Strapping of bank notes

Abstract

The invention relates to a strapper for bank notes and a bank note processing apparatus having such a strapper. Especially reliable and fast strapping is possible if a guide for forming a strap loop around a bank-note bundle to be strapped that is brought into an inside area surrounded by the guide has elements for holding the strap only in its lateral edge areas when it is inserted into the guide, and when the strap is pulled it can be pulled together tightly out of the guide into the inside area around the bank-note bundle located therein.

1 . A strapper ( 10 ) for bank notes (BN), characterized in that a guide ( 20 ) for forming a strap loop around a bank-note bundle (BN) to be strapped that is brought into an inside area ( 9 ) surrounded by the guide ( 20 ) has elements ( 22 ,  61 ) for holding the strap ( 17 ) only in its lateral edge areas when it is inserted into the guide ( 20 ), and when the strap ( 17 ) is pulled it can be pulled together tightly out of the guide ( 20 ) into the inside area ( 9 ) around the bank-note bundle (BN) located therein.  
     
     
         2 . A strapper according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the elements ( 22 ,  61 ) are parts of side walls ( 23 ,  24 ) and formed by wall areas, such as grooves ( 22 ) and/or projections ( 61 ).  
     
     
         3 . A strapper according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the side walls ( 23 ,  24 ) are movable apart laterally.  
     
     
         4 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized in that control of the motion of the side walls ( 23 ,  24 ) is effected without a separate drive.  
     
     
         5 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the strapper ( 10 ) includes means ( 55 ) for automatically inserting the strap ( 17 ) into the guide and/or automatically pulling the strap ( 17 ) out of the guide ( 20 ).  
     
     
         6 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized by a collecting plate ( 6 ) located in the inside area ( 9 ) or adapted to be brought thereinto for depositing the bank-note bundle (BN) to be strapped.  
     
     
         7 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the collecting plate ( 6 ) has a curved deposit surface ( 40 ) for the bank-note bundle to be strapped for strapping the bank notes in a curved position by tightening the strap ( 17 ) enclosing the bank-note bundle (BN).  
     
     
         8 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized by a cutting element ( 32 ) for cutting off the strap ( 17 ) from a strap supply device ( 15 ) and/or one or more clamping elements ( 31 ,  34 ) for clamping the strap ( 17 ) and/or a welding element ( 33 ) for welding two strap areas to form a closed strap loop, whereby the cutting element, the clamping elements or the welding element ( 33 ) are displaceable in the strapper ( 10 ) by automatic control with respect to the guide ( 20 ).  
     
     
         9 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized in that one of the clamping elements ( 31 ) has a through hole ( 36 ) through which the strap ( 17 ) to be subsequently inserted into the guide ( 20 ) is guided.  
     
     
         10 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized by a separate welding plate ( 43 ) against which the welding element ( 33 ) is urged for welding the two strap areas.  
     
     
         11 . A strapper according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the collecting plate ( 6 ) has a gap ( 42 ) for being pushed onto the separate welding plate ( 43 ).  
     
     
         12 . A bank note processing apparatus ( 1 ) having a transport device ( 2 ) for transporting bank notes to a strapper ( 10 ) having the features of at least one of the above claims.  
     
     
         13 . A bank note processing apparatus according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the strapper ( 10 ) is fastened to a linear pull-out ( 11 ) of a housing of the bank note processing apparatus ( 1 ).  
     
     
         14 . A bank note processing apparatus according to  claim 12  or  13 , characterized in that the linear pull-out ( 11 ) has fastening means ( 12 ) for detachably fastening a bin ( 7 ) for strapped and/or loose bank notes (BN).  
     
     
         15 . A bank note processing apparatus according to any of  claims 12  to  14 , characterized in that the collecting plate ( 6 ) is movable between a strapping position in the inside area ( 9 ) of the guide ( 20 ) and a stacking position in which bank notes can be stacked on the collecting plate ( 6 ) by a stacking device ( 5 ).  
     
     
         16 . A bank note processing apparatus according to any of  claims 12  to  15 , characterized in that the apparatus ( 1 ) has two vibration elements ( 52 ,  53 ) acting in differdifferent directions for flush alignment of bank notes stacked on the collecting plate ( 6 ) in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions.  
     
     
         17 . A bank note processing apparatus according to any of  claims 12  to  16 , characterized in that the apparatus ( 1 ) has operating elements for performing a strapping process controlled by the user for strapping bank-note packets brought into the inside area ( 9 ) manually, so that the apparatus can also be used as a hand strapper.