Apparatus for filling and sealing bags intended for containing banknotes

An apparatus for filling and sealing bags for containing banknotes, comprising a generally parallelepiped-shaped container, with side walls, a bottom and an upper lid provided with an opening suitable for allowing entry into the container of a bag, made up of flexible plastic film, and of banknotes intended to be introduced into the same bag, the apparatus further comprising a plate arranged inside the container for supporting the banknotes inserted into the bag and movable vertically by controlled lowering and raising means, a first and a second sealing bar arranged at the upper end of the container, under the opening of the lid, and moving towards/away from each other between an opening position, in which the bars are far away from each other to allow the introduction of the banknotes into the container through the opening, and a closing position, in which the bars are brought into mutual contact to carry out the sealing of an upper portion of the bag interposed therebetween, and a pressure element vertically movable on command between a raised position, external to the container, and a lowered position for at least the partial insertion into the container through the upper opening to accompany new banknotes to be introduced into the container and to push down banknotes already present in the bag, resting on the plate, the apparatus also including a system for control and movement of the sealing bars between the respective opening and closing positions, wherein the control and movement system of the sealing bars comprises a motor for driving a shaft adapted to rotate at least one driving pulley arranged below in correspondence with a vertical edge of the parallelepiped-shaped container, a kinematic connection for closing the bars comprised of a combination of cables and tension springs connecting the driving pulley to the sealing bars and a kinematic connection for opening the bars comprised of a combination of cables and tension springs connecting the sealing bars to a respective fixed anchor point on the container.