EP0167196B1 - Method of converting webs or sheets of securities into bundles of securities - Google Patents

Abstract

Processing is based on print carriers in the form of security paper webs or security paper sheets, containing security paper prints which are arranged in the manner of matrices in transverse rows and longitudinal rows and on which spoilt notes are identified by a mark which can be read by a reading instrument. The print carriers pass, in succession, by a reading instrument which detects the positions of the spoilt notes and feeds them into a computer for storage, a cancellation printer controlled by this computer, which provides spoilt notes with a cancellation print, and a numbering machine. The numbering mechanisms of this numbering machine are moved forward by the computer in such a way that always the satisfactory security paper prints, placed in succession in any longitudinal row, are serially numbered, the spoilt notes being neglected. Subsequently, the print carries, having passed by another reading instrument, are cut up into individual security papers, the spoilt notes are separated out in a separation device and the remaining, serially numbered individual security papers are assembled to form bundles, each having a complete numerical sequence. In this way, correct and complete numerical sequence of the security papers contained in the automatically produced security paper bundles and security paper parcels is ensured, in spite of the separation of spoilt notes.

Description

The invention relates to a method for processing printing media printed with security prints in the form of security tracks or sheets of security, the security prints of which are arranged in the form of a matrix in transverse rows and longitudinal rows, to bundles of security from numbered individual security certificates, after which the printing media pass through a numbering machine after marking the misprints determined on them and after the printing media have been cut, the misprints are eliminated.

One of the main problems in the production of banknotes, in particular in the production of banknotes, is to obtain bundles of banknotes or banknotes in which the banknotes have a complete sequence of numbers, i.e. are correctly numbered consecutively - within a specific number series. Such a complete number sequence is very important both for the organization of production and as protection against counterfeiting.

In the essentially fully automated production and processing of notes of value, as they have been developed and introduced in recent years, it is difficult to obtain bundles of notes with a complete number sequence because of the practically always occurring misprints which have to be eliminated. These difficulties are related to the usual way of numbering and processing.

A known method for processing sheets of notes is described, for example, in German Patents 2,502,987 or in US Patents 3,939,621 and 4,045,944. Thereafter, the freshly printed sheets of coupons, which have unnumbered security prints arranged in rows and columns in a matrix, are visually checked, and security prints recognized as misprints are provided with a marking for later disposal, to which a detector responds. After that, all sheets of notes pass through a numbering machine in which all sheets of security, including the misprints, are numbered on each sheet.

With the numbering that has been customary up to now, all those security impressions are provided with a consecutive number sequence that lie on the same value note positions of successive sheets, that is to say in the same row and in the same column. In the case of the stack of sheets formed at the exit of the numbering machine, which generally contains 100 sheets, all of the overlying securities impressions, which represent a bundle of notes of value after subsequent cutting of the sheet stack, have a sequential number sequence. All items of note on a sheet can have the same numbering and differ in different series specifications.

The numbered sheets are then cut into bundles of individual notes and only then are those that contain one or more misprints removed from the transport sequence of the individual note bundles. These separated bundles of notes of value are subjected to parallel processing, in which the misprint or misprints are removed and replaced by perfect vouchers: these replacement vouchers are either numbered with the number of a special series or are previously numbered in a hand-held numbering device so that the misprint is removed complete number sequence is guaranteed within this bundle. The complete bundle thus restored is re-arranged in the transport sequence of the bundles which have been perfect from the start before the bundle packages are formed.

To form bundle packages in which all notes of value have a correct consecutive number sequence within the same number series, the bundles of notes of value that arise after cutting the sheet stacks must be sorted in such a way that the bundles belonging to the same number series are combined from successive sheet stacks. Such an automatic sorting and bundle stacking device is described in the mentioned patents.

However, the known processing explained above, with which complete number sequences within the bundles of banknotes and banknotes can be produced despite the separation of misprints, has practically not become established because the special treatment of the bundles of misprints is labor-intensive and time-consuming and therefore often the normal speed of work , with which perfect bundles of notes of value could be processed without misprints, must be reduced.

Another known method used in practice, by means of which complete number sequences within the bundles of notes formed during the processing of note sheets, is to, after the visual inspection of the freshly printed note sheets, eliminate all sheets on which there is at least one misprint before the numbering has been identified and marked. In this case, only sheets with perfect security impressions are entered into the numbering machine and the resulting numbered sheet stacks are further processed as described above. The disadvantage here is the fact that the sheets of misprints showing misprints must be subjected to special processing if one does not want to destroy them altogether in an unprofitable manner. This consists of first the unnumbered Cutting sheets into single-value notes to the final format, then separating the marked misprints and numbering the remaining, perfect value notes in a single-note numbering machine, these numbers belonging to a special series.

For the banknotes produced in roll printing, there is as yet no sensible and practically applicable method of maintaining the complete sequence of numbers if misprints have to be eliminated after the webs have been cut into individual banknotes, as is practically always the case. For this reason, all the banknotes, including the misprints, have been numbered in roll printing so far, and only the numbers of the misprints that have been sorted out have been registered in order to have control, while a complete sequence of numbers of the perfect, issued banknotes had to be dispensed with.

The invention has for its object to provide a processing method for both value paper sheets and for paper sheets, with which a sequence of flawless banknotes with complete, complete number sequence is obtained even if the processed paper sheet or paper sheets have irregularly distributed misprints that must be discarded as reject vouchers.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features specified in patent claim 1.

Appropriate configurations of the method according to the invention and of the device according to the invention for carrying it out. Procedures result from the dependent claims.

The method can be carried out by means of conventional numbering machines, which only need to be equipped with special numbering units, and by means of devices and components which are also known from the automatic processing of banknotes, and avoids in a simple manner all the problems previously associated with the production of a complete number sequence; At the same time, processing security is increased, since after the visual inspection, no sheets or bundles of notes from normal, practically fully automatic processing have to be removed and subjected to parallel processing, and because any misprint can still be marked with a clear cancellation within the automatic processing system . Above all, it is possible to achieve a complete sequence of numbers of the completed, perfect banknotes for the first time in web printing, even if, as is practically always the case, the bill of value has irregularly distributed misprints.

• Figur 1a in schematischer Darstellung eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens nach der Erfindung im Falle einer Wertscheinbahn,
• Figur 1b eine Draufsicht auf diese Vorrichtung,
• Figur 2 schematisch eine numerierte Wertscheinbahn mit vier Längsreihen, wobei jedes Rechteck einen Wertscheinaufdruck mit der angegebenen Seriennummer bedeutet,
• Figur 3 das Blockschema zur Steuerung der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1 durch einen Rechner,
• Figur 4 in schematischer Darstellung eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens im Falle von Wertscheinbogen,
• Figur 5 schematisch einen numerierten Wertscheinbogen im Verlaufe seiner Verarbeitung,
• Figur 6 eine schematische Ansicht eines der an einem Numerierzylinder installierten Numerierwerke der Numeriermaschine,
• Figur 6a eine schematische Draufsicht auf dieses Numerierwerk, in vergrössertem Massstab, und
• Figur 6b eine Seitenansicht dieses Numerierwerks.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show it :

• FIG. 1 a shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention in the case of a bill of value,
• FIG. 1b shows a top view of this device,
• FIG. 2 schematically shows a numbered bank note with four longitudinal rows, each rectangle meaning a bank note with the specified serial number,
• 3 shows the block diagram for controlling the device according to FIG. 1 by a computer,
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for carrying out the method in the case of sheets of note,
• FIG. 5 schematically shows a numbered note sheet in the course of its processing,
• FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of one of the numbering units of the numbering machine installed on a numbering cylinder,
• Figure 6a is a schematic plan view of this numbering, on an enlarged scale, and
• Figure 6b is a side view of this numbering.

In the example considered according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the method according to the invention is based on a freshly printed, two-sided printed value track K on which the not yet numbered security prints are arranged in four adjacent longitudinal rows. On one side, these security prints are to be provided with numbers. In FIG. 2, which shows the value-added path K with the security impressions M numbered on this page in the form of rectangles, and in FIG. 1b, the longitudinal rows are denoted by L1, L2, L3 and L4. A person skilled in the art has in the usual way carried out a visual quality check of all the security prints on both sides of the security track K, and all the misprints Mx which later have to be discarded have been provided with a marking which can be read by a detector. This marking is indicated schematically in FIG. 2 by a cross.

The value note path K unwound from a roll 1 first passes through a reading device 2, which has on each side of the value note path K four reading heads assigned to the longitudinal rows, which read the markings on the misprints Mx and enter their positions into a computer 20 (FIG. 3), where these misprint positions are stored. The value ticket path K then comes to a cancellation value 3, which is controlled by the computer 20 and prints all misprints Mx on the side of the value track to be numbered with a cancellation print which is applied to the places provided for the numbers and in FIG. 2 only by the dashed lines Representation of the number is indicated. The cancellation printing unit 3 is preferably installed inside the numbering machine 4.

The value track K prepared in this way runs through the numbering machine 4, which is considered in FIG Example has two numbering printing units 4a and 4b, with which, as is generally the case, the note numbers are printed in two different places on each note. These are essentially conventional numbering printing units, each with a numbering cylinder 5a or 5b, which in the example under consideration carries eight groups of numbering units 6a or 6b, evenly distributed over its circumference, and each with an impression cylinder 7a or 7b. Each numbering unit group has four numbering units arranged in a row parallel to the cylinder axis, which are assigned to the four longitudinal rows L1, L2, L3 and L4 of the security impressions (FIG. 1b). With each full rotation of the numbering cylinder 5a or 5b, eight consecutive rows of banknotes are numbered in succession in the direction of advance of the bill of value K, and, as will be explained in more detail later, in such a way that all of them in a longitudinal row L1, L2, L3 or L4 consecutive, perfect security impressions with the exclusion of misprints Mx receive a consecutive numbering. In the example considered, the security impressions in each transverse row are given the same numerical number, but each longitudinal row is assigned a different number series, which is denoted by the large letters A, B, C and D in FIG. 2.

In order to carry out this novel method of continuous numbering of exclusively perfect security prints, the individual numbering units 6a and 6b can be switched individually and independently of one another and are constructed in such a way that they can be individually controlled by the computer 20. While previously all numbering units installed on a numbering cylinder of a numbering machine were inevitably shifted by one number at every full revolution of the numbering cylinder by a mechanical indexing lever, which is actuated by a fixed control cam, numbering units are provided for the method according to the invention, Numerical roller is switched by a small electric motor assigned to each numbering unit. This motor receives its electrical control signals from the computer 20 mentioned, in which the positions of the misprints are stored.

The numbering mechanisms are therefore not advanced as inevitably with each revolution of the numbering cylinder by one unit, but with the help of individually controllable motors. The well-known indexing lever is used to advance the ten-digit roller and the numerical rollers printing the higher digits, but it is designed so that it only acts on the ten-digit and the higher-digit numerical rollers and is actuated by the control cam with each revolution of the numbering cylinder. However, its function is rendered ineffective by electrical blocking signals from the computer 20 if the tens digit roll is not to be switched on. An embodiment of such a numbering unit will be explained in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 6, 6a and 6b. The tens digit roll and the digit rolls representing the higher digits of a number are coupled in a known manner by the pawls of the indexing lever in such a way that the digit roll is switched on for the next higher digit when the digit roll of the next lower digit switches from 9 to 0. So if the tens digit roll is switched from 9 to 0 by the indexing lever, the hundreds digit roll is taken along by one number in a known manner, etc.

With the exception of the special control of the one-digit roller and the design and control of the indexing lever, the numbering units are of a known type.

The numbering units 6a, 6b are controlled by the computer 20 in such a way that - as long as no misprint arrives in the numbering machine - the consecutive security impressions within each longitudinal row L1 to L4 are numbered consecutively. If a numbering cylinder generally has N numbering unit groups which are distributed over its circumference and are each assigned to a transverse row of security impressions, then each numbering unit 6a and 6b of a numbering unit group is advanced by N steps for each rotation of the numbering cylinder. In the example under consideration with N = 8, there is therefore a switching by eight units, since each individual numbering unit numbers every ninth security note within the relevant longitudinal row.

The arrangement is such that each one-digit scroll can be switched in both directions, so that the switch from z. B. 1 to 9 can be done in just two backward steps. A switchover generally requires a maximum of five switching steps in one direction or the other to set any desired number.

If a misprint Mx occurs in a longitudinal row, then all numbering units of the relevant longitudinal row are controlled by the computer 20 in such a way that the numbering of the correct bank notes following a misprint continues the correct number sequence of the correct bank notes numbered before the misprint. In the course of the continuous numbering, every misprint is simply skipped. The number printed on the misprint is irrelevant because it is illegible due to the overprinting applied previously.

The example of numbering will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2; For better understanding, in the left column of FIG. 2, the numbering units 6a and 6b of the eight numbering unit groups of a numbering cylinder that print the specified numbers in the transverse rows are designated with the Roman numerals I to VIII.

The initial setting of the numbering units I to VIII for numbering the first eight security prints in each longitudinal row L1 to L4 is preferably already performed automatically as a function of the reading by the reading device 2. As long as the reading device 2 does not detect any misprint in a longitudinal row, the numbering units I, II, 111,. .., VIII, which number the security prints in the first to eighth transverse rows, set to the consecutive number sequence 1, 2, 3, etc., before the passage of the area of the security track K having the security prints M through the numbering machine 4 begins. As soon as a misprint is reported, the cancellation printing unit 3 comes into operation as it passes this misprint, and the numbering unit, which numbers the security print following the misprint, is set to the same number as the numbering unit, which prints the number on the misprint; the following numbering units are set again to consecutive number sequence.

According to FIG. 2, the fourth security print in the longitudinal row L1 is a canceled misprint Mx, which is given the consecutive number 4, which, however, cannot be read due to the overprint. The numbering unit V of the same longitudinal row L1, which numbers the fifth security print, has been set to the same number 4, and the three following numbering units V, VI and VII then continue the sequential numbering.

The first eight security prints of the series L2 and L4 each contain two misprints Mx and below those of the series L3 one misprint. In all cases, the correct security prints following the misprint were numbered with a number one unit smaller, that is, with the same number that the misprint received.

The numbering unit 1 of the longitudinal row L1, after it has printed the first number 1, is not set to the number 8 during the following rotation of the numbering cylinder not by eight steps, but because of the misprints Mx which have occurred in the meantime; Likewise, the following three numbering units 11, 111 and IV are switched to the numbers 9 to 11 by seven steps in order to generate a correct number sequence. All in all, all eight numbering units V to VIII and I to IV belonging to the longitudinal series L1, which number the eight flawless security prints following the misprint (with the number 4), were set to a number which is one unit smaller than in the case of non-existence a misprint. Only the numbering unit V and the following are switched on again by eight steps, provided that no further misprint occurs. Since, in the example under consideration, a further misprint Mx occurs in the longitudinal row L1, which has received the number 14 made illegible by the overprint, only the numbering units V, VI and VII were incremented by eight steps, whereas the numbering unit VIII was only increased by seven steps.

The misprints are distributed in a different way in the longitudinal rows L2, L3 and L4, and accordingly the numbering units of these longitudinal rows are also switched in a different way. Since two misprints appear at the fifth and seventh place in the longitudinal row L2 among the first eight security prints, the numbering units I to V are used only by six steps to number the second group of eight security impressions, which in the example under consideration do not have any misprinting VI and VII by seven steps and the numbering unit Vlll by eight steps. Analogous switching takes place in the longitudinal rows L3 and L4.

Since the numbers printed on the misprints are meaningless and also illegible, any number of numbers could be applied to the misprints, in other words, for example, the same number that the preceding perfect security print received. It would also be possible to dispense with the forwarding of a numbering unit that numbered a misprint, and to directly set the number which the next perfect security impression to be numbered by this numbering unit is to receive. It is only essential that the faultless security print following a misprint always receives the number immediately following the number of the previous faulty security print.

The described way of numbering continues and is illustrated in the example according to FIG. 2 up to the sixteenth transverse row and then again for the last three transverse rows of a numbering sequence which is interrupted as soon as perfect long notes up to a certain maximum number of the relevant one in a longitudinal row Number series, in the example considered up to 100 000, are numbered.

In the example considered according to FIG. 2, it is assumed that the number series B in the longitudinal series L2 has been numbered first up to the end number of the cycle in question, that is to say B 100000, while the three other number series A, C and D in the longitudinal series L1, L3 and L4 were numbered until the number A 99 425, C 99 227 and D 99 731. It should be noted that the number of security impressions missing in the longitudinal series L1, L3 and L4 up to the respective final number 100000 has no relation to the number of misprints in the relevant longitudinal series and is not approximately equal to the number of these misprints. Rather, the number of numbers missing in a longitudinal series up to the final number considered 100,000 is equal to the number of misprints in the already numbered longitudinal series minus the number of misprints in the considered, not yet fully numbered longitudinal series. If, by chance, there is always the same number of misprints in every longitudinal row within a certain, complete numbering sequence, then the end number in question is of course reached simultaneously for all four longitudinal rows with the same last transverse row. However, this case is extremely unlikely.

If, after reaching the final number in one of the longitudinal rows, the numbering of the notes in the other longitudinal rows has not yet reached the final number because these longitudinal rows have large numbers of misprints, then the numbering can be completed in two different ways:

On the one hand, the control of the numbering units of the numbering machine can be carried out with the aid of the computer 20 such that all numbering units of a longitudinal series are automatically put out of operation as soon as the end number 100,000 has been printed out in the longitudinal series, while the value track K is pushed forward without interruption and continue all the numbering units of the other longitudinal series in the manner described until the respective end number 100,000 has been printed out. Only then will the numbering machine switch itself off. When an individual numbering unit is put out of operation, the arrangement is such that this numbering unit is moved out of its printing working position and is therefore lifted off the counterpressure cylinder when it passes it. This measure requires that the numbering units are mounted on the numbering cylinder so that they can be moved individually. With the described method of fully automatic numbering in each longitudinal row up to the final number of the relevant number series, there are of course in the longitudinal rows - with the exception of the last numbered - unnumbered security impressions, which are separated out later, counted for control and simply destroyed; if necessary, they can also be numbered in a special process using the numbers of a special series.

On the other hand, one can proceed in such a way that, using single-note numbering units, which are assigned to each of the not yet fully numbered longitudinal rows (in the example considered according to FIG. 1, the longitudinal rows A, C and D), the security impressions of these longitudinal rows are omitted Misprints can be numbered further until the end number 100,000 is reached, which can be carried out in particular semi-automatically or, if necessary, by hand.

After leaving the numbering machine 4, the value track K passes through a reading device 8 (FIGS. 1a and 1b) reading the markings or cancellation markings, and is then in a known strip cutting machine 9, which works as a longitudinal cutter with circular knives, in strip S and behind it in one Known bundle cutting machine 10 cut into single value notes W finished format, the so-called single-use. This bundle cutting machine 10 is a cross cutting unit, the knife 11 of which is indicated schematically in FIG. 1b.

The individual value notes W pass in rows through a device 12, which is also known per se, for eliminating the misprints. This device 12 is controlled by the reader 8, which emits a correspondingly delayed rejection signal for switching over the device 12 when an incorrect pressure is detected. The positions of the misprints determined by the reader 8 must of course match the positions stored in the computer 20, taking into account the known transport speed, so that the results of the reader 8 ensure an additional check of the misprints.

The device 12 for eliminating the misprints, which in the example under consideration cooperates with the drum of the bundle cutting machine 10, works with suction rollers which, when the suction effect is switched off, allow the perfect banknotes to pass without being deflected, so that these banknotes can get onto a conveyor system 13 while when the suction effect is switched on, the misprints are taken along the circumference of the suction rollers and fed to a collecting point 14. A separation device working with such suction rollers is described, for example, in published European patent application No. 80201063.7, corresponding to the US patent 4299325. Other automatically controllable separating devices for notes of value are known, for example, from DE patents 1 499 514 and 1524627 corresponding to USA patent 3412993.

The discarded misprints are counted for control purposes and compared with the number of misprints stored in the computer before they are destroyed.

The transport sequence of the remaining, perfect banknotes now has a correct, complete number sequence within the relevant number series. It is therefore sufficient to stack the consecutive notes on the conveyor system 13 within each longitudinal row in a manner known per se in a bundling station 15 into bundles of notes Z of 100 notes each, as indicated schematically in FIG. 1a. The bundles of notes Z are then fed to a buffer station 18 and finally to an automatic packaging station 19, where the bundles of notes Z are banded, a certain number of bundles of notes, generally ten bundles, are stacked into bundles of vouchers and these bundles of vouchers are banded and packaged after the banknotes have been counted again will. This ensures that each package has a predetermined number of notes that have a complete number sequence within a specific number series. The buffer station 18 allows a large number of bundles of notes to be stored before they reach the banding and packaging station 19. This allows the normal speed of the previous numbering operations, Cutting and rejecting can also be maintained if the operation of the station 19 has to be interrupted for a certain time for some reason or can only be delayed.

In principle, numbering mechanisms can also be used to number the security prints, in which all the number rolls can be electrically controlled independently of one another. In this case, the tens digit rolls and the digit rolls printing the higher digits are also individually controlled by the computer 20. The digit rolls can be designed so that, in addition to the ten digits, they have a non-printing gap or a cancellation mark; then they can be set in the presence of a misprint so that no printing takes place at all or that the cancellation marks are printed. This measure can of course also be applied to those security impressions of a longitudinal row which, as described earlier, still run through the numbering machine after complete numbering of this longitudinal row, until the security impressions in all other longitudinal rows have also been completely numbered up to the final number. When using the numbering units described above, the number rolls of which have cancellation marks, the special cancellation stamping unit 3 may be dispensed with.

On the other hand, it is also possible in principle to prevent the numbering of a misprint by temporarily moving the numbering unit in question out of its working position when it passes this misprint, that is to say shifting it somewhat radially into the interior of the numbering cylinder, so that the misprinting of the numbering unit in question passes through without touching the numbering unit. For this purpose, all numbering units of a numbering cylinder must be assembled so that they can be moved out of their working position. This disengagement could then be carried out mechanically with the aid of an eccentric mechanism or else electromagnetically, the control signals in question being given by the computer 20 for adjusting the position of the numbering mechanism.

In the case of sheets of note produced in sheet printing, the method according to the invention is explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, those processing stations which correspond to the stations in the example according to FIG. 1 a are indicated by the same reference symbols. In FIG. 5, which illustrates a modification of the processing method according to FIG. 4, these reference numerals designate only the processing points concerned.

The still unnumbered sheets of security F provided with security impressions are first checked for incorrect security impressions, the misprints being marked. These marked misprints are marked with a cross in FIG.

The sheets thus checked then pass through the device in the direction of the arrows indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and first pass, one after the other, a reading device 2, a cancellation printing unit 3 and a numbering machine 4, which can be constructed in exactly the same way as in the example in FIG. 1a. The positions of the marked misprints are read by the reading device 2 and stored in a computer which controls the canceling printing unit 3 for canceling the misprints and the numbering machine 4 in the manner already described for the case of a bill of value. In the example considered, each sheet F has 4 x 8 value impressions, which are arranged in four longitudinal rows and eight transverse rows, based on the direction of the passage through the numbering machine 4. Accordingly, each numbering cylinder of the numbering machine has eight groups of numbering units distributed uniformly over its circumference, which number one sheet with each revolution of the numbering cylinder and of which each group has four numbering units arranged side by side for simultaneous numbering of a transverse row. The security prints in each longitudinal row of a sheet belong to a number series A, B, C and D (Figure 5) and are numbered consecutively, but to the exclusion of misprints. In the example according to FIG. 5, the sheet has a misprint in the longitudinal series with the number series A and two misprints in the longitudinal series with the number series B and D. In the following sheet, the number sequence is continued in each longitudinal row.

At the output of the numbering machine 4, no sheet stacks are formed, as is customary in conventional processing, but the sheets are individually processed one after the other. The sheets pass a reading device 8, which reads the cancellation stamps, and are cut into strips S in a strip cutting machine 9, which in turn is a slitter. The strips S are cut into individual value notes W in a bundle cutting machine 10. In the example according to FIG. 4, this bundle cutting machine 10 is also a longitudinal cutting unit, while in the example according to FIG. 5 a cross cutting unit is used for the bundle cut.

In a rejection device 12, which can be controlled by the reading device 8 or the computer in the same way as described in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the misprints are rejected and fed to a collecting station 14. Then, in a bundling station 15, the flawless individual value notes W originating from the same longitudinal row are combined to form value note bundles Z of 100 value notes each with a complete number sequence. These bundles of banknotes Z are banded in a banding station 16 and fed via a transport path 17 to a buffer station 18 and then to an automatic packaging station 19, where ten bundles of banknotes each form banknote packs with the same number series belonging, consecutively numbered notes are stacked, banded and packed.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the mounting of one of the numbering units 6a on the numbering cylinder 5a, which is fastened on the shaft 4 of the numbering printing unit 4a of the numbering machine 4. In the example considered according to FIG. 6a, the numbering unit 6 has six digit rollers 21 to 26 are mounted in the numbering unit frame 28 so as to be rotatable about a common axis 27. The one-digit roller 21 is kinematically independent of the other digit rollers 22 to 26 and is advanced by a small electric motor 29 (FIGS. 6 and 6b) controlled by the computer 20 in the manner described, a gearwheel 30 seated on the motor shaft having an intermediate gearwheel 31 combs, which engages in a corresponding toothing of the one-digit roller 21.

To advance the remaining number rollers 22 to 26, a known two-armed indexing lever 32 (FIGS. 6a and 6b) is provided which can be pivoted about the axis 27 and has an actuating roller 33 at one end and a pawl carrier 34 at the other end with molded pawls 35, the so-called front grippers. This pawl carrier 34 with the pawls 35 is pivotally mounted about an axis 36 on the relevant arm of the indexing lever 32 and is biased by a spring, not shown, in such a way that the pawls 35 are pressed in the direction of the toothing attached to the numbered rollers 22 to 26. The depth of the tooth gaps of the different toothing of the number rollers 22 to 26 and the lengths of the assigned pawls 35 are designed and dimensioned in a known manner so that the switching pawl 35 assigned to the tens digit roller 22 always engages in the toothing of this digit roller, which the hundreds The shift pawl 35 assigned to the numerical roller 23, on the other hand, can only intervene in its toothing if the tens numerical roller 22 is set to the number 9. In an analogous manner, the other pawls 35 for the digits roll 24 to 26 of the next higher digits are always out of engagement with the toothing in question if the digit roll of the next lower digit is not set to the number 9, but is engaged with the relevant toothing if this digit roll of the next lower digit is set to 9. In the event that all digit rollers 22 to 26 are set to 9, but only then, all five pawls 35 are in engagement with the relevant toothings.

With each revolution of the numbering cylinder 5a, the actuating roller 33 of the indexing lever 32 runs on a control cam 37 fixedly mounted on the numbering printing unit 4a, whereby the indexing lever 32 temporarily pivots in the direction of the arrows F1 according to FIG. 6b and thereby the tens digit roller 22 and possibly those additional digit roles be advanced by a step, in which the associated pawls 35 are in engagement with the relevant toothing. However, in order to avoid advancing the tens digit roller 22 when the advancing lever 32 is actuated by the control cam 37 whenever the tens position of the number to be printed is not to be changed, an electromagnet 38 is fixed in the area of the pawl carrier 34 on the numbering frame 28 or mounted on the numbering cylinder, which, when excited, turns the pawl carrier 34 with its pawls 35 against the action of the spring mentioned in the direction of arrow F2 according to FIG. 6b about the axis 36 and thus lifts all the pawls 35 from the toothing of the numerical rollers. In this way, the indexing lever 32 inevitably executes its indexing stroke when it approaches the control cam 37, but because of the shifted pawl 35, the tens digit roller 22 or the other digit rollers for the next higher digits are not advanced. If the electromagnet 38 is not energized, on the other hand, when the indexing lever 32 is actuated, the ten-digit roller 22 is advanced by one step; if it is thereby switched from the number 9 to the number zero, the hundreds of digit roller 23 is simultaneously taken by one step by the adjacent pawl 35, etc.

The device according to the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but rather permits multiple variants, in particular with regard to the design of the individual stations, especially the numbering units and their control.

Claims (10)

1. Process for processing print carriers, printed with security paper prints, in the form of security paper webs or security paper sheets, the security paper prints of which are arranged in the manner of matrices in transverse rows and longitudinal rows, to form bundles of security papers from numbered individual security papers, following which the print carriers, after the spoilt notes detected on them have been marked, pass through a numbering machine and, after the print carriers have been cut up, the spoilt notes are separated out, characterised in that only the satisfactory security paper prints are serially numbered on the print carriers, the spoilt notes being excluded, and, after formation of the individual security papers which are cut to size, the spoilt notes are eliminated, and the remaining serialy numbered individual security papers are assembled to form bundles with complete numerical sequence in each case.

2. Process according to Claim 1, characterised in that, before the print carriers are cut up, the spoilt notes are provided with cancellation prints, applied preferably in the zone of the number prints or of the areas intended for the number prints.

3. Process according to either Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the positions of all spoilt notes are scanned by a detector system and stored in a computer before the print carriers are numbered, that the numbering mechanisms of the numbering machine are controlled individually by means of electrical signals of this computer and that, in case cancellation prints are applied to the spoilt notes, that operation, too, is controlled by the computer.

4. Process according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, in which, for numbering the security paper prints in any longitudinal row, extending in the direction of feed of the print carriers, N numbering mechanisms are used which are distributed over the periphery of the numbering cylinder of a numbering machine and can be shifted during each revolution of the numbering cylinder, characterised in that only the satisfactory security paper prints, placed in succession within any longitudinal row, are serially numbered and, for this purpose, the N numbering mechanisms, associated with a longitudinal row, are set on serial numbers, as long as no spoilt note appears, and are always shifted forward by N numbers on each revolution of the numbering cylinder, but, in the presence of a spoilt note, are shifted in such a way that the numbering of the satisfactory security paper prints, following on a spoilt note, continues the correct numerical sequence of the satisfactory security paper prints which had been numbered before the spoilt note, and that the numbering in any longitudinal row is completed individually when the last number of the numerical series in question, associated with that longitudinal row, has been printed.

5. Process according to Claim 4, characterised in that, after the numbering of the security paper prints in at least one longitudinal row has been completed, the numbering machine continues working in such a way that the security paper prints in all other longitudinal rows are serially numbered until the respective last number of the numerical series in question has been printed and each numbering mechanism is stopped individually after the printing of this last number and that, after the print carriers have been cut up into individual security papers, the unnumbered security papers are separated out, having passed by the numbering machine after the respective numbering mechanism had been stopped.

6. Process according to Claim 4, characterised in that the simultaneous serial numbering of the security paper prints of all longitudinal rows is interrupted when the last number of the numerical series in question has been printed in at least one of the longitudinal rows and that the numbering of the security paper prints in the remaining longitudinal rows is completed subsequently up to the last respective number by means of auxiliary numbering mechanisms

7. Process according to one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the printing of a number on to a spoilt note is prevented by moving the respective numbering mechanism of the numbering machine temporarily out of its working position, while that spoilt note is passing by, or by setting the number rolls of the numbering mechanism to a cancellation mark or to a non- printing space.

8. Apparatus for carrying out the process according to either Claim 1 or 4, comprising a numbering machine (4) ; at least one reading instrument (2) for reading the marked spoilt notes ; cutting machines (10, 11) for cutting up the print carrier (K, F) into individual security papers ; a separation device (12) for separating out the spoilt notes from the transport sequence ; and a station (19) for forming and packaging security paper parcels, characterised in that the reading instrument (2) is situated in the direction of transport of the print carriers (K, F) in front of the numbering machine (4) and is designed for ascertaining the positions of the spoilt notes, that a computer (20) is provided in which the positions of spoilt notes, ascertained by the reading instrument (2), can be stored, that the numbering machine (4) can be controlled by the computer (20) in such a way that only satisfactory security paper prints are serially numbered, the spoilt notes being excluded, that a cancellation printer (3) for the spoilt notes, controlled by the computer (20), is provided in front of the cutting machines (9, 10) and that the separation device (12) is mounted behind the cutting machines (9, 10), can be controlled by the computer (20) or an additional reading instrument (8) and is designed for separating out the individual security papers which have been marked as spoilt notes.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, comprising a numbering machine (4) which contains numbering mechanisms (6a, 6b) and a forward motion lever (32), operated during each revolution of the numbering cylinder, for these numbering mechanisms, characterised in that the numbering mechanisms (6a, 6b) have a units' digit number roll (21) which is kinematically independent of the forward motion lever (32) and of the adjacent tens digit number roll (22), the units' digit number roll being electrically operable by control signals, preferably in either direction, that the forward motion lever (32) acts only on the tens digit number roll (22) and the higher digit number rolls (23 to 26) and that, in spite of the forward motion lever (32) being operated, its operability can be made inactive by an electric blocking signal of the computer (20), particularly by electromagnetic removal of its operating catches from the indentations of the number rolls (22) to 26), the tens digit number roll (22) being coupled or capable of being coupled kinematically with the remaining, higher digit number rolls (23 to 26) in a customary manner in such a way, particularly by means of the operating catches (35) of the forward motion lever (32) interacting with the indentations of the number rolls, that when a number roll is moved forward from number 9 to number 0, the number roll, associated with the next higher digit number, is carried along.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterised in that all number rolls of any numbering mechanism of the numbering machine can be operated, independently of one another, by electrical signals.

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