper surfaces of said rails defining the elongated surfaces of said stacking means, said plate being movable between a first position for stacking said sheets wherein said stacking plate is disposed from said linear path and a second position wherein said elongated surfaces on said stacking plate are aligned with said elongated surfaces on said surface means.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said stacking means further includes aligning means for aligning one edge of the sheets.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said divert means includes elevated rails defining elongated surfaces which are aligned with said elongated surfaces on said surface means and which are movable along said linear path.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 further comprising control means controlled by said computer unit for coordinating movement of said stacking means and said divert means.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said control means is comprised of a rotatable member pivotable about a fixed axis, said member including cam surfaces in operative engagement with said stacking means and said divert means.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising transfer means for transferring a stack of sheets from said stacking means to said receiving means.

33. A device for dispensing sheet media comprising:

storage means for storing said sheet media to be dispensed;

elongated surface means defining a generally planar, straight path along which said sheet material is to be driven;

access means at one end of said path from which said sheet media may be dispensed as a single sheet or a stack of sheets;

means for conveying individually said sheet media from said storage means to said path;

stacking means operable to stack individual sheets into a stack of sheets, said stacking means including generally planar stacking surface means movable relative to said path between a first position wherein said stacking surface means is aligned with said elongated surface means and forms a portion of said path and a second position wherein said stacking surface means is displaced from said elongated surface means;

divert means for selectively diverting select sheets of said sheet media away from said stacking means, said divert means including generally planar divert surface means which is reciprocally movable along said path and aligned with said elongated surface means forming said path; and

,

conveyor belt means adjacent said path, said belt means being in operative relation to said elongated surface means, said stacking surface means and said divert surface means to convey said sheet media by frictional engagement along said elongated surface means and said divert surface means and along said stacking surface means when said stacking surface means is in said first position.

34. A device as defined in claim 33 further comprising control means for coordinating and controlling said stacking and said divert means, said control means mechanically connecting operation of said divert means with said stacking means.

35. A device as defined in claim 33 wherein said elongated surface means, said stacking surface means and said divert surface means include elongated, generally parallel, side-by-side rails, the upper surface of which defines the surface along which said sheet media is conveyed.