EP2294559A1

EP2294559A1 - Unit for inserting a single valuable document

Info

Publication number: EP2294559A1
Application number: EP09757224A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Stapfer
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Priority date: 2008-06-06
Filing date: 2009-05-28
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Also published as: DE102008027046A1; WO2009146841A1; CN102099837B; US20110079950A1; CN102099837A; RU2010154506A; BRPI0913599A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit for accepting a valuable document, comprising a support that forms a support surface for the valuable document, on which the valuable document may be placed for acceptance, a guide for the valuable document, on which the valuable document placed at least partially on the support surface can be aligned at one side along a predetermined pull-in direction, and a pull-in unit for pulling in the valuable document abutting the guide and placed at least partially on the support surface along the pull-in direction, wherein the support surface has at least one surface region that is inclined toward the guide with regard to a predetermined horizontal plane.

Description

Device for entering a single value document

The present invention relates to a device for inputting a single value document and a device for accepting value documents with such a device.

5 Value documents are understood to mean sheet-shaped objects which, for example, represent a monetary value or an entitlement and should therefore not be able to be produced arbitrarily by unauthorized persons. They therefore have features which are not easy to manufacture, in particular to be copied, whose presence is an indication of the authenticity, i. the production) by an authorized agency is. Important examples of such value documents are coupons, vouchers, checks and in particular banknotes.

Value documents can be used as means of payment and are then handed over by a holder to a new owner. For example, invoices can be at least partially paid by transfer of value documents. It is also possible for an owner to pay a value document, for example a bank, to a separate account. For accepting value documents from an owner, increasingly, at least semi-automatic devices, for example corresponding ATMs or payment terminals are used, to which a user supplies individual value documents which the respective device accepts and processes. For example, the document of value can be drawn into a housing of the device, transported past at least one sensor, tested for type or value and authenticity, and transported to a storage device upon detection of authenticity according to a predetermined criterion and stored there become. The value given by the stored value document can then be credited to an account of the user or used to pay an invoice. sluggish used. It is also possible that after the payment of a predetermined minimum amount of a product or a voucher or data issued to the user, as is known for example from vending machines.

In order to be able to easily achieve reliable identification of the type and / or the authenticity by means of the sensor, it may be advantageous for the value document to be oriented relative to the sensor in a predetermined manner. For example, a lateral alignment can be provided, in which a predetermined edge of the value document extending parallel to the transport direction of the value document must be located in a predetermined narrow region of the sensor. If the documents of value are inserted or introduced by hand into the device, an alignment of the documents of value should therefore already take place during insertion or insertion. However, a pictorial representation of the correct insertion or an acoustic instruction for this seem not practical. A good orientation of the value documents is also advantageous for transport and storage.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device for inputting a single value document, which allows a simple as far as possible laterally aligned insertion of an accepted value document.

The object is achieved by a device for inputting a value document comprising a support, which forms a bearing surface for the document of value, to which the document of value can be placed for input, a guide for the document of value, against which the component rests at least partially on the support surface Value document can be aligned with one side along a predetermined feed direction, and an input Draw means for drawing the voltage applied to the guide, and on the support surface at least partially resting value document along the feed direction, wherein the support surface has at least one surface region which is inclined relative to a predetermined horizontal plane to the guide.

The device thus initially has the support on which a user has to place the document of value in order to feed it to the collection device, which serves to collect the document of value supplied by the user. The support can be given by a single component or a portion of a component that fulfills other functions. The support has the support surface, which serves to enable a user to place an accepted value document on at least one region of the support surface if he wishes to enter the value document. The support surface need not necessarily be smooth, but may for example have recesses, holes or depressions, as long as the function is still guaranteed as a support surface.

The intake device detects an imported value document and transports it further in the intake direction. The retraction device may, for example, have a pair of rollers whose rollers are rotatable about mutually parallel feed rollers. At least one of the rollers can be driven. The rollers can then be designed and arranged so that they form a nip or touching, so that a document of value reaching into the nip is transported in the feed direction upon rotation of at least one roller between the rollers. As Einzugsseinrichrung but also Eirtrichtungen with driven conveyor belt or belts can be used for example. Feeding A value document is particularly simple and secure when it is aligned as well as possible in the feed direction on the feeder.

For alignment when entering the value document by the user, the, preferably lateral, guide is provided on which the value document can be aligned with one side along the predetermined feed direction to the retraction device. The guide can be integral or integral with the support or designed as an independent component.

In order to ensure that a user aligns the value document to the guide even without thought or special care, the support surface has at least one surface area, which is inclined to the guide with respect to a predetermined horizontal plane. The horizontal plane is a plane defined by the support, which is inclined relative to the horizontal at least approximately, preferably with an angular deviation of less than 10 ° during operation of the intake device.

If a user now places a value document on the bearing surface, in particular the surface area, then a force on the value document becomes due to its weight and in particular also on the hand holding the value document and thus the value document by gravity along the steepest direction of the inclined surface area directed force exercised. As a result, the user is led to move the hand and thus the document of value in the direction of the guide. As a result, he will align the document of value of the device well on the guide and thus supply well retractable. This results in "improved security in the supply of value documents. In principle, it is sufficient that the surface area is inclined only in the direction of the guide. Preferably, however, the at least one surface area is also inclined with respect to the feed direction. The inclination is chosen so that in addition to the force in the direction of the guide force is generated by the force of gravity on the document of value and the document of value in the direction of the feed direction, so that the user is guided to the value document in the direction of Feed device to lead. This offers the advantage that the value document can be detected and collected more securely.

In principle, it suffices that the inclination of the surface area is constant. However, it has surprisingly been found that the guiding effect of the surface area on the hand is more pronounced when the at least one surface area is curved in a direction parallel to the feed direction in at least one section.

The support surface can in principle run arbitrarily at its edges in the direction of the guide and in the feed direction. Preferably, however, the support surface extends at its edges in the direction of the guide and in the feed direction, however, parallel to the horizontal plane, preferably in the horizontal plane. This allows a particularly good collection of the value document, if a feed plane extending parallel to the feed direction also runs horizontally.

A clumsily behaving user could push a document of value against the guide so far that it bends away from the support surface on the guide, which would make it difficult or prevent a clean feed. Preferably, therefore, in the region of the guide over the support surface, a parallel to the draw-in with the longitudinal extent direction is provided further guide, which forms a gap with the bearing surface, in which the document of value is feasible.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the value document into the slot, the further guide in a direction transverse to the feed direction on the lateral guide to a on the horizontal plane to inclined first surface portion. Thus, the gap may be partially wedge-shaped in a direction transverse to the feed direction. In this way, a value document partially bent or folded on the edge facing the guide, preferably under at least partially smoothing, can easily be moved with its edge as far as the guide.

Further, it is advantageous if the further guide has a second surface section at an end opposite to the feed direction, which forms an acute angle with a straight line parallel to the feed direction in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane. If the document of value has dog-eared ears, these can be at least partially bent over by the second surface section, so that the likelihood of dog-earring impairing entry is reduced.

By this measure, however, only difficulties with dog-ears can be reduced on the guide-facing side of a value document. In order to reduce disturbances when drawing in a document of value, even in the case of a dog's ear on the opposite side of a value document, a guide element which is inclined towards the horizontal plane is preferably arranged above the support surface, forming an upper guide surface which forms a slot with the support surface forms, through which the collection device transports the document of value. Allowing a donkey ear to pull smoothly at the rear edge of the document of value in the feed direction may further have the upper guide surface in a section opposite the guide having a surface region which forms an acute angle transverse to the feed direction with the horizontal plane.

The device according to the invention can be used, in particular, in a device for accepting value documents which further process and / or store the accepted value documents. The subject of the present invention is therefore also a device for accepting value documents with a device according to the invention, a transport device for transporting value documents from the collection device along a transport path to at least one memory for the value documents and a device arranged at a portion of the transport path for determining the type and / or the authenticity of an accepted value document.

The device for accepting documents of value may particularly preferably be a device which is also designed to issue documents of value, in particular a payment device for the payment of a predetermined amount to be paid for the acceptance of means of payment including value documents, determination of an overpayment of amount and, in the event of overpayment, the issuing of means of payment with a value equal to the difference between the value of the means of payment accepted and the amount to be paid.

The invention will be further explained by way of example with reference to the drawings. Show it: 1 is a schematic view of a value document acceptance device,

2 is a perspective view of an input device of the value document receiving device from the front left

3 is a perspective view of the input device in Fig. 2 from the right front,

4 is a side view of the input device in Fig. 2 without a right side part from the right,

5 is a perspective view of a left side part and a lower part of the input device in Fig. 2 from the right front,

FIG. 6 shows a support of the input device in FIG. 2, FIG.

7 is a side view of the support in Fig. 6,

8 is a front view of the support in Fig. 6,

9 is a perspective view of a left side portion of the input device in Fig. 2,

10 is a perspective view of a portion of a base with a support of another input device from the front left, and

Fig. 11 is a schematic table view of another value document accepting device. In FIG. 1, an apparatus for accepting value documents W, in the example banknotes, in a housing 10 in a first opening has an input device 12 for input of value documents, a memory device 14 with at least two memories 16 and 18 for storing Value documents, an output 20 arranged in a further opening of the housing 10 for outputting value documents and a transport device 22 only roughly schematically shown for transporting isolated value documents from the input device 12 along a transport path to the memories 16, 18 of the storage device 14 and A test device 24 for checking the type, in particular the denomination, and the authenticity of entered value documents on the basis of predetermined criteria and delivery of corresponding test signals is arranged on the transport path after the input device 12. A control device 26 is connected via a signal connection with the test device 24 and outputs in response to signals received from the test device 24 control signals to the transport device 22 for setting the transport path for the checked value document.

The transport device 22 has a plurality of partially driven rollers and guided and driven belts 27 (cf., FIG. 4), between which a document of value to be transported are transported, and switches 28 and 30 to branches of the transport path, which are controlled by the control device 26 ,

During operation of the device, a user individually places value documents in the input device 12, which individually feeds the value documents. They are then transported by the transport device to the testing device 24, from which they are tested. If, for example, test device 24 ascertains that a value document taken in accordance with the predetermined criteria either does not have a predetermined type, for example a predefined denomination, or is not to be regarded as authentic according to the predetermined criterion, it sends corresponding signals to control device 26, which then the transport device 22, more precisely the switch 28 so controls that the checked value document is transported directly into the output 20 and output.

Otherwise, the checking device 24 sends a signal to the control device 26, which represents the denomination of the value document that has been checked and that has been verified to be true according to the predetermined criteria. The control device 26 then outputs control signals to the transport device 22, more precisely to their points 28 and 30, on which the switches 28 and 30 are adjusted so that the value document is provided in one of the memories 16 or 18 which provides for value documents at least the denomination found is to be transported. Furthermore, the control device 26 registers the value of the accepted and stored value document in a manner known per se. The determined value of the accepted value documents can then be output, for example, by the control device 26 via a display device (not shown).

The test device 24 is constructed so that it reliably checks documents of value, if they are aligned with their in the transport direction in the example left edge along a predetermined by the test device 24 line.

In order to achieve such an alignment, the user should enter the value documents aligned in the input device 12, so that they can be adopted as cheap as possible aligned by the transport device 22.

In order to achieve such a favorable orientation, although users input the value documents more or less carefully by hand into the input device, the input device 12 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 to 9 has a special structure.

The input device 12 comprises a user section 32 arranged in the opening of the housing 10 and a retraction device 34 for automatic retraction by the user section 32 of individually supplied value documents.

The user portion 32 has attached to one another via a lower part 36, which is also shown in particular in Figures 6 to 8, and a left and a right side part 38 and 40, which together with corresponding approaches also form an upper guide element 42.

As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower part 36 and the side part 38 form a slot 44, behind which the intake device 34 is arranged in the transporting direction T. In the example, this has rollers or rollers 46 which are arranged on axes of rotation arranged parallel to one another and which form a draw-in gap. At least one of the rollers 46 is driven so that a document of value reaching into the region of the intake gap can be grasped by the rollers 46, pulled in and fed to the transport device 22.

The input device 12 is designed so that when installed in the device with a plane designated as a horizontal plane E horizontal, ie orthogonal to gravity, can be aligned. In this plane or parallel to this in a direction transverse to the feed direction, the value documents are collected. The value documents are preferably drawn in or after the draw-in gap at least approximately parallel to the latter.

The lower part 36 forms inter alia a support 48, which forms a bearing surface 50 for the document of value, to which the document of value can be placed for acceptance. Further, the lower part 36 forms a guide 52 for the document of value, on which the value document resting at least partially on the support surface 50 can be aligned with one side along the feed direction predetermined by the intake device 34, in this case the later transport direction T.

As already stated, the drawing-in device 34 serves to retract the value document resting on the guide 52 and at least partly resting on the support surface 50 along the feed direction T.

In order to guide the user to align the document of value with its edge on the guide 52, the support surface 50 has at least one surface region 54, in the example substantially the entire support surface, inclined to the guide 52 with respect to the horizontal plane E. is (see in particular Fig. 8).

The angle of inclination of the surface area 54 relative to the horizontal plane is preferably between 5 ° and 25 °, in the example at about 10 °. As a result of this inclination, the force of gravity is generated on a value document placed on the support surface 50 and in particular on the surface region 54, and in particular also typically with the value document At least partially resting on the surface area 54 of the user's hand, a force acting parallel to the support surface and thus with a component in the direction of the guide. The user typically relinquishes this not necessarily very large force so that the force directs the user's hand and the value document toward the guide 52. The document of value can therefore be fed to the guide 52 with an edge adjacent. If the guide 52 is aligned with the reference line of the test device 24, as in the present example, then a reliable test can be made possible.

In order to guide the user also to move the value document placed on the support surface in the direction of the feed direction 34, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, the surface region 54 is also inclined with respect to the feed direction T and the horizontal plane E. The conductive effect is further enhanced by the surface area 54 being curved in the direction parallel to the feed direction T in at least one portion 56, in the example in the front operative portion of the surface area 54 in use.

In order to achieve a good alignment of the document of value with respect to the feed direction and in particular in the region of the slot 44, the support surface 54 extends at its edges 58 and 60 in the direction of the guide 52 and in the feed direction T parallel to, preferably in, Horizontal plane E.

In the region of the guide 52, a further guide 62 extending parallel to the feed direction T with the longitudinal extent is provided above the bearing surface 50, which forms a gap 64 with the bearing surface 50, in which the document of value can be guided (compare FIGS , 6, and 8). This further Guide 62 includes a portion 66 connected to the base 36 and a portion 68 formed on the side portion 38.

Due to the further guidance 62, it can be avoided that the document of value bulges due to insertion too fast, thereby creating difficulties during collection.

The further guide 62, in particular the section 68, has in the direction transverse to the feed direction T on the lateral guide 52 to a on the horizontal plane E inclined first surface portion 70. This surface portion 70 can serve to the insertion of the document of value in the gap 64 even if, for example, the value document is wavy.

In addition, the further guide 62 has a second surface section 74 at the end 72 opposite to the feed direction T, which forms an acute angle with a straight line parallel to the feed direction T in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane E. This second surface portion also facilitates the insertion of the value document into the gap 64, but now primarily in one direction with components in both the feed direction T and in the direction of the guide 52.

Above the support surface 50 in the feed direction T to the horizontal plane E to inclined, in the example by section of the side parts 38 and 40 formed guide member 42 is arranged, which forms an upper guide surface 76. The part formed by the left side part 38 (see Fig. 9) forms with the support surface 50, the slot 44 through which the collection device 34 transports the document of value. In this case, the upper guide surface 76 has a surface region 78 in a section opposite the guide 52 has, which forms transversely to the feed direction T with the horizontal plane E an acute angle. This guide surface 76, together with the bearing surface 50, forms a wedge-like space, which more or less forces the user to supply the document of value lying on the support surface 50 and aligned therewith. The surface area 78 can be used to bend back possibly existing dog ears at the front in the feed direction T, the guide 52 opposite corner, so that the likelihood of interference in the collection and further transport is reduced by such a dog-ear.

Another embodiment differs from the previous embodiment only in that the base 36 is defined by the partial, i. is replaced without guide in Fig. 10 shown lower part 36 ', which has a contact surface 50', which is not curved. All other components are unchanged from the first embodiment.

Further exemplary embodiments result from the fact that the input device is not used in a device solely for the acceptance of value documents, but in a device for accepting and outputting value documents, for example a corresponding automatic bank machine.

However, it is also possible to provide the input device in payment devices which serve to detect or determine a predetermined amount to be paid, to accept payment means, in particular also value documents, for payment of the amount, and an optionally exceeding the amount to be paid in excess of the value of in the form of cash that is not necessary to spend in the same way. Another embodiment of Fig. 11 differs from the first embodiment in that the return of value documents recognized as unacceptable by the validator 24 is performed by the input device.

On the one hand, therefore, eliminates the switch 28 and on the other hand, the transport device 22 'with respect to the transport device 22 only changed to the effect that they on the signals of the control device 26' a value document from the area behind the test device 34 transported back into the input device 12 ' ,

The input device 12 'differs from the input device 12 only in that the intake device 34', which is otherwise unchanged relative to the intake device 34, can transport value documents into the user section 32 on corresponding control signals of the control device 26 '. In the example, this is done by rotating the rollers 46 in the opposite direction to the entry of a document of value.

The control device 26 'differs from the control device 26 only in that it instead of the switch 28 with the input device 12', more precisely the intake device 34 ', is connected via a control signal connection and is further adapted to signals of the test device 24 the Transport device 22 'and the input device 12', more precisely, the feed device 34 'to control.

More specifically, the controller 26 'controls signals from the tester 24 indicating that the checked value document is not accepted should, the transport device 22 'and the intake device 34' so that the transport device 22 'transports the respective value document through the test device 24 back to the input device 12' and the collection device 34 'outputs the document of value in the user section 32, including by the drive for the rollers 46 is driven so that the direction of rotation of the rollers 46 is reversed.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the user section, in the example the side part 38, is designed such that the slot 44 extends in the normal direction of transport T towards the end in the direction of the transport device 22 so that a document of value is transported opposite to the direction T is passed into the slot 44.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A device for accepting a value document comprising a support which forms a supporting surface for the document of value on which the document of value can be placed for acceptance, a guide for the document of value, on which the document of value lying at least partly on the support surface is located along one side predetermined feed direction can be aligned, and a retraction device for retracting the voltage applied to the guide, and on the support surface at least partially resting value document along the feed direction, wherein the support surface has at least one surface area which is inclined relative to a predetermined horizontal plane to the guide ,

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one surface area is inclined relative to the feed direction.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one surface area is curved in a direction parallel to the feed direction in at least one section.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the bearing surface extends at its edges in the direction of the guide and in the feed direction parallel to the, preferably in the horizontal plane.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the region of the guide over the support surface extending parallel to the feed direction with the longitudinal extension further guidance is provided, which forms a gap with the bearing surface, in which the document of value is feasible.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the further guide in a RICH tu ⁿ g transversely to the feed direction on the lateral guide to one of the

Horizontal plane to inclined first surface section has.

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the further guide has at a lying opposite to the feed direction end a second Flächen- chenabschnitt which forms an acute angle with a straight line parallel to the feed direction in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein above the support surface in the direction of feed to the horizontal plane inclined guide element is arranged, which forms an upper guide surface, which forms a slot with the support surface through which the collection device transports the document of value.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the upper guide surface in a guide opposite portion has a surface area which forms an acute angle transversely to the feed direction with the horizontal plane.

10. A device for accepting value documents with a device according to one of the preceding claims, a transport device for transporting documents of value from the collection device along a transport path to at least one memory and a arranged on a portion of the transport path means for Er determination of the type and / or authenticity of an accepted value document.