Banknote processing

1. Banknote processing equipment comprising:

a chamber having an open end for insertion of a bag into the chamber, and having a base end that opposes the open end, wherein the open end of the chamber is adapted to support a free end of the bag in an open position;

an extractor configured to establish a lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag relative to a pressure within the bag to cause the bag to expand during a banknote filling operation into an open configuration with a rectangular cross-section and a flat base, whereby the banknote processing equipment is configured to deposit banknotes through the open end and into the bag during the banknote filling operation when the bag is expanded into the open configuration; and

a clamping arrangement operable to clamp at least part of the free end of the bag against the chamber during the banknote filling operation;

wherein the banknote processing equipment comprises at least one of the following features (i) or (ii): (i) the base end prevents passage of the bag; or (ii) the base end is arranged between the extractor and the open end; and

wherein the banknote processing equipment comprises at least one of the following features (a) or (b): (a) the clamping arrangement comprises a plurality of flaps, which are brought into engagement with inner surfaces of the bag on operation of the clamping arrangement; or (b) the banknote processing equipment comprises a sealing mechanism movable into engagement with the bag for sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation, wherein the sealing mechanism is coupled to the clamping arrangement such that the clamping arrangement releases the free end of the bag as the sealing mechanism is moved into engagement with the bag to allow the bag to be sealed.

2. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the clamping arrangement comprises a plurality of flaps, which are brought into engagement with inner surfaces of the bag on operation of the clamping arrangement.

3. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 2 , wherein each flap of the plurality of flaps has a leading edge with chamfered corners or that is curved.

4. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 2 , further comprising a sealing mechanism movable into engagement with the bag for sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation.

5. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , comprising a sealing mechanism movable into engagement with the bag for sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation, wherein the sealing mechanism is coupled to the clamping arrangement such that the clamping arrangement releases the free end of the bag as the sealing mechanism is moved into engagement with the bag to allow the bag to be sealed.

6. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber has at least one side wall for containing expansion of the bag.

7. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 6 , further comprising one or more side rails running along a length of the chamber from the open end and protruding from the at least one side wall inwardly into the chamber.

8. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , further comprising a support for holding a base of the bag, in use, during the banknote filling operation.

9. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , further comprising a speed controller adapted to control a speed of operation of the extractor in response to a speed control signal.

10. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 9 , comprising a sealing mechanism movable into engagement with the bag for sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation, wherein the speed controller is adapted to control the speed of operation of the extractor to a cooling speed suitable for cooling a welded region of the bag during and/or after the sealing operation.

11. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the base end is arranged between the extractor and the open end.

12. Banknote processing equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the base end prevents passage of the bag.

13. A method for holding a bag in an open configuration for deposition of banknotes in the bag by banknote processing equipment during a banknote filling operation, the method comprising:

inserting the bag into a chamber forming part of the banknote processing equipment, the chamber comprising an open end and a base end that opposes the open end, wherein the base end prevents passage of the bag, and upon said insertion a closed end of the bag is within the chamber;

establishing a lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag relative to a pressure within the bag by extracting at least some of an atmosphere from the chamber after insertion of the bag into the chamber to cause the bag to expand during the banknote filling operation into the open configuration with a rectangular cross-section and a flat base, whereby the banknote processing equipment is configured to deposit banknotes through the open end of the chamber and into the bag during the banknote filling operation when the bag is expanded into the open configuration within the chamber; and

one of the following items (i) to (iii):

(i) clamping at least part of a free end of the bag against the chamber during the banknote filling operation, releasing the free end of the bag from the chamber after the banknote filling operation, and sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the releasing of the free end of the bag from the chamber;

(ii) sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation, wherein an extractor is arranged for establishing the lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag, and the method comprises controlling a speed of operation of the extractor to a cooling speed suitable for cooling a welded region of the bag during and/or after the sealing operation; or

(iii) an extractor is arranged for establishing the lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag, and the method comprises reducing a speed of operation of the extractor after the bag is expanded into the open configuration.

14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising maintaining a passage for fluid flow between the chamber and the bag after the bag is expanded into the open configuration.

15. A method according to claim 13 , comprising clamping at least part of a free end of the bag against the chamber during the banknote filling operation, releasing the free end of the bag from the chamber after the banknote filling operation, and sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the releasing of the free end of the bag from the chamber.

16. A method according to claim 13 , comprising sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation, wherein an extractor is arranged for establishing the lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag, and the method comprises controlling a speed of operation of the extractor to a cooling speed suitable for cooling a welded region of the bag during and/or after the sealing operation.

17. A method according to claim 13 , wherein an extractor is arranged for establishing the lower ambient pressure between the chamber and the bag, and wherein the method comprises reducing a speed of operation of the extractor after the bag is expanded into the open configuration.

18. A method according to claim 17 , further comprising sealing the bag in a sealing operation occurring after the banknote filling operation.

19. A method for filling a bag with banknotes, the method comprising holding the bag in an open configuration for deposition of banknotes in the bag by banknote processing equipment during a banknote filling operation according to the method of claim 13 , and depositing banknotes in the bag using the banknote processing equipment during the banknote filling operation.