DE102009035183A1 - Value document i.e. bank note, handling device, has multiple light barriers arranged in region of transport paths, and control device outputting alarm signal when values are constant over preset time period - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has multiple light barriers (10, 12) arranged in a region of transport paths (70, 72) to detect presence of a value document using light barrier signals. A control device (80) evaluates the light barrier signals for differentiating a value of light barrier signal from other values of the light barrier signals, where the former value indicates absence of the value document and the latter values indicate presence of the value document. The control device outputs an alarm signal when the latter values are constant over preset time period. An independent claim is also included for a method for monitoring transport of a value document along transport paths.

Description

The The present invention relates to a device for handling Security documents, in particular banknotes, as well as a method for monitoring the transport of value documents along a transport path in the device by means of light barriers.

Under Value documents become leaf-shaped objects understood, for example, a monetary value or represent a permission and therefore not arbitrary should be produced by unauthorized persons. They do not point easy to produce, especially not to be copied features whose existence is an indication of authenticity, the is the production by an authorized body, is. Important examples of such value documents are chip cards, Coupons, vouchers, checks and in particular banknotes. A special feature such value documents, in particular of banknotes, compared new paper or stationery, is that their state, for example by kinks, wrinkles, dog-ears or a considerable limpness can vary greatly.

Under Devices for handling documents of value are under consideration the invention in particular devices for receiving and storing of value documents or output of stored value documents or examination of value documents on denomination, validity, Authenticity and / or fitness for circulation or sorting of value documents Understood. The device for handling value documents can while also a combination of several of the above functions as in the case of ATMs for deposit and / or withdrawal of banknotes, change machines, payment stations, vending machines as well Banknote checking, sorting or counting machines.

A very compact device for handling value documents, for example, in the DE 10 2007 020 778 A1 described. This has a transport path consisting of several transport path sections, along which a value document can be transported to and from a value document storage. The individual transport path sections are coupled to each other via pairs of rollers which mesh with one another to improve transport over the rollers.

by virtue of from kinks, folds, dog - ears or considerable limpness of the Transportable documents of value is the transport in devices for Handling of value documents prone to failure. Especially It may happen that the isolated value documents in the Damming transport path. To detect a traffic jam, is usually in the range of the transport path at least a photocell is arranged. The presence of a value document in the transport path is indicated by a light barrier signal. A light barrier can be a through-beam, which by the value document transmits transmitted light, or a reflected light barrier, which detects the light reflected on the value document, be. A control device evaluates the light barrier signal. One first value of the signal, z. Eg "no reflection", represents the absence of a value document in the transport path. A second value of the signal, different from the first value, z. B. caused by the reflection of light on the value document stands for the presence of a value document in the transport path. The control device is set up between the first and the second second value to differentiate.

One Jam is detected if, after a detected light barrier signal, which indicates a leading edge of a value document that expected second light barrier signal, which is the trailing edge of the value document indicates, stays off. The time conditions to be monitored thus usually consist in that one of length dimension and transport speed of the value document certain time must pass the detection of the presence of a value document, to determine a fault. In any case, that's the end of it until the fault detection the time, which is a value document needed for proper transport, to pass the photocell. If necessary, in addition to the usually expected time interval yet considered a specific timeout.

kick If such a situation occurs, the control device gives an alarm signal from, which z. B. leads to the stopping of the transport system. However, it can happen that a traffic jam is detected too late and a subsequent value document is already in the storage area is transported into it. The jammed value documents can are severely damaged and a manual elimination of the Make traffic jams difficult. Especially in very compact devices, in where documents of value have to be transported in a very small space, leads to a late detection of a traffic jam severe damage or destruction of the jammed Value document. If the device in case of a traffic jam too late In addition, it may happen that the next one Value document has already been transported to the storage area that it will be taken when manually clearing the jam can, without it was counted before.

Object of the present invention is therefore to improve the jam detection in devices for handling documents of value, esp especially to be able to recognize traffic jams faster.

The The object is achieved by a device for handling value documents and a monitoring procedure the transport of a value document in a device for handling of value documents according to the independent ones Claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the invention the control device an alarm signal already then, if the second, the presence of a value document characterizing values of the light barrier signal are temporally constant. The invention makes use of the fact that when entering a value document in the area of the light barrier, the value of the light barrier signal starting from a first value indicating the absence of a value document, changes to a second value, which is the leading edge of the Value document, but it does not remain constant. Because the Reflection or transmission of the radiation of the light barrier to the or by the value document changes due to the transport movement constantly. According to the invention is therefore the Modulation of the light barrier signal during presence a moving in the transport path value document continuously monitored instead only after the detection of the leading edge of the document of value the detection to wait for the trailing edge of the value document.

modulation of the light barrier signal means that a carrier signal is modulated by an information-bearing signal. The information-bearing In this case, the signal is passed through a light barrier Value document caused. The light barrier signal decreases in case of a homogeneous value document in the absence of a first and at Presence a second value different from the first value at. However, due to the cloudiness of paper as well a printed image on the document of value in the presence of the value document different, temporally variable second values of the light barrier signal are generated, i. H. the information-bearing ones second values are modulated.

Becomes the value document is properly attached to the photocell transported past, then fluctuations of the second values occur. If the value document in the area of the photoelectric barrier during transport gets stuck, but the photocell detects a constant Light barrier signal. The control device now gives an alarm signal which is merely a signal to stop the transport can. The alarm signal can also be a message to a user, for example, an audible signal and / or optical signal that alerts the user to a malfunctioning Transport of value documents indicates.

Around determine whether the second value is constant in time, the Modulation of the second value monitored. In the monitoring the modulation, the second value is monitored for variations, eg. On fluctuations of the second value relative to an average of the second value. However, minimum can be Variations in the second value are allowed without an alarm signal trigger. To avoid false alarms, it makes sense be to allow certain minimal fluctuations of the second value z. For example, those caused by vibrations of the machine can be. As a result, the controller monitors whether the second value is essentially constant over time.

On This way, a jam of a value document can be timely and be detected quickly because the message of the jam does not first then takes place when specified time conditions are violated. In particular, the alarm signal can already be issued before it is determined that the light barrier signal the trailing edge of the value document fails. Due to the early traffic jam detection due to the evaluation of the modulation of the light barrier signal can reduce or even prevent damage be recognized as a jam at or shortly after its creation does not and does not transport value documents to each other accrues. Optionally, here too, a certain timeout be taken into account to avoid false alarms.

The Fast jam detection simplifies manual jam clearing with open device, as compressions and folds of the dammed value document and subsequent value documents also stopped early and not so far in the Dust area to be transported. That way you can Also counting errors are avoided, which otherwise due to manual Removal of several, possibly not yet counted value documents can occur from the storage area.

The photocells according to the invention are z. B. for use in ATMs for payment and / or payment of documents of value, in change machines, in payment stations, in vending machines, but also provided in testing, sorting or counting machines for documents of value. The light barriers according to the invention are used particularly advantageously in compact value-document processing machines in which value documents have to be transported in a small space in order to arrange them in different ways in the machine Transport components. These components are, for example, storage devices for value documents, directly in front of which one or more light barriers are arranged in order to monitor the transport of the value documents into and / or out of the storage device.

In a preferred embodiment detects at least one light barrier the presence of a value document in a transition area from a first transport path section to a second transport path section. In this case, the first transport path section can be stationary and the second transport path section relatively movable to the first Be transport path section. Especially in such transition areas the susceptibility to congestion is increased, the jam detection is especially important here.

Around to be able to recognize a traffic jam in a transition area, can be a light barrier in one or both adjacent transport path sections be arranged. Alternatively or additionally, at least a photocell also in the transition area of the first be arranged to the second transport path section.

Next the jam detection in the just described transition areas, is a jam detection at the beginning and / or end of the transport path of great importance. For this purpose can also here one Photocell can be arranged to detect the presence of a value document to detect. The light barrier is preferably adjacent to the entrance and / or output of a value document storage. To this Way, congestion can be made directly to a value document store be recognized.

The Invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying Drawings described. Show:

1 a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a device for handling documents of value,

2 a schematic representation of a section of the device from 1 .

3a by way of example a light barrier signal with proper transport of a value document and

3b by way of example, a light barrier signal when a value document is jammed in the area of the light barrier.

In 1 is a device 1 illustrated for handling value documents, which is designed in particular for accepting and dispensing banknotes of different denominations. An acceptance of vouchers may also be possible. The device comprises a housing 2 with a value document acceptance device 22 in the form of an input tray, into which a user inserts one or more notes 100 or can enter vouchers, for example, to make a payment. In the device 1 It may also be an ATM for depositing and / or paying out banknotes.

After entering value documents 100 in the input tray 22 They can do this by means of a test device 40 be checked for denomination, validity, authenticity and fitness for circulation. After the check, the value documents entered are entered via a pair of roles 52 from the value document acceptance device 22 transported out. For this purpose there is a temporary storage device 30 for value documents in an acceptance position L _E , which is a pair of roles 58 having. The two pairs of roles 52 . 58 the value document acceptance device 22 and the temporary storage device 30 form a transport interface between the two facilities 22 . 30 ,

The temporary storage device 30 can by means of a transport device 60 between the assumption position L _E , storage locations L _S1 , L _S2 , L _S3 , L _S4 , an end position L _end and an output position L _A are moved, which is indicated by a dashed line of the latch device 30 is shown in the different layers. In the illustrated embodiment, the displacement of the buffer storage device takes place 30 linear in the vertical direction. The temporary storage device 30 serves for the temporary admission and storage of value documents, which over the input compartment 22 into the device 1 have been entered for delivering the temporarily stored value documents to one of the value document memories 32 . 34 . 36 , for the temporary acceptance of value documents from the value document storage 32 and for the delivery of temporarily stored value documents to the output device 24 , The individual components and their functions are described in more detail in the DE 10 2007 020 778 A1 described.

The value document storage 32 serve in this embodiment for separately receiving banknotes of three different denominations, the memory 34 to accept banknotes recognized as invalid or forged, vouchers and final storage 36 for the final acceptance of banknotes, which are not intended for further handling, for example because the corresponding memory 32 completely filled.

According to the result of the examination of the value documents by means of the testing device 40 after the entry, the temporary storage device moves 30 by means of the transport device 60 in the appropriate order to the respective memory 32 , About the pairs of roles 54 . 58 become the memory 32 and the temporary storage device 30 coupled together to pass the banknotes. If banknotes are needed to issue, for example, to issue change or withdraw cash, the cache facility moves 30 also in one of the layers L _S1 , L _S2 , L _S3 in order to be able to receive banknotes from the respective memory. The issue of the banknotes is then via the output device 24 wherein the temporary storage device 30 for this purpose, proceed to the output position L _A.

If, in the event of a termination of the process, the banknotes entered are to be reissued, these can be returned directly from the temporary storage device 30 back to the output device 24 be delivered. When issuing change, the corresponding banknotes to be issued in addition to those on the input tray 22 entered banknotes in the temporary storage device 30 are temporarily recorded, and only after payment of the change, ie after completion of the process, the banknotes on the memory 32 . 34 . 36 be distributed. This procedure causes less waiting time for a user than if the banknotes entered first access the memories 32 . 34 . 36 be distributed. The choice of the procedure is also determined by the capacity of the temporary storage device 30 affected.

In 2 is a section of the device 1 out 1 shown. The temporary storage device 30 is located in one of the storage locations L _S1 , L _S2 , L _S3 and has two latches 130 . 132 on, in which value documents can be temporarily stored. To temporarily stored value documents from the temporary storage device 30 in the store 32 or to be able to transport vice versa, have the memory devices 30 . 32 each a transport path section 70 . 72 which together form a transport path. The transport path sections 70 . 72 are about role pairs 58 . 54 coupled together. To improve the transport of a value document, the role pairs are 58 . 54 intermeshing arranged. The temporary storage device 30 can be moved as described above and with his role pair 58 to another transport path section via its pair of rollers, for example, the pair of rollers 52 the value document acceptance device 22 (please refer 1 ), dock.

In particular, in the transition region between the two transport path sections 70 . 72 ie in the area of the roller pairs 58 . 54 , or directly at the input or output of the temporary storage device 30 or the memory 32 There may be congestion of value documents. In order to be able to recognize occurring traffic jams, it is in the area of the transport path sections 70 . 72 therefore each a photocell 10 . 12 arranged. In this case, there are through-beam sensors, wherein a part of the light barrier emits radiation, which receives the opposite part of the light barrier. But it can also be used reflex light barriers.

The photocells 10 . 12 are with a control device 80 which evaluates the light barrier signals and monitors the transport of value documents for congestion. In the 3a respectively. 3b are exemplary signals of the light barriers 10 . 12 shown as a function of time during proper transport or in the event of a traffic jam.

3a shows by way of example a light barrier signal with proper transport of a value document along a transport path. In the absence of value documents, the control device registers a first value 91 which is constant. When a document of value is transported in the area of the photocell, the value of the photocell signal changes from the first value 91 to a second value 92 , Depending on the type of photocell used, the second value 92 greater or smaller than the first value 91 be.

The jump from the first value 91 to the second value 92 marks the leading edge of the value document. The value 92 is not constant, because, due to the cloudiness of paper, imprints and other elements present on the document of value, fluctuations in the second value occur when transporting a value document 92 caused. This modulation of the light barrier signal is monitored by the control device. If the value document is transported past the light barrier without congestion, the light barrier signal again takes the value 91 at. This jump marks the trailing edge of the transported value document and marks the proper transport.

3b shows the course of the values of the light barrier signal in the event of a jam, which at the time 113 occurs. The light barrier signal takes a constant value after the occurrence of the jam 94 because the radiation of the light barrier always impinges on the same location of the accumulated value document. By monitoring the modulation of the light barrier signal, the control device 80 recognize that a jam has occurred and may send out an alarm. This alarm Signal primarily causes a further transport of the accumulated value document and subsequent value documents is stopped. However, an audible and / or visual signal may be output to indicate the congestion to a user. The alarm signal is at the time 110 sent out. The time, by time 113 until time 110 elapses, is used to check if the value 94 is constant. In addition, a timeout can also be taken into account in order to avoid false alarms of a jam, for example because of a homogeneous section of the value document.

A jam detection is thus at an early stage 110 , whereby severe damage to the accumulated value document can be reduced or even avoided and a manual correction of the jam is facilitated with open device. In addition, it can be avoided that subsequent value documents are transported into the storage area and can be removed manually without having been previously registered by a counting device. In contrast, jams without evaluation of the modulation of the light barrier signal would only be at the time 112 detected, which would be determined by time conditions, by a calculated transport time of the entire value document including a subsequent timeout 111 would be determined.

When the the issue of banknotes from a store 32 by means of a conventional photoelectric barrier (according to 3a ) is monitored and therefore the jam detection only at the time 112 If necessary, the transport of banknotes may be stopped too late. As a result, it may happen that the next out of memory 32 banknote to be dispensed until the stop of the banknote transport already so far from the memory 32 was transported out, that it could be removed in the manual repair of the jam, without being removed from the device 1 was registered as issued. If, on the other hand, the issue of banknotes from memory 32 by means of a light barrier according to the invention 12 is monitored, the jam detection is already at the time 110 , The banknote transport can therefore be stopped in good time in a traffic jam and such counting errors can be avoided.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 102007020778 A1 [0004, 0027]

Claims (11)

Contraption ( 1 ) for the handling of value documents ( 100 ), in particular banknotes, which is set up for accepting and storing value documents or issuing stored value documents or checking value documents for denomination, validity, authenticity and / or fitness or sorting of value documents or a combination of a plurality of the aforementioned functions, comprising at least one transport path ( 70 . 72 ) for value documents, one or more than one in the area of the transport path ( 70 . 72 ) arranged light barrier ( 10 . 12 ), which is set up, the presence of a value document in the transport path ( 70 . 72 ) by means of a light barrier signal, and a control device ( 80 ) for evaluating the light barrier signal which is set to a first value ( 91 ) of the light barrier signal, which indicates the absence of a value document, of second values ( 92 . 94 ) of the light barrier signal different from the first value ( 91 ) are different and which characterize the presence of a value document, characterized in that the control device ( 80 ) is arranged to output an alarm signal when the second values ( 94 ) are substantially constant in time. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that it is set up, a further transport of value documents to stop due to the alarm signal. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ), the presence of a value document in a transition region from a first, stationary section ( 72 ) of the transport path to a relative to the first section ( 72 ) movable, second section ( 70 ) of the transport path. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ) in the area of the first ( 72 ) and / or the second ( 70 ) Transport path section is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ) in the transition region from the first ( 72 ) to the second ( 70 ) Transport path section is arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ), the presence of a value document at the beginning and / or end of the transport path ( 70 . 72 ) to detect. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ) immediately adjacent to the input and / or output of a value document storage ( 30 . 32 . 34 . 36 ) is arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control device is set up is to already output the alarm signal before it is detected that a light barrier signal the trailing edge of the value document absent. Method for monitoring the transport of a value document ( 100 ), in particular a banknote, along a transport path ( 70 . 72 ) a device ( 1 ) for handling documents of value by means of at least one light barrier ( 10 . 12 ), comprising the following steps: detecting a first value characterizing the absence of a value document ( 91 ) of a light barrier signal, - detection of second values characterizing the presence of a value document ( 92 . 94 ) of the light barrier signal coming from the first value ( 91 ) are different, characterized by the step of checking whether the second values ( 94 ) are temporally constant, and the step of outputting an alarm signal when the second values ( 94 ) are substantially constant in time. Method according to claim 9, characterized by the further step of stopping the onward transport of value documents due to the alarm signal. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized that the alarm signal is already issued before being detected is that a light barrier signal fails the trailing edge of the value document.

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