EP1149037B1 - Method and device for forming a wad of individual sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and device for forming a wad of individual sheets, especially bank notes, (98) that are individually removed and fed via a sheet conveyor (14) from a sheet store container to a stacking device (16) comprising at least one stacking wheel, whereby the stacking device is used to place the sheets on a stacking surface. The stacking wheel (58) is driven in an intermittent manner and controlled in such a way that a receiving slot (90) in the stacking wheel is aligned with the output end (44) of the sheet conveyor (14) when a sheet (98) leaves the sheet conveyor (14). The follow-on edge of a sheet (98) that leaves the sheet conveyor (14) is detected at a given point on the sheet conveyor (14) and the stacking wheel proceeds as far as the next receiving slot (90) according to the moment in time when said follow-on edge is detected.

Description

The invention relates to a method for forming a Bundle of single sheets according to the preamble of the claim 1. It is based on JP 61 150 959 A.

Usually, banknotes are used by the singulation mechanism with even distances to a transport device submitted for bundle formation. When it is difficult to separate Notes is the frictional deduction of the separation mechanism not always able to get the notes evenly to be delivered separately.

All types of misprints can then occur with flush, scaly or even just in the edge area overlapping banknotes and with in different Intervals of consecutive banknotes.

A sequence of sheets with irregular intervals or multiple overlapping banknotes causes problems depositing the sheets or banknotes through the stacking wheel. The conventional stacking wheel has a variety of closely adjacent blades, the circular arc Slits with tangential entry openings form, into each of which a banknote is inserted. The insertion of the banknotes into the continuously circulating Stacking wheel is generally not a problem because the peripheral speed of the stacking wheel very much much slower than the transport speed of the delivered Banknotes is. Because the blades of the stacking wheel are also very thin at their ends, consists in In practice, there is no danger that the banknotes will be on a The tip of the blade bounce off the track completely be directed. Individual incoming notes are therefore at correctly selected assignment of sheet transport and stacking wheel and the correct relative speed in general processed very safely. But if the Banknotes overlap or are too close, this can result in the banknotes no longer finds in the stacking wheel gap and in via the stacking wheel fly the storage room. The banknotes can be found here Under certain circumstances not covered by the further transport and remain in the transport module.

Overlapping banknotes can also be assigned correctly. if necessary, get into the stacking wheel and placed on the bundle. The assignment must be be such that the following leaf or the following Banknote under the banknote already in the stacking wheel is pushed. If the scaling is reversed, so the following sheet lifts from that into the stacking wheel incoming sheet and flies over the stacking wheel. The type of scaling depends on the course of the Transport route between the separating device and the stacking wheel arrangement.

Are the gaps between the sheets or banknotes too in short, it can cause a collision between the rear edge of the banknote already in the stacking wheel and the quickly come following banknote, which as a result is deflected so that it flies past the stacking wheel.

JP 61 150 959 A describes a method for forming a Bundles of single sheets, especially banknotes known to be peeled individually from a sheet storage container, via a sheet transport at least one Stacking wheel comprehensive stacking wheel arrangement supplied and by means of these are placed on a stacking surface. The stacking wheel is under the control of a leading edge of the sensor that detects single sheets is driven intermittently and controlled so that a receiving gap of a Stacking wheel with the exit end of the sheet transport is aligned when a sheet leaves the sheet transport. there will advance the stacking wheel by one Recording gap only initiated when the leading edge of the Sheet is detected by the sensor.

FR 26 64 581 A describes a similar process and a Similar arrangement as described in JP 61 150 959 A. Instead of a single sensor, which is used to detect a Edge of the sheet is used, two are in the direction of transport a roller conveyor moved against each other Sensors provided. The advance of the stacking wheel A recording gap only occurs when both sensors had reported a sheet.

EP 0 308 057 A is also a method and an Device similar to that disclosed in JP 61 150 959 A refer to. But while with the device according to JP 61 150 959 A for sheet transport and that Stacking wheel separate motors are used the drive in EP 0 308 057 A by a single Engine. The stacking wheel is driven by the common motor a slipping clutch driven and in a running position held by an electrically operated brake, if the leading edge of a Sheet is detected.

In GB 2 168 687 A is a sheet stacking device and described a method for their operation. To a banknote separating device a transport track closes whose transport speed with the help of a first angle encoder is detected. The transport track leads to a stacking wheel. In one by the length of the stacking banknotes predetermined distance in front of the entrance opening a sensor is arranged on the stacking wheel. The stacking wheel is driven by a stepper motor, the position of the stacking wheel receiving slot relative to the transport track using a second angle encoder is detected. The sheet stacker will controlled by a microprocessor.

In operation, the transport speed of the transport track constantly reported to the microprocessor. As soon as the sensor detects the leading edge of a banknote, checks it the microprocessor the angular position of the stacking wheel. From the transport speed of the transport track, the distance of the banknote to the entry opening of the stacking wheel, the angular position of the stacking wheel and the The microprocessor can control the cadence of the stepper motor calculate whether the transport track with the entry opening of a stacking wheel receiving slot is aligned when the Banknote arrives at the latter. With a negative Test result, the microprocessor changes the cadence of the stepper motor in that upon arrival the banknote is the entry opening of a stacking wheel receiving slot faces the transport track.

GB 2 168 686 A shows a stacking wheel in the receiving slots each have a flexible pressure strip is arranged. This is near with one end the hub on one of the boundary walls of the receiving slot attached and formed wave-shaped so that several wave crests on the other boundary wall of the Apply slot. The wave crests stop the sheet inserted into the slot.

The invention has for its object a method of the type mentioned, with which a reliable Bundles are then also formed from single sheets can, if these single sheets in whole or in part overlap or that required for normal operation Minimum distance between two successive Scroll is below.

This object is achieved by the characterizing Part of claim 1 specified features solved.

The stacking wheel is in the solution according to the invention silent when the sheet is moved from the sheet transport to and from enters the receiving gap of the stacking wheel. Therefore can also several overlapping sheets in the same receiving gap of the stacking wheel are introduced as this is only switched on when the rear edge or trailing edge of the sheet transport leaving Sheet or the group of overlapping sheets is detected. With a suitable design of the stacking wheel it so easily possible up to four sheets or Detect banknotes in a receiving slot of a stacking wheel. Because the stacking wheel during the shrinking of the sheets stands still, the direction of scaling does not matter, i.e. overlapping notes also arrive reliably into the stacking wheel regardless of whether the following Leaf is above or below the previous leaf.

As the description above shows, leaves with normal spacing and the same overlapping leaves treated, since in both cases the stacking wheel only switched on is when a trailing edge of a single sheet or a group of sheets is recognized.

If the intervals are too short, additional measures are required required. The distances result from the possible Transport speed and the number of too transporting sheets per unit of time. The one to be followed Minimum distance results among other things from the switching times for switching the stacking wheel. To ensure, that leaves in succession at a distance too get into successive receiving gaps of the stacking wheel, it is proposed according to the invention that within the sheet transport the distance between a leading one and a trailing sheet is detected that when falling below a specified minimum distance the individual withdrawal of the sheets from the sheet storage container interrupted and the transport speed reduced until the leading sheet is transporting the sheet has left that then the drive of the sheet transport is stopped that the stacking wheel after the Entry of the leading sheet into the stacking wheel and that the drive of the leaf transport is switched on again.

As long as the actual blade spacing the specified In this case, the minimum distance is less than the Switching on the sheet transport drive controlled so that the sheet transport initially only on one Fraction of the nominal speed is accelerated.

To be able to determine what types of deduction errors are available, it is useful in the field of sheet transport the leaf thickness and the leaf extension in Detect transport direction. This can be used to determine how many sheets overlap, in what form and to what extent they overlap and whether individual Leaves may be directed at an angle to each other.

The invention further relates to a device for education a bundle of single sheets, in particular banknotes, which are individually withdrawn from a sheet storage container be, in particular to carry out the above described method, comprising a separating device to pull the sheets out of the Sheet storage container, a sheet transport, a drive for sheet transport, one at the exit end of the Sheet transport assigned stacking wheel arrangement with at least a stacking wheel and a stacking wheel drive, one detector device arranged in the area of the sheet transport for grasping an edge of the sheet transport continuous sheet, and one with the separating device, the drive of the sheet transport, connected to the stacking wheel drive and the detector device Control device. The stacker wheel drive is included trained for an intermittent drive and the Control device programmed so that the stacking wheel in is stopped at a position in which the receiving gap of the stacking wheel with the exit end of the sheet transport aligns when a leaf is transporting the leaf leaves, and that the stacking wheel depending on an output signal of the detector device that the detection the trailing edge of one in the receiving gap of the stacking wheel incoming sheet corresponds to a receiving gap is forwarded.

As already explained above, with this arrangement ensured that individual sheets with correct Distance or overlapping sheets reliably in the Take up the receiving gap of the stacking wheel, because this is only is then advanced if it is ensured that the respective leaf or the respective leaf group in the Receiving gap has reached and leave the sheet transport Has.

The distances between the successive sheets To be able to determine is in the area of sheet transport a distance measuring device is arranged. in principle can also use the detector device mentioned above are used, which provides an edge signal, so that from successive edge signals and the known transport speed from the control device the distance between two consecutive Scroll can be determined.

There is also a thickness measuring device in the area of the sheet transport provided to the thickness of the sheet transport continuous leaves to record, with which in particular it can be determined whether sheets overlap. This is also important when issuing banknotes, to determine, for example, whether just a bill or two flush overlapping notes issued become. The thickness measuring device can, for example one swiveling relative to a rigid support mounted feeler lever, its pivoting movement in one corresponding signal is implemented.

To determine if two or more sheets are partially overlap is also in the area of sheet transport a length measuring device is provided which measures the extent of the sheets passing through the sheet transport in Direction of transport detected. In connection with the thickness measurement this allows a statement about how many leaves in what form overlap. The length measuring device can at least one sensor for detection one sheet edge and one with the Drive of the sheet transport include coupled encoders, with which the transport speed is determined. The length measuring device preferably has at least two sensors spaced transversely to the transport direction, so that an inclined position of a sheet can also be detected. There the thickness measuring device also the presence or absence gripped by leaves, it can also be used for and length measurement can be used.

Intermittent operation of the stacking wheel occurs the problem that the stacking wheel at the desired Throughput of sheets accelerated very quickly when indexing must become. There is a risk that sheet inserted into the receiving gap of the stacking wheel is not taken away from the stacking wheel. In particular the case may occur if the note spacing is too narrow that the banknotes already partially overlap. Since that Sliding overlapping edges to each other The sheets or banknotes can get caught in such cases the leaves are pulled apart. The following banknote can be placed on the rear edge of the banknote already in the stacking wheel and hold on to this when switching so that the already in the receiving gap of the stacking wheel Banknote is pulled out again.

In order to prevent such an effect, according to the invention suggested that the stacking wheel be a wheel hub with resilient on this articulated, almost tangential Has blades, two of which are adjacent blades form a receiving gap for a sheet, the larger part of the bucket mass in the free end of the bucket middle half of the bucket is concentrated.

This design of the stacking wheel leads to the fact that in the initial acceleration phase of the stacking wheel at Advancing the same on the blades one inside directed radial force component acts so that it fold radially inwards. This closes the gap and that already in the recording gap Sheet is pinched and taken away. With increasing The speed of rotation of the stacking wheel predominate again the centrifugal forces that move the blades radially outward move and open the receiving gap so that the sheets conveniently streaked from the receiving gap on the stacking surface can be.

The pivoting movement of the blades described above radially inward can be reinforced by the fact that close an additional mass with a arranged higher density compared to the stacking wheel material is. The stacking wheel itself can, for example, be in one piece be made of plastic, the joint between the blades and the wheel hub as well as the elastic restoring force through a material bridge and the material be delivered yourself. In contrast, the additional mass can consist of a piece of metal.

To detect those in the receiving gap The banknote can be improved by the shovels Scoop a corrugation on their facing surfaces wear.

In a preferred embodiment, the stacking wheel four blades, each offset by 90 °. Around an excessive spreading of the blades due to the Avoiding centrifugal force can increase the travel of the blades radially outward through a rigid with the hub connected stop may be limited.

A is preferred for driving the stacking wheel Stepper motor used.

It should be emphasized that the training described above the stacking wheel also for other purposes than in ATMs or the like is suitable.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Sammlermoduls mit einem Blatt-Transport und einer Stapelradanordnung,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf den in Figur 1 dargestellten Modul und

Figur 3

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Vereinzelungsmoduls zum Abziehen von Blättern aus einem Blattspeicherbehälter und zum Zuführen der Blätter zu dem Sammlermodul nach den Figuren 1 und 2.

The following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings explains the invention using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

Figure 1

1 shows a schematic side view of a collector module with a sheet transport and a stacking wheel arrangement,

Figure 2

a plan view of the module shown in Figure 1 and

Figure 3

2 shows a schematic side view of a separating module for pulling sheets from a sheet storage container and for feeding the sheets to the collector module according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The collector module shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a frame 10 with side walls 12, between which a sheet transport 14 and a stacking wheel arrangement 16 are arranged are.

The sheet transport 14 has a first belt pull 17 Endless belts 18, which are guided over rollers 20 and 22. These each sit on a shaft 24 or 26 which are parallel to each other in the side walls 12 of the frame 10 are rotatably mounted. Sheet transport 14 also includes a second belt 28 with endless belt 30, the are guided over rollers 32 and 34, which in turn on Shafts 36, 38 sit, which in turn are between the side walls 12 of the frame 10 are rotatably mounted. The endless belt 30 are tensioned by a tension roller 40. The upper rollers 22 of the first belt train 17 are pressure rollers 42 assigned to one with the rollers 22 Form outlet gap 44.

That of the first belt train 17 and the second belt train 28 formed transport route has at its lower end an entry gap 46 for sheets to be transported or banknotes, which the sheet transport 14 in the direction of arrow A and at the top of it through a baffle 48 towards the exit gap 44 are redirected.

In the transport path near the exit end of the sheet transport 14, a light barrier 50 is arranged a transmitting element 52, a deflecting element 54 and a receiving element 56 includes. This allows the lead and Trailing edges of continuous sheets or banknotes be recorded.

The sheet transport 14 shown is not one Drive motor shown driven by a suitable Gearbox on at least one of the shafts 24, 26, 36 and 38 acts.

The stacking wheel assembly 16 includes four stacking wheels 58 which sit together on a shaft 60 that in the side walls 12 of the frame 10 is mounted. The shaft 60 carries on its lower end in Figure 2 outside the frame 10 a drive wheel 62, which has a drive belt 64 connected to the drive pinion 66 of a stepper motor 68 which drives the stacking wheel assembly 16. Furthermore sits on the shaft 60 a pot-shaped light barrier wheel 70, that with its rim into a fork light barrier 72 engages and offset in the pot edge by 90 ° has four slots 74. This wheel 70 is used with the help of Fork light barrier 72 for positioning the stacking wheels 58 in a certain angular position.

Each stacking wheel 58 has a wheel hub 76 and four blades 78 which extend substantially tangentially. The Blades 78 each have a massive section 80 over a thin material bridge 82 with a wheel hub fixed Approach 84 is connected so that the blades 78 relative to the wheel hub 76 a pivotal movement radially can run inside or radially outside. This Swiveling movement is done by a finger-like stop 86 limited, which is rigidly connected to the neck 84 and in a pocket 88 at the rear end of each Blade section 80 engages.

Is between two adjacent blades 78 an arcuate receiving gap 90 is formed which for Inclusion of single or multiple sheets determined is. To detect a sheet in the receiving gap 90 have to face each other of the blades 78 delimiting a receiving gap 90 a corrugated or corrugated surface profile 92, such as this is indicated in Figure 1. Near the free ends of the Buckets 78 are additional masses in the form of pieces of metal 94 arranged, while the single stacking wheel 98 in total is made in one piece from plastic.

FIG. 3 shows a separation module 96 for removal of banknotes or sheets 98 from a banknote store 100, which is known per se and not here is explained. The separation module comprises a frame 102, in the take-off rolls 104 and singling rolls 106 are stored. The withdrawn banknotes 98 directed through a guide plate 108 into a transport route 110, which is a baffle 112 and a belt transport with endless belt 114, which over lower rollers 116th and upper rollers 118 are guided, which in turn again mounted on shafts 120 and 122 in the module frame 102 are. With regard to the promotion of banknotes Transport route 110 the conveying path of the sheet transport 14 attributed.

Near the top exit end of the separation module 96 is a thickness measuring device 134 arranged with a rigid abutment 124 and a movable, Feeler lever pivotally mounted about an axis 126 128, which is supported by a spring 130 against the abutment 124 is stretched and its deflection by one or more continuous banknotes detected with a sensor 132 can be.

The drive of the separating module, not shown 96, the drive of the sheet transport 14, the stacking wheel drive 68, the thickness measuring device 134 the light barrier 50 and the fork light barrier 72 are not with one shown control device connected, which of the the signals supplied to the sensors and measuring devices evaluates and drives the various units controls as described below.

Individual bank notes 98 are stored in the separation module 96 withdrawn from banknote storage 100 and individually by means of the transport route 110 in the direction of arrow B through the thickness measuring device 134 to the lower end of the Sheet transport 14 transports where it enters the entry nip 46 arrive. The stacking wheels 58 are relative for sheet transport 14 in that shown in Figure 1 Position in which a receiving gap 90th with its entry end to the exit gap 44 of the sheet transport 14 indicates. One in the direction of arrow A continuous sheet 98 passes into the receiving gap 90 the stacking wheels 58 arranged side by side. As soon as the Trailing edge of the sheet or banknote 98 from the Light barrier 50 is detected with a temporal Deceleration of the drive motor 68 of the stacked wheel drive actuated. The delay time is such that the Stacking wheel movement begins when the trailing edge of the Banknote 98 has left the exit gap 44. The stacking wheels 58 are now around a receiving gap 90, i.e. in the present example by 90 ° clockwise (arrow C) rotated further. The movement takes place accordingly a trapezoidal profile with a steep acceleration section, a continuous movement and one as well steep braking flank.

At the high initial acceleration of the stacking wheels 58 acts due to the relatively large inertial mass of the Buckets in their outer area on the blades 78 an inward force component, so that the Close receiving column 90. This only applies to the Start of movement, since later the centrifugal force the blades swings outwards again, but this short is sufficient Snap movement of the blades to one in the receiving gap 90 note and to take it with you. The banknotes thus caught by the stacking wheels 58 98 are in a conventional manner on a stacking surface stored.

In the event that two or more banknotes 98 in themselves deducted overlapping position in the separation module 96 be what is detected by the thickness measuring device 134 the workflow is basically the same as described above. The overlapping banknotes run together in a receiving gap 90 of the standing Stacking wheels 58, since this first then switched on if the light barrier 50 has a trailing edge captures either the trailing edge of a single Banknote or group of overlapping banknotes can be. This is independent of the arrangement the banknotes may overlap, i.e. whether the following banknotes are above or below the preceding banknote.

Another operation arises if the distances a predetermined one of successive banknotes 98 Be less than the minimum distance. That means that Banknotes follow one another in such short time intervals, that the stacking wheels 58 not at this time switched to their next position can be. The distances between successive Banknotes can with the help of the light barrier 50, a another light barrier or the thickness measuring device 134 and with the help of the known or measured transport speed the sheet transport 14 can be determined. If it is determined that the minimum distance is not reached first, the current separation process completed in the separation module 96 and then the separation module 96 is stopped. Subsequently becomes the transport speed of the sheet transport 14 decreased until the leading banknote 98 the exit gap 44 of the sheet transport 14 has left. Then the sheet transport 14 is also stopped. Now the stacking wheel arrangement can be switched on until the next receiving gap 90 of the stacking wheels 58 the Exit gap 44 of sheet transport 14 faces. Then the sheet transport 14 is first on one Fraction of its rated speed, for example accelerates half the transport speed until you can find that the distances between successive Banknotes have returned to normal value. Then the separation module 96 is also in again Put into operation.

Claims (16)

1. Method of forming a bundle of individual sheets, in particular banknotes (98), which are drawn off from a sheet-storage container (100), by a separating apparatus (96), fed, via a sheet conveyor (14), to a stacking-wheel arrangement comprising at least one stacking wheel (58), and set down on a stacking surface by means of said stacking-wheel arrangement, it being the case that the stacking wheel (58), controlled by a control device, is driven intermittently and controlled such that a receiving gap (90) of a stacking wheel (58) is aligned with the outlet end (44) of the sheet conveyor (14) when a sheet (98) leaves the sheet conveyor (14), it being the case that an edge of a sheet (98) running through the sheet conveyor (14) which runs transversely to the transporting direction is detected at a predetermined location of the sheet conveyor (14), and the stacking wheel (58) is advanced by one receiving gap (90) in dependence on the time at which the edge is detected, characterized in that the edge of the sheet is the trailing edge thereof, in that the spacing between a preceding sheet and a following sheet (98) is detected, with the aid of a spacing-measuring device (134), within the sheet conveyor (14), in that, when the spacing is smaller than a predetermined minimum spacing, the operation of the sheets (98) being drawn off individually from the sheet-storage container (100) is interrupted and the transporting speed is reduced until the preceding sheet (98) has left the sheet conveyor (14), in that the drive of the sheet conveyor (14) is then stopped, in that, once the preceding sheet (98) has run into the stacking wheel (58), the latter is advanced, and in that the drive of the sheet conveyor (14) is switched on again.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, when the drive of the sheet conveyor (14) is switched on again, the drive is controlled such that the sheet conveyor is first of all accelerated only to a fraction of the nominal speed as long as the actual sheet spacings are smaller than the predetermined minimum spacing.
3. Method according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the thickness and the extent of a sheet or of a number of overlapping sheets in the transporting direction are detected in the region of the sheet conveyor.
4. Apparatus for forming, on a stacking surface, a bundle of individual sheets, in particular banknotes (98), which are drawn off from a sheet-storage container (100), for implementing a method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, comprising a separating apparatus (96) for drawing off the sheets from a sheet-storage container (100), a sheet conveyor (14), a drive for the sheet conveyor, a stacking-wheel arrangement, which is assigned to the outlet end (44) sheet conveyor (14) and has at least one stacking wheel (58) and a stacking-wheel drive (68), a detector device (50), which is arranged in the region of the sheet conveyor (14) and is intended for detecting an edge of a sheet (98) running through the sheet conveyor (14), and a control device, which is connected to the separating apparatus (96), the drive of the sheet conveyor (14), the stacking-wheel drive (68) and the detector device (50), it being the case that the stacking-wheel drive (68) is designed for intermittent operation, and the control device is programmed such that the stacking wheel (58) is stopped in a position in which the receiving gap (90) of the stacking wheel (58) is aligned with the outlet end (44) of the sheet conveyor (14) when a sheet (98) leaves the sheet conveyor (14), and, in dependence on an output signal from the detector device (50), said signal corresponding to an edge of a sheet (98) running into the receiving gap (90) of the stacking wheel (58) being detected, the stacking wheel (58) is advanced by one receiving gap (90), and the detector device (50) comprises a light barrier, which is arranged in the vicinity of the outlet end of the sheet conveyor (14), characterized in that a spacing-measuring device (134) for detecting the spacing between two successive sheets (98), a thickness-measuring device (134) for detecting the thickness, and a length-measuring device for detecting the extent in the transporting direction, of the sheets (98) running through the sheet conveyor (14) are arranged in the region of the sheet conveyor (14), and in that the spacing-measuring device (134) and the length-measuring device are connected to the control device, it being possible for the latter to control the drive of the sheet conveyor (14) with the effect of reducing the transporting speed.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the thickness-measuring device (134) has a lever gauge (128) which is mounted such that it can be pivoted in relation to a rigid rest (124).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the thickness-measuring device (134) is, at the same time, the length-measuring device.
7. Apparatus according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the length-measuring device comprises at least one sensor for sensing a sheet edge, and also comprises an encoder which is coupled to the drive of the sheet conveyor.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the length-measuring device has at least two sensors which are spaced apart transversely to the transporting direction.
9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the stacking wheel (58) has a wheel hub (76) with more or less tangentially directed paddles (78) which are articulated resiliently on said wheel hub and of which in each case two adjacent paddles (78) form a receiving gap (90) for a sheet (98), the majority of the paddle mass being concentrated in the half (80) of the paddle (78), said half being in the vicinity of the free paddle end.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that the stacking wheel (58) is produced in one piece from plastic.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that an additional mass (94) is arranged in the vicinity of the free end of each paddle (78) of the stacking wheel (58), said additional mass being of a higher density than the stacking-wheel material.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that the additional mass (94) consists of metal.
13. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9. to 12, characterized in that the paddles (78) bear a corrugated formation (92) on their mutually facing surfaces.
14. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the stacking wheel (58) has four paddles (78) which are offset in each case through 90° in relation to one another.
15. Apparatus according to one of Claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the resilient deflection of the paddles (78) in the radially outward direction is limited in each case by a stop (86) which is connected rigidly to the hub (76).
16. Apparatus according to one of Claims 4 to 15, characterized in that the drive of the stacking wheel (58) is a stepping motor (68).

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