Feeder Device Lateral Guide Alignment Bearing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing banknote processing systems face challenges in handling, robustness, and stability when feeding stacks of value documents to singler devices, particularly due to imbalances in forces acting on lateral guide elements during manual adjustment and potential deformation or breakage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of movably mounted lateral guide elements with alignment bearings that distribute forces equilaterally, allowing for smooth and robust adjustment of the feeder device's width to accommodate different stack sizes, and the use of rollers and guide rails for stable guidance, preventing uncontrolled movement during vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lateral guide elements are manually adjusted to accommodate different stack sizes, then adaptability is improved, but force imbalance may cause deformation or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a force distribution mechanism where the guide element is supported by multiple support elements (at least two) that collectively bear the adjustment forces. This distributes the load similarly to how counterweights balance forces, preventing excessive force concentration that could cause deformation or breakage during manual adjustment to different stack sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide element is designed with movable mounting on support elements, allowing dynamic adjustment of the feeder width. This dynamic structure enables adaptability to different stack sizes while the distributed support system ensures structural integrity during adjustment, resolving the contradiction between movability and strength.
2Ease of operation
If lateral guide elements are made movable for adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but stability under vibrations may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element incorporates movable mounting on support elements, enabling easy manual adjustment of feeder width to accommodate different stack sizes. This dynamic design allows operational flexibility while maintaining structural integrity through proper force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent acknowledges that vibrations may occur during operation and designs the movable mounting system to be inherently stable under such conditions. The friction forces and mechanical constraints of the movable mounting convert potential harmful vibration-induced movement into stable positioning, ensuring the guide element maintains its set position even when subjected to vibrational forces.
3Manufacturing precision
If force distribution is improved during adjustment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple support elements (at least two) to distribute adjustment forces evenly across the guide element. This force distribution mechanism achieves uniform loading and positioning precision without requiring overly complex mounting mechanisms, balancing manufacturing precision with reasonable device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the handling, robustness, and stability of the feeder device, enabling easy adjustment without excessive force and maintaining position reliability, even under vibrations, thus improving the processing of various stack sizes.
Implementation Method 1
Further, friction forces of the alignment bearings contribute that the lateral guide elements reliably remain at their respectively set positions, rather than moving unguided from their respectively set positions in case of vibrations.
Implementation Method 2
the first alignment bearing comprises one or more first rollers, which are rotatably mounted on the first lateral guide element and guided in a first guide rail provided at the stop element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a feeder device (6) for feeding a stack (1) of value documents, in particular banknotes, to a singler device, which is configured to withdraw individual value documents from the stack (1), wherein the feeder device (6) comprises: a stop element (3) having a front side and a back side, the front side being configured to serve as a stop for a rear side of the stack (1) and to guide the stack (1) at the rear side of the stack towards the singler device; a first and a second lateral guide element (4a, 4b) provided at the front side of the stop element (3) and configured to guide the stack (1) at two lateral sides of the stack (1) towards the singler device; at least two first support elements, on which the first lateral guide element (4a) is mounted, and at least two second support elements, on which the second lateral guide element (4b) is mounted, wherein the first and second support elements are movably mounted on the stop element (3) and a respective one of the first support elements is coupled with a respective one of the second support elements such that by moving one of the lateral guide elements (4a, 4b) in a first direction, the other lateral guide element (4b, 4a) is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and at least one first alignment bearing (8a) configured to guide the first lateral guide element (4a) on the stop element (3) in the first and second direction, and at least one second alignment bearing (8b) configured to guide the second lateral guide element (4b) on the stop element (3) in the first and second direction. The invention further relates to an according method, a singler device, a singler module and a system for processing value documents, in particular banknotes.