Device for separating bank notes
The invention relates to a device enabling bank notes to be separated and extracted one by one from a pile or from a bundle. 
     Devices of this type exist such as those described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,954,260 or 3,877,695 which use movable members in which there are incorporated suction means which enable the first note of a pile to be sucked up. These arrangements are complicated because it is necessary to create a reduced pressure phenomenon in the heart of a movable member, this movable member being adapted to entrain the notes sucked up and thus fixed, by itself or in association with accessory means such as belts. This complexity of construction leads to a high cost price of the machine which comprises such a device. 
     Other known devices, such as those described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,888,194 or 3,504,910, use, on the one hand, means for blowing laterally on the pile of notes in order to separate them and, on the other hand, means such as a movable roller or another blowing device to carry these notes away from the pile. There, too, the pneumatic means used are complex and lead to a high cost price. 
     On the other hand, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,781, both blowing means and suction means are used, disposed in a movable member. As a result, the complexity is further increased. 
     Finally, in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,301, a plurality of movable heads sucks up the note under the effect of a reduced pressure created by a jet of air under pressure. This device likewise has a complex construction likewise associated with the incorporation of pneumatic means in movable members. 
     It is therefore found that as a whole the separation of the notes is effected by reduced pressure applied at points and by hollow air-tight movable members which transmit said reduced pressure and carry the notes away according to their movement. 
     As for the blowing means, they are only auxiliary devices intended for the preliminary separation of the notes, preparing and facilitating the grasping of the first by another member (friction roller, suction heads, as mentioned above). 
     As explained, complex and expensive devices result. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a device for the separation of bank notes which is simple in construction and therefore inexpensive in comparison with the previous devices. 
     In order to do this, the device comprises a single fixed member effecting a succession of pressures and reduced pressures permitting an easy separation of a note from its pile. 
    
    
     The description will be better understood by means of the drawing illustrating forms of embodiment of the invention given by way of example and in which: 
     FIG. 1 represents in a perspective view and in section a first form of embodiment of the invention, 
     FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate the different phases of operation of the device of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 7 represents in a perspective view and in section a second form of embodiment of the device according to the invention, and 
     FIGS. 8 to 12 illustrate the different phases of operation of the device of FIG. 7. 
    
    
     In the form of embodiment of FIG. 1, a case 1 contains bank notes 2 in the form of a pile pressed towards the open portion of the case 1 by means of springs 4 bearing on a plate 3. The top 1a of the case 1, its open portion and the surface of the plate 3 have a shape substantially equal to the surface of a bank note 2 so that the pile can easily slide while being held. Rhytmic means, here represented by displaced rollers 5, hold the pile of notes 2 in such a manner that the first note 2a is always close to the open portion of the case 1. 
     More precisely, the top of the pile represented by the first note 2a is held in the plane tangent to the rollers 5 opposite that formed by the belts 9. These rollers 5 are mounted on a plurality of spindles 6, the spacing of which is defined by belts 7 only one of which is illustrated here, carrying these spindles 6 at regular intervals. Only two rollers 5 per spindle 6 are illustrated although each spindle 6 may carry a greater number thereof. Similarly, only two spindles 6 are illustrated although in reality a whole series of such spindles 6 carrying rollers 5 passes in front of the case 1 at regular intervals. The rollers 5 rotate on themselves in the direction of the arrow 8, rolling on the one hand on the drive belts 9 and on the other hand on the notes. Thus, in our example, the belts 7 travel in the direction defined by the arrow 11 at a speed half the speed of travel of the belts 9 defined by the arrow 10. 
     An air-conveying passage 13 brings air under pressure from a blower 14 to a chamber 15 coupled to the case 1. This blower 14 may consist simply of a fan surrounded by a casing channeling the air. The air under pressure is directed in accordance with the arrows 16 through the chamber 15 to an opening 17 in the form of a slot extending over the whole width of the case 1. In order to do this, the chamber ends in a rounded flap 18 which, cooperating with another rounded element 19, progressively forms the opening in the form of a slot 17. 
     We have seen that as a result of the arrangement of the rollers 5 and of the belts 7 and 9, the top of the pile represented by the note 2a always remains at a constant level. The opening 17 in the form of a rectangular slot is situated at a distance d from the note 2a. 
     In other words, the portion 19 of the chambers 15 leaves an edge of a width d in relation to the surface of the note 2a in the plane 1b of the case 1 and by cooperating with the rounded element 19 forms the opening 17 and produces a laminar jet of air in the direction of travel of the rollers 5, diverging slightly in relation to the surface of the note 2a, the jet of air being subjected to a sudden break in profile downstream of the edge d. 
     At the places where the rollers 5 pass, the part 19, passing beyond the top of the pile by d, is provided with notches 20. They permit the free passage of the rollers 5 at a height corresponding to the surface of the top of the pile. Tongues 21 resiliently connected to the part 19 are lowered at each passage and resume a position according to the external surface of said part 19. The rounded flap 18 likewise comprises resilient tongues 22 adapted to be lowered on the passage of the rollers 5. 
     Moreover, the actuation of a relay 23 enables the rounded portion 18 to be acted upon with the object of closing the opening 17 in the form of a slot. 
     In this form of embodiment, when the relay 23 is released, the spring 24 relaxes and folds down the rounded portion 18 by pivoting about the pin 25 on the element 19, thus cutting off the jet of air. 
     A screen 26 enables the running of the device to be improved by causing the pressure operation and the reduced pressure operation to alternate more distinctly, as will be described hereinafter. 
     FIGS. 2 to 6 describe diagrammatically the phases of separation of a bank note by means of the device described. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the pile 2 held by the rollers 5a and 5b and by the belt 9. At a distance d from the pile 2, through the opening 17, the jet of air 16 is applied, diverging slightly in relation to the surface of the pile 2. The successive rollers, of which only the rollers 5a and 5b are illustrated, do not prevent the passage of the jet of air 16 over the whole width of the opening 17. This is clear from FIG. 1. 
     In a first phase, when the roller 5b has passed in front of the opening 17, the jet of air 16 creates a reduced pressure D downstream of this opening 17, in accordance with a well known principle. In order that this reduced pressure D may be effective, it is necessary for the profile of the opening 17 to be regular and for the parts 18 and 19 to guarantee a satisfactory sealing. In order to do this, as already explained, tongues 21 and 22 have been provided which resiliently resume their initial position after the passage of the rollers 5. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates how the first note 2a of the pile 2 becomes detached under the effect of the reduced pressure D when the roller 5b continues its displacement. As soon as the edge of the note 2a passes in front of the edge 27 of the opening 17, a change of state occurs; see FIG. 4. The reduced pressure D is changed into the pressure P and the jet of air 16 applies the note 2a against the roller 5b while maintaining the following note against the pile 2. Then (see FIG. 5), while maintaining the pressure effect P, the roller 5b, cooperating with the belt 9, grips the note 2a which is thus lifted from the pile 2. The upper edge of the screen 26 is held at such a height that the pressure effect P is maintained until the roller 5b passes this upper edge. This position coincides with the arrival of a fresh roller 5c in position to take the following note. FIG. 6 shows that as soon as the roller 5b leaves a sufficient opening 28 between the plate 26 and itself to release the pressure P, a fresh reduced pressure D becomes established in the vicinity of the edge d while the roller 5c is in a position to take the following note. As for the roller 5b, it transmits the note 2a to the belt 9 which conveys it to a storage or distribution device not illustrated. The plate 26 is not necessary; it is merely useful to improve the quality of the passage from the pressure P to the reduced pressure D. 
     In order to stop the process of removal of the notes, it is sufficient to act on the relay 23 which closes the opening 17 and thus cuts off the jet of air 16. 
     In the second form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the air circuit is the same except that the flap 18 is fixed because the stoppage of the jet is no longer necessary to stop the distribution of the notes. The elements identical to those of FIG. 1 bear the same reference symbols. 
     The rhytmic means are represented this time by an upper spindle 31 and a lower spindle 32 respectively carrying fingers 33 and 34. These spindles are movable and bring the fingers 33 and 34 into the open or closed position as indicated either in black lines or in chain lines. The fingers 33 and 34 hold the notes at the distance d from the opening 17 of the air supply circuit. A receiving device 35 for the notes comprises a plate 36 which may be fixed to receive small wads of notes or movable to receive larger bundles, the plate 36 then being held by a spring of appropriate shape. A pressure pick-off 37 enables the passage of each note to be detected and then to be counted. 
     FIGS. 8 to 12 indicate the phases of separation of a note from the pile 2. 
     FIG. 8 shows the fingers 33 and 34 in the closed position. The reduced pressure D created downstream of d cannot act. In FIG. 9, the lower finger 34 has been opened and the first note 2a begins to become detached. In FIG. 10, with the finger 34 still open, the note 2a has passed in front of the edge 27 and is applied by pressure P against the receiving device 35, while the following note is pressed and held against the pile 2. At this moment, the finger 34 is replaced in the closed position as FIG. 11 indicates. Finally, in order to ensure the passage towards the receiving device 35 (see FIG. 12), the finger 33 is opened, the pressure P is released by the application of the note 2a in the receiving device 35 and the reduced pressure D is again created. The finger 33 is again closed and the initial position of FIG. 8 is resumed, ready for the detachment of a fresh note. When it is desired to stop the removal of the notes, it is sufficient to keep the fingers 33 and 34 closed. 
     It is possible to provide a series of such separation devices in such a manner as to form a note distributor. In such a case, each device would be dimensioned according to the size of the corresponding note. In the form of embodiment of FIG. 1, the rollers 5 would be used for each of the separation devices. Means permitting the counting and the checking of the evacuation of the notes may be incorporated. Such means are known to those skilled in the art and it is not necessary to describe them here.