Method and apparatus for feeding articles
AssigneeDe La Rue Systems Limited
InventorsPaul D. V. Lloyd, Michael Potter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for feeding articles, such as banknotes, along a feed path comprises first and second separately driven feed systems the second feed system being operated at a substantially constant speed. The first feed system feeds articles to the second feed system. A sensing system includes a sensor for sensing the passage of articles. The sensor is connected to a motor control system which controls the feed rate of the first feed system by controlling a motor of the first feed system so that the separation between successive articles passing through the second feed system satisfies at least one predetermined condition.
Claims18
A method of feeding articles along a feed path defined by first and second separately driven feed systems in which the articles are fed from said first to said second feed systems, the method comprising sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system;
- and, during the feeding of articles by said feed systems, adjusting the rate at which articles are fed by said first feed system when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, where said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed, and further comprising increasing said feed rate of the first feed system after a predetermined number of articles have passed through said second feed system without said at least one predetermined condition not being satisfied.
Apparatus for feeding articles, the apparatus comprising first and second separately driven feed systems, wherein said first feed system feeds articles to said second feed system, and wherein said second feed system operates at a substantially constant speed;
- a sensing system including a sensor for sensing the separation between articles fed through said second feed system;
- and control means responsive to said sensing system to adjust the feed rate of said first feed system during the feeding of articles by said feed systems when the separation between successive articles passing through said second feed system does not satisfy at least one predetermined condition, and further wherein said control means includes a counter for counting the number of articles which pass through said second feed system while said at least one predetermined condition is satisfied and for increasing the feed rate of said first feed system when said count exceeds a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.