EP2384497B1 - Device and method for the payment and/or withdrawal of banknotes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for depositing and / or withdrawing at least banknotes with a first nominal value, banknotes with a second nominal value, banknotes with a third nominal value and banknotes with a fourth nominal value. The device comprises at least one input and / or output unit for inputting the banknotes to be paid in and / or for outputting the banknotes to be paid out. Furthermore, the device has a reading unit, with the aid of which at least the nominal value of each banknote to be paid in or paid out can be determined, and a first banknote receiving unit, a second banknote receiving unit and at least a third banknote receiving unit for receiving the banknotes. Furthermore, a transport unit for transporting banknotes between the input and / or output unit and the banknote receiving unit is provided. The invention further relates to a method for handling at least banknotes with a first nominal value, banknotes with a second nominal value, banknotes with a third nominal value and banknotes with a fourth nominal value.

The device and the method are used in particular in automated teller machines, preferably in automatic teller machines. In the case of deposit and withdrawal ATMs, which are also referred to as recycling ATMs, banknotes can be deposited by an operator and banknotes can be paid out to the operator. When depositing, the operator deposits the banknotes as a bundle into a deposit and Output tray entered. The deposited banknotes of the bundle are fed individually to a reading unit, with the aid of which the authenticity of the deposited banknotes and also the nominal value of each individually supplied banknote are determined. The banknotes are then fed to cash cassettes for storage. To this end, the automated teller machine comprises a large number of cash cassettes, the number of cash cassettes depending in particular on the number of different denominations of the banknotes in circulation. The recycling ATM has a deposit cassette in which those banknotes that are suspected of being forgery and those banknotes that are not to be paid out again due to their face value are stored. In the euro area, these are in particular banknotes with a face value of 200 euros and 500 euros. A separate cash cassette is provided for each other face value. If only € 200 and € 500 banknotes are added to the deposit cassette, then five additional cash cassettes, namely a cash cassette for the € 5 banknotes, a cash cassette for the € 10 banknotes, a cash cassette for the € 20 banknotes, a cash cassette for € 50 banknotes and a cash box for the 100 euro banknotes may be provided. Storage of banknotes in which only banknotes of a nominal value are stored in a cash cassette is also referred to as single-variety storage. In the case of a recycling cash machine, at least those cash cassettes in which bank notes intended for payment are stored are designed such that the bank notes can be removed from the cash cassette again.

In the case of a payment, the desired payment amount is entered by an operator using an input unit Man-machine interface of recycling ATM entered. Depending on the desired payment amount, the denomination of the bundle to be paid out to the operator is determined. The denomination of a bundle to be disbursed can be preset depending on the amount disbursed or can be freely selected by the operator. The banknotes to be paid out are removed from the corresponding cash cassettes and fed to the input and output compartment with the aid of a transport unit, where the banknotes to be paid out are issued to the operator as a bundle. A disadvantage of the sort-by-type storage described is that at least one cash cassette must be provided for each denomination that banknotes to be paid out can have. This results in a large number of required cash cassettes, which prevents or at least complicates a compact construction of the recycling ATM, which in turn leads to high costs. Alternatively, the number of denominations of withdrawable banknotes must be reduced.

From the unpublished document DE 10 2008 018 964 a single sheet handling device for inputting and / or outputting at least one single sheet into or out of a container is known. The single sheet handler has an impeller that has at least one impeller. The wing presses at least a part of the single sheets arranged in a stack in the container when the wing contacts the end face of the stack into the container and holds these single sheets in a standing position in the container.

From the document DE 10 2007 023 598 A1 A device and a method for determining a contact time for contacting a cash transfer system are known. The device comprises a data processing system to which data information about the time profile of the need to carry out funds to the cash transfer system and / or the time profile of the need to remove funds from the cash transfer system can be supplied. On the basis of the temporal course of the demand, the data processing system determines at least one next demand time at which the cash transfer system has a need to supply and / or withdraw funds.

From the document EP 0 473 106 B1 is a sheet handling device having reading means for reading characteristic information related to the processed sheets, control means for controlling the operation of the device and storage means for storing the characteristics of the sheets read by the reading means in the order in which the sheets are picked up in a collecting section of the device. Furthermore, the sheet handling device comprises setting means for setting a part of the characteristics to be stored in the storage means and for setting a step value for selecting the sheets and for storing their read characteristics.

From the document EP 1 326 215 A2 A cash deposit and withdrawal device and an automatic money transaction apparatus are known, in which banknotes of different sizes are input, stored together and output again can be. The money deposit and withdrawal device comprises a storage unit in which banknotes of different sizes can be stored and withdrawn in the mixed state.

Out WO 2006/063555 A1 an ATM is known which has several storage units for storing banknotes, banknotes with different denominations for space-saving storage can be stored in one storage unit. It is also known to record and save the nominal value of a banknote before it is transported to the storage unit, so that the sequence of the banknotes created is stored in the individual cassettes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for depositing and / or withdrawing at least banknotes with a first denomination and banknotes with a second denomination, which is compact and inexpensive. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for depositing or withdrawing at least banknotes with a first denomination, banknotes with a second denomination, banknotes with a third denomination and at least banknotes with a fourth denomination, in which the banknotes to be deposited and / or disbursed can be deposited or withdrawn in a short time.

The object is achieved by a device with the features of patent claim 1 and a method with the features of independent method claim 13.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the device for depositing and / or withdrawing at least banknotes with a first denomination, banknotes with a second denomination, banknotes with a third denomination and at least banknotes with a fourth denomination comprises at least one input and / or output unit Entry of banknotes to be paid in and / or for the issuance of banknotes to be paid out. Furthermore, the device has a reading unit, with the aid of which at least the nominal value of each to be paid in or payable banknote can be determined. Furthermore, at least three banknote receiving units for receiving the banknotes and at least one transport unit for transporting banknotes between the input and / or output unit and the banknote receiving units are provided. The transport unit only feeds banknotes of the first denomination and banknotes of the second denomination to the first banknote receiving unit, only the second and third denominations to the second banknote receiving unit and only the third and fourth denominations to the third banknote receiving unit. Receiving banknotes of two different denominations in a banknote receiving unit is also referred to as mixed storage. The number of necessary banknote receptacle units can be reduced by the mixed storage, which enables a compact, space-saving construction of the device and, in turn, thereby reduces the costs incurred.

By storing banknotes with only two different denominations in a banknote receiving unit, it is achieved that only a few banknotes have to be transported to a buffer when paying out banknotes, because a banknote is required for the payment, which is in the order in which the banknotes can be removed from the receiving unit, is arranged behind the banknotes to be buffered in the buffer. This reduces the time required to pay out the desired amount of money to an operator of the device.

In an advantageous development of the invention, four banknote units are provided. Hereby it is achieved that at least banknotes with a relatively large number of different denominations can be paid into the device and can be withdrawn by the device. The banknote receiving units are, in particular, cash cassettes. Alternatively, thin-walled transport containers, in particular bags made of film and / or fabric material, can also be used.

The device is preferably designed in such a way that banknotes can be deposited as well as withdrawn. Such a device is, for example, a recycling cash machine or an automatic safe. The input unit for inputting the banknotes to be paid in and the output of one of the banknotes to be paid out is preferably designed in one piece and is referred to below as the input and output unit.

It is advantageous if each banknote receiving unit comprises at least one machine-readable and machine-writable non-volatile memory element, such as an EEPROM, in which at least data with information about the nominal values of all banknotes received in the banknote receiving unit and data with information about the order in which the banknotes are in the Banknote receiving unit are arranged, are stored. By knowing the nominal values of all banknotes received in the banknote receiving units and knowing the order in which the banknotes in the Complete inventory management is possible. In this way, a possible, preferably the optimal, composition of a bundle of payouts to be paid out can be determined before the first banknote is removed from a banknote receiving unit if banknotes of different denominations are stored in a banknote receiving unit. In addition, attempts to tamper and double deductions can be easily identified thanks to the complete inventory management. The arrangement of at least one storage element in each banknote receiving unit ensures that the data stored in the memory areas of the storage elements is retained even when the banknote receiving unit is removed from the device and the banknote receiving unit is thus fed to another device for depositing and / or withdrawing banknotes and the data stored on the storage element of the banknote receiving unit can be read out by this other device. In this way, banknote receptacle units in which the banknotes of different denominations are accommodated can be exchanged between ATMs without the banknotes accommodated in the banknote receptacle units having to be removed and the banknote receptacle units having to be provided with a predefined type of storage. In this way, the logistical effort and the associated costs are reduced. In addition, the data read out can be verified with data stored centrally for the respective banknote receiving unit, in particular to determine manipulations. The centrally stored data can be stored in a central database In particular, it is advantageous if, in the storage element of the banknote receiving unit, additional data with information about the number of banknotes received in the banknote receiving unit and / or data with information about the two nominal values of the banknotes that can be received in the banknote receiving unit are stored. In this way, the exchange of the banknote receiving units between ATMs is further simplified, since the ATM can automatically determine the nominal values of the banknotes that can be fed to or removed from the banknote receiving unit.

According to the invention, a first banknote receiving unit, a second banknote receiving unit and at least one third banknote receiving unit are provided. The transport unit feeds only banknotes with the first denomination to the first banknote receiving unit, the second banknote receiving unit only with banknotes with the second denomination and banknotes with a third denomination and the third banknote receiving unit only with banknotes with the third denomination and banknotes with a fourth denomination. In this way it is achieved that banknotes with four different denominations can be received in only three banknote receiving units. It is particularly advantageous if the first nominal value is smaller than the second nominal value, the second nominal value is smaller than the third nominal value and the fourth nominal value is smaller than the third nominal value. In this way it is achieved that banknotes of two neighboring denominations are always recorded in a banknote receiving unit. This has the advantage that the banknotes received in a banknote receiving unit have a similar size, so that these can be handled more easily and the risk of multiple withdrawals and / or banknote jams is reduced.

According to the invention, the device comprises a first, a second and at least a third banknote receiving unit, the transport unit of the first banknote receiving unit only banknotes with the first nominal value and banknotes with the second nominal value, the second banknote receiving unit only banknotes with the second nominal value and banknotes with a third nominal value and only feeds banknotes with the third denomination and banknotes with a fourth denomination to the third banknote receiving unit. This ensures that both the banknotes with the second denomination and the banknotes with the third denomination can each be fed to two different banknote receiving units, so that when depositing a banknote with the second denomination or when depositing a banknote with the third denomination, one can select which one of the two possible banknote receiving units, the respective banknote is to be recorded. The assignment of a banknote to be paid in with the second nominal value to the first banknote receiving unit or to the second banknote receiving unit or assignment of a banknote with the third nominal value to the second banknote receiving unit or to the third banknote receiving unit can take place in particular depending on the banknotes already received by the second or third banknote receiving unit.

It is advantageous if each banknote receiving unit has a first delimiting element and at least one second delimiting element comprises, with the aid of which the dimensions of a receiving area of each banknote receiving unit can be set such that only banknotes with respectively preset nominal values can be stacked in an orderly manner in the banknote receiving unit. The delimiting elements are preferably a height stop with which the maximum height of the banknotes that can be received in the banknote receiving unit is determined and a side stop with which the maximum width of the banknotes that can be fed to the banknote receiving unit is determined. The maximum height preferably corresponds to the length of the short side of the banknote which has the largest nominal value and is to be picked up by the banknote receiving unit. The maximum width preferably corresponds to the length of the long side of the banknote with the largest denomination to be received in the respective banknote receiving unit.

In this way, the first and second delimiting elements ensure that no banknotes can be received in the banknote receiving unit that have a larger denomination or larger dimensions than the banknote with the greatest denomination that is to be received in the respective banknote receiving unit. Furthermore, the two delimitation elements ensure secure handling of the banknotes, in particular the avoidance of multiple withdrawals and / or banknote jams when feeding banknotes into the banknote receiving unit or when removing banknotes from the banknote receiving unit. In the explanations regarding the size of the banknotes with different denominations, it is assumed that the size, ie the height and / or width, of banknotes with a lower denomination decrease or at least not increase.

An example not claimed relates to a device for depositing and / or paying out at least banknotes with a first denomination and banknotes with a second denomination with at least one input and / or output unit for inputting the banknotes to be deposited and / or for issuing the banknotes to be paid out. Furthermore, the device comprises a reading unit, with the aid of which at least the nominal value of each banknote to be paid in or paid out can be determined. In addition, the device has at least one banknote receiving unit for receiving the banknotes and at least one transport unit for transporting banknotes between the input and / or output unit and the banknote receiving unit.

The transport unit feeds the banknote receiving unit at least banknotes of the first denomination and the second denomination and the banknote receiving unit comprises at least one storage element in which at least data with information about the denomination of all banknotes received in the banknote receiving unit and data with information about the order are stored in the the banknotes are arranged in the banknote receiving unit. By storing banknotes of two different denominations or banknotes with more than two different denominations in a banknote receiving unit, a compact construction of the device is achieved, whereby the costs of the overall device are reduced. By storing the nominal values of all banknotes received in the banknote receiving unit and the order in which the banknotes are arranged or stacked in the banknote receiving unit, on the one hand, complete inventory management is possible feasible and secondly the exchange of banknote receiving units between several devices for depositing and / or withdrawing banknotes can be achieved without the banknotes having to be completely removed from the banknote receiving unit and the banknote receiving unit having to be filled with other banknotes.

It is advantageous if the device comprises at least two banknote receiving units, preferably three or four banknote receiving units, and if each banknote receiving unit comprises at least one storage element.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if data with information about the number of banknotes received in the banknote receiving unit and data with information about the first denomination and the second denomination of the banknotes that can be received in the banknote receiving unit are stored in the storage element of each banknote receiving unit.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the advantageous developments of the inventions mentioned below relate to a device with the features of independent patent claim 1 or its advantageous developments already mentioned.

It is advantageous if the reading unit comprises at least one sensor for checking the authenticity of a supplied banknote, and if the reading unit determines at least the nominal value of the banknote and if data with information of the determined nominal value of a deposited banknote is stored in the storage element of the banknote receiving unit in which the deposited banknote is recorded. The fact that both the authenticity and the nominal value of deposited banknotes can be determined with the aid of the reading unit enables a compact construction of the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fourth banknote receiving unit is for receiving banknotes that are not intended for disbursement and / or for receiving banknotes that were provided in the input and output unit for disbursement to an operator but were not removed by the latter , intended. The operator is preferably a bank customer. The banknotes that are not intended for disbursement are in particular banknotes with a high face value. In the euro area, these are in particular banknotes with a face value of EUR 100, EUR 200 and EUR 500. The inclusion of these banknotes that are not intended for payment in a separate fourth banknote receiving unit ensures that they are not arranged in a banknote receiving unit together with those banknotes that are intended for payments, and thus are not transported to a buffer store when banknotes are paid out must be so that the banknotes intended for payment can actually be paid out. This makes the speed with the banknotes to be paid out are made available to the operator in the input or output unit.

It is particularly advantageous to provide a fifth banknote receiving unit for receiving banknotes that were classified as suspected of forgery when the authenticity was checked with the aid of the reading unit. This ensures that counterfeit banknotes are kept separate from the other banknotes and can be removed for a more detailed examination of the authenticity of the device.

The device preferably comprises a buffer for the temporary reception of banknotes. The buffer serves in particular for the temporary storage of bank notes during the deposit and / or withdrawal process of bank notes. When paying out banknotes, in order to pay out the amount of money desired by an operator of the device, a banknote has to be removed from a banknote receiving unit which is arranged behind other banknotes in the payment sequence in which the banknotes of the banknote receiving unit can be removed, which should not be paid out to the operator. These banknotes which are arranged in front of the banknote to be disbursed and are not disbursed are transported into the intermediate store and, after all the banknotes intended for disbursement have been removed from the banknote admission unit, are transported back into the banknote admission units. This buffer ensures that, despite the receipt of banknotes of different denominations in a banknote receiving unit, this banknote receiving unit Banknote with the desired nominal value can be removed, and thus the operator can be paid out any desired payment amount.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each banknote receiving unit and / or the intermediate store is assigned a separating and stacking unit for feeding banknotes into the respective banknote receiving unit or into the intermediate store and / or for removing banknotes from the respective banknote receiving unit or from the intermediate store . Furthermore, each bank note receiving unit and / or the intermediate store is assigned at least one switch, with the aid of which the bank notes transported on a transport path and to be fed to the respective bank note receiving unit or the intermediate store are fed to the separating and stacking unit assigned to the respective bank note receiving unit or the intermediate store and with the aid thereof the banknotes removed from a banknote receiving unit or buffer are removed using a separating and stacking unit. In this way, a simple and secure removal of banknotes from the banknote receiving units or the intermediate store or a feeding of the banknotes into the banknote receiving unit or the intermediate store is achieved. Alternatively, the buffer store can be designed as a roll store and / or endless transport route.

It is advantageous to provide a control unit which can be used to read out the data stored in the memory element of each banknote receiving unit and with whose help data can be written into memory areas of the memory elements of the banknote receiving units. It is particularly advantageous if, with the aid of the control unit, the separating and stacking units and / or the switches can be controlled at least as a function of part of the data read from the storage elements of the banknote receiving units. It is thereby achieved that the selection from which banknotes a bundle of banknotes to be paid out can be made such that the bundle to be paid out can be put together as quickly as possible. This also ensures that the assignment of a deposited banknote to a banknote receiving unit can be determined as a function of the banknotes already received in the banknote receiving unit.

The invention further relates to a method for handling at least banknotes with a first denomination, banknotes with a second denomination, banknotes with a third denomination and banknotes with a fourth denomination. During a deposit process, the banknotes to be deposited are entered via an input and output unit and then the authenticity of the deposited banknotes is checked with the aid of a reading unit and the nominal value of the deposited banknotes is determined in each case. The deposited banknotes are fed to one of at least three banknote receiving units for receiving the banknotes. In this case, only banknotes with the first nominal value and banknotes with the second nominal value are fed to the first banknote receiving unit, the second banknote receiving unit only banknotes with the second nominal value and the third nominal value, and the third banknote receiving unit only banknotes with the third and banknotes with the fourth nominal value. In the storage element of each banknote receiving unit, at least data with information about the nominal values determined by the reading unit of all banknotes received in the respective banknote receiving unit and data with information about the order, in which the banknotes are arranged in the banknote receiving unit.

In a payment process, banknotes to be paid out can be removed from at least one banknote receiving unit and output as a bundle by an operator using the input and output unit. The removal of bank notes to be paid out from the bank note receiving units is determined at least as a function of the data stored in a storage element with information on the nominal values of all bank notes received in the respective bank note receiving unit and with information on the order in which the bank notes are arranged in the bank note receiving unit.

It is advantageous if a maximum of banknotes of two different denominations are accepted in each banknote receiving unit. It is thereby achieved that during a payment process, fewer banknotes which are not to be paid out and which are arranged in a banknote receiving unit in the sequence in which the banknotes have to be removed from the banknote receiving unit must be transported to a buffer store before a banknote to be paid out. This reduces the time required to assemble the bundle of banknotes to be paid out.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the denomination of each banknote to be disbursed is determined during the disbursement process with the aid of the reading unit. This The nominal value determined is compared with a nominal nominal value determined using the data stored on the storage element of the banknote receiving unit from which the banknote to be withdrawn was taken. The banknote is only paid out if the determined nominal value and the nominal nominal value are identical. If the determined nominal value and the nominal nominal value are not identical, there must be an error in the payment process. Such an error can be, for example, a double or multiple withdrawal of banknotes from a banknote receiving unit and / or a banknote jam. The determination of such errors in the removal of banknotes from the banknote receiving units prevents the operator from being paid out an amount of money which deviates from the desired amount of money. If the comparison of the determined nominal value with the nominal nominal value shows that the two values are not identical, the banknote or the banknotes are fed to a special banknote receiving unit which is provided for banknotes which are not to be paid out again. Alternatively, the banknotes can be fed to an intermediate store. After the payment process has ended, the banknotes fed to the intermediate store can be removed individually from the intermediate store, the nominal value of the banknote can be determined in each case with the aid of the reading unit and can be fed to a banknote receiving unit depending on the determined nominal value.

Furthermore, by determining the nominal value of the banknotes to be disbursed during the disbursement process, it is achieved that the banknotes to be disbursed are not temporarily stored in an interim storage during a depositing process. Without a renewed determination of the nominal value in the withdrawal process, the depositors must Banknotes are temporarily stored in order to be able to return the banknotes to this operator if the depositing operation is canceled by the operator depositing the banknotes. By rechecking the nominal values during the payment process, the deposited banknotes of the paying operator can be reissued in the event of a cancellation of a payment process.

Additionally and alternatively, multiple withdrawals of banknotes can be determined with the aid of devices for determining multiple withdrawals of banknotes. Such a determination of multiple deductions can advantageously be carried out using a thickness sensor to determine the thickness of one or more overlapping banknotes and / or using at least one light barrier to determine the length of a banknote sequence from one or more overlapping banknotes.

In addition, it is advantageous if, during the payment process, banknotes which are not to be paid out and are arranged in the banknote receiving unit in an order in which the banknotes of the banknote receiving unit have to be arranged before a banknote to be paid out are transported to a buffer store, the banknote to be paid out and the banknotes transported into the buffer are then transported into the banknote unit. The banknotes received in the intermediate store can either be automatically transported back to the banknote receiving unit from which they were taken, or alternatively into others Banknote receiving units are transported, wherein the banknotes are preferably distributed to the banknote receiving unit according to a preset distribution rule.

During the depositing process, the banknotes to be fed are assigned to the individual banknote receiving units at least as a function of the respective nominal value of the banknote to be fed, the preset nominal values of banknotes assigned to each banknote receiving unit that can be received in the banknote receiving unit, the nominal values of the banknotes already received in the respective banknote receiving unit and / or the order in which the banknotes are arranged in the banknote receiving unit. The banknotes are each fed to the assigned banknote receiving units. In particular, the banknotes to be fed are divided into the individual banknote receiving units in accordance with a preset algorithm, which is intended to ensure that as few banknotes as possible have to be transported to the intermediate store during later payment processes.

In the case of an arrangement of banknotes with two different denominations in each case in a banknote receiving unit, the assignment of banknotes to be fed to the individual banknote receiving units can be carried out, for example, in such a way that an alternating arrangement of the banknotes with the two nominal values is achieved. Alternatively, the assignment of a banknote to be fed to a banknote accepting unit can take place in such a way that if supplied banknotes with the same nominal value can optionally be received in two different banknote receiving units, supplied banknotes with this nominal value are fed to one of these two banknote receiving units until this banknote receiving unit has reached the maximum number of banknotes to be accepted and only then are fed to the other banknote receiving unit. Furthermore, the bank notes to be fed to the bank note receiving units can be divided up among the bank note receiving units in such a way that bank notes with as many different denominations as possible are arranged in each bank note receiving unit.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if it is determined during the payment process which bank note is to be taken from which bank note receiving unit before the first bank note to be paid out is taken from a fixed bank note receiving unit. In this way, the time required to dispense the banknotes to be paid out to an operator is reduced compared to an iterative removal of the banknotes from the banknote receiving units.

It is particularly advantageous if at least two banknotes of the bundle to be paid out, which are arranged in different banknote receiving units and are fed to a transport path at different points, are removed from the banknote receiving units at the same time. In this way, the time required to deliver the banknotes of the bundle to be paid out to the operator by means of the input and output unit can be reduced further.

The devices specified by the device claims can be developed in the same way as described for the method according to the invention. In particular, the method specified by the method claim can be developed in the same way as described for the devices according to the invention. In particular, the method can be developed further with the features specified in the dependent patent claims referring back to the device or corresponding method features.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description, which in connection with the attached figures explains the invention in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Geldautomaten;

Fig. 2

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Einzahlungsvorgangs;

Fig. 3

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Auszahlungsvorgangs; und

Fig. 4

ein Diagramm der Informationsflüsse der Steuereinheit.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an ATM;

Fig. 2

a flowchart of a deposit process;

Fig. 3

a flowchart of a payout process; and

Fig. 4

a diagram of the information flows of the control unit.

In Figure 1 a schematic representation of an automated teller machine 8 is shown. The ATM 8 serves both the deposit of banknotes by an operator and the payment of banknotes to an operator. Such an automated teller machine 8, which serves both the deposit and the disbursement of banknotes, is also referred to as a recycling teller machine. Alternatively, the automated teller machine 8 can also be used exclusively for the payment of banknotes or the payment of banknotes. Furthermore, the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention can also be used in other bank note handling devices, in particular in automatic cash register systems and so-called automatic safe cash registers.

The ATM 8 comprises a safe 10, in which four cash cassettes 12a to 12d are arranged and which protects the cash cassettes 12a to 12d against unauthorized access, in particular against theft and attempts to manipulate them. The cash cassettes 12a to 12d serve to store and transport banknotes. The banknotes are stored in the cash cassettes 12a to 12d in the form of a stack. One of these stacks is indicated by way of example in the first cash cassette 12a. One of the banknotes of this stack of banknotes is designated by way of example for the reference number 13.

Each cash cassette 12a to 12d each has an opening for feeding banknotes 13 and for removing banknotes 13. Before the opening of a cash cassette 12a to 12d, a separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d is arranged, with the aid of which banknotes 13, on the one hand, the cash cassettes 12a to 12d can be fed and on the other hand banknotes 13 stored in the cash cassettes 12a to 12d can be separated from the stack of banknotes accommodated in the cash cassettes 12a to 12d and removed from the cash cassette 12a to 12d. A switch 16a to 16d is arranged in front of each separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d, with the aid of which a banknote 13 to be transported along a transport path 19 and fed to one of the cash cassettes 12a to 12d branches off from the transport path 19 and to that separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d is supplied, which is arranged in front of the cash cassette 12a to 12d into which the banknote 13 is to be transported. The switches 16a to 16d also serve to transport banknotes 13 removed from the cash cassettes 12a to 12d with the aid of the separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d on the transport path 19. The safe 10 has an opening 20 through which banknotes 13 transported along the transport path 19 can be fed to the safe 10 or transported out of the safe 10.

Furthermore, the automated teller machine 8 includes an input and output compartment 22 via which banknotes 13 to be deposited can be entered into the automatic teller machine 8 by an operator and banknotes 13 to be paid out can be issued to an operator. In the case of a purely automatic teller machine, only the banknotes 13 are paid out via the input and output compartment 22, in the case of a purely automatic teller machine Only the deposit of banknotes 13 via the input and output compartment 22. The banknotes 13 can be transported between the input and output compartment 22 and a reading unit 26 with the aid of a first transport unit 24. The first transport unit 24 preferably comprises at least one roller, at least one roller and / or at least one conveyor belt. The rollers, rollers and conveyor belts are advantageously arranged in pairs, so that the banknotes 13 to be transported are each transported between the rollers of a pair of rollers or the rollers of a pair of rollers or the belts of a pair of belts. Banknotes 13 are transported along the transport path 19 from the reading unit 26 to the cash cassettes 12a to 12d or from the cash cassettes 12a to 12d to the reading unit 26 with the aid of a second transport unit. The second transport unit also preferably comprises at least one roller, at least one roller and / or at least one conveyor belt.

The banknotes 13 deposited via the input and output compartment 22 are separated and individually fed to the reading unit 26 with the aid of the first transport unit 24, with the aid of which the authenticity of the deposited banknotes 13 and the nominal value of each deposited banknotes 13 are determined. Depending on the ascertained authenticity and the ascertained nominal value of the banknote 13, this banknote 13 is fed to one of the cash cassettes 12a to 12d. In the first cash cassette 12a, at least suspect counterfeit banknotes 13 and banknotes 13 which are not intended to be paid out again due to their nominal value are stored. In the euro area, only banknotes with a nominal value of <= 100 euros are paid out by ATMs. Deposited 200 euros and 500 euros banknotes will not paid out again and thus stored in the first cash cassette 12a. The first cassette 12a is also referred to as a deposit cassette. Since the banknotes 13 accommodated in a deposit cassette 12a are not paid out again, the deposit cassette 12a only has to be designed such that it can accept banknotes 13. It is not necessary to remove banknotes 13 from the deposit cassette 12a via the first separating and stacking unit 14a. The structure and function of suitable separation and stacking units are in the document DE 102008018935 described in detail. The content disclosed therein regarding the structure and function of separating and stacking units is hereby incorporated by reference into the present description.

The cash cassettes 12b to 12d are so-called recycling cassettes, to which both banknotes 13 can be fed and banknotes 13 can be removed. In a non-claimed example, only banknotes 13 with a first nominal value are stored in the first recycling cassette 12b. Such storage of banknotes 13 of only one nominal value in a cash cassette 12a to 12d is referred to as single-type storage. Banknotes with a second denomination and banknotes with a third denomination are stored in the second recycling cassette 12c. Banknotes with the third denomination and banknotes with a fourth denomination are stored in the third recycling cassette 12d. To simplify the further explanations, it is assumed below that 8 euro banknotes are handled in the ATM. In this case, 5 euros banknotes become in the first recycling cassette 12b, 10 euros and 20 euros banknotes in the second recycling cassette 12c, and 20 euros in the third recycling cassette 12d and 50 euros banknotes. 100 euro banknotes are in the embodiment Figure 1 not paid. 100 euro banknotes deposited are fed to the deposit cassette 12a. The storage of banknotes 13 of different denominations in a cash cassette 12a to 12d is also referred to as mixed storage.

According to the invention, the nominal values of the banknotes 13 are assigned to the individual cash cassettes 12a to 12d in a different way. 5 euro banknotes and 10 euro banknotes are stored in the first recycling cassette 12b, 10 euro and 20 euro banknotes in the second recycling cassette 12c and 20 euro and 50 euro banknotes in the third recycling cassette 12d. Alternatively, banknotes 13 of other currencies and / or other denominations can also be stored in the cash cassettes 12a to 12d accordingly. The deposit process, in particular the assignment to which cash cassette 12a to 12d a deposited banknote 13 is fed, is described in detail in connection with FIG.

When banknotes 13 are paid out, an operator enters the amount of money that he would like to have paid out using an input unit (not shown), in particular using a touchscreen. A control unit 28 is used to determine which banknotes 13 are required in order to output the desired amount of money to the operator via the input and output compartment 22. The banknotes 13 to be paid out are removed from the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d and, with the aid of the first transport unit 24 and the second transport unit, from the input and output compartments fed where they are issued as a bundle to the operator. When banknotes 13 are removed from a recycling cassette 12b to 12d with the aid of the separating and stacking units 14b to 14d, only that banknote 13 which is arranged in the stack of banknotes stored in the recycling cassette 12b to 12d at the end that the separating and stacking unit 14b to 14d is arranged. The order in which the banknotes 13 can be removed from a recycling cassette 12b to 12d is also referred to as the withdrawal order. If a banknote 13 is required for a payment, which is arranged behind other banknotes 13 in the pull-down order that are not suitable for the payment, then these banknotes not suitable for the payment are transported to a buffer store 30, the banknote 13 to be paid out of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d removed and fed to the input and output unit 22. The buffer store 30 is, in particular, a roller store or another endless transport route. Alternatively, the buffer store 30 can also be designed as a stack store, in particular as a cash cassette. Alternatively, the banknotes 13 not provided for the payment can be transported into the deposit cassette 12a instead of into the intermediate storage 30. The payment process is detailed below in connection with Figure 3 described.

Each of the cash cassettes 12a to 12d each has at least two delimitation elements, with the aid of which the dimensions of a receiving area in which the banknotes 13 fed to the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d are stored can be set such that only banknotes 13 can be stacked in the cash cassette 12a to 12d are those Have nominal value that the banknotes 13 have, which are to be accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d. The delimiting elements are preferably a height stop and a side stop. The length of the long side of the banknotes 13 which can be accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d is limited with the aid of the side stop. With the aid of the height stop, the length of the short side of the banknotes 13 which can be accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d is limited. Banknotes 13 that have larger dimensions than those banknotes 13 with the largest dimensions that are to be accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d cannot be fed to the cash cassette 12a to 12d without problems. Banknotes 13 with smaller dimensions than those with the smallest dimensions, which are to be accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d, can be fed to the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d, but cannot be properly stacked in it, so that one Deduction of the banknote 13 from the cash cassette 12a to 12d can lead to multiple deductions, diagonal deductions and / or banknotes.

Each of the cash cassettes 12a to 12d each comprises an electronic memory element 32a to 32d, each with at least one memory area in which data with information about the denominations of all banknotes 13 that are contained in the respective cash cassette 12a through 12d, data with information about the sequence, in which the banknotes 13 are accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d, the number of banknotes 13 accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d and / or data with information about banknotes 13 which denominations are assigned to the respective cash cassettes 12a to 12d are. As below in connection with the Figures 2 and 3rd will be explained in more detail, these data stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d are required during the deposit and withdrawal process.

The data can be written electronically into the memory area and read out electronically from the memory area, preferably written and read without contact. At least the memory area in which the or a part of the mentioned data is stored is a non-volatile memory, preferably a flash memory, such as an EEPROM.

The data stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d can be read out using the control unit 28. Furthermore, with the help of the control unit 28, data can be stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d. In particular, the nominal values of those banknotes 13 which are fed to the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d and the sequence of the supplied banknotes 13 are stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d. Complete inventory management is implemented using the data stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d.

The cash cassettes 12a to 12d can by a in Figure 1 Opening of the safe 10, not shown, removed from the ATM 8 and other cash cassettes from the ATM 8 are fed. On the basis of the data stored in the memory area of the respective memory element 32a to 32d of a cash cassette 12a to 12d, cash cassettes 12a to 12d which have been removed from an ATM 8 can be fed to another ATM 8 without the banknotes 13 accommodated in the cash cassette 12a to 12b being removed must be and the cash cassette 12a to 12d must be filled with other banknotes 13. This reduces the logistical effort and the associated costs. In particular, full cash cassettes 12a to 12d of a deposit ATM can thereby be inserted into a withdrawal ATM. Also, full cash cassettes 12a to 12d of a cash-in-use recycling ATM 8, in which more banknotes 13 are deposited than paid out, can be exchanged with cash cassettes 12a to 12d in a cash-out recycling ATM 8, in which more banknotes 13 are paid out than deposited.

If a new cash cassette 12a to 12b is inserted in the automated teller machine 8, the data stored in the memory area of the storage element 32a to 32d of the cash cassette 12a to 12d are read out by the control unit 28 and taken into account in the execution of future deposit and withdrawal processes. The exchange of cash cassettes 12a to 12d between ATMs 8 without the prior removal of the banknotes 13 removed from the cash cassettes 12a to 12d and the filling with other banknotes 13 is also referred to as second-order recycling.

In addition or as an alternative to the storage elements 32a to 32d, all the ATMs 8 can be connected to a central storage and control unit, in the storage areas of which data with information about the nominal values of those banknotes 13 which are accommodated in a cash cassette 12a to 12d, data with the sequence , in which the banknotes 13 are arranged in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d and / or data with information on the number of banknotes 13 which are accommodated in the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d, for each cash cassette 12a to 12d all with the central memory - ATMs connected to the control unit 8 are stored. Furthermore, each cash cassette 12a to 12d comprises a unique identifier, which is preferably stored in the memory area of the memory element 32a to 32d of the respective cash cassette 12a to 12d or in a further preferably only readable memory area of the memory element 32a to 32d. If a cash cassette 12a to 12d is removed from an automated teller machine 8 and fed to another automatic teller machine 8, the supplied cash cassette 12a to 12d can be uniquely identified with the aid of the unique identifier and assigned to the cash cassette 12a to 12d stored in the central storage and control unit In addition to the data stored in the memory area of the storage unit 32a to 32d, data in future cash deposit and withdrawal processes of the automated teller machine 8, in which the cash cassette 12a to 12d is accommodated, are taken into account.

The control unit 28 also serves to control the switches 16a to 16d of the separating and stacking units 14a to 14d. Likewise, with the help of the control unit 28, the reading unit 26, the input and output compartment 22, the first Transport unit 24 and the second transport unit can be controlled.

In Figure 2 a flowchart of a deposit process is shown. Elements with the same structure or the same function have the same reference symbols. The deposit process is started in step S100. In step S102, the banknotes 13 to be deposited are paid into the input and output unit 22 of the automated teller machine 8 by an operator. The deposited banknotes 13 are separated in step S104 with the aid of a separating unit, and are fed individually to the reading unit 26 in step S106.

In the next step S108, the reading unit 26 first checks the real time of the supplied banknote 13. If the supplied banknote 13 is classified as suspected of forgery, it is fed to the deposit cassette 12a in step S110.

If, on the other hand, the banknote 13 is classified as genuine during the authenticity check of the supplied banknote 13 in step S108, the nominal value of the banknote is determined in step S112. The determined nominal value is compared with a maximum nominal value. The maximum nominal value is preferably the maximum permissible nominal value of a bank note 13 to be paid out for the automatic teller machine 8 Figure 1 the maximum face value is 50 euros. If the comparison of the determined nominal value with the maximum nominal value shows that the determined nominal value is greater than that Maximum nominal value, the banknote 13 is fed to the deposit cassette 12a. If, on the other hand, the determined nominal value is less than or equal to the maximum nominal value, it is determined in the following steps S114, S118, S122 which recycling cassette 12b to 12d the banknote 13 is to be fed to.

For this purpose, it is first determined in step S114 how many recycling cassettes 12b to 12d are available for holding banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value. If this determination in step S114 shows that only one recycling cassette 12b to 12d is provided for receiving banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value, then banknote 13 is fed to the recycling cassette 12b to 12d in step S116.

If, on the other hand, more than one recycling cassette 12b to 12d are provided for holding banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value, the fill level of all recycling cassettes 12b to 12d which are provided for holding banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value is first determined in step S118. This determination shows that only one of the determined recycling cassettes 12b to 12d, which are intended for receiving banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value, is not completely filled, and all other recycling cassettes 12b to 12d, which are used for receiving banknotes 13 with the Nominal value are provided, are completely filled, the bank note 13 is fed in step S120 to that recycling cassette 12b to 12d which is not completely filled.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S118 that more than one recycling cassette 12b to 12d, which are intended for receiving banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value, have not yet been completely filled, then an algorithm for determining the recycling cassette 12b to 12d becomes active in step S122 to which the banknote 13 is to be fed started. The recycling cassettes 12b to 12d to which a banknote 13 is to be fed can be determined using various strategies. In a first strategy, a fixed sequence is preset in which those of the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d which are intended to hold banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value are to be filled. If, for example, the second recycling cassette 12c and the third recycling cassette 12d are provided for holding the banknotes 13 with this nominal value, the second recycling cassette 12c is filled with banknotes 13 of the determined nominal value until the second recycling cassette 12c is completely filled.

In a second strategy, the banknotes 13 are assigned to the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d in such a way that the banknotes 13 are arranged in the respective recycling cassettes 12b to 12d as alternately as possible. If, for example, 10 euro and 20 euro banknotes are accommodated in the second recycling cassette 12c, then banknotes 13 are assigned to the individual cash cassettes 12b to 12d in such a way that the 10 euro and 20 euro banknotes are available in the second recycling cassette 12c if they are available accordingly Bills are arranged.

In a third strategy, the recycling cassette 12b to 12d, to which the banknotes 13 with the determined nominal value are to be fed, is determined in such a way that those banknotes 13, which are arranged first in the withdrawal sequence of the individual recycling cassettes 12b to 12d, have different nominal values to have.

Alternatively, a dynamic algorithm can be used in which the recycling cassette 12b to 12d to which the banknotes 13 are to be fed is determined as a function of the previously made deposit and / or withdrawal processes. In this way, the assignment of deposited banknotes 13 to the individual recycling cassettes 12b to 12d can be adapted to a changed behavior of the operators, for example due to a public mass event, such as a folk festival.

If it was determined in step S122 with the aid of the algorithm which banknote 13 is to be fed to the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d, the banknote 13 is fed to this recycling cassette 12b to 12d in step S124. If the recycling cassette 12b to 12d to which the banknote 13 is to be fed is determined, the fact that feeding the banknote 13 into one of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d which are intended for receiving banknotes 13 with this nominal value is disadvantageous because, for example, this results in one rapid payment of banknotes 13 is made difficult, the banknote 13 can also be fed to the deposit cassette 12a in step S124.

After the banknote 13 has been fed to one of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d or the deposit cassette 12a in steps S110, S116, S120 or S124, in step S126 data are at least provided with information about the determined nominal values of the supplied banknote 13 in the storage areas of the storage element 32a to 32d of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d or the deposit cassette 12a to which the banknote 13 was fed. It is then determined in step S128 whether all the deposited banknotes 13 have already been fed to a recycling cassette 12b to 12d or the deposit cassette 12a. If all of the deposited banknotes 13 have not yet been fed to a recycling cassette 12b to 12d or to the deposit cassette 12a, the process described begins again with step S106, in that the next deposited banknote 13 is fed to the reading unit 26 and then runs through steps S108 to S128 again become. The individual steps for a plurality of deposited bank notes 13 are preferably carried out in parallel. In particular, the next banknotes 13 are already fed into the reading unit 26 while the previous banknote 13 is being transported into one of the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d or the deposit cassette 12a. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S128 that all the deposited banknotes have been fed to the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d or the deposit cassette 12a, the depositing process is ended with step S130.

In Figure 3 a flowchart of a payout process is shown. The payment process is started in step S200. In the next step S202, the desired amount of money to be paid out is entered by an operator using the input unit of the ATM 8.

In step S208, it is checked whether the desired amount of money can be paid out. If it turns out that the desired amount of money cannot be paid out because it cannot be put together with the banknotes 13 stored in the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d, an error message is output to the operator via a display unit in step S210. Furthermore, the operator is asked to enter a new amount. Alternatively, possible payment amounts of the operator can be proposed for selection.

If no new amount is entered in step S212, the payment process is ended. If the entry of a new amount is successful, the process described is continued with step S208 and checking whether the new desired amount can be paid out.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S208 that a payment of the desired amount is possible, it is determined in step S204 how many banknotes 13 of what denomination should be contained in the bundle that is paid out to the operator at the end of the payment process. This composition of the bundle to be paid out is also referred to as denomination. The denomination of the bundle to be paid out can be determined in different ways.

The first option is that a preset denomination is stored for every possible payment amount and the same desired amount of money always with the same Denomination is paid out. A second possibility is that the denomination can be freely selected by the operator or at least within predetermined limits. Such a denomination is called customer-optimized.

A third possibility is that the denomination by the control unit 28 at least as a function of the data stored in the memory areas of the memory elements 32a to 32d with information about the nominal values of all banknotes 13 stored in the respective cash cassettes 12a to 12d and the order in which the Banknotes 13 are arranged in the respective cash cassettes 12a to 12d. The denomination is determined in particular in such a way that the time required to arrange the bundle to be paid out in the input and output unit 22 is minimized. As an alternative or in addition, the denomination can be determined in such a way that all possible amounts of money can still be withdrawn in the case of further payment transactions. Such a denomination is called inventory-optimized.

After the denomination has been determined in step S204, those banknotes 13 from which the bundle to be paid out are to be composed are selected in step S206. In step S214, its position is determined for the first banknote 13 to be paid out in the order in which the recycling cassette 12b to 12d in which the banknote 13 is arranged is withdrawn. If the banknote 13 is arranged at the front in the withdrawal sequence, that is to say that the banknote 13 is used directly with the aid of the separating and stacking unit 14b to 14d of the corresponding recycling cassette 12b to 12d can be removed, the banknote 13 is removed from the recycling cassette 12b to 12d and fed to the reading unit 26. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step 214 that the banknote 13 is not arranged at the front in the withdrawal order, all banknotes 13 which are arranged in the corresponding recycling cassette 12b to 12d in front of the banknote 13 to be disbursed and should not themselves be disbursed become in step S218 transported into the intermediate storage 30. Alternatively, these banknotes 13 can also be transported into the deposit cassette 12a. The bank note 13 to be paid out is then fed to the reading unit 26 in step S216. The nominal value of the supplied banknote 13 is determined with the aid of the reading unit 26.

In step S219, the determined nominal value of the banknote 13 is compared with a nominal nominal value of the banknote 13. The nominal nominal value of the banknote 13 is the nominal value that the banknote 13 should have on the basis of the data stored in the storage area of the storage element 32b to 32d of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d from which the banknotes 13 were taken, and on the basis of this banknote 13 the selection of those banknotes 13 from which the bundle is composed has been selected.

If the comparison of the determined nominal value with the nominal nominal value of the banknote 13 shows that the nominal value of the banknote 13 and the nominal nominal value of the banknote 13 differ from one another, then in step S220 the banknote 13 is fed to the deposit cassette 12a. Reasons for the deviation of the determined nominal value from the nominal nominal value can for example, double or multiple deductions of banknotes 13 and / or banknote jams. Since the multiple withdrawal of banknotes or banknote jams can result in the operator not being paid the desired amount, the banknote 13 or the banknotes 13 are fed to the deposit cassette 12a.

It is then checked again in step S208 whether the desired payment amount can also be paid out without this banknote 13 which was fed to the deposit cassette 12a. According to the result, steps S204 to S221 are carried out again.

If the comparison of the determined nominal value of the banknote 13 with the nominal nominal value of the banknote 13 in step S219 shows that the nominal value and the nominal nominal value match, the banknote 13 is transported into an output compartment in step S221. It is then determined in step S222 whether all the banknotes 13 to be paid out are already arranged in the output compartment. If this is not the case, the process begins again with step S214 for the next banknote 13 to be removed from the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the banknotes 13 to be paid out are removed from different recycling cassettes 12b to 12d at the same time, so that the time required to provide the bundle to be paid out is made available in the input and output unit 22. Are all banknotes to be paid out in the Provided input and output unit 22, the bundle to be paid out is output to the operator in step S224. At the same time, the banknotes 13 that were transported into the intermediate storage 30 during the payment process are returned. The banknotes 13 from the intermediate storage 30 are each transported back to the recycling cassette 12b to 12d from which they were removed. Alternatively, the bank notes 13 temporarily stored in the intermediate storage 30 can also be partially or completely fed to a different recycling cassette 12b to 12d than the recycling cassette 12b to 12d from which they were removed. In particular, the ascertainment of the recycling cassette 12b to 12d in which a banknote 13 is to be received from the intermediate storage 30 can be determined in accordance with Figure 2 strategies described for determining the recycling cassette 12b to 12d, to which a bank note 13 to be deposited is to be fed.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the bank notes 13 to be buffered can be fed to the reading unit 26. The nominal value of the banknotes 13 is determined with the aid of the reading unit 26. The determined nominal value is compared to the nominal nominal value analogously to step S218. If the comparison of the ascertained nominal value with the nominal nominal value shows that the nominal value ascertained and the nominal nominal value match, then the bank note 13 is fed to the buffer store 30. If the comparison of the determined nominal value with the nominal nominal value reveals, on the other hand, that the nominal value determined deviates from the nominal nominal value, the bank note 13 is fed to the deposit cassette 12a.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, if it was determined in step S208 that the desired amount of money cannot be withdrawn, a bundle with an amount which comes closest to the desired amount of all possible withdrawable amounts can be automatically proposed and paid out after confirmation . In this embodiment of the invention, steps S210 and S212 are omitted.

Figure 4 a diagram with the data flows of the control unit 28 is shown. The control unit 28 reads out the data stored in the storage areas of the storage elements 32b to 32d of the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d. Furthermore, the determined nominal values of the banknotes 13 to be paid in, paid out or temporarily stored are transmitted to the control unit 28 by the reading unit 26. Furthermore, the reading unit 26 transmits to the control unit 28 the result of the authenticity check of a bank note 13 to be paid in. The control unit 28 controls the data read out at least depending on the storage areas of the storage elements 32b to 32d of the recycling cassettes 12b to 12d and the data transmitted by the reading unit 26 Separating and stacking units 14a to 14d and / or the switches 16a to 16d.

At the in Figure 4 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the deposit cassette 12a has no storage element 32a. Since the banknotes 13 accommodated in the deposit cassette 12a are not intended for payment, the deposit cassette 12a is also not fed to any other ATM 8, so that a storage element 32a is not necessary.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, only those banknotes 13 are deposited in the deposit cassette 12a whose nominal value is greater than the maximum nominal value. The counterfeit suspect banknotes 13, on the other hand, are stored in a separate, fifth cash cassette. Furthermore, the automated teller machine 8 can have a sixth cash cassette in which those bank notes 13 which have been clearly identified as a forgery are stored.

If a bundle to be disbursed is not removed by the operator from the input and output unit 22, the banknotes 13 of the bundle not removed become analogous to the course of the deposit process Figure 2 divided between the different cash cassettes 12a to 12d. This ensures that the banknotes 13 of the bundle that has not been removed are again available for later disbursements. Any manipulations of the bundle by the operator, in particular an exchange of real banknotes 13 of the bundle for counterfeits, can be detected by the reading unit 26 with the aid of the authenticity check. Alternatively, the banknotes 13 of a bundle not to be withdrawn to be paid out can be transported into the deposit cassette 12a.

If a deposit transaction is canceled by the operator, that is to say that the operator wishes to reverse the deposit transaction, the paid-in amount of money is paid out analogously to the payment transaction described in FIG. 3. In this way can be dispensed with the temporary storage of the deposited banknotes 13 during the deposit process.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deposit cassette 12a is also designed as a recycling cassette, so that banknotes 13 fed to the deposit cassette 12a can also be removed from the deposit cassette 12a. In this way, if a deposit is canceled, the bundle to be paid out again to the operator can be composed of the same banknotes 13 that made up the deposited bundle.

With the help of the control unit 28, the fill level of the individual cash cassettes 12a to 12d is continuously monitored. If this results in banknotes 13 of a nominal value having fewer banknotes 13 than a preset minimum number of banknotes 13 of this nominal value in the automatic teller machine 8, the control unit 28 sends information to a service person or service center, by means of which the service person is requested to do so Replenish banknotes 13 with this nominal value.

If, during a payment process, the comparison of the determined nominal value of the bank note 13 to be paid out with the nominal nominal value of the bank note 13 shows that the nominal value of the bank note 13 deviates from the nominal nominal value, then it is determined with the aid of preset algorithms which bank note 13 is now at the top of the withdrawal sequence for those Recycling cassette 12b to 12d, from which the banknote 13 to be paid out was removed. In particular For this purpose, the determined nominal value of the banknote 13 is compared with the nominal values of those banknotes 13 which are arranged after the banknote 13 originally to be paid out in the order in which the recycling cassette 12b to 12d from which the banknote 13 to be withdrawn was removed was withdrawn.

In the event that the existence of one or more cash cassettes 12a to 12d cannot be determined by the control unit 28, for example due to multiple deductions, an emergency algorithm for the payment of the banknotes 13 is stored in the control unit 28. In this emergency algorithm, the bank notes 13 to be paid out are determined step by step. For this purpose, in a first step the amount of money to be paid out is divided by the nominal value of the banknote 13 with the highest nominal value intended for payment. The determined value is rounded down to the nearest whole number. If this determined value is greater than 0, the corresponding number of banknotes 13 is taken from the cash cassette 12a to 12d which contains the banknote 13 with the nominal value by which the desired amount of money was divided. If the determined value is 0, the desired amount of money is divided by the nominal value of the banknote 13 with the next smallest nominal value, which are arranged in a recycling cassette 12b to 12d other than the banknotes 13 with the larger nominal value, and the value thus obtained is again divided rounded off the next whole number. This procedure is repeated until a value other than 0 is determined.

The nominal values of all banknotes 13 removed in this way from a cash cassette 12a to 12d are determined with the aid of the reading unit 26 and added up. The added value is subtracted from the desired amount of money. In this way there is a residual amount. The residual amount determined is in turn divided by the nominal value of the banknote 13 with the largest nominal value which is intended for the payout, and the determined value is rounded down to the nearest whole number. If this value is not equal to 0, the corresponding number of banknotes 13 is taken from the corresponding cash cassette 12a to 12d. This process is repeated until the remaining amount is 0.

The emergency algorithm is explained below using an example. In this example, it is assumed that the ATM 8 comprises four cash cassettes 12a to 12d, banknotes 100 euros, 200 euros and 500 euros in the first cash cassette 12a, 50 euros banknotes in the second cash cassette 12b, 10 euros and 10c in the third cash cassette 12c 20 euro banknotes and in the fourth cash box 12d 5 euro banknotes are arranged. The desired payment amount is 1,875 euros. In the first step, the 1,875 euros are divided by 500 euros and the value contained is rounded down to the nearest whole number. In this case, the first value is 3. 3 banknotes 13 are therefore removed from the first cash cassette 12a. These are once 100 euros and twice 200 euros, so a total of 500 euros. The 500 euros are subtracted from the desired amount of money 1,875 euros, resulting in a remaining amount of 1,375 euros. By subsequently dividing this remaining amount by 500 euros and rounding off the result obtained, the next value is 2. Accordingly, 2 banknotes 13 are removed from the first cash box 12a. These banknotes 13 be once 500 euros and once 100 euros, so a total of 600 euros. By subtracting the 600 euros from the 1,375 euros, the remaining amount is 775 euros.

By dividing this remaining amount by 500 euros and then rounding off the result obtained, the value is 1. Accordingly, a further bank note 13 is removed from the first cash cassette 12a. This is a 100 euro banknote. The 100 euros are deducted from the 775 euros, leaving a remaining amount of 675 euros. By dividing again by 500 euros and rounding off the result obtained, the value 1 is again obtained, so that a further bank note 13 is removed from the first cash cassette 12a. This next banknote 13 is a 200 euro banknote. Subtracting the 200 euros from the remaining amount of 675 euros results in a remaining amount of 475 euros. The division of the 475 euros by 500 euros and the subsequent rounding down of the result obtained to the next whole number gives 0. Thus, no further banknote 13 can be removed from the first cash cassette 12a, since the next banknote 13 removed from the first cash cassette 12a is a 500 euro banknote could be and thus the desired amount to be paid out would be exceeded. Since only 50 euro banknotes are arranged in the second cash cassette 12b, the remaining amount of 475 euro is divided by 50 euro and the result obtained is rounded down to the nearest whole number. Accordingly, nine 50 euro banknotes are removed from the second cash cassette 12b.

This leaves a remaining amount of 25 euros. Since in the third cash cassette 12c both 10 euros and 20 euros banknotes are contained, a banknote 13 is first taken from the third cash cassette 12c. This banknote 13 is a 10 euro banknote. Subtracting the 10 euros from the 25 euros results in a remaining amount of 15 euros. Since both banknotes 13 with a nominal value of 10 euros and with a nominal value of 20 euros are stored in the third cash cassette 12c, no further banknotes 13 can be removed from the third cash cassette 12c. Since there are only 5 euro banknotes in the fourth money cassette 12d, three 5 euro banknotes are removed from the fourth money cassette 12d. There is a remaining amount of 0 euros. Overall, for the payment of the desired amount of money of 1,875 euros, the denomination is once 500 euros, three times 200 euros, three times 100 euros, nine times 50 euros, once 10 euros and three times 5 euros.

Reference list

8th

ATM

10th

safe

12a

Deposit cassette

12b to 12d

Recycling cassette

13

Banknote

14a to 14d

Separating and stacking unit

16a to 16d

Switch

19th

Transport path

20

opening

22

Input and output unit

24th

Transport element

26

Reading unit

28

Control unit

30th

Cache

32a to 32d

Storage element

Claims (13)

1. Device for depositing and/or dispensing at least banknotes having a first denomination, banknotes having a second denomination, banknotes having a third denomination and banknotes having a fourth denomination,
   comprising at least one input and/or output unit (22) for inputting the banknotes (13) to be deposited and/or for outputting the banknotes (13) to be dispensed,
   a reading unit (26), with the aid of which at least the denomination of each banknote (13) to be deposited or dispensed is determinable,
   comprising a first banknote receiving unit (12b), a second banknote receiving unit (12c) and at least one third banknote receiving unit (12d) for receiving the banknotes (13),
   and comprising at least one transport unit (24) for transporting banknotes (13) between the input and/or output unit (22) and the banknote receiving units (12a to 12d),
   characterized in that the transport unit (24) feeds only banknotes (13) having the first denomination and banknotes (13) having the second denomination to the first banknote receiving unit (12b), only banknotes (13) having the second denomination and banknotes (13) having a third denomination to the second banknote receiving unit (12c) and only banknotes (13) having the third denomination and banknotes (13) having a fourth denomination to the third banknote receiving unit (12d).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the banknote receiving units (12a to 12d) respectively comprise at least one memory element (32a to 32d), in which at least data having information about the denominations of all the banknotes (13) received in the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and data having information about the order in which the banknotes (13) are arranged in the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are stored.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that data having information about the number of banknotes (13) received in the banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) an/or data having information about the two denominations of the banknotes (13) that are able to be received in the banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are stored in the memory element (32a to 32d) of the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d).
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) comprises a first delimiting element and at least one second delimiting element, with the aid of which the dimensions of a receiving region of each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are settable in such a way that only banknotes (13) having the respectively present denominations are stackable in the banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d).
5. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that four banknote receiving units (12a to 12d) are provided, and in that each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) comprises a memory element.
6. Device according to any of Claims 2, 3 or 5, characterized in that the reading unit (26) comprises at least one sensor for checking the authenticity of a supplied banknote (13), and in that the reading unit (26) determines at least the denomination of the banknote (13), and in that data having information about the determined denomination of a deposited banknote (13) are stored in the memory element (32a to 32d) of the banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) in which the deposited banknote (13) is received.
7. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that provision is made of a fourth banknote receiving unit (12a) for receiving banknotes (13) that are not intended for being dispensed, and/or for receiving banknotes (13) that were provided in the input and/or output unit (22) for dispensing to an operator but were not removed by said operator.
8. Device according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized by a fifth banknote receiving unit for receiving banknotes (13) that were classified as suspected counterfeits when their authenticity was checked with the aid of the reading unit (26).
9. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized by an interim store (30) for temporarily receiving banknotes (13), in particular for temporarily receiving banknotes (13) during the process of depositing and/or dispensing banknotes (13).
10. Device according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or the interim store (30) are/is assigned in each case a separating and stacking unit (14a to 14d) for feeding banknotes (13) into the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or into the interim store (30) and/or for removing banknotes (13) from the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or from the interim store (30), and in that each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or the interim store (30) are/is assigned in each case a diverter (16a to 16d), with the aid of which the banknotes (13) that are transported on a transport path (19) and are to be fed to the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) or to the interim store (30) are fed to the separating and stacking unit (14a to 14d) assigned to the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or to the interim store (30) and the banknotes (13) removed from a banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) and/or from the interim store (30) with the aid of a separating and stacking unit (14a to 14d) are transported away.
11. Device according to any of Claims 2 to 10, characterized by a control unit (28), with the aid of which the data stored on the memory element (32a to 32d) of each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are able to be read out and with the aid of which data are able to be written to the memory elements (32a to 32d) of the banknote receiving units (12a to 12d).
12. Device according to Claim 10, characterized by a control unit (28), with the aid of which the data stored on the memory element (32a to 32d) of each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are able to be read out and with the aid of which data are able to be written to the memory elements (32a to 32d) of the banknote receiving units (12a to 12d) and with the aid of which the separating and stacking unit (14a to 14d) and/or the diverters (16a to 16d) are/is drivable at least depending on a portion of the data read out from the memory elements (32a to 32d) of the banknote receiving units (12a to 12d).
13. Method for handling at least banknotes having a first denomination, banknotes having a second denomination, banknotes having a third denomination and banknotes having a fourth denomination,
    wherein, during a depositing process, the banknotes (13) to be deposited are input by way of an input and/or output unit (22),
    with the aid of a reading unit (26) the authenticity of the deposited banknotes (13) is checked and the denomination of the deposited banknotes (13) is determined,
    and wherein the deposited banknotes (13) are fed to one of at least three banknote receiving units (12a to 12d), characterized
    in that only banknotes (13) having the first denomination and banknotes (13) having the second denomination are fed to the first banknote receiving unit (12b), only banknotes (13) having the second denomination and banknotes (13) having a third denomination are fed to the second banknote receiving unit (12c) and only banknotes (13) having the third denomination and banknotes (13) having a fourth denomination are fed to the third banknote receiving unit (12d), and
    in that at least data having information about the denominations of all the banknotes (13) received in the respective banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d), said denominations having been determined by the reading unit (26) and data having information about the order in which the banknotes (13) are arranged in the banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d) are stored in a memory element (32a to 32d) of each banknote receiving unit (12a to 12d).

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