EP0080309A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for analysing sheets
Assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-11-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2002-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for detecting the passage of double or overlapping banknotes, or for detecting banknotes with corner folds or on which there is adhesive tape. Banknotes are fed serially into the nip of a pair of rotating rollers (R1, R2). A follower roller (R2) is displaced vertically from a datum roller (R1) by the passage of the banknote. The thickness of the banknote is gauged by a pair of proximity sensors (S1, S2) over each end of the follower roller. A feature of the apparatus is the provision of a land (5) at each end of the datum roller (R1). This ensures that the banknote-engaging surfaces of the rollers maintain their separation when no banknote is passing through the nip, so as to prevent any dirt being ironed fiat onto the rollers. In an alternative embodiment, both surfaces of the rollers are flat, and the separation of the rollers is maintained by controlling the position of the follower roller axis, the follower roller axle being supported at each end by brackets which are pivoted about a further axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Harold Hilton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H7/00; B65H7/02; B65H7/06; B65H7/12; G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; G01B7/06; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/16; G07D7/164; G07D7/181; G07D7/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for gauging the thickness of a sheet, comprising: a gauging nip defined by a datum roller (Rl) of rigid material with a fixed axis and a movable follower roller (R2) whose axis is parallel to the datum roller, means for biasing the rollers together and drive means for rotating a roller to convey the sheet through the nip formed by portions of the rollers' lengths, and a sensor (Sl, S2) responsive to the position of the follower roller to provide a thickness signal indicative of the thickness of that portion of the sheet held in the nip of the rollers; and characterized in that the rollers are so arranged that in the absence of a sheet the said portions of their lengths are prevented from mutual contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for gauging the thickness of a sheet, comprising: a gauging nip defined by a datum roller (Rl) of rigid material with a fixed axis and a movable follower roller (R2) whose axis is parallel to the datum roller, means for biasing the rollers together and drive means for rotating a roller to convey the sheet through the nip formed by portions of the rollers' lengths, and a sensor (Sl, S2) responsive to the position of the follower roller to provide a thickness signal indicative of the thickness of that portion of the sheet held in the nip of the rollers; and characterized in that the rollers are so arranged that in the absence of a sheet the said portions of their lengths are prevented from mutual contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the rollers is profiled with a land (5) at each end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the follower roller is formed of an elastic material with a thin metal tyre.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the follower roller has a fixed axle and is eccentrically deformable relative to the axle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor is a linear variable differential transformer whose core is coupled to the surface of the follower roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the separation of the sheet-engaging portions of the lengths of the rollers is maintained at or above a pre-adjustable minimum value by means controlling the position of the axis of the sensor roller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein an axle of the follower roller is attached to a frame (16, 17) at each end of the roller, each frame being pivotable about an axis (9) which is parallel to the rollers but displaced from the axis of the follower roller in the direction of travel of the sheet through the rollers, the apparatus including a linear variable differential transformer (14, 21) the core of which is attached to one of the frames and moves with the follower roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the said sensor is a photodetector (Figure 4B) arranged adjacent to the gap between the rollers, and the apparatus includes a light source for shining a substantially parallel beam of light through the gap between the rollers and into the photodetector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the light source and the photodetector are arranged adjacent an end portion of the rollers, and wherein a portion of the periphery of the end of one of the rollers is cut away to leave a flat portion (F), the flat portion increasing the gap through which the beam of light is shone whenever the flat portion is closest to the other one of the two rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for sorting banknotes including gauging apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including an electronic circuit responsive to time-wise variations in the level of the thickness signal from the gauging apparatus to determine the condition of a banknote fed through the nip of the rollers, and to provide an output signal indicative of whether the banknote should be accepted or rejected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.