US 6,550,221 B1Granted

Method and a machine for banding groups of sheets, in particular banknotes

AssigneeCurrency Systems International

InventorArmando Neri

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Abstract

Bundles of banknotes are directed singly and in succession along an infeed duct toward a station located at the top of a channel, where they are formed into a block; the channel functions as a guide along which the block is conveyed by means of a companion element, following a predetermined feed path, at the same time as a continuous strip of banding material is fed along a path transverse to this same path. The leading end of the strip is taken up and restrained by a gripper device, and as the block progresses along the channel, the strip is intercepted and forced to wrap around three faces of the block, assuming a U shape, whereupon the leading end is flattened against the remaining face and a further portion of the strip is drawn by a diverter mechanism into overlapping contact with the leading end. The strip is then cut by a knife, leaving a discrete length of which the ends are joined by a heat seal bit to form a band around the block.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for securing at least one band of strip material around a substantially parallelepiped block of sheets, in particular banknotes, comprising the steps of causing at least one continuous strip decoiling from a roll to advance along a first predetermined path, through the agency of first feed means;

restraining one end of the continuous strip through an agency of gripping means designed to interact with a leading portion of the strip that coincides with a first end of the band;
causing the block of sheets, through the agency of second feed means, to advance along a second path transversely to the first path in such a manner as to enter into contact with the strip and, continuing to advance along the second path, cause the strip to decoil further from the roll and bend to a “U” profile, compacting the block through the agency of relative compacting means, engaging the rear face of the block when in the operating position through the agency of movable reaction means, and causing the second feed means to move toward the reaction means, engaging the leading portion of the strip through an agency of bending means and flattening it against a face of a block;
drawing the strip into overlapping contact with the first end of the band, through an agency of diverter means located on the side of the second path opposite to the bending means;
cutting the strip at the overlap through the agency of cutter means, to define a second end of the band;
securing the second end of the band to the first end through an agency of sealing means.

2 more elements

A machine for securing at least one band of strip material around a substantially parallelepiped block of sheets, in particular banknotes, comprising first feed means by which at least one continuous strip decoiling from a roll is caused to advance along a first predetermined path in a predetermined direction;

a channel serving to guide a block of sheets and establishing a second predetermined path transverse to the first path;
gripping means positioned external to the channel and in such a manner as to interact with a leading portion of the continuous strip and restrain one end of the selfsame strip, the leading portion of the strip coinciding with a first end of the band;
second feed means by which a block of sheets is caused to advance along the channel and enter into contact with the strip;
bending means operating in conjunction with the gripping means, by which the leading portion of the strip is flattened against a face of the block positioned;
diverter means located on the side of the channel opposite to the bending means, by which the strip is engaged and drawn into the overlapping contact with at least a part of the leading portion;
cutter means by which the strip is severed at the overlap to define a second end of the band;
sealing means by which the second end of the band is secured to the first end, wherein the second feed means comprise at least one companion element affording a platform serving to support the block and capable of reciprocating movement along the second path, and further comprising means by which to compact the block, consisting in at least one first reaction arm presenting a relative surface offered in contact to the rear face of the block and capable of movement between a first operating position and a second at-rest position, also a second compacting arm afforded by the at least one companion element.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.