EP2489617B1 - Device for aligning vouchers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for aligning sheet-like media, which comprises a support area on which the at least one sheet-like medium to be aligned rests. Furthermore, the device has a first alignment element and a second alignment element that can be moved in the direction of the first alignment element and counter to this direction. To align the sheet, the second aligning element, when moving toward the first aligning element, contacts an edge of the sheet and thus translates the sheet toward the first aligning element and/or rotates at least one corner of the sheet toward the first aligning element. Furthermore, the device has a drive unit for moving the second alignment element.

In known devices for handling notes of value, the notes of value are entered by an operator in the form of a stack of notes of value into an input and/or output compartment of the device. In order to ensure safe further handling of the notes of value during processing in the device, in particular safe separation of the notes of value from the stack of notes of value, it is necessary that the notes of value of the input note stack are aligned at least approximately in a preset target orientation. For this purpose, known devices comprise two alignment elements, which are moved toward one another along a fixed, preset travel path, while the stack of notes of value is arranged between them. The two alignment elements are in this case moved towards one another until they are at a preset distance from one another, this preset distance corresponding to the edge length of the note of value with the greatest edge length.

The problem with such alignment units is that only notes of value with the greatest edge length are correctly aligned with their help. Notes of value with a smaller edge length, on the other hand, can under certain circumstances remain severely twisted, so that they cannot subsequently be separated and/or can lead to note of value jams during transport within the device for handling notes of value.

From the document U.S. 2010/140863 A1 an aligning station for aligning sheet-shaped media is known, in which the sheet-shaped media rest on an aligning surface and are aligned in a desired position via laterally arranged aligning elements which can be moved towards one another can. Furthermore, sensors for determining the presence and/or the position of the supplied sheet-shaped media are described.

From the document U.S. 2007/057429 A1 is a paper feed for recording media to be printed, in which a receiving area for single sheets is provided by two lateral delimiting elements. The delimiting elements can be moved towards one another manually. The delimiting elements include sensors that detect whether the edges of the recording medium are in contact with the delimiting elements.

Other registration stations for registering sheet media are from the documents US 4,657,239A , U.S. 2007/057429 A1 and GB 2317881A known.

It is the object of the invention to specify a device for aligning sheet-shaped media, with the aid of which the sheet-shaped media can be reliably aligned in a simple manner.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

By providing at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area, the position of the sheet-like medium and/or the orientation of the sheet-like medium on the support area and by taking into account the detected presence, the detected position and/or the detected orientation when Moving the second aligning element to align the sheet-shaped medium means that even smaller sheet-shaped media can be reliably aligned, so that these can also be handled reliably. In particular, there is no rigid activation of the alignment elements, but activation of the alignment elements in relation to the supplied sheet-like media, so that this can take place in accordance with the actual alignment, position and/or dimensions of the sheet-like medium.

The media in sheet form lie on the support area, in particular in the form of a stack made up of a large number of media in sheet form. The media in sheet form are, in particular, banknotes, Checks, other bills of value and other sheet media. In this case, these different media in sheet form can be fed to the device in particular in a single stack.

The device for aligning sheet media is used in particular in devices for handling notes of value, for example in automatic cash registers, automatic cash register systems and/or ATMs, such as deposit machines for depositing banknotes and checks. In a particularly preferred embodiment, such a device for aligning notes of value is used in devices in which both banknotes and checks can be handled, whereby this device for aligning notes of value according to the invention enables the banknotes and checks to be fed in together in a stack and still be reliably handled by the device.

The alignment of the sheet-shaped media is understood in particular to mean that the sheet-shaped media are brought into a preset orientation and/or at least their orientation is approximated to this preset orientation. The alignment is particularly about the location of the longer edges of the sheet-shaped media in relation to a transport direction of the sheet-shaped media. Here, the preset orientation is preferably preset such that the longer edges of a sheet-shaped medium oriented in the preset orientation are arranged parallel to the transport direction. In addition to this, the alignment of a sheet-shaped medium can also also include the position of a central axis of the sheet-shaped media directed parallel to the longer edges of the sheet-shaped media in relation to a central axis of the support area directed in the transport direction. In this case, the preset alignment is in particular preset in such a way that the longitudinal axis of a sheet-like medium, which is aligned in the preset alignment, coincides with the longitudinal axis of the support area.

The transport direction is in particular the direction in which the media in sheet form are transported away from the support area for further processing. One or more transport elements, for example rollers and/or belts, are provided for this purpose.

Under the location of a note of value is understood to be the specific position at which the sheet-like medium the support area is arranged. Thus, if a sheet-shaped medium is transported in the transport direction without it being laterally displaced transversely to the transport direction and without being twisted, the position of the sheet-shaped medium is changed, but its orientation is not changed.

The device comprises in particular a control unit which controls the drive unit in such a way that it moves the second alignment element depending on the determination of the presence, the determined orientation and/or the determined position.

The second alignment member may have a substantially planar contact surface that contacts the sheet media during alignment. The normal vector of this contact surface is in particular directed in that direction in which the drive unit moves the second alignment element for aligning the sheet-like medium. Hereby is achieved that by a corresponding movement of the second aligning element, the sheet-shaped medium is rotated in the direction of the first aligning element when the longer edges of the sheet-shaped medium are not yet aligned parallel to the contact surface. In this case, the second alignment element contacts the edge of the edge facing it when moving with the contact surface sheet-shaped medium in the region of one of the corners of the sheet-shaped medium and rotates the security note through contact with this edge in the direction of the first alignment element. If, on the other hand, the edge of the sheet-shaped medium facing the second alignment element is already aligned transversely to the normal vector, the contact surface contacts this edge over the entire length, so that the sheet-shaped medium is displaced without rotation in the direction of the normal vector to the first alignment element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the second alignment element is moved transversely to the transport direction in which a transport unit for transporting the sheet-shaped media transports the latter. Thus, by moving the second alignment element accordingly, the sheet-like medium is twisted and/or shifted in such a way that its longer edges are directed in the transport direction, so that the sheet-like medium can be safely transported in the transport direction via the transport unit without a Canting with other elements is to be feared. In particular, a so-called short-side-first transport of the sheet-like media is thus possible, in which the short edges of the note of value are aligned orthogonally to the transport direction and the long edges of the note of value are aligned parallel to the transport direction.

The sensor is in particular firmly connected to the second alignment element, so that it is moved together with the second alignment element. A control unit controls the drive unit in particular in such a way that it moves the second alignment element together with the sensor in the direction of the first alignment element until the sensor detects the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area. This ensures that the movement of the second alignment element in the first direction of the first alignment element takes place depending on the width and/or the degree of twisting of the sheet-shaped medium to be aligned, so that it is reliably aligned.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is a first sensor and there is at least one second sensor fixedly connected to the second alignment element for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area, the position of the sheet-like medium and/or the orientation of the sheet-like medium provided on the support area. In this case, the control unit controls the drive unit in particular in such a way that it moves the second alignment element together with the two sensors in the direction of the first alignment element until both sensors Detect the presence of a sheet-shaped medium in their respective detection area. This ensures that the second alignment element is moved in the direction of the first alignment element until the longer edge of the sheet-like medium facing it is aligned parallel to the second alignment element and thus parallel to the transport direction. Thus, it is ensured that the sheet-shaped medium, regardless of its width, is turned in such a way that its longer edges run parallel to the transport direction, so that the sheet-shaped medium can be transported in a simple manner.

If more than one sheet-shaped medium, in particular a stack of sheet-shaped media, is lying on the support area, the corresponding movement of the second alignment element until both sensors detect the presence of a sheet-shaped medium in their detection area ensures that at least the sheet-shaped media are sheet media belonging to the stack have the widest width, are aligned in the preset orientation. Sheet media with a smaller width, on the other hand, can still be twisted relative to the transport direction.

A counterforce necessary for rotating the sheet-shaped medium is applied in particular by the first aligning element, against which the second aligning element presses the sheet-shaped medium when the second aligning element is moved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first alignment element is also movable in the direction of the second alignment element and opposite to this direction, the first alignment element contacting an edge of the sheet-like medium when moving in the direction of the second alignment element and displacing the sheet-like medium in the direction of the second alignment element and/or rotates at least one corner of the sheet media toward the second alignment member. A drive unit rotates the first alignment element in the direction of the second alignment element depending on the presence detected with the aid of the sensor, the detected position or the detected alignment. The drive unit can be the same drive unit that also moves the second alignment element or a different drive unit. The drive unit or the drive units preferably each comprise an electric motor for moving the alignment elements.

The sensor includes a camera, for example, which is used to record at least one image with a depiction of the sheet-like medium to be aligned. With the help of preset image processing algorithms, its orientation, position and/or its dimensions are determined as a function of the determined image of the sheet-like medium. Depending on the determined alignment, dimension and/or position, the control unit then controls the drive unit for moving the second alignment element and/or the drive unit for moving the first alignment element, so that depending on the actual alignment, position and/or dimensions of the sheet-like medium the alignment elements are moved towards one another. In particular, depending on the determined alignment and/or position of the sheet-like medium, the control unit determines a travel path by which the second alignment element is to be moved in the direction of the first alignment element and/or a travel path by which the first alignment element is to be moved in the direction of the second alignment element should. The control unit then controls the drive unit or drive units in such a way that the second alignment element and/or the first alignment element are/are moved accordingly.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first alignment element can also not be dependent on the same sensor as the second alignment element be controlled, but it can be provided a third sensor, which is firmly connected to the first alignment element and is moved together with this. In this embodiment, the alignment unit moves the first alignment element depending on the presence of a sheet-shaped medium in the detection area of the third sensor detected using the third sensor, the position of the sheet-shaped medium determined using the third sensor and/or the position determined using the third sensor Orientation of the sheet media.

In this embodiment, too, the first and the second alignment element can be moved via the same drive unit, or two drive units can be provided, with one drive unit each being used to move one of the alignment elements.

The movement of the first alignment element as a function of the third sensor can be developed in particular with the same features as described above in connection with the movement of the second alignment element as a function of the first sensor. Likewise, the first alignment element can be further developed with the features described above in connection with the second alignment element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and the second alignment element are structurally identical.

The control unit controls the drive unit for moving the first alignment element in particular such that it moves the first alignment element together with the third sensor in the direction of the second alignment element until the third sensor detects the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one fourth sensor fixedly connected to the first alignment element is provided for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area, the position of the sheet-like medium and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium. In this case, the fourth sensor, like the third sensor, is displaced together with the first alignment element. The control unit controls the drive unit to move the first alignment element in such a way that it moves the first alignment element together with the third sensor and the fourth sensor in the direction of the second alignment element until both the third sensor and the fourth sensor detect the presence of a sheet-like medium in detect their respective detection areas. The result of this is that the first and the second alignment element are moved towards one another until all four sensors indicate the presence of a sheet-shaped medium in their respective detection area. In this case, at least that sheet-like medium of the stack of sheet-like media that has the greatest width of the sheet-like media must be aligned in such a way that its longer edges rest against the two alignment elements and are thus aligned parallel to the transport direction.

By rotating and/or shifting the sheet-like medium on both sides by the two alignment elements moving towards one another on both sides, an even more reliable and precise alignment of the sheet-like medium is achieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the two alignment elements are moved towards each other until all four sensors detect the presence of a sheet-like medium in their respective detection area. In this case, the two alignment elements are in particular moved by the same travel length. In this case, the two alignment elements are preferably moved via the same drive unit. Alternatively, two drive units can also be provided, with one drive unit each being used to move an alignment element.

The first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and/or the fourth sensor preferably each comprise a light barrier, which can be used to easily detect the presence of a sheet-like medium in their detection areas. In this case, the presence of a sheet-like medium is detected in particular when a light beam from the light barrier is interrupted by the sheet-like medium. The light barrier includes in particular a deflection prism. A particularly cost-effective and space-saving design is thus achieved.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sensors can, in addition or as an alternative to the light barriers, also include sensors for measuring the force with which the respective alignment element presses against the sheet-like medium and, depending on the determined force, can detect the presence of a sheet-like medium.

The first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and/or the fourth sensor are preferably each arranged in an end region of the alignment elements. The first sensor and the second sensor are in particular on opposite end regions of the second alignment element and/or the third sensor and the fourth Sensor arranged at opposite end portions of the first alignment element. An end area is understood in particular to be the first and last quarter of the alignment elements, viewed in the direction of transport. The distance between the sensors in the direction of transport is in each case smaller than the length of the longer edge of the shortest permissible note of value.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet media is part of a stack of different or similar sheet media. In a preferred embodiment, the first aligning element and/or the second aligning element also change the position and/or the orientation of at least one further sheet medium of the stack when aligning the one sheet medium. It is thus achieved that a large number of sheet-shaped media can be aligned together.

In the embodiment according to the invention, after a first alignment process, at least one sheet-like medium arranged on the end face of the stack is pulled off the stack with the aid of a pull-off unit. The control unit then controls the drive unit for moving the second alignment member such that it moves the second alignment member towards the first alignment member moves when the first sensor and/or the third sensor no longer detect the presence of a sheet-like medium in their respective detection area after the one sheet-like medium has been pulled off. Additionally or alternatively, the drive unit for moving the first alignment element can be controlled by the control unit in such a way that this drive unit moves the first alignment element in the direction of the second alignment element when the first sensor and/or the third sensor are in their respective detection range after the one sheet media no longer detect the presence of sheet media.

In this way, it is achieved that after each removal of a sheet-shaped medium, it is checked whether the removal of this sheet-shaped medium is possible, the notes of value of the remaining stack of notes of value are further aligned, so that a kind of realignment is achieved, through which the optimal possible alignment of the stack is achieved. When all notes of value with the greatest width have been withdrawn from the stack of notes of value, this also aligns the remaining sheet-shaped media with the smaller dimension in the preset alignment.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, such realignment of the remaining stack occurs after each sheet-like medium pull. As an alternative or in addition, the realignment can also take place after a preset number of sheet-shaped media has been removed.

In this context, an alignment process is understood to mean in particular the displacement of the first and/or second alignment element in the direction of the other alignment element in each case until all sensors moved along detect the presence of a sheet-like medium in their respective detection area.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, more than two sensors can also be fixedly arranged on each alignment element and moved with the respective alignment element. The more sensors that are provided, the more precisely the sheet-shaped media can be aligned.

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

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Handhabung von Wertscheinen;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Kopfmoduls der Vorrichtung nach Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausschnitts des Kopfmoduls nach Figur 2;

Figur 4

eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Ausrichten von blattförmigen Medien der Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 1 bis 3;

Figur 5

eine weitere schematische, perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung nach Figur 4;

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts der Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 4 und 5;

Figur 7

eine stark vereinfachte Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 4 bis 6 in einem ersten Betriebszustand;

Figur 8

eine stark vereinfachte Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 4 bis 7 in einem zweiten Betriebszustand;

Figur 9

eine stark vereinfachte Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 4 bis 8 in einem dritten Betriebszustand; und

Figur 10

eine stark vereinfachte Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung nach den Figuren 4 bis 9 in einem vierten Betriebszustand.

Show it:

figure 1

a schematic representation of a device for handling notes of value;

figure 2

a schematic representation of a head module of the device figure 1 ;

figure 3

a schematic representation of a section of the head module figure 2 ;

figure 4

a schematic perspective view of a device for aligning sheet-shaped media of the device according to Figures 1 to 3 ;

figure 5

a further schematic perspective view of the device figure 4 ;

figure 6

a side view of a section of the device according to the figures 4 and 5 ;

figure 7

a greatly simplified plan view of the device according to the Figures 4 to 6 in a first operating condition;

figure 8

a greatly simplified plan view of the device according to the Figures 4 to 7 in a second operating condition;

figure 9

a greatly simplified plan view of the device according to the Figures 4 to 8 in a third operating condition; and

figure 10

a greatly simplified plan view of the device according to the Figures 4 to 9 in a fourth operating state.

In figure 1 a schematic representation of a device 10 for handling notes of value is shown. The device 10 is in particular an automatic cash register, an automatic cash register system and/or an automated teller machine, such as a deposit machine for depositing banknotes and checks.

The device 10 includes a head module 12 and a safe 14. The structure of the head module 12 is in connection with figure 2 described in more detail. Four value note cassettes 16a to 16d are arranged in the safe 14, in which the value notes can be received. In particular, one of the value note cassettes 16a to 16d is provided to hold checks and the other three value note cassettes 16a to 16d to hold banknotes. The banknotes are received in particular by type, ie banknotes of only one denomination are always received in a value note cassette 16a to 16d. Alternatively, mixed storage can also take place, ie notes of value of different denominations can be received mixed in a value note cassette 16a to 16d. In an alternative embodiment, more than four or fewer than four, in particular two, value note cassettes 16a to 16d can also be provided in the safe 14. In particular, a so-called reject cassette can be provided, in which notes of value that are suspected of being forged and/or are damaged can be accommodated. In a preferred embodiment, two value note cassettes 16a to 16d are provided, namely one for receiving checks and one for receiving banknotes.

The notes of value can be accommodated in the note cassettes 16a to 16d both in stacked form in a receiving area and also be stored wound up between two film strips on a roll store. Different types of value note cassettes can also be used inside the safe 14 .

In the present exemplary embodiment, the device 10 can be embodied purely as a deposit device in which only notes of value can be received. Alternatively, it can also be embodied as a recycling device into which notes of value can be input and into which notes of value can again be issued.

The safe 14 has a transfer slot 18 through which the notes of value are fed from the head module 12 to the safe 14 . The notes of value are transported from the transfer slot 18 to the note-of-value cassettes 16a to 16d via a transport unit designated by reference number 21.

In figure 2 12 is a schematic representation of the head module 12 of FIG figure 1 shown. The head module 12 has an input and output unit 20 via which the Value notes can be entered in the form of a value note stack. Furthermore, individual notes of value and/or stacks of notes of value can also be issued to the operator of the device 10 via this input and output unit 20 . The input and output unit 20 has, in particular, what is known as a shutter 22, via which an opening for feeding in and outputting the notes of value can be opened and closed.

A stack of notes of value entered via the input and output unit 20 is transported to a first alignment unit 100 with the aid of a transport unit 24 . With the aid of the first alignment unit 100, the notes of value in the stack of notes of value are aligned in a preset orientation or at least the orientation of some of the notes of value in the stack of notes of value is changed in such a way that the preset orientation is approximated. The aligned stack of notes of value is fed with the aid of a transport unit 26 to a separating unit 200 which separates the notes of value of the stack of notes of value and feeds the separated notes of value to a first sensor unit 300 .

The first sensor unit 300 includes an image capturing unit, with the help of which is supplied by each Value note at least one picture is taken with an image of this value note. A control unit 28 of the device 10 determines at least one feature of the note as a function of the image of the note in the image and classifies the note of value as a function of this feature into checks, banknotes of a preset currency and other sheet-like media. The other media in sheet form can be, for example, notes of value in a currency other than the preset currency and/or other media in sheet form that were entered by the operator of the device by mistake. For example, this can be business cards or bank statements. The preset currency is in particular that currency which is to be handled with the aid of the device 10, in particular to be received in the value note cassettes 16a to 16d.

Those notes of value that were classified neither as checks nor as banknotes of the preset currency are transported via a switch 400 to a second buffer store 500 for the intermediate storage of sheet-like media and are preferably temporarily stored there as a second stack of notes of value. The checks and the banknotes of the preset currency, on the other hand, are fed to a second aligning unit 600 via the shunt 400 . With the help of this second alignment unit 600, the checks aligned in a first preset target orientation and the banknotes aligned in a second target orientation deviating from the first target orientation. In particular, several different target alignments for banknotes of different denominations are preset and the second alignment unit 600 not only aligns the notes of value in different preset target alignments depending on whether they are checks or banknotes, but also additionally depending on the denomination the banknotes.

The aligned notes of value are then fed to a second sensor unit 29, with the aid of which the authenticity of the banknotes is determined and with the aid of which magnetic information on the checks is read out. The sensor unit 29 includes a banknote sensor unit 29a, which is used to check the authenticity of the banknotes, and a check sensor unit 29b, which is used to check the authenticity of the checks and read information printed on the checks. The first sensor unit 300 and the second sensor unit 29 together with the control unit 28 form in particular a genuine money and check recognition module. When determining the authenticity of the banknote and/or check, information determined with the aid of the sensor unit 300 is preferably also taken into account.

The notes of value are then transported in the direction of a second switch 700 with the aid of further transport elements, one of which is denoted by reference number 30 by way of example. All notes of value of the previously entered stack of notes of value, which were classified as checks or banknotes of the preset currency, are first fed to a first buffer store 32 via the second diverter 700 and temporarily stored therein. The intermediate store 32 is designed in particular in the form of a roll store, in which the notes of value to be received are received wound up between two film strips. After all the notes of value of the entered stack of notes of value have been received in the first buffer store 32 or the second buffer store 500, at least one piece of information about the notes of value received in the first buffer store 32 and/or the second buffer store 500 is output to the operator via a display unit 34. This information includes, in particular, information about the number of notes of value entered and/or the value of the sum of the denominations of the notes of value entered, which are held in the first buffer store 32 . Furthermore, the operator is asked in particular to enter confirmation information via an input unit 36 .

If the confirmation information is not entered via the input unit 36 within a preset time interval after the operator has been requested to do so and/or if the operator makes a negative entry, the notes of value received in the first buffer store 32 are transported from this and fed to a stacking unit 40. with the help of which a first stack of notes of value is formed from all of the notes of value received in the first buffer store 32 . Furthermore, the second stack of notes of value received in the second buffer store 500 is removed from the second buffer store 500 . Both the first stack of notes of value and the second stack of notes of value are fed to a stack merging unit 802, with the aid of which a single joined stack of notes of value is formed from the first and the second stack of notes. This assembled stack of notes of value is then returned to the operator via the input and output unit 20 .

If, on the other hand, the operator enters the confirmation information within the preset time interval after the corresponding request, the second stack of notes of value is removed from the second buffer store 500 and output to an operator via the input and output unit 20 .

The notes of value temporarily stored in the first buffer store 32, on the other hand, are fed to the safe 14 along a transport path 38 and are received in the note-of-value cassettes 16a to 16d. The checks temporarily stored in the first temporary store 32 are canceled before they are transported into the safe 40 by printing a cancellation print image in a predetermined print area of the check. For this purpose, a printing unit 900 for printing the checks is provided between the second switch 700 and the transport path 38 . The checks are fed to the printing unit 900 via the switch 700 in such a way that the printing area on which the cancellation information is to be printed faces the print head of the printing unit 900, so that the print head can print this printing area with the cancellation print image.

The head module 12 described above means that checks and banknotes can be handled together in one device 10 and these can be fed to the device 10 in any mixed form in a stack. This achieves a particularly high level of operating comfort for an operator of the device 10, since the operator does not have to manually pre-sort the notes of value into checks and banknotes and also does not have to preset which type of notes of value is fed, as is the case with known devices.

In figure 3 a schematic view of a section of the head module 12 is shown. figure 4 and figure 5 each show a schematic perspective view of the first alignment unit 100.

The first alignment unit 100 comprises a support element 102, with the stack of notes to be aligned resting on a support region 104 of the support element 102 during the alignment. Furthermore, the first aligning unit 100 has a transport unit 106, with the aid of which the bundle of notes coming from the input and/or output compartment 20 can be transported in a transport direction P1 and thus fed to the support area 104. After alignment, transport unit 106 transports the stack of notes further in transport direction P1 in the direction of singulation unit 200.

The transport unit 106 comprises a plurality of driven rollers, one of which is denoted by the reference numeral 108 by way of example. In addition, the transport unit 106 includes two driven belts 110, 112, the belts 110, 112 being arranged in such a way that the stack of notes to be transported is arranged between them so that it is transported evenly by the belts in the transport direction P1. Both the belts 110, 112 and the rollers 108 are preferably driven via a central main drive of the device 10, which drives a large number of transport elements of the device 10. The rollers 108 and belts 110 and 112 are mounted on driven shafts 114 in particular for this purpose.

The alignment unit 100 comprises a first alignment element 116 and a second alignment element 118, the support region 104, on which the stack of notes to be aligned rests on the support element 102 during the alignment, being formed between these two alignment elements 116, 118. The alignment elements 116, 118 are each arranged to be displaceable in the direction of the double arrows P2 or P3 with the aid of drive units. In this case, a first drive unit can be provided for displacing the first alignment element 116 and a second drive unit for displacing the second alignment element 118 . Alternatively, only one drive unit can be provided, via which the two alignment elements 116, 118 can be moved. The displacement directions P2, P3 of the alignment elements 116, 118 are in particular directed orthogonally to the transport direction P1.

A first sensor 120 and a second sensor 122 are arranged on the second alignment element 118 and firmly connected to the second alignment element 118 . When the second alignment element 118 is displaced in the direction of the double arrow P3, the sensors 120, 122 are thus also moved. Analogous to this, a third sensor 124 and a fourth sensor 126 are arranged on the first alignment element 116, which are also firmly connected to the first alignment element 116 and are thus displaced together with it in the direction of the arrow P2.

The four sensors 120 to 126 each include a light barrier with the aid of which the presence of a sheet-like medium in the detection area of the respective sensor 120 to 126 can be determined. Each of the light barriers of the four sensors 120 to 126 includes two diodes 128, 138 and a prism 130 to 136. The structure and function of the light barriers are exemplary for the light barrier of the first sensor 120 in figure 6 shown and are described in more detail below. The explanations apply analogously to the other three sensors 122 to 126.

The first diode 128 of the sensor 120 serves as a transmission diode, with the help of which a light beam 140 is emitted. This is deflected by the prism 130 in such a way that it is parallel to the side of the second alignment element 118 facing the support area 104 Contact surface 142 of the second alignment element 118, via which the notes of value of the stack are contacted during alignment, is guided. On the upper side of the prism 128, the light beam 140 is again deflected and directed to a second diode 138, which serves as a receiver diode. As long as no sheet-like medium is arranged in the detection area 144 of the first sensor 120 , the light beam 140 emitted by the transmitting diode 128 can be received by the receiving diode 138 . If, on the other hand, a sheet-like medium is arranged in the detection area 144, the light beam 140 is interrupted, so that the receiving diode 138 detects the presence of a sheet-like medium in its detection area if the emitted light beam is not received.

The four sensors 120 to 126 are each arranged in end regions of the alignment elements 116, 118, with the first sensor 120 being located at the front end of the second alignment element 118 as viewed in transport direction P1, and the second sensor 120 at the rear end region of the second alignment element 118 in transport direction P1 , the third sensor 124 is arranged on the front end area of the first alignment element 116 as seen in the transport direction P1, and the fourth sensor 126 is arranged on the rear end area of the first alignment element 116 as seen in the transport direction P1.

The functioning of the alignment unit 100 is described below in connection with the Figures 7 to 10 described, where the Figures 7 to 10 each represent greatly simplified top views of the alignment unit 100 . Furthermore, to simplify the explanation of how it works in the Figures 7 to 10 only one note of value 150 is shown, the alignment of which is brought into the preset alignment with the aid of the alignment unit 100 . The statements apply analogously to a stack of notes of value consisting of several notes of value 150 .

At the in figure 7 In the initial situation shown, the note of value 150 is arranged in the support area 104 of the support element 102 and rests on the support element 102 in this support area 104 . The actual orientation of the note of value 150 is such that its longer edges 152, 154 are not arranged parallel to the transport direction P1. The preset alignment is preset such that the edges 152, 154 are aligned parallel to the transport direction P1 and that the longer central axis 156 of the note 150 coincides with the central axis of the support element 102.

At the in figure 7 Starting position shown are the alignment elements 116, 118 on the edge of the support element 102 arranged. Since none of the sensors 120 to 126 detects the presence of the sheet-shaped medium in their respective detection area, both the first alignment element 116 and the second alignment element 118 are moved towards one another in the direction of the arrows P4 and P5, respectively.

At the in figure 8 In the state shown, the alignment elements 116, 118 are moved towards one another to such an extent that the presence of the sheet-like medium or note of value 150 in its detection area is detected with the aid of the first sensor 120. Thus, the contact surface 142 of the second alignment element 118 contacts the edge 154 of the bill 150. The second alignment element 118 is further moved in the direction of arrow P4 and the first alignment element 116 is also further moved in the direction of arrow P5. As a result, the second alignment element 118 rotates the corner 160 of the security note 150 in the direction of the arrow P6 via the contact with the edge 154 .

At the in figure 9 In the state shown, the note of value 150 has been rotated with the aid of the second alignment element 118 to such an extent that its edges 152, 154 are aligned parallel to the transport direction P1. Here, the edge 154 of the note of value 150 contacts the contact surface 142 of the second alignment element 118, so that both the first sensor 120 and the second sensor 122 each detect the presence of a sheet-shaped medium 150 in the respective detection area.

The third sensor 124 and the fourth sensor 126, on the other hand, do not yet detect the presence of the sheet-like medium 150 in their detection area, so that the alignment elements 116, 118 are moved further towards one another. Here, via the contact of the second alignment element 118 with the edge 154 of the note 150, the latter is moved together with the alignment element 118 in the direction of the arrow P4 in the direction of the first alignment element 116.

At the in figure 10 The state shown is that the note of value 150 is moved so far in the direction of the first alignment element 116 that the note of value 150 is aligned in the preset orientation. The edges 152, 154 are aligned parallel to the transport direction P1 and the central axis 156 of the note 150 coincides with the central axis 158 of the support element 102. All four sensors 120 to 126 now detect the presence of the note of value 150 in their respective detection area, so that the alignment elements 116, 118 are no longer moved towards one another.

The note of value 150 is then transported away from the support area 104 in the transport direction P1 with the aid of the transport unit 106 and is fed to the separating unit 200 . By moving the alignment elements 116, 118 towards one another until all four sensors 120 to 128 detect the presence of a sheet-shaped medium 150 in the respective detection area, it is achieved that the sheet-shaped medium 150 is easily and reliably measured, regardless of its dimensions and its initial alignment and initial position can be brought into the preset orientation so that reliable further handling of the sheet-like medium 150 is achieved.

As already described above, in the device 100 not individual sheet-shaped media 150 but rather stacks of sheet-shaped media 150 are usually loaded. In particular, these sheet-shaped media 150 have different dimensions, with the media 150 being able to differ both in length and in width. The input of the stack takes place in particular short-side-first, ie the sheet-like media are input in such a way that their longer sides are aligned parallel to the transport direction. Aligning such fed stacks is done in the same manner as previously related with the Figures 7 to 10 for a note of value 150 described.

After alignment elements 116, 118 have moved towards one another until all sensors 120 to 126 detect the presence of a sheet-like medium 150 in their respective detection area, that sheet-like medium 150 lying on support element 106 is pulled off with the aid of separation unit 200 and onwards transported in the transport direction P1. If all four sensors 120 to 126 continue to detect the presence of a sheet-like medium 150 in their respective detection area, another sheet-like medium 150 is gradually removed from the stack until at least one of the sensors 120 to 126 no longer detects the presence of a sheet-like medium Medium 150 detected in its detection range. In this case, the aligning elements 116, 118, as previously described, are moved further towards each other again until all four sensors 120 to 126 detect the presence of a sheet-shaped medium 150 in their detection area. In this way, with sheet media 150 of different widths, a re-alignment of the stack is achieved in which, when all sheet media with a larger width are withdrawn, the sheet media 150 with a smaller width are also brought into the preset alignment.

The width of a sheet-like medium 150 is understood to mean, in particular, the dimension of this sheet-like medium 150 directed transversely to the transport direction P1.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, more or fewer than four sensors 120 to 126 can also be provided. It is also alternatively possible that one of the alignment elements 116, 118 is fixed and only the other alignment element 116, 118 is movable and is moved towards the fixed alignment element 116, 118 in order to align the sheet-like media 150.

In a further alternative embodiment, force measurement sensors can also be used instead of light barriers, with the aid of which the force required to move the alignment elements 116, 118 in the direction of the arrows P4 or P5 is determined. This determined force is used to detect whether at least one of the sheet-like media in the stack is already aligned in the preset alignment or whether the sheet-like media still need to be displaced or twisted to align them in the preset alignment.

Furthermore, a camera can alternatively be provided as a sensor, with the aid of which the alignment and/or position of at least one sheet-like medium 150 of the stack, in particular all sheet-like media 150 of the stack, is determined. From this, the control unit 28 of the device 10 then determines by which travel paths the alignment elements 116, 118 must be moved in order to align the sheet-like medium or the sheet-like media 150 in the preset alignment.

Reference List

10

contraption

12

head module

14

safe

20

input and output unit

21

transport unit

22

shutter

24

transport unit

26

transport unit

28

control unit

29, 29a, 29b

sensor unit

30

transport element

32

cache

34

display unit

36

input unit

38

transport path

40

stacking unit

100

alignment unit

102

support element

104

support area

106

transport unit

108

role

110, 112

belt

114

Wave

116, 118

alignment element

120 to 126

sensor

128, 138

diode

130 to 136

prism

140

Light

142

contact surface

144

detection range

150

note of value

152, 154

edge

156, 158

central axis

160

Corner

200

isolation unit

300

sensor unit

400

soft

500

cache

600

alignment unit

700

soft

802

batch merge unit

900

pressure unit

P1

transport direction

P2, P3, P4, P5, P6

Direction

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for aligning sheet-like media, in particular notes of value,

   having a support region (104), on which the at least one sheet-like medium (150) to be aligned rests,

   a first alignment element (116),

   a second alignment element (118) which is movable in the direction of the first alignment element (116) and counter to said direction and which, in order to align the sheet-like medium (150) as it moves in the direction of the first alignment element (118), makes contact with an edge (154) of said sheet-like medium (150) and displaces the sheet-like medium (150) in the direction of the first alignment element (116) and/or rotates the sheet-like medium (150) such that at least one corner (160) of the sheet-like medium (150) moves in the direction of the first alignment element (116), and

   a drive unit for moving the second alignment element (118),

   wherein at least one sensor (120) for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144), the position of the sheet-like medium (150) and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium (150) on the support region (104) is provided,

   and the drive unit moves the second alignment element (118) in order to align the sheet-like medium (150) depending on the detected presence, the detected position and/or the detected alignment,

   wherein the sensor (120) is fixedly connected to the second alignment element (118), and

   wherein the sensor is a first sensor (120),

   wherein at least one second sensor (122), which is connected fixedly to the second alignment element (118), for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144), the position of the sheet-like medium (150) and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium (150) on the support region (104) is provided, and in that a control unit (28) activates the drive unit in such a manner that the latter moves, in particular activates, the second alignment element (118) together with the sensors (120, 122) depending on the presence, detected with the aid of the second sensor (122), the position, detected with the aid of the second sensor (122), and/or the alignment, detected with the aid of the second sensor (122), in such a manner that the drive unit moves the second alignment element (118) together with the sensors (120, 122) in the direction of the first alignment element (116) until the two sensors (120, 122) detect the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in their respective detection regions (144),

   wherein the second alignment element (118) has a substantially flat contact surface (142) which makes contact with the sheet-like medium (150) during the alignment,

   characterized in that the drive unit moves the second alignment element (118) for aligning the sheet-like medium (150) in the direction of the normal vector of the contact surface (142).
2. Device (100) according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that a transport unit (106) for transporting the sheet-like medium in a transport direction (P1) is provided, wherein the transport direction (P1) is directed preferably perpendicularly to the direction (P4) in which the second alignment element (118) for aligning the sheet-like medium (150) is moved.
3. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a control unit (28) activates the drive unit in such a manner that the latter moves the second alignment element (118) together with the sensor (120) in the direction of the first alignment element (116) until the sensor (120) detects the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144).
4. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first sensor (120) is arranged on a front end region of the second alignment element (118), as seen in the transport direction (P1), and the second sensor (122) is arranged on a rear end region of the second alignment element (118), as seen in the transport direction (P1).
5. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second alignment element (118) presses the sheet-like medium (150) against the first alignment element (116).
6. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first alignment element (116) is movable in the direction of the second alignment element (118) and counter to said direction, in that the first alignment element (116) as it moves in the direction of the second alignment element (118) makes contact with an edge (152) of the sheet-like medium (150) and displaces the sheet-like medium (150) in the direction of the second alignment element (118) and/or rotates the sheet-like medium (150) such that at least one corner (160) of the sheet-like medium (150) moves in the direction of the first alignment element (116), and in that a drive unit moves the first alignment element (116) for aligning the sheet-like medium (150) depending on the detected presence, the detected position and/or the detected alignment.
7. Apparatus (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first alignment element (116) is movable in the direction of the second alignment element (118) and counter to said direction, in that the first alignment element as it moves in the direction of the second alignment element (118) makes contact with an edge (152) of the sheet-like medium (150) and displaces the sheet-like medium (150) in the direction of the second alignment element (118) and/or rotates the sheet-like medium (150) such that at least one corner (160) of the sheet-like medium (150) moves in the direction of the first alignment element (116), in that at least one third sensor (124), which is connected fixedly to the first alignment element (116), for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144), the position of the sheet-like medium (150) and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium (150) on the support region (104) is provided, and in that a drive unit moves the first alignment element (116) for aligning the sheet-like medium (150) depending on the presence, detected with the aid of the third sensor (124), the position, detected with the aid of the third sensor (124), and/or the alignment, detected with the aid of the third sensor (124).
8. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the control unit (28) activates the drive unit for moving the first alignment element (116) in such a manner that said drive unit moves the first alignment element (116) together with the third sensor (124) in the direction of the second alignment element (118) until the third sensor (124) detects the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144).
9. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 7, characterized in that at least one fourth sensor (126), which is fixedly connected to the first alignment element (116), for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144), the position of the sheet-like medium (150) and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium (150) on the support region (104) is provided, and in that the control unit (28) activates the drive unit for moving the first alignment element (116) in such a manner that said drive unit moves the first alignment element (116) together with the third sensor (124) and the fourth sensor (126) in the direction of the second alignment element (118) until the third sensor (124) and the fourth sensor (124) detect the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in their respective detection regions (144).
10. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 7, characterized in that at least one fourth sensor (126), which is connected fixedly to the first alignment element (116), for detecting the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in its detection region (144), the position of the sheet-like medium (150) and/or the alignment of the sheet-like medium (150) on the support region (104) is provided, and in that the drive unit or the drive units moves or move the alignment elements (116, 118) towards each other until the first sensor (120), the second sensor (122), the third sensor (124) and the fourth sensor (126) each detect the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in their respective detection region (144) .
11. Apparatus (100) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the drive unit or the drive units moves or move the first alignment element (116) and the second alignment element (118) by the same length.
12. Apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding Claims 7 to 11,

    characterized in that the sheet-like medium (150) is part of a stack of different and/or identical sheet-like media (150), in that, after a first alignment operation, at least one sheet-like medium (150) arranged at one end of the stack is peeled off from the stack, and in that the control unit (28) activates the drive unit for moving the second alignment element (118) in such a manner that said drive unit moves the second alignment element (118) in the direction of the first alignment element (116) if the first sensor (120), the second sensor (122), the third sensor (124) and/or the fourth sensor (126) do not detect the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in their respective detection region (144),

    and/or activates the drive unit for moving the first alignment element (116) in such a manner that said drive unit moves the first alignment element (116) in the direction of the second alignment element (118) if the first sensor (120), the second sensor (122), the third sensor (124) and/or the fourth sensor (126) do not detect the presence of a sheet-like medium (150) in their respective detection region (144).

Images