EP0248307B1 - Process and device for processing printed papers of value - Google Patents

Abstract

The print carriers which bear security-paper prints arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows and on which misprints are marked are numbered in such a way that all security-paper prints arranged in succession in a longitudinal row, but excluding misprints, receive a consecutive numerical sequence. Each longitudinal row contains security-paper prints of a specific numerical series. The print carriers are then cut into strips transversely relatively to the longitudinal rows. Approximately every 100 strips are stacked, in the order in which they occur, into a strip stack (T), in which all the security-paper prints arranged vertically on top of one another, if appropriate mixed with misprints, have a consecutive numerical sequence of a particular series. The strip stacks (T) are cut into security-paper bundles (U) which are sorted according to numerical series by means of a distributor station (10, 11a, 11b) and are fed to as many separate buffer stores (12A to 12F) as there are numerical series. All the buffer stores are followed by stations (13A to 13F) for separating out the misprints, stations (15a to 15f; 16a to 16f) for forming and banding bundles (V), each with 100 security papers, and stations (17A to 17F) for packaging each set of 10 bundles into security-paper parcels (W), all these stations operating in parallel and independently of one another.

Description

The invention relates to a method and to a device for processing printing media printed with security impressions in the form of sheets of paper or sheets of paper, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a method and a device for carrying it out are described in EP-A-0 167 196. The peculiarity of this known processing essentially consists in the fact that the numbering units of the numbering machine do not necessarily advance by one number with each revolution of the numbering cylinder, but rather are controlled as a function of the misprint positions so that the indexing units are interrupted when misprinting occurs . In this way, only the perfect security impressions are numbered consecutively, so that the bundles of security notes that are formed later, after the printing medium has been cut and the misprints have been removed, contain consecutively numbered security certificates with a complete sequence of numbers. Such a complete number sequence of the notes of value contained in a packaged bundle of notes of value is very important both for the organization of the manufacture and distribution and for reasons of security.

After leaving the numbering machine, the print media must be cut into individual value notes, the misprints are automatically sorted out and finally the perfect remaining value notes sorted, bundled and banded in such a way that there are consecutively numbered value notes of the same number series. In general, each bundled bundle contains 100 notes of value, and ten bundles of the same number series are then combined into a package of a total of 1000 notes of value, which must have a sequential number sequence.

Appropriately, with such processing, all security impressions, which are in each case one behind the other in the same longitudinal row, receive a consecutive number sequence. Longitudinal rows are those rows which are parallel to the direction of advance of the print carrier when it passes through the numbering machine. Securities printed in different longitudinal rows then belong to different series of numbers. In the case of such a numbering, when sorting the finished cut notes and after removing the misprints, all those notes that were originally in the same longitudinal rows of the note sheets or in one and the same must be combined into a common bundle or package Longitudinal row of the value track.

When processing note sheets, the numbering can also be carried out in such a way that all the security impressions that are next to each other in a transverse row, i.e. a row oriented perpendicular to the feed direction when numbering, are provided with a consecutive number sequence that is in the same row of the following sheet continues. In this case, of course, when forming the bundles of notes, the correct sequence of those notes that originally lay next to each other in the same transverse rows of successive sheets must be collected.

The present invention, which relates to the processing steps following the numbering, is based on the task of cutting the print carriers and sorting and collecting the notes of value in such a way that a simple, rational and reliable workflow is ensured which does not require complicated and fault-prone processing stations.

This object is achieved by the method described in claim 1.

Expedient refinements of the method in the processing of note sheets result from the patent claims 2 to 4 and in the processing of note tracks from the patent claim 5. The number n is preferably approximately 100.

A device for carrying out the method according to the invention is characterized by the features specified in patent claims 7 and 8.

The main advantages of the invention are as follows:

By first cutting the print carriers into individual strips and then forming stacked strips, there is no need to cut the strips individually into banknotes and to have to sort and collect the individual banknotes obtained using as many stations, which are accommodated in a narrow space next to one another, as there are banknotes per banknotes. Rather, the stack of strips as a whole is cut into bundles of notes, the number n of strips which form a stack being chosen to be so large that these stacks can be cut with conventional cutting machines without difficulty. It is preferable to collect about 100 strips in a stack. In a bundle of notes of value, the consecutively numbered notes of value, which come from the original rows with a consecutive number sequence, are mixed with misprints, but in the correct sequence of numbers.

Since after the bundle cut, the processing of the bundles of notes is now carried out in parallel, i.e. the banknotes of each number series are processed separately, with the interposition of a buffer memory, in parallel working individual stations, all problems associated with a single transfer line are eliminated. There is enough space to house the fast-running collection stations, which process up to 16 notes of value per second, and if a fault occurs in one of the individual stations, the entire system does not need to be switched off. The idea, the print media Processing until the strips of strips are cut into bundles of notes and then only sorting the bundles by number series and further processing in parallel using a distribution station, therefore has significant advantages.

In the case of processing value-added sheets on which the security prints are numbered consecutively in each longitudinal row, the sheet leaving the numbering machine is cut into strips transverse to the running direction with a cross cutter, and then n strips, preferably about 100 strips, are collected to form a stack of strips, which then arrives at the bundle cutting machine. This is unusual for the processing of banknotes of value insofar as, in conventional processing, the webs have previously been cut into longitudinal strips with a slitter, in particular with circular knives.

• Figuren 1 bis 4 schematisch die gesamte Verarbeitungsstrecke für den Fall von Wertscheinbögen, beginnend mit dem vor der Numeriermaschine installierten Lesegerät, welches die Fehldruckpositionen liest, bis zu den Verpackungsstationen für die Wertscheinpakete jeder Nummernserie, und
• Figur 5 schematisch die Streifenschnittstation für den Fall der Verarbeitung einer Wertscheinbahn in einer sonst im wesentlichen gleich aufgebauten Verarbeitungsstrecke.

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

• Figures 1 to 4 schematically the entire processing line for the case of note sheets, starting with the reader installed in front of the numbering machine, which reads the misprint positions, up to the packaging stations for the note packages of each number series, and
• Figure 5 schematically shows the strip cutting station for the case of processing a bill of value in an otherwise essentially identical processing line.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the entire, coherent device for the processing of printing media in the form of value sheets R which are printed in the form of a matrix with security prints in longitudinal and transverse rows. On the basis of a quality control, all the security prints recognized as misprints are provided with a marking which is read by a reading device 1 and, in the example considered, consists of a cross (FIG. 1). The positions of all misprints of a sheet R detected by the reader 1 are stored electronically, for example in a computer. The sheets R are numbered in a numbering machine 2 connected downstream of the reading device 1, then pass through an edge cutting device 3, which carries out the side edge trimming, and then arrive at a corner station 4.

On the sheet R located at this corner station 4, four misprints marked with a cross and the numbering of the perfect security prints are indicated schematically, which in the example under consideration are arranged in six longitudinal rows and ten transverse rows on each sheet. Longitudinal rows are used to designate the rows oriented parallel to the feed direction in the numbering machine 2, while the transverse rows are the rows running perpendicularly thereto. Each sheet R thus contains 6 times 10 = 60 security impressions. Correspondingly, the numbering machine 2 is equipped with 60 numbering units, which are set and forwarded as a function of the stored misprint positions so that with each revolution of the cylinders of the numbering machine 2, the perfect security impressions, one behind the other in a longitudinal row, are numbered consecutively, excluding the misprints. All banknotes in a longitudinal row belong to a certain number series, and the number of different number series, which are designated with A, B, C, D, E, and F, is of course equal to the number of longitudinal rows of a sheet R.

In the sheet R under consideration at the corner station 4, the security prints in the longitudinal rows belonging to the series A, C and F, which contain no misprints, are numbered consecutively with A1 to A10, C1 to C10, etc. The series B, D and E series contain one or two or one misprint, in which the indexing of the numbering unit in question was interrupted, so that only the perfect security prints were numbered consecutively. For this reason, the longitudinal series belonging to the B series contains the vouchers with the numbering B1 to B9, the longitudinal series belonging to the D series contains the vouchers with the numbering D1 to D8 and the longitudinal series belonging to the E series contain the vouchers with the numbering E1 to E9. The number sequence of each longitudinal row continues on the following sheet, so that, for example, the longitudinal row belonging to series A of the following sheet begins with the numbering A11.

In order to exclude misuse of the misprints to be separated out later, these misprints are also provided with a clear cancellation stamp at the places where the note number is normally located by a cancellation printing unit. This cancellation printing unit, which is preferably arranged between reader 1 and numbering machine 2 and is also controlled as a function of the stored misprint positions, is not shown in the drawing.

The above-described type of numbering, the application of cancellation prints and the numbering machine and its special control are described in the aforementioned EP-A-0 167 196.

For further processing, the numbered sheets R are aligned at the corner station 4 by pressing with their right side edge, with reference to the previous transport direction in the direction of the arrow F1, against stops 5, and then, after lowering the stops 5, in the direction of 90 _° changed transport direction in the direction of arrow F2, for example by grippers or belts. The former longitudinal rows are now transverse to the new direction of transport.

In a strip cutting station 6 equipped with circular knives (FIG. 2), each sheet R is divided into ten strips S parallel to the new transport direction and simultaneously trimmed at its edges. The strips are cut perpendicular to the rows that contain the consecutively numbered security prints of a number series. Each individual strip S therefore has so many Securities impressions, such as number series on a sheet, in the example considered six.

The strips S of a sheet lying next to one another then reach a strip collecting station 7. This has a device 7a for the scale-like depositing of the ten strips, which are then pushed over one another in the sense of the two small arrows F3. In this strip group formed from ten strips S, all consecutively numbered security prints of one and the same series of numbers, possibly mixed with misprints that occur, lie one above the other in the correct number sequence. The stripe below shows the lowest numbers of the different number series.

A plurality of such strip groups, each containing the ten strips of a sheet and advancing in the direction of arrow F4, are then stacked in a stacking device 7b to form a strip stack T in the order in which they occur. The number of stripe groups which form a stripe stack T is selected such that each stripe stack T has a predetermined number n of stripes, where n is approximately 100. A stack of approximately 100 strips can then be cut into bundles with no difficulty using a conventional cross cutter. Since in the example considered each sheet R is cut into ten strips S and therefore each strip group contains ten strips, ten strip groups are combined to form a stack of strips, which then contains exactly 100 strips. If the sheets had only eight transverse rows, that is to say each strip group had only eight strips, then twelve collecting processes would be carried out to form a stack of strips of 12 × 8 = 96 strips.

In each strip stack T all consecutively numbered security prints, possibly mixed with misprints, lie one above the other in the correct number sequence, the lowest numbers in FIG. 2 denoted by A1, Bi, ..., F1 in each strip stack below and those with An, Bn. .., Fn designated highest numbers are above. Each strip stack T is then precisely aligned in a device 7c.

The strip stacks T are then conveyed in the direction of the arrow F5 and, in a bundle cutting station 8, which consists of a conventional cross cutter, are successively cut into bundles of notes U, which are then aligned in a station 9. Each bundle of notes U contains only consecutively numbered notes belonging to one and the same number series A, B, ..., F, as indicated by the labeling of the bundles in FIGS. 2 to 4.

After changing the transport direction by 90 _° , the bundles of notes U arrive at a horizontal distribution station 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4), on which they advance in the direction of arrow F6 and are sorted by series of numbers. This is done by distributing successive bundles over as many individual stations working in parallel as there are number series, ie security prints per strip. In the example considered, the number of security impressions per strip is p = 6.

In the example considered, this distribution takes place in such a way that groups of three successive bundles are alternately fed to a vertical distribution station 11 and 11. Here, the vertical distribution station 11 receives all bundles with coupons of the number series D, E and F, while the other vertical distribution station 11 b receives all bundles with coupons of the number series A, B and C. Through these distribution stations 10, 11 a and 11 all bundles p are fed separate processing lines; which each receive the vouchers for one and the same number series and work in parallel and independently of one another. In the example under consideration, three of the processing lines connected downstream of the distribution stations are arranged vertically one above the other, so that the entire device is clearly manageable and easily accessible.

FIGS. 3 and 4 only schematically show the stations of the three processing lines lying one above the other, which are connected downstream of the vertical distribution station 11 a and which further process the value notes with the number series D, E and F. The stations described below are therefore provided with reference numerals, to which the relevant letters D, E and F are appended. The three stations downstream of the other vertical distribution station 11b for the value notes of the number series A, B, C are constructed in the same way and are therefore not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; in Figure 4, only the reference numerals of the relevant stations are given in parentheses. Only the processing stations which are connected downstream of the vertical distribution station 11a are described below.

Through this distribution station 11 a, the bundles U with value coupons of the number series D, E and F are fed to the three separate buffer stores 12D, 12E and 12F. Each of these buffer stores can hold a larger number of bundles of banknotes U, for example up to 1000 banknotes, as indicated for the buffer store 12d by the information D1 to Dm.

For the purpose of eliminating the misprints, the notes of value are removed individually from each buffer memory and scanned by a detector, not shown, which reports the presence of a marking and controls a station 13D, 13E or 13F for eliminating the misprints. The separated misprints go into a storage container 14D, 14E or 14F, while the perfect banknotes are stacked in bundles 15D, 15E or 15F into bundles V of 100 notes each. Since the correct number sequence of flawless, superimposed banknotes was maintained in the previous processing both in the strip stacks T and in the bundles of banknotes U, banknotes of banknotes V now arise, which are free from misprints and in which 100 perfect, consecutively numbered banknotes each ner specific number series are included, as indicated for the bundle V of the number series D by the information D1 to D100.

These bundles V are then banded in a banding station 16D, 16E or 16F. Subsequently, in a packaging station 17D, 17E or 17F, ten bundles V are stacked to form a value packet W, which is packaged and contains 1000 flawless value notes with a complete number sequence.

The processing stations mentioned above are of conventional construction and are known.

In the case of sheet processing, the numbering can also be carried out in such a way that the consecutively numbered security impressions lie in transverse rows in relation to the feed direction when numbering. Each transverse row of a sheet then contains numbers from a specific number series. The number sequence of one row of the sheet then continues in the same row of the following sheet. In this case, the sheets leaving the numbering machine are cut into longitudinal strips, for example, without changing the transport direction, with circular knives of a slitter, whereupon the longitudinal strips of each sheet, like in the collecting station 7, are stacked on top of one another and a certain number of groups of strips stacked on top of one another to form a stack of strips T. are summarized, which then undergoes the further processing described above.

In the case of a bill of value sheet R 'printed with web-fed printing machines as a print carrier, the notes of value in each longitudinal row are numbered consecutively, and the sheet leaving the numbering machine 2 is cut into strips S in a strip cutting station 6' with a cross cutter in a strip cutting station 6 '. These are preferably known cooperating knife rollers. Then, in each case, n strips S are layered in the order in which they occur to form a stack of strips which corresponds to the strip stack T described above and is further processed in the manner described.

If a fault occurs in one of the processing lines downstream of the vertical distribution stations 11 and 11b, only this processing line needs to be switched off until the fault has been remedied, while all other stations of the entire device continue to operate normally and the buffer memory of the faulty working line fills up.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but rather allows for numerous variants with regard to the design and arrangement of the individual stations.

Claims (10)

1. A process for the processing of print carriers in the form of security-paper sheets (R) or security-paper webs (R'), which are printed with security-paper prints and of which the security-paper prints are arranged in matrix form in transverse rows and longitudinal rows and the misprints are marked, into security-paper bundles composed of numbered individual security papers, in which process

- the positions of all the misprints on each print carrier are sensed by a reader (1) and stored,

- the print carriers run successively through a numbering machine (2), the numbering units of which are controlled individually as a function of the stored misprint positions and carry out numbering of the security-paper prints in such a way that the particular security-paper prints arranged within a row receive a consecutive numerical sequence, but when a misprint occurs the incrementing of the respective numbering unit is interrupted and is continued only when the following perfect security-paper print appears,

- the numbered print carriers are cut into individual security papers,

- the marked misprints are separated out, and

- all the remaining consecutively numbered individual security papers coming from the same particular row are combined into security-paper parcels (W) with a complete numerical sequence, wherein

- after numbering, the print carriers (R, R') are cut, perpendicularly to the rows containing respective consecutively numbered security-paper prints, into as many strips (S) as the print carrier has security-paper prints transverse relative to the cutting direction,

- a number n of particular cut strips (S) is stacked, in the order in which they occur, into a strip stack (T), in which all the security-paper prints coming from one and the same row of consecutively numbered security-paper prints are arranged on top of one another in an ordered numerical sequence, if appropriate mixed with misprints,

- these strip stacks (T) are cut into security-paper bundles (U) of the correct size,

- a group of p successive security-paper bundles (U) is distributed to p buffer stores (12A to 12F) working in parallel and collected there, p being equal to the number of security-paper prints on a strip (S),

- and subsequently the security papers from each buffer store (12A to 12F) are checked, in parallel, for any misprints, these misprints are separated out, and security-paper parcels (W), each with a complete numerical sequence, are formed from the remaining perfect security papers.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, where security-paper sheets (R) are concerned, all the strips (S) obtained from a sheet and arranged next to one another after the strip-cutting operation are first placed on top of one another, to form a strip group, and then a specific number of successive strip groups are stacked to form the abovementioned strip stack (T).

3. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strips (S) arranged next to one another after the strip-cutting operation are first arranged in an imbricated manner and are then pushed on top of one another by being gathered together.

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein all the particular security-paper prints arranged within a longitudinal row of a sheet (R) oriented parallel to the running direction in the numbering machine are numbered consecutively.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the running direction of the sheets (R) leaving the numbering machine (2) is changed by 90_°, with the sheet orientation being maintained, and the cutting of the sheets into strips is carried out in a strip-cutting station (6) in the new running direction by means of circular knives functioning as a longitudinal cutter.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, where a security-paper web (R') is concerned, all the particular security-paper prints arranged within a longitudinal row of the security-paper web oriented parallel to the running direction in the numbering machine (2) are numbered consecutively, and in a strip-cutting station (6') the numbered security-paper web (R') is cut into strips transversely relative to the running direction by means of a cross cutter, of which a particular number n of successive strips is stacked into the abovementioned strip stack by arranging these strips preferably in an imbricated manner and then pushing them on top of one another.

7. A process as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number n is approximately 100.

8. An apparatus for carrying out the process as claimed in claim 1, with

- at least one reader (1) for reading the positions of the marked misprints on each print carrier (R, R'),

- a numbering machine (2) designed to be controlled as a function of the read misprint positions and to number consecutively only the perfect security papers within a particular row, excluding misprints,

- strip-cutting and bundle-cutting stations (6; 8) for cutting the print carriers (R, R') into individual security papers,

- a station (13A to 13F) for separating the misprints out of the transport sequence, and

- stations (15A to 15F, ..., 17A to 17F) for forming and banding the perfect security-paper bundles '(V) and for forming and packaging security-paper parcels (W), wherein arranged between the strip-cutting station (6) and the bundle-cutting station (8) is a strip-collecting station (7) designed to stack a specific number (n) of strips (S) into a strip stack (T) in the order in which they occur, wherein a distributor station (10, 11 a, 11 b) is arranged behind the bundle-cutting station (8), wherein the stations for separating out misprints and for forming and packaging security-paper parcels (W) consist of several identical individual stations (13A to 13F, ..., 17A to 17F) working in parallel, of which the number p is equal to the number of security-paper prints in a strip (S), and wherein a buffer store (12A to 12F) is arranged between the particular distributor station (10, 11 a, 11 b) and each individual station (13A to 13F) for separating out misprints, p successive security-paper bundles being distributed to the p buffer stores.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distributor station has a horizontal distributor station (10) and several vertical distributor stations (11 a, 11 b) which are followed respectively by buffer stores (12A to 12C; 12D to 12F) arranged vertically above one another and individual stations (13A to 13C, ..., 17A to 17C; 13D to 13F, ..., 17C to 17F).

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