Device for sorting and stacking paper securities, notably banknotes

A device for sorting and stacking paper securities (2a, 2b), notably banknotes, for separating and stacking those paper securities which are provided with a distinguishing mark and forming part of a sequence of paper securities transported continuously in succession along a first conveyor track (1), which comprises a second conveyor track (7, 8) for the marked paper securities (2a) which overlies the first conveyor track (1), a detector reacting to said distinguishing marks, switching means (3) disposed after said detector in the conveyor direction, controlled by said detector and, in its operative conditions, adapted to divert the marked paper security (2a) from said first conveyor track (1) to said second conveyor track (7, 8), together with a stacking magazine (28-31) for the marked paper securities (2a), characterized in that:

• said switching means comprises a deflector (3a) underlying the inlet end of said second conveyor track (7, 8), tiltable about a horizontal axis (4) perpendicular to the direction of, and underlying, said first conveyor track (1), from an inoperative condition (5a) in which said deflector is disposed beneath said first conveyor track (1) and an operative condition (5b) in which said deflector is inclined and projects above the plane of said first track (1),
• said second conveyor track (7, 8) extends tangentially to said deflector (3a) in its operative condition, the second conveyor track (7, 8) consisting of at least one pair of endless belts (12, 16) of which one portion bears against the other to provide a path along which said belts (12, 16) contact each other, each belt (12, 16) being supported by several rollers (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19), and that at least one (13) of aid rollers is adapted to drive said belts (12, 16), the initial end of said path being so close to said deflector (3a) that the paper securities (2a) diverted by said deflector are pinched by the nip formed between said belts in mutual contact (12, 16);
• the second conveyor track (7, 8) comprises in close proximity of said deflector (3a) a curved guide plate (34) providing a path tangent to said deflector (3a) in the operative condition thereof so as to direct the diverted paper security (2a) towards the nip formed between said pair of endless belts (12, 16), a device (35) being provided upstream of said deflector (3 a) for pressing said paper security (2a) against the top surface of said first conveyor track (1),
• stacking wheel is provided at the outlet end of said second conveyor track (7, 8) and adapted to rotate about a shaft (20a) perpendicular to said second conveyor track (7, 8) and consisting of a plurality of axially spaced disks (20) provided with spiral-shaped slots (21) opening out at least substantially tangentially to the periphery of the stacking wheel and extending from said periphery of the stacking wheel to the centre as a prolongation of the second track (7, 8) for receiving the paper securities (2a) emerging from said second track (7, 8), that the circumferential velocity of said wheel is synchronous with the rate of feed of said paper securities (2a), that between said disks fixed inclined stacking deflectors (32a) intersecting said slots (21) are provided for extracting the paper securities from said slots after an angular movement impressed to said paper securities by said wheel until they are disposed substantially vertically, and guiding said paper securities toward said stacking magazine (28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37),
• said stacking magazine comprises an at least substantially horizontal bottom tray (28) and an abutment (29) extending upwardly substantially or right angles to said tray (28), said abutment plate being adapted to slide along said tray and responsive to spring means constantly urging said abutment plate toward the periphery of said wheel, and to recede when pushed by the paper securities disposed on edge and delivered by said stacking wheel, the stacking magazine further being comprised of two lateral plates (36, 37) extending at right angles to, and above, the bottom plate (28), said lateral plates being spaced from and parallel to each other and intended for holding laterally the stacked paper securities, and that their relative spacing is controlled by means of a wheel (38) rigidly coupled to a screw (39) engaging a pair of corresponding nuts rigidly coupled in turn to said plates (36, 37) respectively.