Draw-in device for sheet-type articles

Abstract

A draw-in apparatus having at least two rotatable draw-in rollers for drawing in sheet goods, in particular bank notes, wherein the draw-in rollers are arranged relative to each other with meshing roller profiles respectively extending transversely to the draw-in direction so as to define a draw-in gap for the sheet goods, and wherein the draw-in rollers have axial cross-sectional profiles mutually matched such that a clearance between the draw-in rollers changes periodically upon a rotation of the draw-in rollers.

Claims

1. A draw-in apparatus comprising: at least two rotatable draw-in rollers for drawing in sheet goods, in particular bank notes, wherein the draw-in rollers are arranged relative to each other with meshing roller profiles respectively extending transversely to a draw-in direction so as to define a draw-in gap for the sheet goods, wherein the draw-in gap has a height defined as a minimum distance between surfaces of the draw-in rollers, and wherein the draw-in rollers comprise axial cross-sectional profiles mutually matched such that the height of the draw-in gap changes periodically upon rotation of the draw-in rollers during the drawing in of the sheet goods via the rotation of the draw-in rollers of the draw-in apparatus.

2. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the draw-in rollers comprise roller profiles that intermesh, as viewed in the draw-in direction, with alternating first and second roller portions.

3. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the roller portions comprise convex roller portions and concave roller portions alternating in a longitudinal direction on the respective draw-in roller, which are preferably respectively half-wave-shaped.

4. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial cross-sectional profile of at least one of the draw-in rollers has, at least in one roller portion, a circumferential line course, modulating the height of the draw-in gap, whose radius changes continuously between at least one minimum value and at least one maximum value, with the circumferential line course preferably being cam-shaped or elliptical.

5. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the axial cross-sectional profile of the draw-in rollers respectively has an axial cross-sectional profile with a circular circumferential line course in those roller portions opposing a roller portion of another draw-in roller with a modulating circumferential line course.

6. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one of the draw-in rollers has a modulating circumferential line course in all roller portions and the other one of the draw-in rollers has a circular circumferential line course in all roller portions, or wherein both draw-in rollers have a modulating circumferential line course in all roller portions.

7. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a first draw-in roller and a second draw-in roller respectively have a modulating circumferential line course in convex roller portions and have a circular circumferential line course in concave roller portions, or vice versa.

8. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the draw-in gap has a minimal height in at least one rotational position of the draw-in rollers.

9. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the axial cross-sectional profile of at least one of the draw-in rollers has a form of an ellipse with a greatest principal axis adjusted so that the height of the draw-in gap is minimal, in particular 0, in one rotational position, and that a maximum height is determined by a small principal axis of the ellipse.

10. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the draw-in gap extends non-linearly transversely to the draw-in direction, so that sheet goods drawn in are bowed between the draw-in rollers and a draw-in force exerted on the sheet goods by the draw-in rollers is determined substantially by a rigidity of the sheet goods.

11. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two draw-in rollers are arranged rotatably around respective rotation axes which are at a fixed distance apart and which are preferably arranged parallel to each other and transversely to the draw-in direction.

12. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two draw-in rollers are rotationally force-coupled at least at one end, preferably by gears, and one of the draw-in rollers is coupled to a device for detecting at least one defined rotational position.

13. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position comprises at least one sensor, in particular a light sensor, magnetic sensor or capacitive sensor, for sensing at least one marking device firmly coupled to one of the draw-in rollers.

14. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the marking device comprises at least one index hole in an indexing plate coupled to the at least one draw-in roller, and the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position has a light-barrier sensor arranged so as to cooperate operatively with the indexing plate; or wherein the marking device comprises a diametrically magnetized magnet on the at least one draw-in roller, and the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position has at least one magnetic sensor, in particular Hall sensors; or wherein the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position is a 360? absolute angle sensor coupled to at least one of the draw-in rollers.

15. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: an, in particular exclusive, draw-in roller drive coupled to the draw-in rollers; and a control device operatively connected to the draw-in roller drive, wherein the control device is connected to the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position and is configured to control the draw-in roller drive such that the draw-in rollers are located in the at least one defined rotational position at the moment of stopping of the rotational motion of the draw-in rollers.

16. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the axial cross-sectional profile of at least one of the draw-in rollers has, at least in one roller portion, a circumferential line course, modulating the height of the draw-in gap, whose radius changes continuously between at least one minimum value and at least one maximum value, with the circumferential line course preferably being cam-shaped or elliptical.

17. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the axial cross-sectional profile of at least one of the draw-in rollers has, at least in one roller portion, a circumferential line course, modulating the height of the draw-in gap, whose radius changes continuously between at least one minimum value and at least one maximum value, with the circumferential line course preferably being cam-shaped or elliptical.

18. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a first draw-in roller and a second draw-in roller respectively have a modulating circumferential line course in convex roller portions and have a circular circumferential line course in concave roller portions, or vice versa.

19. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: an, in particular exclusive, draw-in roller drive coupled to the draw-in rollers; and a control device operatively connected to the draw-in roller drive, wherein the control device is connected to the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position and is configured to control the draw-in roller drive such that the draw-in rollers are located in the at least one defined rotational position at the moment of stopping of the rotational motion of the draw-in rollers.

20. The draw-in apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: an, in particular exclusive, draw-in roller drive coupled to the draw-in rollers; and a control device operatively connected to the draw-in roller drive, wherein the control device is connected to the device for detecting the at least one defined rotational position and is configured to control the draw-in roller drive such that the draw-in rollers are located in the at least one defined rotational position at the moment of stopping of the rotational motion of the draw-in rollers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures there are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: A schematic view of a draw-in apparatus according to an embodiment example looking at the draw-in rollers in the draw-in direction, and on the right an axial sectional view along the specified sectional line.

(3) FIG. 2: A schematic view of the draw-in apparatus of FIG. 1 with the draw-in gap closed, and on the right an axial sectional view along the specified sectional line.

(4) FIG. 3: A perspective view of the draw-in apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 with an adjoining transport and aligning portion for drawn-in sheet goods.

(5) FIG. 4: A detailed view of FIG. 3 with a first embodiment of a detecting device for a closed rotational position as a defined rotational position of the draw-in rollers.

(6) FIG. 5: A detailed view of FIG. 3 with a second embodiment of a detecting device for a closed rotational position of the draw-in rollers.

(7) FIG. 6: A plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 3 for illustrating the transport and aligning portion for sheet goods.

(8) FIG. 7: A perspective view of the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 6 with a sectional representation for illustrating the transport path of sheet goods through the draw-in apparatus and the adjoining transport and aligning portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show a schematic view of a draw-in apparatus looking in the draw-in direction at the draw-in gap formed by the draw-in rollers, arranged so as to be mutually neighboring.

(10) The draw-in apparatus 1 consists substantially of two rotatable draw-in rollers, namely, an upper draw-in roller 3 and a lower draw-in roller 5, for drawing in sheet goods, such as bank notes. The upper draw-in roller 3 is arranged on an upper and the lower draw-in roller 5 is arranged on a lower shaft 9 for rotation around a respectively associated rotation axis A1, A2. The upper shaft 7 and the lower shaft 9 are rotatably mounted at a fixed distance and parallel to each other.

(11) The draw-in rollers 3, 5 thus arranged so as to be mutually neighboring form a draw-in gap 11 for the sheet goods to be drawn in. The clearance between the draw-in rollers, i.e., the distance between the draw-in rollers' surfaces opposing each other at the draw-in gap, which define the draw-in gap, defines the height of the draw-in gap 11 and is designated here with the gap dimension s.

(12) The axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 is so designed in the viewed cross section that the gap dimension s of the draw-in gap 11 changes in a predetermined circumference or region in cooperation with the rotationally symmetric axial cross-sectional profile 15 of the lower draw-in roller 5 upon a rotation or by a rotation of the upper draw-in roller 3.

(13) In the cross sections of the draw-in rollers shown in the right part of FIG. 1, the axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 has a modulating circumferential line course in which the radius on the circumferential line changes in the circumferential direction continuously from at least one minimum value to at least one maximum value over the total circumference.

(14) For the modulating circumferential line course the axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 is configured elliptically in the roller portion of the shown cross-sectional view. In other words, the circumferential line of the upper draw-in roller 3 extends elliptically around the rotation axis A1. In contrast, the circumference of the axial cross-sectional profile 15 of the lower draw-in roller 5 extends in the roller portion of the shown cross-sectional view rotationally symmetrically to, and circularly around, the rotation axis A2.

(15) The elliptical circumferential line of the axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 can be described by a great principal axis al and a small principal axis b1. The axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 is represented in a rotational position in which the gap dimension s of the draw-in gap 11 is maximal, for example 1.0 mm. That is to say, in this rotational position a circumferential point 21 of the outer surface 17 of the upper draw-in roller 3 is opposite the outer surface 19 of the lower draw-in roller 5, said point being intersected by the small principal axis b1 of the ellipse defining the axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3.

(16) In FIG. 2 the arrangement of the draw-in rollers 3 and 5 is shown in a roller position rotated by 90? in comparison to FIG. 1. In the left part of FIG. 2 the upper draw-in roller 3 and the lower draw-in roller 5 are located relative to each other such that the draw-in gap 11 defined between the draw-in rollers has a minimal gap dimension s.sub.min. That is to say, the draw-in gap 11 is closed, in this rotational position of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 relative to each other. Preferably, the minimal gap dimension s.sub.min is somewhat greater than 0 mm, particularly preferably approximately as great as the sheet thickness of the sheet goods intended to be drawn in. However, in certain embodiments it is also possible to configure the axial cross-sectional profiles of the draw-in rollers such that the minimal gap dimension in the closed rotational position is 0 mm.

(17) In the right part of FIG. 2, the axial cross-sectional profiles 13, 15 of the lower and upper draw-in rollers 3, 5 are shown in this connection. In the roller portion of the shown cross-sectional view the elliptically designed axial cross-sectional profile 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 is located in a rotational position in which the circumferential point 23 of the outer surface 17 on the circumference of the draw-in roller 3 almost touches the outer surface 19 of the lower draw-in roller 5.

(18) The circumferential point 23 is intersected by the great principal axis al of the ellipse describing the axial cross-sectional profile 13. That is to say, the circumferential point 23 is a point that would lie on a contact line formed by the draw-in rollers 3, 5 between the surfaces 17, 19 of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 in the shown closed rotational position, at a minimal gap dimension of 0 mm.

(19) When the minimal gap dimension s.sub.min in a closed rotational position is to be 0 mm, then the roller profiles are preferably so shaped (looking in a radial viewing direction at the respective draw-in roller) that a contact line between the surfaces 17, 19 of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 extends throughout, i.e., the draw-in gap 11 is then completely closed. There can thus be prevented not only the penetration of foreign bodies, such as dirt particles and dust, but also the penetration of liquids into the apparatus from outside.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper draw-in roller 3 has respectively periodically alternating first convex roller portions 29 and second concave roller portions 31 which alternate in the longitudinal direction of the draw-in roller 3. The course of the roller profile 27 of the lower draw-in roller 5 is configured mirror-symmetrically to the roller profile 25 of the upper draw-in roller 3.

(21) The axial cross-sectional profiles 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 and the axial cross-sectional profiles 15 of the lower draw-in roller 5 respectively have in their convex roller portions 29 the circumferential line course modulating the gap dimension of the draw-in gap and in their concave roller portions 31, respectively, a circumferential line course that extends rotationally symmetrically to, and circularly (e.g., a circular profile) around, the respective one of the rotation axes A1, A2. In other words, each of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 respectively possesses an axial cross-sectional profile with a circular circumferential line course in a concave roller portion 31 which is opposite a convex roller portion 29 of the other draw-in roller with a modulating circumferential line course.

(22) It is of course also possible that the axial cross-sectional profiles 13 of the upper draw-in roller 3 and the axial cross-sectional profiles 15 of the lower draw-in roller 5 respectively have the circumferential line course modulating the draw-in gap 11 in the concave roller portions 31 and, respectively, have the circular circumferential line course (e.g., a circular profile) in the convex roller portions 29.

(23) In principle it is also possible to configure the draw-in apparatus 1 such that at least one of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 has a circumferential line course modulating the draw-in gap both in the concave and in the convex roller portions. The other one of the two draw-in rollers 3, 5 is then configured in all roller portions with a circumferential line course that is circular and rotationally symmetric to the appurtenant rotation axis. That is to say, it is possible that only one of the draw-in rollers possesses cross-sectional profiles with a circumferential line course modulating the gap dimension of the draw-in gap, but then preferably over the total length of the draw-in gap 11. In contrast, the other one of the draw-in rollers then preferably has cross-sectional profiles with a circumferential line course that is circular and rotationally symmetric to the appurtenant rotation axis over the total length of the draw-in gap 11. In this case, for modulating the gap dimension only the draw-in roller with the circumferential line course modulating the gap dimension of the draw-in gap needs to be controlled for modulating the gap dimension.

(24) Through the non-linear course of the draw-in gap 11 and the cross-sectional profile of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 modulating the gap dimension of the draw-in gap, a jerking on the card, which is haptically perceptible to the user, arises upon the rotational motion of the draw-in rollers when there is an attempt to feed objects thicker than sheet goods, such as an EC card or credit card, into the draw-in apparatus 1. The card is thereby pushed back in the direction of the user by a few millimeters contrary to the draw-in direction, for example out of the receiving slot 90 (cf. FIG. 7) of a machine in which the draw-in apparatus 1 is integrated. This results in the haptically perceptible feeling of rejection as an attention-catching feedback to the user.

(25) The surfaces 17, 19 of the roller bodies forming the draw-in rollers 3, 5 are made of an inelastic material, such as a metal, a rigid plastic, or the like. Thus, the draw-in gap 11 formed by the draw-in rollers is less sensitive to attempts at tampering in comparison to draw-in rollers that are, for example, coated with a rubber-like material or consist of a material with high elasticity, since the material of the draw-in rollers cannot be pushed away or displaced as easily. Furthermore, with draw-in rollers made of an inelastic material, the meshing convex roller portions cannot be easily displaced. The meshing or interlacing of the radial roller profiles prevents flexurally rigid foreign bodies such as coins, EC cards, check cards, credit cards, or the like from being drawn in.

(26) It is also possible to configure at least the surfaces 17, 19 of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 with an elastic material. Then the minimal gap dimension s.sub.min in the at least one closed rotational position can be adjusted to 0 mm. The elasticity of the surfaces 17, 19 of the draw-in rollers therefore in any case avoids drawn-in sheet goods being crushed in the closed rotational positions. Furthermore, the bearings of the draw-in rollers are not loaded.

(27) As explained above, the upper draw-in roller 3 and the lower draw-in roller 5 possess roller profiles 25, 27 intermeshing due to the interlocking concave and convex roller portions 29, 31, regarded in the radial viewing direction, i.e., in the draw-in direction, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. The meshing roller profiles 25, 27 are preferably configured such that the draw-in gap 11 extends non-linearly transversely to the draw-in direction such that sheet goods that can be drawn in are bowed in a wave shape between the draw-in rollers 3, 5 and a draw-in force exerted by the draw-in rollers on the sheet goods, by which force the sheet goods are gripped by the draw-in apparatus 1, depends substantially on the rigidity of the sheet goods.

(28) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the parts of a transport and aligning portion for sheet goods and of the upstream draw-in apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

(29) For better orientation, FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 respectively specify a reference coordinate system whose axes are so oriented that the z-axis extends in the draw-in direction and the rotation axes A1, A2 extend in the direction of the x-axis. The gap dimension s of the draw-in gap 11 of the draw-in apparatus 1 is then defined in the direction of the y-axis.

(30) In the perspective representation of FIG. 3 the two draw-in rollers 3, 5 are rotatable around their respective rotation axes A1, A2 and the shafts 7, 9, respectively bearing one of the draw-in rollers 3, 5, are arranged at a fixed distance apart. Further, the rotation axes A1, A2 extend parallel to each other and are arranged transversely to the draw-in direction z through the draw-in apparatus 1.

(31) The upper draw-in roller 3 and the lower draw-in roller 5 are force-coupled to two meshing coupling gears 44, 46 in the represented embodiment example. For this purpose, a first coupling gear 44 is arranged non-rotatably on the shaft 9 of the lower draw-in roller 5 and meshes with a corresponding second coupling gear 46 which is arranged non-rotatably on the shaft 7 of the upper draw-in roller 3.

(32) At an end of the shaft 9 opposing the end with the first coupling gear 44 of the shaft 9 there is non-rotatably fastened a roller drive wheel 48 which is coupled to a drive wheel 52 of a drive 54 via a driving belt 50. For better coupling, the belt 50 is configured as a toothed belt and the roller drive wheel 48 on the shaft 9 and the drive wheel 52 of the drive 54 are configured with toothed ribs for non-slip force transmission by form locking. Therefore, the draw-in apparatus 1 can be operated via the motor 54 for drawing in sheet goods. Furthermore, the draw-in gap 11 can be closed by rotation of the lower draw-in roller 5 and the upper draw-in roller 3 into a closed position.

(33) Due to the non-slip coupling of the drive wheel 52 with the roller drive wheel 48, the draw-in rollers 3, 5 can be stopped exactly and in a predetermined position relative to each other in any rotational position, in particular in a closed rotational position.

(34) To enable the draw-in rollers 3, 5 of the draw-in apparatus 1 to be brought into a defined closed rotational position, the drive 54 must be controlled accordingly. For this purpose, a control device 56 is coupled to a device 58 for detecting the at least one closed rotational position as a defined rotational position of the draw-in rollers.

(35) The device 58 for detecting the at least one closed rotational position (closed rotational position detecting device 58) is operatively coupled to the drive wheel 48 of the shaft 9 in the embodiment example. The closed rotational position detecting device 58 has at least one sensor which is designed for sensing at least one marking means firmly coupled to the lower draw-in roller 5. With the help of the marking means one can unambiguously detect when the draw-in rollers 3, 5 are located in the at least one closed rotational position.

(36) For example, the closed rotational position detecting device 58 can have for this purpose at least one light sensor, magnetic sensor, capacitive sensor, or the like. The marking means provided on the draw-in roller 5 is configured according to the basic physical principle of the sensor used.

(37) Preferably, a device in the form of an absolute value transmitter is used in the closed position detecting device 58. Such an absolute value transmitter (here, somewhat more precisely, an absolute angle transmitter) for detecting the at least one closed rotational position is an angle measuring device by which an absolute angle measurement value or an absolute difference relative to a reference angular position is available without referencing immediately after the device is switched on.

(38) Examples of absolute value transmitters to be mentioned are accordingly encoded incremental angle transmitters which can be based, for example, on an optical principle, or evaluation devices designed by means of a magnetic mark and accordingly arranged magnetic-field sensors.

(39) With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, two possible embodiments of the closed rotational position detecting device 58 will be explained further down.

(40) First, still with reference to FIG. 3, the transport and aligning portion 42 for sheet goods that adjoins the draw-in apparatus 1 will be briefly explained. The draw-in apparatus 1 is adjoined by a transport gap extending in the z direction and defined by a lower guiding element 60 and an upper guiding element 62 (see FIG. 7).

(41) Viewed on the left in the draw-in direction, there extends as the left limit of the transport gap an aligning edge 64 on which drawn-in, in particular rectangular, sheet goods are so aligned by the transport and aligning portion 42 during the transport operation such that two mutually opposing outer edges of the sheet goods extend parallel to the aligning edge 64, after alignment has taken place, and an outer edge of the sheet goods lies against the aligning edge 64.

(42) For this purpose, the transport and aligning portion 42 has, in two regions, transport wheels 66, 68 which respectively engage into the transport gap pairwise out of the lower guiding element 60 and upper guiding element 62 (cf. FIG. 7) and convey drawn-in sheet goods in the z direction. The transport wheels 66, 68 are arranged on associated drive shafts which are driven by a drive not shown or specifically described here.

(43) For an aligning of the drawn-in sheet goods on the aligning edge 64, a polygonal wheel 70 is integrated as an aligning means in the middle of the transport and aligning portion 42. The polygonal wheel 70 is arranged at a predetermined angle transversely to the draw-in direction z and dips perpendicularly into the transport gap out of the lower guiding element 60, while additionally (cf. FIG. 7) dipping with a part of its circumference into a corresponding recess of the upper guiding element 62. With the polygonal wheel 70 there can be transferred to drawn-in sheet goods being transported in the draw-in gap in the z direction a force Fx that is directed in the direction of the aligning edge 64 and necessary for alignment on the aligning edge 64.

(44) FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the closed rotational position detecting device 58 of FIG. 3. For detecting the closed rotational position of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 there is fastened non-rotatably to the shaft 9 of the lower draw-in roller 5 in this embodiment besides the roller drive wheel 48 an indexing plate 72. In the indexing plate are arranged first index holes 74 regularly spaced on a circular path neighboring the edge, which cooperate operatively with a first light-barrier device 76.

(45) The first light-barrier device 76 is arranged on indexing plate 72 and grips it in the manner of tongs, so that the indexing plate 72 is in engagement with the first light-barrier device 76. Upon rotation of the indexing plate 72 synchronously with the drive wheel 48, the rotation of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 can be monitored via the first light-barrier device 76.

(46) At a further place on the indexing plate 72 there is provided a second index hole 78 which cooperates operatively with a second light-barrier device 80, on the same principle as the first light-barrier device 76 with the index holes 74. The second index hole 78 is so arranged in the indexing plate 72 that when the second light-barrier device 80 senses the second index hole 78, the draw-in rollers 3 and 5 are located in a closed rotational position.

(47) For transmission of corresponding sensor signals generated by the first and second light-barrier devices 76, 80 the light-barrier devices 76, 80 are connected operatively to the control device 56 of FIG. 3 via known communication connections, e.g., cable connections, not specifically shown.

(48) As already noted, the draw-in apparatus 1 possesses a closed rotational position, in which the draw-in gap 11 is closed, at every half-rotation (1800) due to the elliptically configured modulating roller portions of the draw-in rollers 3, 5. That is to say, there can be arranged in the indexing plate 72 a further second index hole opposing the second index hole 78 in order to enable the second closed position to be detected as well.

(49) FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for a closed rotational position detecting device 58. A diametrically magnetized magnet is attached to the drive wheel 48 of the shaft 9 for the lower draw-in roller 5 concentrically with the rotation axis A2. That is to say, the marking means for identifying the at least one closed rotational position is the magnetic field influenced in the field distribution by the diametrically magnetized magnet 84. For better illustration, there is shown on the left in FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a diametrically magnetized magnet 84 on the left in a plan view in the direction of the rotation axis A2 and on the right in a sectional representation in the draw-in direction z direction.

(50) For evaluating the rotational position of the lower draw-in roller 5 and therefore also of the synchronously co-rotating upper draw-in roller 3, an accordingly configured magnetic-field sensor 86 is contactlessly arranged neighboring to the carrier disk 82 of the magnet 84.

(51) The sensor 86 can have, for example, four integrated Hall sensor elements which, via an accordingly configured evaluation device with for example an integrated CORDIC (COordinate Rotation Digital Computer), are able to evaluate sinusoidal mutually phase-shifted signals of the four Hall sensors, generated by the rotating magnetic field of the magnet 84, such that it is at any time possible to unambiguously determine the absolute rotation angle of the draw-in roller 5 over the full 360? angle range.

(52) As a result, the sensor 86 can output a signal representing the current rotational position of the draw-in rollers 3, 5. Through a corresponding association of the angular positions of the magnet 84 with the associated closed rotational positions of the draw-in rollers 3, 5 there can, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, be made available to the control device 56 (see FIG. 3) unambiguous information in order to control the drive 54 such that, upon stopping of the draw-in rollers 3, 5, they are located in the closed rotational position and the draw-in gap 11 is closed.

(53) FIG. 6 shows a plan view of FIG. 3 for illustrating the transport and aligning portion 42 and for the transition from the draw-in apparatus 1 thereto. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the arrangement of FIGS. 3 and 6, as well as a sectional representation oblique to the transport direction (z direction) for illustrating the transport path for sheet goods between the lower and upper guiding elements 60, 62.

(54) Besides the details already explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6, some brief remarks will be made here on the feeding device 90 upstream of the draw-in apparatus 1. The feeding device 90 is a solid funnel element which feeds sheet goods to be fed to the draw-in apparatus 1 through its feeding flanks 92, 94 tapered in a funnel shape. In so doing, the funnel function supports the aligning of the leading edge of fed sheet goods with the draw-in gap 11 of the draw-in apparatus 1 as centrally and perpendicularly as possible. This avoids jammed feeding of sheet goods. Furthermore, the solid funnel device 90 also has a mechanical protection function, in order to mechanically counteract unauthorized access from outside, for example, attempts at tampering or vandalism, and to protect the draw-in rollers from damage.