EP1730707A2

EP1730707A2 - System for processing value documents

Info

Publication number: EP1730707A2
Application number: EP05730179A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Helmut Dietrich; Guido Grossmann; August HÄUSLER; Reinhard Hofer; Michael Huhnstock; Karl-Heinz Leuthold; Frank Werner
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Priority date: 2004-03-22
Filing date: 2005-03-11
Publication date: 2006-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-11
Also published as: RU2372662C2; EP1730707B1; WO2005096233A3; DE502005009956D1; RU2006137327A; CN101019156A; DE102004013903A1; WO2005096233A2; ATE475158T1; CN101019156B

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for processing value documents, in particular, for quality control of newly -produced banknotes. The invention is characterised in providing means for subsequent processing of those banknotes, monitored by a monitoring device, which do not meet the stack criteria, in particular, the stack criteria relating to the number and/or serial numbers of the stacked banknotes. Said means can introduce, for example, replacement documents, such as separating cards or replacement notes into the stack of the banknotes for subsequent processing. Said means can either be part of the monitoring device itself, in order to permit an automatic subsequent processing of erroneous banknote stacks, or, for example, also integrated in a separate device in which the banknotes for subsequent processing, stacked and monitored by the monitoring device, are subsequently processed. The subsequent processing is thus preferably automatically supported or carried out fully automatically.

Description

System for processing value documents

The invention relates to a system for processing documents of value, such as banknotes or checks, in particular for quality control of newly produced banknotes.

In the production of banknotes, the security paper provided with all security features is printed in a sheet and then usually cut into individual sheets. The freshly printed banknotes thus finished are then checked to ensure that the banknotes meet all the requirements for their condition and e.g. the print is of sufficient quality. The successfully checked banknotes are then stacked, banded and packaged in predetermined quantities before they are put into circulation by the responsible central banks for the first time.

For this purpose, the freshly printed banknotes are usually stacked in complete serial numbers in a banknote sorting device, as described, for example, in DE 1 0225 705 AI by the applicant and in which, for example, the printed image of the banknotes is checked and the banknotes found to be acceptable for 100 packets in different sizes Storage compartments issued, then banded and several packets put together and then packaged as if sealed in foil. The banknotes which are found to be unacceptable, so-called Unfit banknotes, such as banknotes for which the printed image has errors, are collected and destroyed separately. In addition, so-called reject banknotes can be sorted out in the banknote sorting device, which cannot be suitably assessed, for example because of a multiple deduction from the separator. In many countries there are requirements that the freshly printed banknotes have to meet certain criteria for the serial number sequence in the banknote packs when they are delivered to the central banks. For example, as a stacking criterion, it is required that all banknotes in a stack of banknotes, which will also be referred to below as deposits, must be in complete serial number sequence, or at least the serial number of the top banknote of a packet should begin with the final digits "01".

However, if certain banknotes were sorted out during the above-mentioned quality inspection, certain serial numbers are missing in the deposit, so that these banknotes have to be replaced manually. This leads to a time-consuming post-processing of the stack of banknotes.

The object of the present invention is now to enable the provision of stacks of documents of value with specified requirements, in particular for the serial number sequence, in an effective manner.

This task is solved by the independent claims. The dependent claims describe preferred configurations.

Although other documents of value such as checks can also be processed with the aid of the system according to the invention, the present invention is particularly suitable and designed especially for the processing of banknotes. For this reason, only the processing of banknotes is dealt with as an example below.

The invention is therefore based on the idea of providing means for postprocessing those banknotes or other valuable items checked by a testing device. to provide documents which do not meet the specified stacking criteria, the stacking criteria relating in particular to the number and / or serial numbers of the stacked banknotes. These means can, for example, insert replacement documents, such as separation cards or replacement banknotes, into the stack of banknotes to be processed. These means can also either be part of the test device itself, to an automatic. To enable post-processing of incorrect stacks of banknotes or, for example, also to be integrated in a separate device on which the post-banknotes which have been checked and stacked by means of the checking device are post-processed. The post-processing is automatically supported with the aid of associated devices or is carried out fully automatically, so that there is a time and cost saving and, in particular, also a higher level of security in the post-processing with fewer errors and possibilities of fraud in relation to manual activities.

Further advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

1 schematically shows a system for postprocessing checked stacks of banknotes according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic manner, a further system for postprocessing checked stacks of banknotes according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows, in a schematic manner, a further system for postprocessing checked stacks of banknotes according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 shows schematically a first device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with means for inserting separating cards,

FIG. 5 shows a device according to the invention for postprocessing marked stacks of banknotes with means for inserting replacement banknotes,

FIG. 6 shows schematically a second device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with means for inserting replacement banknotes,

FIG. 7 schematically, another device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with means for inserting replacement documents,

FIG. 8 schematically, another device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with an integrated serial number printer,

FIG. 9 schematically shows a further device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with several parallel serial number printers,

FIG. 10 schematically shows yet another device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with several serial number printers and FIG. 11 schematically shows yet another device according to the invention for checking stacks of banknotes with several serial number printers.

It should be particularly emphasized that the features of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments mentioned in the description can be used in combination or else completely or at least partly independently of one another and from the subject matter of the main claims.

A first exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention for quality inspection and subsequent post-processing of freshly printed banknotes that have already been cut into individual blanks will now be explained with reference to FIG. In the context of the present invention, a system is understood to mean both the corresponding devices and the associated methods for using the devices.

In the banknote printing company or in the central bank, the newly produced banknotes BN are checked again in a banknote checking device 1 before the first circulation. In particular, the individual banknotes BN are input in a stacked form and in a seamless serial number sequence into an input compartment 2 of the banknote checking device 1. After being separated by a separator 3, the status of the banknotes is checked in a checking device 4, for example by performing an electrical, magnetic or optical check, in particular an optical print image check, for example to determine the appropriate position and quality of the printed image of the banknotes BN check. Unless it can be completely ruled out that fraudulent entries are inserted into the freshly printed banknotes stack BN to be checked, in an authenticity check can also be carried out on the test device 4.

The banknotes checked in this way are then sorted and issued. All reject banknotes are stored in the output compartment 5, e.g. could not be checked due to double deduction. The other output compartments 6 serve to hold the checked banknotes BN, which are found to be acceptable, the so-called fit banknotes. The tested and e.g. Because of defects in the printed image for banknotes which are found to be unacceptable, the so-called Unfit banknotes, they are preferably stacked separately from the Fit banknotes in another output compartment, preferably also separately from the reject banknotes, in order to subsequently destroy them.

However, it may also be the case that the unfit banknotes are stacked together with the fit banknotes in a common output compartment 6. Data is then stored in an EDP-supported control device 8, which is either a component of the banknote checking device 1 itself or an external component, which provides information about which banknotes BN are in the associated output compartment 6 by the checking device 4 as fit and / or Unfit banknotes have been assessed. This can be done, for example, by specifying the position of the respective Fit or Unfit banknotes in the stack, such as specifying that the 5th, 13th and 37th banknote in the stack is an Unfit banknote, or by specifying, for example, the serial numbers of the respective banknotes BN is read in the checking device 4 and, for example, data is generated in the control device 8 which indicate or let conclude which banknotes in the stack are fit or unfit banknotes or which fit banknote contains an unfit banknote. The serial numbers, the fit banknotes, are preferably specified here, since errors in the serial number reading can come. As will be explained in more detail below, the Unfit banknotes in the stack can also be specially marked. For example, in the exemplary embodiment mentioned, there may therefore be only a single output compartment per se, insofar as the data on the categorization of the checked banknotes are made available in another way.

In addition, in the output compartments 6 either a certain predetermined number of banknotes, such as 100 banknotes of the specified test category are stacked or preferably all those banknotes of a specified quantity in the input compartment, e.g. again 100 banknotes BN, which have been assigned to the given category for this stacker (Reject, Unfit, Fit). Therefore, this may well be less than the previously entered number of 100 banknotes if any of the 100 banknotes in the input compartment have been sorted into other stackers as reject or unfit banknotes. Both cases are briefly referred to as "deposit" below.

The banknotes issued in the output compartments 5 to 6 are loosely stacked and are still unbanded. Those stacks of banknotes, ie deposits with fit banknotes, which still have to be reworked due to the occurrence of reject and / or unfitted banknotes because they do not meet predetermined stacking criteria for the deposit, are then manually or automatically removed from the output compartment 6 of the banknote checking device 1 removed and for post-processing in a separate buffer section, such as transferred to a conveyor belt 9, for example, by entering them in a receptacle 10 located on the conveyor belt for one or more separated deposits. Provision can also be made for deposits with exclusively fit and without unfit banknotes also to be transferred to assembly line 9 or to be processed further in another way. It can also be provided that these deposits which are not to be reworked are banded directly in the banknote checking device 1 or in a separate unit. The stacking criteria can, for example, indicate that each deposit must always include 100 banknotes in a continuous serial number sequence.

In order to simplify a subsequent post-processing of the deposits located in the receiving container 10, e.g. Data are generated in the control device 8, which link the receptacle 10 with the deposits contained therein.

At a post-processing station 12 assigned to the banknote checking device 1, an operator then removes the receptacles 10 transported on the conveyor belt 9 with the deposits to be reworked. Then, depending on the specifications of the associated central banks, the operator removes the banknotes to be sorted out and inserts the necessary replacement banknotes in order to e.g. to provide a bundle with a given serial number sequence and a given number of fit banknotes.

These replacement banknotes can either be banknotes which have predetermined serial numbers reserved for the replacement banknotes, which do not necessarily have to match the serial numbers of the reject or unfit banknotes to be replaced or replaced. These will then be available for sorting, preferably directly at the post-processing station 12. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the banknotes with a desired serial number, corresponding to the serial number of the banknotes to be sorted out from the bundles to be reprocessed or already sorted out in the banknote checking device 1, are only subsequently produced. Unnumbered banknotes, which have already been completely manufactured except for the missing serial number and which have already been checked for quality visually by a person or by machine, are preferred for this purpose subsequently with the desired serial numbers of the banknotes to be sorted out or rejected for the currently or subsequently at the post-processing station 12 to be processed deposit printed by a printing device 14. The reprinted replacement banknotes are then inserted at the correct place in the stack at the postprocessing location 12.

The data about the banknotes to be produced and / or to be sorted out and / or to be sorted in are preferably automatically transmitted to the printing device 14 or the postprocessing station 12. The data is e.g. transmitted wirelessly by radio from the control device 8 in digital form.

Now that the replacement banknotes have been inserted into the deposits to be reworked, the bundles are banded in a banding machine 15 and, if necessary, several banded bundles are packed, such as, for example, shrink-wrapped in film. The banded and packaged bundles can then be placed back on the conveyor belt 9 for further processing. FIG. 1 shows, for example, that the bundled bundles of banknotes 7 are again placed in the receptacle 10 on the conveyor belt for removal. However, it is also possible that, in particular in the case where the deposits that are not to be reworked are also put onto the conveyor belt 9 unbanded, they are later banded and / or packaged together with the reworked bundles.

Furthermore, it can also be provided that the banknotes to be reprocessed are first collected and stored before they can be determined at a later point in time, e.g. can be reworked in the manner mentioned above.

In all of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, it is particularly advantageous if the banknotes are loose, i.e. are unbanded and unpacked and are only banded or packaged after post-processing. This enables a particularly effective and less labor-intensive post-processing.

As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, it can also be provided that there are several banknote checking devices 1, each with a postprocessing station 12, or that there are several postprocessing stations 12 assigned to an individual banknote checking device 1, two of which are shown in FIG the post-processing station 12 of Figure 1 can be configured. As a result, the throughput rate when checking the freshly printed banknotes can be decisively increased, since the banknote checking devices 1, which are usually operated at very high speeds of more than 2000 banknotes per minute, do not have to be stopped continuously until the associated postprocessing has ended. In this case, the replacement banknotes with the desired serial numbers can also be reproduced at a central printing facility 14 assigned to a plurality of postprocessing locations 12 based on the data supplied by the control device 8 and then assigned and delivered to the corresponding postprocessing locations 12 and / or the respective deposits.

The sorting out of reject and / or unfit banknotes to be sorted out and / or the sorting in of replacement banknotes can be done not only manually, but also in semi or fully automatic form.

For example, According to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, it is possible that a further bank note processing device 20 is available at the post-processing station 12, which device preferably, e.g. is connected to the banknote checking device 1 via a wired or preferably wireless data line 26.

In particular, a counter with only one output compartment 23 can be provided at the post-processing station 12, for example. The operator enters all the banknotes of a deposit 11 to be reworked into the input compartment 21 of this counter. The banknotes from the input compartment 21 are then separated and transported by a checking unit 22, which at least counts the banknotes of the input bundle and subsequently deposits them again in the output compartment 23. On the basis of the data assigned to the respective deposit by the banknote checking device 1, the stacking of the banknotes in the single output compartment 23 will be stopped when a banknote to be sorted out has just been placed in the output compartment 23 and / or when a replacement banknote to be inserted has been placed on the last one stacked in the output bin 23 Banknote to be placed. After removing, inserting or replacing the respective banknote, the singling, counting and stacking process, for example upon manual input, will be started again and, if necessary, will be stopped later if further banknotes are inserted at other positions in the stack and / or to be replaced.

As mentioned, data is transmitted to the counter 20 which indicates or from which it can be concluded which banknotes and / or at which positions in the stack of banknotes are to be sorted in or out. In the event that a serial number reader is integrated in the counter, this data can e.g. data such as the serial numbers of the banknotes to be exchanged or like the serial numbers of the banknotes according to which a subsequent banknote is to be exchanged.

By using the counting device, locating the points at which bank notes are to be sorted in and / or out during postprocessing is accelerated and much less prone to errors.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment. The banknote checking device 1 according to this exemplary embodiment has means for identifying the positions in the stack at which banknotes are to be sorted in and / or out during postprocessing. In particular, for example, marking elements such as TK memory cards can be introduced into the banknotes to be reworked. The marking elements preferably have a different strength and / or shape and / or coloring than the bank notes in order to be able to distinguish them better from them. The separating cards TK can have extensions that protrude beyond the usual banknote format. This ensures that banknotes marked with TK bundles of ten can be recognized as marked immediately, both automatically and manually.

The banknotes entered into the input compartment 2 and separated by the separator 3 pass individually through the test device 4. If the test device 4 categorizes a banknote as a reject banknote that cannot be assessed, it is discharged from the banknote stream 13 and into an output compartment 5 for Reject banknotes filed. In such a case, a separating card TK is inserted synchronously into the resulting gap in the banknote stiOm via a deflection point 34. This means that every conceivable gap can be closed dynamically, even if several gaps follow one another directly. In this case, several separating cards are then preferably introduced into the banknote stream one after the other, preferably one for each missing banknote.

It is possible that the stacked marking elements are only separated and introduced when a banknote gap actually has to be filled. In order to be able to insert a marking element into the appropriate position in the banknote stream even at high speeds, a separating card circuit 30 can alternatively also be used, as shown in FIG. A sufficiently large quantity of separating cards TK will be present in an input compartment 31, from which the separating cards TK are then separated continuously, kept in a transport-synchronous circuit by means of a belt transport system 36 and then stacked back into the input compartment 31 of the separator by means of a stacker wheel 37 become.

If a banknote gap is then to be filled, a separating card TK is removed from the separating card circuit and over by means of a switch 35 the deflection point 34 is synchronously introduced into the resulting gap in the banknote stream 13. A switchable mechanical switch can be present at the deflection point. In order to enable faster entry without the need to switch points, a position-fixed, non-switchable deflecting element can also be used that the separating cards TK are deflected at the deflecting point 34 in the direction of the connected banknote stream 13.

The thus completed banknote stream of a deposit is then stacked in one of preferably several output compartments 6, which are alternately filled with deposits.

The separating cards TK can also be provided with data about the banknotes to be sorted in and / or out for post-processing of the bundle, e.g. be labeled with the serial number of the banknote to be inserted in order to facilitate manual insertion. However, the separating cards can also themselves only have an identifier, such as an individual bar code, and the data about the bank notes to be sorted in and / or out can then be assigned to the respective bar code in a database.

While it was described above that for marking banknotes to be exchanged, either marking elements are inserted into the stack and / or data about banknotes to be exchanged are generated which are subsequently used for post-processing, the reject and / or unfit banknotes to be sorted out can also be be marked yourself. This facilitates automatic or manual recognition of these banknotes during the post-processing of the respective deposits. For this purpose, for example, a method can be used as described in WO 01/85457 AI. However, markers are preferably on the banknote paper, for example by printing or spraying them with a clearly visible ink, which make up an area of 1 cm ² , particularly preferably 5 cm ^{2, of} the total area of a banknote page. Such obviously visible markings make post-processing even easier.

If the bundles to be reworked are finally banded, it is alternatively or additionally also conceivable to label or mark the band of the bundle concerned accordingly.

An elementary advantage of the system described is that the normal checking process on the bank note checking device 1 is not interrupted and thus has no adverse effect on the throughput.

At a workstation external to the machine, the number-correct gap filling can be done either mechanically or manually by replacing the TK separation card or marked banknotes by a correspondingly numbered replacement banknote.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a semi-automatic post-processing of marked deposits with the aid of a separate post-processing device 60.

All banknotes of a deposit to be post-processed are input into an input compartment 61 of the post-processing device 60 and have been provided with parting cards, for example, by means of the parting card circuit 30 in FIG. As mentioned, either banknotes, in particular immediately after the separation card, are to be inserted at the positions in the stack marked by the separation cards and / or subsequent banknotes are to be exchanged. the. After being separated by the separator 62 and passed through a test device 63 for recognizing the separating cards TK, which can distinguish between banknotes BN and separating cards TK, for example by means of an optical measurement, the separating cards TK are output into the output compartment 64.

Replacement banknotes BN to be inserted are provided in a separate compartment 65 and are then introduced into the banknote stream by a control device (not shown) of the postprocessing device 60 when a separating card has just been removed from it. The replacement banknotes BN can in turn, e.g. either completely manufactured banknotes with given serial numbers or also banknotes without serial numbers, which are completely manufactured except for the application of the serial number. In the latter case, the replacement banknotes BN free of serial numbers, after being separated by a separator 66, are transported through a printing unit 67 or another numbering device in which the respective serial number is printed.

The amount of the serial number to be printed in each case can be transmitted to the control device of the postprocessing device 60, preferably via a wired or wireless data connection from the banknote sorting device 1, in which the separating cards had been inserted into the respective stack of banknotes to be post-processed. Alternatively, the data on the serial numbers of the banknotes to be inserted can also be entered manually. Furthermore, the post-processing device 60 can also have a test unit which detects data, such as, for example, the serial number of the individual banknotes in the deposit or data present or assigned to the separating card, in order to determine the serial numbers of the banknotes to be printed therefrom. For example, if an otherwise complete serial number The separation cards for missing banknotes are also inserted, the banknotes to be classified next are printed with a serial number that is 1 larger than the serial number of the last recognized banknote before the respective separation card.

Now that the separating cards have been sorted out and associated replacement banknotes have been sorted into the banknote stream, a subsequent further checking device 68 can be provided in order, for example, to to check whether all the serial numbers in the specified manner are actually present in the now processed banknote stream of a deposit. If this is not the case, e.g. due to printing errors in the printing unit 67, the associated banknotes are output in an output compartment 69. However, the banknotes tested as acceptable go into an output compartment 70.

If no unacceptable reject and / or unfit banknotes have been issued into the output compartment 69 during a deposit, the associated deposit is completely in the compartment 70 and can preferably be banded and packed there already. If, however, unacceptable reject and / or unfit banknotes have been issued in the reject compartment 69, the associated deposit together with the already accepted banknotes from the deposit in compartment 70 can be removed and manually processed in a conventional manner.

Alternatively, irrespective of the test result of the further test device 68, all banknotes of a deposit can be output in one of the compartments 69, 70 and, for example, by means of a visual and / or acoustic display on the postprocessing device 60, for example directly on the particular output compartment 69, 70 concerned Operator the need for further post-processing of the respective deposit are displayed. As an alternative or in addition, the checking device 63 of the postprocessing device 60 can also be designed to recognize marked banknotes, for example by recognizing the above-mentioned sprayed-on marking inks. In this case, these recognized marked banknotes are sorted out into the output compartment 64.

It was explained above to insert marking elements in the banknote stream or to mark banknotes to be sorted out in order to mark the places in the stack at which banknotes are to be sorted out and / or sorted in during postprocessing. According to a further alternative, the postprocessing can also take place directly in the banknote checking device 1 itself.

FIG. 6 shows such an example with a sorting device 1. The banknotes BN to be checked are entered into the input compartment 2 of the sorting device 1, by means of the separator 3 individually transported through a checking device 4 which detects the condition, in particular the position and / quality of the printed image checks the BN banknotes. The reject banknotes, e.g. could not be recognized due to multiple deductions, into the output compartment 5 and the Unfit banknotes, in which e.g. Printing errors were found, output into the output tray 40, which may also include a device for destruction, such as to shred the Unfit banknotes, can have a so-called shredder.

In contrast to the separation card circuit of FIG. 4, there is now an analog circuit of replacement banknotes BN according to FIG. Pressure, etc. have been checked and again in the order required by the central bank Can be introduced into the banknote stream 13 via the switches 35 and 34 in order to replace the reject and / or unfit banknotes of a deposit previously removed. This exemplary embodiment can be used particularly advantageously if the serial number of the inserted replacement banknotes BN is not important.

Subsequently, all banknotes BN pass through a further test device 41, which can be constructed in accordance with the first test device 4 and is used to finally ensure once again that the appropriate number of replacement banknotes has been introduced into the transport stream.

The deposits thus completed are then alternately placed in the output compartments 6 for further processing, e.g. Banding and packaging issued. If it is determined by the checking device 41 that the banknotes BN transported past have an error or cannot be recognized, the associated deposit will be specially marked, e.g. also by means of a corresponding warning display on the ■ respective output compartment 6, so that these defective deposits have to be reworked manually.

Another idea of the present invention is that if the post-processing takes place directly in the banknote checking device 1 itself, the means for post-processing, such as the means for inserting separation cards according to FIG. 4 or replacement banknotes according to FIG. 6, in a separate module of the banknote checking device 1 are present. This has the advantage that even existing modular banknote checking devices can be easily upgraded with this function. FIG. 7 shows an associated example of a banknote sorting device 1 which has a plurality of separate modules 45 to 50 in its housing 44. These are, for example, a separator module 45 with an input pocket 2 for banknotes BN and separator 3, a test module 46 with a test device 4, a reject module 47 with an output pocket 5, an Unfit module 48 with an output pocket 40 and a fit banknote module 50 with an output compartment 6. The banknote sorting device 1 according to FIG. 7 is now characterized in particular by the fact that the fit banknote module 50 is preceded by a further module 49 which has a means 51 for postprocessing, in particular an input compartment 52 with a separator 53, in order to prevent the occurrence of To be able to insert reject and / or unfit banknotes of a deposit, optionally replacement banknotes and / or marking elements in the banknote stream of the deposit.

Since the individual functional components of the banknote sorting device 1 have a modular structure and preferably have standardized transport transfer points in order to be able to transfer banknotes from one to an adjacent module, the module 49 in particular can also be retrofitted into an already existing banknote sorting device 1 for postprocessing, in that either another module that is not absolutely necessary is replaced or module 49 is additionally installed in the appropriate place in the housing.

According to yet another independent idea of the present invention, serial number printing can also only take place in the checking device itself, by checking freshly printed banknotes that do not yet have a serial number and printing the specified serial numbers on the remaining banknotes of suitable quality only after sorting out the Unfit banknotes become. This check of the banknotes already before and not only after the serial number printing leads to a significantly reduced serial number printing than a conventional check, in which the fully printed banknotes are first checked in a machine.

According to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, banknotes BN which have already been completely produced except for the missing serial number print and which already have all the other electrical, magnetic and optical security features are entered into the input compartment 2 of a banknote sorting device 1, separated by the separator 3, by a testing device 4 on their quality, such as checked the quality and position of the printed image, the unrecognized reject banknotes in a compartment 5 and the recognized Unfit banknotes in a compartment 40.

The remaining fit banknotes are then provided with a serial number by means of a serial number printing unit 75. As a printing unit, e.g. either a mechanical printing unit or e.g. a laser printing unit can also be used, which burns the serial numbers into the banknote paper. The banknotes provided with the serial number are then preferably checked again in a further checking device 76, in which in particular the correct printing of the serial numbers is checked.

Subsequently, the unfit banknotes then still recognized are collected in a compartment 77 and the fit fit banknotes with the appropriate quality are issued in accordance with predetermined test criteria for a deposit in one of the output compartments 78 and 79, respectively. After a predetermined number of bank notes corresponding to a desired deposit have been stacked in compartment 78, for example, the following bank notes become one other deposits stacked in the other compartment 79 in order to have time to be able to remove the deposit in the compartment 78 or to be able to carry it away automatically. The deposits thus finished are then banded and packaged in the banknote sorting device 1 itself or with an external device.

This embodiment has the advantage that, due to the checking of the serial number-free banknotes, it is possible to provide checked deposits with any serial number sequences in a particularly effective manner, without the need for external post-processing due to reject / unfit banknotes.

In the event, however, that an uninterrupted serial number sequence of the banknotes of a deposit is desired, but after the serial number printing, faulty banknotes BN have still been sorted out by the further checking device 76, so that the respective serial numbers are missing, it is necessary that the corresponding faulty stack in the respective output tray 77, 78 still has to be reworked.

If there is a sufficient distance between the individual bank notes BN to be checked, it can also be provided that the serial number of a bank note recognized by the further checking device 76 as incorrect is then printed on the immediately following bank note which has not yet been printed with the serial number. If this is checked by the further checking device 76 as not faulty and stacked in the respective output compartment 78, 79, it would be avoided that there are still banknote deposits to be reworked. If this next banknote has also been checked as defective, the following banknote is also printed with the corresponding serial number accordingly. If the distance between the individual banknotes to be checked and printed is not so large that the previous exemplary embodiment is applicable, it can also be provided that after a banknote recognized by the further checking device 76 as incorrect, not the immediately next one Banknote is printed with its serial number, but a subsequent banknote stream, which is still free of serial numbers, is printed with the corresponding serial number in the banknote stream, after successful inspection is stacked again in the respective output compartment 78 or 79 and all banknotes printed in between, regardless of the result of the inspection, in a separate one Subject to be sorted out. This can also ensure that there are no banknote deposits yet to be processed. The latter two variants can also be used positively if the test device does not test the serial number-free banknotes but only the banknotes printed with the serial number.

Another significant advantage of such devices with integrated post-processing is that the integration of post-processing in the checking device also prevents unauthorized access to the checked banknotes. This can be supported in particular by the fact that the bundling and / or packaging of banknote bundles also takes place in the area of the test device which is protected from external access.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 8, the banknotes are preferably printed at the same speed as they are transported in the transport branches connected to them. If the serial number printing unit 75 needs more time to go to the next one to switch over the serial number printing, either a plurality of serial number printing units 75 can be provided one after the other, for example printing alternately, or a plurality of transport branches can be provided, each with at least one serial number printing unit 75, as is shown, for example, in FIG. 9.

This exemplary embodiment differs from that of FIG. 8 in particular in that the individual banknotes which are checked as acceptable by the checking device 4 are alternately deflected into one of three transport branches, each of which has a serial number printing unit 75 and a subsequent output compartment 78. As a result, there is a greater distance between the individual banknotes to be printed in the individual branches.

According to the further exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10, it can also be provided that, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9, each branch does not have its own output compartment for receiving the printed banknotes, but there is at least one output compartment 78 common to several branches, e.g. in the illustrated case e.g. one compartment 78 for all three transport branches.

While in all three exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 10 described above, the transport speed of the individual banknotes in the device 1 is preferably essentially constant, in particular in the case of printing units 75 with a lower printing speed, the banknotes can be reduced in speed before they pass through the printing unit 75. In the case of a roller transport, this can be done, for example, by driving the transport rollers in the area in front of the printing unit 75 at a reduced speed. However, an exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11 can preferably also be implemented, in which the banknotes to be printed are transferred alternately into a plurality of transport branches, each of which has a stacking means, such as a stacker wheel 90, which in the usual way has a spiral stacker wheel 91, a stripper 92 and a storage area 93 for stacking the stripped banknotes BN. By placing those on the counter

If the banknote BN lying thereon is again transported in a direction T to a subsequent printing unit with a subsequent output compartment 78 by a take-off device 94, it is possible in a particularly simple manner to reduce the transport speed of the banknotes BN to the speed necessary for the printing unit 75 in a particularly simple manner to reach.

In order to enable a sufficiently high throughput of the banknotes BN transported to the stacker wheels 90 at a higher speed in spite of the speed reduction, as shown in FIG. 11, preferably several transport branches with associated means for speed reduction (stacker wheel 90) and subsequently Printing unit be available.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 11, in particular, only every third banknote of the banknote stream of a deposit will be shot into the stacker wheel 90 of each transport branch. As a result, there will be sufficient time for the removal of the only banknote lying on the support surface 93. However, if the banknotes lying on the storage surface 93 are not removed quickly enough so that several banknotes are deposited there in a stack, the withdrawal device can

94 also have a separator for separating the bank notes BN lying on the storage surface 94. Optionally, in these exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 9 to 11, a further test device downstream of the serial number printing unit 75 can be provided for checking at least the serial number print and, if appropriate, a subsequent branching to a plurality of output compartments (for example for fit vs. unfit banknotes).

According to a further idea of the present invention, a spindle counter can also be used to insert replacement banknotes or marking elements or to mark banknotes to be exchanged. These are devices in which a bundle of banknotes is clamped on one side and the banknotes are individually opened one after the other in order to be able to quickly count and / or check the banknotes in the stack, as is the case e.g. in DE 195 40 156 AI of the applicant is described.

If, based on a previous check, e.g. in the spindle counting device itself or in an upstream banknote sorting device, it has already been determined at which points in the stack banknotes are to be inserted or exchanged, then for example marking elements can be inserted in the correct position in the opened stack or the respective ones to be sorted out Banknotes can be marked, for example, by spraying, in order to make it easier to find these banknotes more quickly during subsequent processing. In order to simplify the automatic and or manual insertion of replacement documents into the stack, the opening process of the spindle counting device can be interrupted in accordance with the description for the counting device 20 of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 when a replacement document is to be inserted and / or a marking is to be made. As has already been mentioned several times, in the devices in which banknotes are inserted into a banknote deposit to be post-processed, a subsequent check and at least counting of the post-processed banknotes is preferably also carried out in order to ensure that too many or too few banknotes are not erroneously included in a deposit available. As an alternative or in addition, this automatic counting can also take place in an external device and preferably before banding and packaging with the same. For example, a device can be provided that does not sort the entered banknotes, but only counts them and then bands and optionally packs the counted banknotes.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the invention is not only limited to checking and attaching serial numbers, but instead other customization data which distinguish the individual value documents from one another can also be attached or checked. For example, in an individualization facility also an individual barcode on a non-individualized, i.e. a banknote that has not yet been provided with this individualization data or individual data is preferably irreversibly written into a chip of the banknote.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A system for quality checking of documents of value, such as banknotes (BN) or checks before being put into circulation, comprising a checking device (1) with an input compartment (2) for a stack of documents of value to be checked that have not yet been put into circulation (BN), a test device (4) for checking and classifying the state of the value documents entered in the input compartment, one or more storage compartments (5, 6) for stacking the checked value documents depending on the classification determined by the test device and predetermined stacking criteria, characterized by

Means (12, 20, 60) for postprocessing those value documents checked by the checking device (1) which do not meet the specified stacking criteria, the stacking criteria relating in particular to the number and / or individualization data, such as a serial number of the stacked value documents.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the testing device (1) has a separator (3) for separating the value documents entered in the input compartment and generating a transport stream (13) of separated value documents and the testing device (4) for testing and classification of the condition of the individual documents of value.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are one or more external postprocessing locations (12) assigned to the test device (1) for postprocessing those value documents checked by the test apparatus which do not meet the predetermined stacking criteria.

4. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stacks of documents of value, which do not meet predetermined stacking criteria, are transported from the testing device (1) to the reworking station (12) in an un-wrapped and unpacked state.

5. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (30, 75) for post-processing are part of the test device (1).

6. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that using the means (30, 75) for post-processing, regardless of the classification determined by the test device, a stack of documents of value is output into the storage compartment (6), which meets the specified stacking criteria.

7. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for postprocessing replacement documents in the transport stream (13) and / or the stack of value documents entered and checked in the input compartment (2) insert and / or checked value documents depending on the Mark the classification determined by the test device (4) and / or the specified stacking criteria.

8. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test device (1) between the test device (4) and the storage compartments (5, 6) means (30) for inserting the replacement documents (TK, BN) in the Transport stream (13) of the checked value documents, the replacement documents depending on the classification determined by the test device and / or the predetermined stacking criteria are inserted into the transport stream of the checked value documents.

9. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the checking device (4) classifies the documents of value at least into the categories of acceptable and unacceptable documents of value according to predetermined checking criteria.

10. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a post-processing device (20, 60) for automatic or automatically assisted post-processing is used at the post-processing station (12).

11. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for post-processing are part of the post-processing device (20, 60).

12. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the post-processing device (20, 60) is connected to the test device (1) by data line.

13. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the testing device and / or the post-processing device is assigned an individualization device (75) which individualizes non-individualized value documents, such as e.g. serial number-free value documents with serial numbers.

14. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization device (75) individualizes the non-individualized value documents depending on the classification determined by the test device and / or the stacking criteria, such as e.g. provided with serial numbers.

15. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test device (4) of the test device (1) checks non-individualized, such as serial number-free value documents and the post-processing means an individualization device (75), such as a numbering device (75) for providing the has serial number-free value documents with serial numbers.

16. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the value documents provided by the individualization device (75) with individualization data for insertion into the transport stream (13) and / or the stack of the input into the input compartment (2) and through the test device (1) verified value documents can be used.

17. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the test device (4, 76) of the test device (1) has categorized a value document as unacceptable, the Individualization device (75) prints the immediately next or a value document following the immediately next value document with the individualization data of the value document categorized as unacceptable.

18. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization device (75) is part of the testing device and / or the post-processing device.

19. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization device (75) is followed by a further test device (76).

20. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are several individualization devices (75), the value documents provided with individualization data being output in a storage compartment (78) assigned to the individualization device.

21. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is at least one storage compartment (78) connected to a plurality of individualization devices (75).

22. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization device (75) is preceded by a means for speed reduction (90) of the non-individualized value documents.

23. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control device (8) of the test device (1), which generates data about the position of replacement documents (BN, TK) to be inserted into the stack when the in the storage compartment (6) output batch does not meet the specified batch criteria.

24. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data generated by the control device (8) of the testing device (1) about the position of replacement documents to be inserted in the stack of the post-processing device (20, 60) is automatically transmitted and / or manually entered into the post-processing device.

25. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement documents marking elements such as Separation cards (TK) are, which mark the position of value documents to be inserted or exchanged in the stack and / or the replacement documents are value documents (BN) which, according to the specified stacking criteria, are included in the transport stream of the checked value documents and / or the stack of the checked banknotes be inserted

26. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement documents from a replacement document circuit (30) are inserted into the transport stream (13) of the checked value documents.

27. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the testing device and / or the post-processing _* Device has a housing (44) with several separate module locations (45-50), on which modules of different functions are interchangeably mounted and one of the modules (49) is the means for inserting replacement documents.

28. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the testing device and / or the post-processing device is a device for separating and / or for opening a stack of documents of value and for the subsequent stacking of the separated and / or opened stack.

29. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating and / or opening and / or stacking process is stopped in dependence on data on the position of replacement documents to be inserted in the stack in order to place the replacement documents in the stack at the appropriate place to be able to insert.

30. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the post-processing device (60) has an input compartment (61) for a stack of documents to be checked, the documents to be checked comprising mark-free value documents and mark elements and / or marked value documents , a separator (62) for separating the documents entered into the input compartment and for generating a transport stream (13) of separated documents, a test device (63) to be able to recognize marking elements and / or marked documents of value, a storage (64) for separate Storage of the marking elements and / or marked value documents, and a means (66) for inserting replacement documents documents in the transport stream at the points identified by the marking elements and / or the marked value documents.

31. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for post-processing is followed by a banding device (15) and / or a packaging device for banding or packaging the post-processed stack of valuable documents.

32. System according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the post-processing device has a banding device and / or a packaging device for banding or packaging the post-processed stack of valuable documents.

33. Test device (1) for use in the system according to one of claims 1 to 32.

34. post-processing device (20, 60) for use in the system according to one of claims 1 to 33.