EP0560640B1 - Device and corresponding method for transferring valuable documents, such as banknotes - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for processing valuable documents, especially thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, comprises a container (50) in which a stack of sheets (B) is stored, and extraction means suitable for taking out the sheets, one by one, from the container. The stacked sheets (B) are individually fixed, over at least a part of their surface, to a flexible, self-adhesive and removable plane support (S); the container has an outlet slot (75), accompanied perpendicularly by a recess (90) where the support of a first sheet is accessible for extraction of this sheet. The support is a sheet of paper, of thickness lying between about 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between about 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one face of which is at least partially equipped with a substance endowed with unilateral and reversible self-adhesive properties. Advantageously, the said face is also equipped with a substance endowed with permanent, hot-bonding properties. In a variant, the support is at least partially impregnated with a substance capable of a permanent alteration when hot, for example change of colour, with migration towards the sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to the transfer of securities, in particular paper securities such as banknotes.

Current bank cash dispensers use note cassettes, enclosed within a cabinet arranged like a safe. To be almost certain to take out the notes one by one from the cassette, it is necessary to use fairly complex mechanisms, the settings of which are delicate.

In addition, special procedures, which need not be emphasized here, are used to transport the cassettes of banknotes to the distributors. As things stand, it is practically impossible to ensure the material intangibility of note cassettes. Different difficulties ensue, including a question of allocation of responsibilities between the various parties involved, in particular in the event of an anomaly in the number of tickets finally available at the distributor level, compared to what was planned.

The present invention seeks to improve techniques for transferring values.

A first object of the invention is to simplify the storage mode of paper values, in particular banknotes, as well as to simplify their unit extraction mechanism.

The object of the invention is also to propose different techniques allowing a thorough control of the integrity of the deliveries of banknotes to the distributors.

The invention applies to different types of thin sheets and in principle fragile. It is particularly interesting when it comes to paper values, such as banknotes, which are difficult to separate from one another, to count, and to handle, due in particular to mechanical properties highly sensitive to ambient conditions. (humidity, in particular). To simplify the explanations, we will speak of banknotes in the following description, rather than thin sheets or paper values.

The proposed device is of the type comprising, in a known manner , a container in which a stack of banknotes is stored, and extraction means suitable for removing the banknotes, one by one, from the container.

Such devices are notably described by the publications EP-A-0 241 342 and US-A-4 828 406, which relate respectively to the storage of micro-circuit cards and the storage of tickets .

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the stacked tickets are individually secured, on at least part of their surface, to a flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support. The container offers an outlet slot, in principle formed along one of its edges, and transversely accompanied by a recess through which the support of a first ticket is accessible for the extraction of this ticket.

Advantageously, the support is a sheet of paper, of thickness between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between approximately 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one face of which is at least partially provided with a substance. endowed with unilateral and reversible adhesive properties.

This face can also be provided with a substance endowed with definitive hot bonding properties. In the event of a thermal attack on the container, the stack of banknotes is permanently glued as a block. As a variant, the support is at least partially impregnated with a substance capable of a definitive hot modification, with migration to the ticket (or the ticket is at least partially impregnated with a substance capable of a definitive hot modification) . The modification is for example an irreversible coloring occurring when hot.

• les figures 1A et 1B montrent un billet de banque et un support, respectivement, tandis que la figure 2 illustre un ensemble billet de banque et support, solidaires ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique des deux coquilles non assemblées d'un conteneur utilisé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique des deux coquilles assemblées du même conteneur ;
• la figure 5A est une vue en coupe de moyens permettant la mise en place du conteneur dans un distributeur;
• la figure 5B est une vue de dessus d'une masselotte;
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessous des moyens de déverrouillage et des moyens de détection d'absence de billet ;
• la figure 7 représente très schématiquement le principe des moyens d'extraction ; et
• les figures 8 ainsi que 9A et 9B représentent un mode de réalisation actuellement préféré pour ces moyens d'extraction.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description below and the appended drawings in which:

• FIGS. 1A and 1B show a bank note and a support, respectively, while FIG. 2 illustrates a bank note and support assembly, integral;
• Figure 3 is a schematic view of the two unassembled shells of a container used according to the invention;
• Figure 4 is a schematic view of the two assembled shells of the same container;
• FIG. 5A is a sectional view of means enabling the container to be placed in a dispenser;
• Figure 5B is a top view of a counterweight;
• Figure 6 is a bottom view of the unlocking means and means for detecting the absence of a ticket;
• FIG. 7 very schematically represents the principle of the extraction means; and
• Figures 8 and 9A and 9B show a currently preferred embodiment for these extraction means.

The attached drawings are, for the most part, certain. Consequently, they form an integral part of the description and can not only serve to supplement it, but also contribute to the definition of the invention if necessary.

Figure 1A shows a bank note B, in exaggerated thickness. FIG. 1B shows a thin support S, also in exaggerated thickness. On at least part (SE) of one of its faces, the support S is provided with an adhesive substance, with removable properties, and this substantially without leaving a trace on the element. glue receptor (reversible unilateral sticker). This substance is for example that used for the self-adhesive butterflies sold under the name POST-IT (registered trademark) by the company 3M.

Figure 2 shows a ticket B secured to the underside of such a support.

Although it is conceivable that the support is smaller than the ticket, the Applicant currently prefers to provide a support of dimensions equal to or even greater than those of the ticket. The glued area SE of the support S is then at least of the order of a quarter of the latter in length; it starts from an edge of the support (advantageously, symmetrically with respect to its middle), extending at most over the width of the ticket.

In a particular embodiment, the support is a sheet of paper, of thickness between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between approximately 0.20 and 0.30 mm. These dimensions may however have to be modified as a function of the thickness of the tickets to be treated, and more generally of their mechanical properties. The use of other materials, synthetic in particular, is possible.

It is important to choose the material well, in particular in terms of the rigidity obtained after gluing the support on a ticket, and the ability of the support (upper) to slide on a ticket (lower).

The general structure of a banknote dispenser is considered to be known. In short, it includes a cabinet housing a banknote container, hitherto a special metal cassette, housed in a sub-assembly of the cabinet arranged as a safe. Electro-mechanical means extract the notes one by one from the cassette, recount them, and convey them to an airlock, which is subsequently made accessible to the user. Electronic means with processing unit (s), screen and keyboard allow a dialogue with the user to check their right to withdraw tickets, generally using a bank card reader with magnetic stripe and / or chip (memory card).

Figure 3 shows a container 50, as used according to the invention, disassembled. Figure 4 shows it assembled.

The container is of rectangular parallelepiped shape, adapted in horizontal cross section, to the format of the banknotes to be processed.

It comprises two shells (52; 54) of elongated shape, generally symmetrical. They have a rectangular bottom (56; 66), two longitudinal walls (58.60; 68.70) and two end walls (62.64; 71.73). The edges 58,60,62,64 of the shell 52 are conjugated with the edges 68,70,71,73 of the shell 54.

It is provided a non-removable assembly without breaking the edges of the shell 52 and the edges of the shell 54. For example, the assembly means comprise six tabs 72-1 to 72-6 projecting and arranged on the walls 58 and 60 longitudinal of the shell 52, as well as, facing, housing forming mortises 74-1 to 74-6, arranged on the longitudinal walls 68 and 70 of the shell 54. The projecting ends of the tongues 72 are each made up of two fingers semi-elastic suitable for snapping into the mortises 74. Such a snap ensures a non-removable assembly without breakage.

A counted stack of banknotes individually secured to their support is prepared, on the same side in the stack. This stack is placed between the two shells, with the support underneath for the bottom bill. Optionally, a flyweight (described below) is placed above the last ticket. Then the shells are assembled (fig. 4).

From this moment, there is a container, formed by the hermetic assembly, which cannot be dismantled without breakage, of the two shells 52 and 54. Through the recess 90, it is possible to access the support S of the lower ticket, in its "sticker" part.

The assembly of the two shells 52 and 54 defines at one end of the container device, near the edge joining the faces 58, 68 and 64, 73, a transverse outlet slot 75 , parallel to this edge. This slot can be made adjustable in thickness, using a movable lip (not shown). The dimensions of the slot are chosen taking into account the width and thickness of the ticket-support assembly. A cover 85 forming a breakable indicator normally obstructs the transverse outlet slot 75. The cover 85 is for example of rectangular shape.

In practice, the shells 52 and 54 are made of a reinforced plastic material. The tongues 72 are made of a semi-elastic plastic material. For its part, the breakable cover 85 is made of a light plastic material. It is for example heat-sealed to the longitudinal wall 58.

As described in more detail below, the non-removable assembly device without breakage as well as the breakable cover will allow to verify that the container has not been opened during transport thereof from the place of manufacture to the place of operation and that no ticket has been fraudulently or inadvertently left during said transport.

• ajouter au support une substance douée de propriétés de collage définitif à chaud (avec la substance autocollante ou à côté ou sur la face opposée) ;
• prévoir une substance susceptible d'une modification définitive à chaud, bien apparente ou non (coloration par exemple). Ceci peut se faire par le fait que le support est au moins partiellement imprégné de ladite substance qui est soumise à une modification définitive à chaud, avec migration vers le billet. L'imprégnation du billet lui-même est envisageable en variante, quoiqu'elle pose certains problèmes.

It follows that the device according to the invention provides secure transport of tickets from the place of manufacture to the place of automatic distribution. Indeed, any break-in leaves traces. It may be advantageous to add one or other of the following precautions:

• add to the support a substance endowed with definitive hot bonding properties (with the adhesive substance or on the side or on the opposite side);
• provide a substance susceptible to a definitive modification when hot, whether apparent or not (coloring for example). This can be done by the fact that the support is at least partially impregnated with said substance which is subjected to a definitive modification when hot, with migration to the ticket. Impregnation of the ticket itself is possible as a variant, although it poses certain problems.

In another variant, which can be combined with the previous ones, an indelible ink cartridge is provided at a wall of the container. In the event of forcing, and / or on external command (during the transport phase, or in the dispenser), the cartridge is released, permanently marking the banknotes. Again, it is unnecessary to emphasize here the particular procedures used for the transport of ticket containers.

Inside the side walls 62 and 74 (Figure 3), is provided a housing 77 allowing the establishment of a mass or a spring (not shown) pressing the notes down.

The container can be attached to its support plate using four tabs (110-1 to 110-4) in the shape of a claw or protruding hook. The four tabs 110 are arranged for example in the vicinity of the slotted end of the container device, in pairs, on the bottoms 56 and 66 of the shells. The protruding end of the legs 110 consists of a hook or claw. Positioning tabs 91 and 93 can be interposed between the pairs of legs 110.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6 illustrate, in a simplified manner, the positioning of the container in the cash dispenser. This comprises, in principle in its safe part, a support plate shown diagrammatically at 100. The claws of the tabs 110 penetrate into openings 112 formed in the support plate 100 to lock on the latter. The locking / unlocking of the container on the support plate is advantageously controlled by a system for detecting the absence of tickets in the container.

In mechanical production, a removable plate 120 is disposed under the support plate 100. The claws of the legs 110 penetrate into openings 125 in the removable plate 120. This necessitates or forces the breaking of the seal. 85. A lever 130 is articulated by two elbows 132-1 and 132-2 on the plate 100. It is subjected to an elastic return towards the removable plate 120. The lever 130 comprises vertical branches 134-1 and 134-2 provided lateral shoulders, such as 136-1, which cooperate with indentations, such as 128-1, of the removable plate 120, to normally block the latter in translation. In the container, a free counterweight 140 (FIG. 5B) is placed above the banknotes. The container being emptied, the notches 136 of the counterweight allow the lever 130 to rise, which frees the removable plate 120 (drawn along arrow F1), and consequently authorizes the unlocking of the fixing of the container. Otherwise, the container can only be removed from the support plate 100 by breaking the hooks of the claws 110-1 to 110-4. This opens a possibility of control, insofar as it requires the return of empty containers in good condition.

Alternatively, the detection of the absence of a ticket in the container is electronic. The locked fixing of the container can also be done electronically and / or electromechanically. The distributor can also alert a central site by telephone to indicate that a container is empty.

Advantageously, the unlocking system described with reference to FIG. 6 is hidden by a protective cover which prevents any unauthorized person from extracting a non-empty container without tearing off the claws 110-1 to 110-4. Removing the protective cover requires the use of a mechanical key held by an authorized agent.

Figure 7, a vertical section of the container along the axis of symmetry, shows the means of extracting a ticket. To clarify the drawing, the interior of the container is simplified to a single ticket with its support (B + S). The mechanisms of Figures 5 and 6 are not shown.

The invention allows considerable simplification of the extraction means. Indeed, these can be reduced to a roller G, or better a train of coaxial rollers of aligned peripheries (transversely to the figure). The roller or rollers G are eccentric on their axis, and / or provided with a non-circular periphery. This periphery is flexible, for example rubber, or another suitable material for carrying paper. The rollers therefore have a movement other than of revolution, which allows them to come into abutment of strong friction on the adhesive part of the support, thereby causing the ticket + support assembly to make it come out through the slot 75. The thickness of the transverse exit slot 75 is adjusted such that it prevents the simultaneous exit of two ticket-support assemblies. It is emphasized that the use of a support of selected geometry and of well-known thickness, and of stable mechanical characteristics, makes it possible to control by a simple slot that a ticket and only one is issued. Then, the handling of the ticket can be done as in known distributors, with recount. However, the improvement according to the invention is such as to avoid the exit of two tickets at the same time; it therefore allows the removal of the recount.

A variant will now be described with reference to Figures 8, 9A and 9B. In this variant, the support plate 100 is internally integral with a frame 140, supporting an electric motor 150, provided with a worm shaft 152. On this screw is mounted a carriage 160, including flanges 164 (of on either side of the plane of the figure) form a slide, and provide guiding in translation from left to right and vice versa. The electric motor 150 is controlled to produce a forward movement (to the right), then return movement (to the left) of this carriage 160. Between the two flanges 164 is mounted a wide roller cam 170, made of flexible material such as polyurethane . The cam 170 is mounted eccentrically on an axis provided with a spring which urges it with limited pivoting anticlockwise (third or quarter turn). Advantageously, a flat 174 (FIG. 9A) is provided for this purpose.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, a single B + S ticket-support assembly is illustrated. In fact, there is a pile of it, pulled down by mass or spring. Preferably, the biasing means is provided with an upward non-return.

At the start, the assembly B + S is lightly supported on the cam 170. As soon as the motor 150 begins to bias the carriage to the right, the spring effect of the axis 172 rotates the cam 170, in the clockwise, towards its increasing radii, resulting in a markedly increased friction with the support. After having, at the start of its pivoting, slipped on the support S, the cam is locked in rotation when the friction with the support has increased. From this moment, the translation of the carriage 160 to the right produces the same translation for the cam 170 (locked in pivoting), therefore for the ticket-support assembly (which must be glued to the right of the cam 170).

At the end of translation (fig 9B), the ticket-support assembly has largely advanced. The die pieces, 182 and 184, are adjusted so that only one ticket-holder assembly can exit at a time.

In addition, one can provide a lever (not shown) normally closing the outlet of the slot 182,184, and actuated in synchronism with the movement of the carriage 160 so as to disengage the slot only when the ticket-support assembly begins to exit therefrom.

An optoelectronic sensor system 190 (FIG. 9B) informs the central processing unit of the correct extraction of the ticket, and of the following conventional operations of an ATM, until the tickets are withdrawn by a transporter which transports the tickets to the exit airlock where they will be taken by the user. Alternatively, one can provide a more direct output of tickets to the user, especially for few tickets, since a recount is not imperative. The shutter lever is then very useful.

Of course, the user separates each ticket from its support.

According to the invention, the transfer of banknotes to the machine comprises the following steps.

The beginning is placed in a safe site (for example the institute of monetary issue). There is prepared a counted stack of tickets, preferably arranged by consecutive numbers. Each ticket has been individually secured, on its underside, to the above-mentioned flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support.

As a variant, this preparation is carried out in a protected room, placed at the service of one or more banks. The support can then receive printed information chosen by the bank.

The stack is housed between the two shells of the container described above, and these two shells are assembled. Advantageously, provision is made for marking the container by bar code, and / or incorporated smart card (with memory), with an identifier of the container, of the tickets, of the recipient distributor, and of the transport operator (s), as well as other information like the date. In an interesting variant, the first support at the bottom of the stack, not glued, or stuck on something other than a ticket, ("priming support") carries said marking information, by bar code and / or magnetic strip Or other.

The container is transported to a distributor. Any thermal attack during transport can be penalized by the permanent sticking of the stack of tickets, and / or by indelible marking of these.

• ôter (si possible) un conteneur vide, et le garder comme preuve,
• manoeuvrer pour mettre en place un conteneur plein à sa place, cette manoeuvre n'opérant que si le conteneur (50) plein est intègre au niveau de son assemblage (72 et 74) et des moyens formant (85) témoin.

In this distributor, an authorized operator must:

• remove (if possible) an empty container, and keep it as proof,
• maneuver to set up a full container in its place, this operation only operating if the full container (50) is integrated at its assembly (72 and 74) and means forming (85) witness.

This gives a high degree of security to the transfer of values until they are placed in the dispenser.

The operator, whose role is to set up the container in the dispenser, checks that the assembly and the means forming a witness are still intact and in place. This verification allows the operator to determine whether the container device has been opened during transport from the manufacturer to the operator.

When the container verifies a predetermined condition (non-deterioration of the assembly and of the indicators; control of the bar code and / or of the smart card), the operator knows that the container has not been altered since its stage initial preparation.

The operating operator then performs service operations in the cash dispenser (service card in the memory card reader, service code on the keypad). The central control unit 12 checks its authorization, and authorizes the opening of the cabinet with a mechanical key. After a positive verification, the operating operator is authorized to replace the empty container device (s) with full container devices. It electronically indicates all information relating to the loaded ticket container. This information can be compared to that of the bar code and the smart card of the container. In the variant with "boot medium", this is extracted and read by the distributor (failing which the container would not be taken into account). The result can be sent to a monitoring center, to which the ATM is connected.

In the case of theft of a container that is totally or partially full, after it has been placed in the dispenser, it is possible, thanks to the identification data for the batch of tickets according to the security protocol mentioned above, to know the tickets as well. stolen.

In addition, the thermal attack of the distributor is sanctioned as for transport.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to banknotes, it is understood that it applies to paper values (or as thin plastic sheets), whatever their nature.

Claims (16)

1. Device for processing paper valuables, especially thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, comprising a container (50) in which a stack of thin sheets (B) is stored, and extraction means capable of taking the said sheets out of the container one at a time, characterized in that the stacked sheets (B) are individually secured, over at least part of their surface, to a flexible flat self-adhesive and removable backing (S), and in that the container (50) displays an outlet slot (75), associated perpendicularly with a recess (90) in which the backing of a first sheet is accessible for extracting this sheet.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the backing is a leaf of paper, with a thickness of between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between approximately 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one face of which is at least partially provided with a substance endowed with unilateral and reversible self-adhesive properties.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said face is also provided with a substance endowed with permanent hot adhesive properties.
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each sheet of the stack of sheets is at least partially impregnated with a substance liable to permanent modification when hot.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the backing of each sheet of the stack of sheets is at least partially impregnated with a substance liable to permanent modification when hot, with migration towards the sheet to which it is secured.
6. Device according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the said substance irreversibly changes colour when hot.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outlet slot of the container is of adjustable width.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the means for extracting a sheet and its backing comprise at least one roller.
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the roller is equipped with a flexible peripheral coating, particularly made of rubber.
10. Device according to one of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the periphery of the roller is subject to a pivoting movement other than a movement of revolution.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (50) comprises two shells (52; 54) of elongate shape, exhibiting mating edges, along which they are joined together by assembly means (72, 74) which cannot be dismantled without breakage, one of the ends of the container displaying the said outlet slot (75) which, during transport, is obstructed by means (85) forming a breakable indicator, whereas the container (50) can be installed in the dispenser device only if the container complies with a predetermined condition relating to the integrity of the said assembly means (72, 74) and of the means forming the indicator (85), which arrangement allows a high degree of security to be conferred on the conveying of paper valuables from their source as far as the dispenser device, and to the installation of the container in the dispenser.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the means forming the indicator (85) comprise a breakable cover consisting of a material made of plastic.
13. Device according to one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the first and second shells (52, 54) consist of a material made of a reinforced synthetic substance.
14. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a support plate (100) capable of supporting, substantially vertically, the container (50) in which is stored, substantially vertically, the stack of paper valuables, fixing means (110) capable of fixing the slotted end of the container device on the support plate (100) in a locked manner, and means of breakage capable of breaking the means forming the indicator (85) when the said slotted end is fixed on the said support plate.
15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes detection means (140, 130) capable of indicating the absence of paper valuables in the container, and means allowing the unlocking (120) of the fixing means only in the absence of paper valuables in the container.
16. Method for transferring valuables, especially thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

    - A) at a secure site,

    - A1) preparing a counted stack of sheets, individually secured, on at least part of one of their faces, and on the same side, to a flexible flat self-adhesive and removable backing,

    - A2) housing this stack between the two shells of a container (50) and assembling the two shells to one another according to an assembly which cannot be dismantled without breakage, defining at one of the ends of the container an outlet slot which is obstructed by means forming a breakable indicator (85), and associated perpendicularly with a recess in which the backing of a first sheet is accessible for extracting this sheet,

    B - transporting the container to at least one dispenser,

    C - at this dispenser,

    C1 - removing an empty container, and

    C2 - manipulating so as to install the full container in its place, this manipulation working only if the full container (50) complies with a predetermined condition relating to the integrity of the assembly (72 and 74) and of the means (85) forming an indicator, which arrangement allows a high degree of security to be conferred on the transfer of valuables until they are installed in the dispenser.

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