EP2675740A1

EP2675740A1 - Device for handling notes of value, comprising two intermediate storage units for the intermediate storage of notes of value

Info

Publication number: EP2675740A1
Application number: EP12708507.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Udo Petermann; Paul Freitag; Richard Düsterhus; Hendrik HÖSCHEN
Original assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Current assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2012-02-17
Publication date: 2013-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-17
Also published as: WO2012110629A1; EP2675740B1; DE102011000797A1; US8915346B2; US20140001104A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for handling notes of value, comprising a sensor unit (300) for determining at least one feature of each note of value and a control unit (28), which classifies the notes of value into permissible notes of value and leaf-shaped instruments to be reissued depending on the feature to be determined by the sensor unit (300). A separator (400) is arranged downstream of the sensor unit (300), wherein the control unit (28) actuates the separator (400) such that same feeds notes of value classified as permissible notes of value to a first intermediate storage unit (32) and notes of value classified as leaf-shaped instruments to be reissued to a second intermediate storage unit (500).

Description

Apparatus for handling notes with two buffers for temporarily storing the notes of value

The invention relates to a device for handling sheet-like media, which comprises a transport unit for transporting the sheet-like media and a sensor unit for determining at least one feature of a respective sheet-like medium. A control unit classified depending on the detected by the sensor unit feature the sheet-shaped media in permissible sheet-like media and reissues sheet-like media.

The device for handling sheet-shaped media is, in particular, an automatic cash deposit, an automatic cash register system and / or an automatic teller machine, such as a deposit machine for depositing banknotes and checks. In particular, the sheet-like media to be entered can be entered in the form of a stack into the device. The input sheet media are classified into permissible sheet media and sheet media to be reissued, with permissible sheet media being those sheet media to be received in the apparatus and reissues sheet media are those sheet media that should not be included in the device. The permissible sheet-shaped media are in particular banknotes of at least one preset currency and / or checks. On the other hand, the sheet media to be reissued are banknotes other than the default currency, damaged banknotes, damaged checks, and / or other sheet-shaped media such as business cards.

In known devices, all sheet media entered as a stack by the operator are cached in a buffer. If there is only one sheet-like medium to be reissued in the cached sheet-like media, then all sheet-like media temporarily stored in the intermediate memory are again output to the operator, who then has to sort out the impermissible sheet-like media and a new stack which only contains the permissible sheet-like media , must enter again. This results in a low level of operating comfort for the operator, since on the one hand it has to feed a stack several times and on the other hand it has to sort out the permissible sheet-shaped media on its own. It is an object of the invention to provide a device for handling of sheet-like media, which allows the input of sheet-like media with a high ease of use for an operator.

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

According to the invention, a switch is arranged downstream of the sensor unit and is connected to the sensor unit via a first transport path. The control unit controls the switch so as to supply a sheet-shaped medium classified as a permissible sheet-shaped medium to a first buffer for temporarily storing sheet-shaped media classified as allowable sheet-shaped media and a sheet-shaped medium classified as a sheet-medium to be reissued to a second buffer for temporarily storing sheet-like media to be reissued Media classified sheet-like media supplies. This ensures that the supplied sheet-like media of the input stack are cached separately according to their classification for allowable and wiederauszugebenden sheet-shaped media. So you do not have to All input sheet-like media are reissued, but it must only those sheet-shaped media that are cached in the second cache, be issued to the operator again. The other, in the first buffer cached, classified as permissible sheet media contrast leaf-shaped media contrast remain in the device and can be processed.

The device for handling sheet-shaped media is, in particular, an automatic cash deposit, an automatic cash register system and / or an automatic teller machine, such as a deposit machine for depositing banknotes and checks. In particular, the device is designed such that both banknotes and checks can be entered into it, whereby the banknotes and checks can be mixed in a single stack.

In particular, the sensor unit comprises at least one image acquisition unit, in particular at least one CCD line, on which the sheet-like media are transported individually. The image capture unit captures at least one image with an image of each sheeted medium being delivered. The control unit determines by means of at least one in her deposited image processing algorithm depending on this image, the at least one feature of the sheet-shaped medium and classified in dependence thereon, the sheet-shaped medium. In particular, the presence of magnetic information, the presence of watermarks, the dimensions of the sheet-like medium and / or characteristic features of certain types of value are determined as characteristics.

In particular, bank notes of a preset currency and checks are classified as admissible sheet-shaped media. On the other hand, as sheet-like media to be reissued, damaged banknotes, banknotes other than the preset currency, damaged checks, and all other sheet-shaped media are classified.

The switch is in particular connected to the first intermediate store via a second transport path and to the second intermediate store via a third transport path. The control unit controls the switch in such a way that it classifies a sheet-shaped medium classified as a permissible sheet-shaped medium from the first into the second transport path and a sheet-like medium to be reissued. tes sheet-shaped medium from the first into the third transport path.

In this context, the directing of a sheet-like medium from a transport path into another transport path is understood in particular to mean that the point is arranged in a switch position in which it guides the sheet-like medium from one to the other transport path. This does not necessarily mean a change of direction of the note, i. that the two transport paths, between which the switch steers the sheet-shaped medium, can be directed in the same direction, in particular can be arranged in one plane. Preferably, the center axes of the two transport paths lie on a straight line.

The third transport path is preferably shorter than the second transport path, so that the sheet media to be reissued must be transported through the device over a shorter distance than the permissible sheet-like media. As the sheet media to be reissued involves, among other things, damaged banknotes and checks and also other sheet-like media, of which it is uncertain what their condition is and what their dimensions are, this is possible as far as possible short third transport path, that the likelihood that the sheet media to be reproduced with transport elements or units of the device get caught and thus lead to congestion and / or interference is reduced. The length of the second transport path carries in particular between 10 times and 100 times, preferably between 50 times and 80 times, the length of the third transport path.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the second buffer is arranged immediately after the switch, so that the third transport path is minimized, whereby the likelihood of interference is minimized by the re-issuing sheet-like media. Arranging immediately after the switch means, in particular, that no other units of the device are arranged between the switch and the second intermediate store. In this embodiment, the third transport path has in particular a length of 0 mm, so that the switch steers the sheet-like medium directly into the second intermediate store, in which case the transition point between the switch and the temporary store is regarded as the transport path. The switch, in turn, is preferably arranged immediately after the sensor unit, so that directly after the classification of the sheet-like media, the sheet media to be reissued are sorted out via the switch by the transport into the second intermediate store. Thus, the number of further processed sheet-like media is minimized from the outset.

The second buffer preferably has at least one pair of belts, which encompasses two circumferential belts, which are guided over a plurality of transport elements. The re-dispensable sheet media to be stored in the second buffer are received in the second buffer between the two belts and are transported together with the belts in a circulating direction in which the circulating belts are driven by a drive unit. The transport elements are in particular rollers or rollers over which the belts are guided. These rollers or rollers are driven by a central drive unit of the device, so that via the contact between the rollers or rollers and the belt and the belt are driven. By means of a suitably designed buffer, it is possible to store as many re-dispensed sheet-like media as possible in a small space, so that only little space is required for the second buffer. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the second buffer store may also comprise only one circulating belt guided by transport elements and a plurality of rollers, the sheet media to be reissued as sheet media classified as being temporarily stored in the second buffer being received between the belt and the rollers and transported together with the belts in the direction of rotation. In this embodiment, in particular, the belt is driven by a drive unit, wherein the rollers are preferably designed as non-driven pressure rollers. The second intermediate memory preferably comprises at least one stop element projecting into the circulating transport path, along which the sheet-like media stored in the buffer store are stopped, by which overlapping notes of value are stopped and pushed over one another in a stack.

The sheet-like media are accommodated in particular in the second intermediate store in such a way that two sheet-like media received one after the other in the direction of circulation at least partially overlap. This ensures that a larger number of sheet-like media can be recorded, since for a given belt length overlap by the overlap a larger ßere number of sheet-shaped media can be added in a row.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet-like media, which are temporarily stored in the second buffer, stored in this as a stack, so that on the one hand the largest possible number of sheet-like media can be taken in a small length of the belt in the second buffer and on the other hand, the sheet-like media to be reissued, which are temporarily stored in the second buffer, can be output directly as a stack to the operator again. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a stacking unit for stacking the sheet media to be reissued, thereby achieving a simple, space saving and inexpensive construction.

The distance between the two belts of the belt pair or between the belt and the rollers is preferably designed such that the stack formed from the sheet-like media received in the second buffer comprises a maximum of between three and ten, preferably at most between four and six, sheet-like media can. This ensures that the experience in the on the Operator input stack maximum available number reissues sheet-like media in the second buffer is receivable and the second latch is still compact.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a maximum of less than three or more than ten sheet-like media can be accommodated in the second buffer at the same time. Furthermore, the second buffer may alternatively also be designed such that the sheet-like media to be buffered in it are received one behind the other and do not overlap. In particular, the successive recorded sheet-like media have a preset minimum distance from each other so that they do not interfere with each other during transport in the direction of rotation and the occurrence of congestion is avoided.

Furthermore, the second buffer store is preferably designed such that the switch feeds the sheet-like media classified as the sheet media to be reissued to the second buffer store at a first location and a further switch unit the sheet media received in the second buffer store to the second buffer store at a location different from the first location second place takes. This ensures that the feeding and the removal of the sheet-shaped media is spatially separated, so that the feeding and removal can take place in parallel and the transport paths through which the sheet-like media fed and the reissues sheet-like media are output, can be separated from each other.

The further switch is in particular adjustable between a withdrawal position and a temporary storage switch position. In the removal position, a switch element of the further switch engages in the circulating transport path, along which the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the buffer store are transported, and directs the buffered sheet-like media out of the second buffer. On the other hand, in the temporary storage softening position, the points element is arranged outside the circulation transport path, so that the transport of the temporarily stored banknotes in the direction of circulation through the points element is not hindered. The switch element is mounted in particular pivotable about an axis of rotation and is pivoted about this axis of rotation with the aid of a drive unit, for example a lifting magnet, between the removal switch position and the intermediate switch point softening position. In addition, the device preferably has an output unit for outputting the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer store and removed therefrom to the operator of the device.

In this case, the sheet-shaped media are output, in particular in the form of a stack. If the sheet-like media to be reproduced are already taken up in the second buffer as a stack, this stack is removed from the second buffer and fed to the output unit with the aid of transport elements, so that the stack is output to the operator. If the sheet-like media classified as reissuant sheet-shaped media are received individually or partially overlapping each other in the second buffer store, then after removal from the second buffer they are fed to a stacking unit, with the aid of which they are stacked to form a stack, which then passes through the output unit is issued.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the device comprises an input unit for inputting a stack of sheet-like media and a separating unit for singulating the sheet-like media of the input stack. The transport unit transports the separated sheet-like media to the sensor unit, which then, as described above, detects at least one feature of the sheet-like media so that the control unit generates the sheet-like media. classify and control the turnout accordingly. The input unit and the output unit are in particular integrally formed as an input and output unit, so that the input and the output of the stack can be done via a unit and a simple structure is achieved.

In particular, the apparatus has, in particular, a display unit which, after all the sheet-shaped media have been recorded in the first buffer or second buffer according to their respective classification, indicates to the operator of the apparatus at least one piece of information about the sheet-like media cached in the first buffer. This information comprises, in particular, information about the number of sheet-like media temporarily stored in the first buffer and / or information about the sum of the values of these sheet-shaped media. Furthermore, the operator is requested via the display unit to enter confirmation information about an operating unit of the device. If the operator does not enter the confirmation information at a preset time interval or if the operator inputs rejection information, both the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer and the sheet-like media buffered in the first buffer are returned to the operator via the output unit. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises, in particular, a stacking unit for stacking the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the first buffer into a first stack and a stack merging unit which forms this first stack with the second stack formed from the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer into a single assembled stack merges. Thus, the operator is issued only a single stack, in which both the cached in the first and in the second buffer memory sheet-like media are included.

If, on the other hand, the operator inputs the confirmation information, the permissible sheet-like media temporarily stored in the first buffer store are fed via a transfer slot to a vault of the device and further transported to value cassettes or value-stacking devices arranged in the vault where they are stored. In contrast, the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer store and classified as sheet-like media to be reissued are in turn output to the operator via the output unit. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which illustrates the invention with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a device for handling Wertheheinen;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a head module of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a section of the head module of Figure 2;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a buffer store of the head module according to FIGS. 2 and 3,

Figure 5 shows another schematic, perspective

Presentation of the cache according to FIG

4; FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the buffer store according to FIGS. 4 and 5 in an intermediate storage operating state; and

Figure 7 is a schematic, perspective view of the temporary storage of Figures 4 to 6 in a removal operation state.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device 10 for handling banknotes. The device 10 is in particular an automatic cash deposit, an automatic cash register system and / or an ATM, such as a deposit machine for depositing banknotes and checks.

The device 10 comprises a head module 12 and a safe 14. The construction of the head module 12 is described in more detail in connection with FIG. In the vault 14 four note cassettes 16a to 16d are arranged, in which the notes of value can be recorded. In this case, in particular, one of the value note boxes 16a to 16d for receiving checks and the other three note boxes 16a to 16d for placing provided by banknotes. The picking up of the banknotes takes place especially sorted, that is to say that banknotes of a denomination are always received in a banknote cassette 16a to 16d. Alternatively, a mixed storage can take place, that is to say that notes of value of different denominations are received mixed in a value note cassette 16a to 16d. In an alternative embodiment, more than four or less than four, in particular two, value ticket cassettes 16a to 16d may also be provided in the vault 14. In particular, a so-called Rej ect cassette can be provided, are recorded in the notes of value, which are suspected of forgery and / or damage. In a preferred embodiment, two note cassettes 16a to 16d, namely one for receiving checks and one for receiving banknotes, are provided.

The notes of value may in this case be accommodated in the receipt cassettes 16a to 16d both in a stacked form in a receiving area, and also stored wound up between two foil tapes on a roll storage. It is also possible to use different types of note cassettes within the safe 14. The device 10 may be formed in the present embodiment as a pure deposit device in which only notes of value can be recorded. Alternatively, it can also be designed as a recycling device, in which both notes of value can be entered and notes of value can be issued again.

The safe 14 has a transfer slot 18 through which the units of value are supplied from the head module 12 to the safe 14. From the transfer slot 18, the notes of value are transported via a transport unit designated by the reference numeral 21 to the value ticket boxes 16a to 16d.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the head module 12 according to FIG. The head module 12 has an input and output unit 20, via which the notes of value can be entered in the form of a value note stack. Furthermore, individual notes of value and / or value note stack can also be output to the operator of the device 10 via this input and output unit 20. The input and output unit 20 has, in particular, a so-called shutter 22, via which an opening for supplying and dispensing the notes of value can be opened and closed. A value-added stack entered via the input and output unit 20 is transported by means of a transport unit 24 to a first alignment unit 100. With the aid of the first alignment unit 100, the banknotes of the value bank note are aligned in a preset orientation, or at least the orientation of a part of the banknotes of the banknote stack is changed so that it approximates the preset orientation. The aligned value apparent stack is fed by means of a transport unit 26 to a separating unit 200, which singulates the notes of value of the note stack and feeds the separated notes of value to a first sensor unit 300.

The first sensor unit 300 comprises an image acquisition unit with the aid of which at least one image with an image of this value ticket is received by each supplied value note. A control unit 28 of the device 10 determines at least one feature of the security note in dependence upon the representation of the security note in the image and classifies the security note into checks, banknotes of a preset currency and other sheet media depending on this feature. The other sheet-like media may be, for example, banknotes of a currency other than the default currency and / or other sheet media that has been erroneously entered by the operator of the device. For example, these can be business cards or bank statements. The default currency is, in particular, that currency which is to be handled by means of the device 10, in particular to be recorded in the value note cassettes 16a to 16d.

Those notes of value, which were classified neither as checks nor as banknotes of the preset currency, are transported via a switch 400 into a second buffer 500 for intermediate storage of sheet-like media and in this buffer, preferably as a second value note stack. On the other hand, the checks and the banknotes of the preset currency are supplied to a second alignment unit 600 via the switch 400. With the aid of this second alignment unit 600, the checks are aligned in a first preset target orientation and the bank notes are aligned in a second target orientation deviating from the first target orientation. In particular, several different target orientations are preset for banknotes of different denominations, and the second alignment unit 600 directs the banknotes not only depending on whether they are checks or banknotes in different preset target values. Alignments, but also in addition depending on the denomination of banknotes.

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

Subsequently, the notes of value are transported in the direction of a second switch 700 with the aid of further transport elements, one of which is designated by the reference numeral 30 by way of example. Via the second switch 700, all banknotes of the previously entered banknote stack, which were classified as checks or banknotes of the preset currency, are added to next to a first latch 32 and stored temporarily in this. The intermediate storage 32 is designed in particular in the form of a roller storage, in which the recorded notes of value are taken up wound up between two film strips. After all bills of value of the entered bill of exchange stack have been received in the first buffer 32 or the second buffer 500, at least one piece of information about the bills received in the first buffer 32 and / or in the second buffer 500 is sent via a display unit 34 Operator issued. This information comprises in particular information about the number of entered value notes and / or the value of the sum of the denominations of the entered notes of value received in the first buffer 32. Furthermore, the operator is particularly requested to enter an acknowledgment information via an input unit 36.

If in a preset time interval after the request by the operator no input of the confirmation information via the input unit 36 takes place and / or if the operator makes a negative input, so recorded in the first latch 32 banknotes are transported from this and fed to a stacking unit 40 , with the aid of which a first value of pseudo-stacks is taken from all the values recorded in the first buffer 32. notes are formed. Furthermore, the second value stack received in the second buffer 500 is taken from the second buffer 500. Both the first value note stack and the second value note stack are fed to a stack merge unit 802, with the aid of which a single merged value note stack is formed from the first and the second value note stack. This assembled value stack is then output via the input and output unit 20 back to the operator.

If, on the other hand, the operator enters the confirmation information in the preset time interval after the corresponding request, the second value-dept stack is taken from the second temporary store 500 and output to an operator via the input and output unit 20.

On the other hand, the notes of value cached in the first intermediate storage 32 are supplied along a transport path 38 to the safe 14 and received in the value note cassettes 16a to 16d. The checks temporarily stored in the first buffer memory 32, before being transported into the vault 40, are printed by printing a cancellation printing image in a predetermined printing area of the printer Checks canceled. For this purpose, a printing unit 900 for printing the checks is provided between the second switch 700 and the transport path 38. Via the switch 700, the checks are in this case fed to the printing unit 900 in such a way that the printing area to which the cancellation information is to be printed faces the printing head 900, so that the print head can print this printing area with the cancellation printing image.

The above-described head module 12 ensures that checks and banknotes can be handled together in a device 10 and that these can be mixed in any desired way in a stack of the device 10. As a result, a particularly high ease of use for an operator of the device 10 is achieved, since this must make any manual pre-sorting of notes in checks and banknotes and not, as in known devices, must preset, which type of banknotes is supplied.

FIG. 3 shows a representation of a detail of the head module 12 according to FIG. 2, which in particular comprises the sensor unit 300. After the notes of value of the specified value note stack has been separated by means of the singulation unit 200, the individual notes of value are transported individually by means of transport elements 248, 302, 304 along a transport path 218 and fed to the sensor unit 300 arranged downstream of the singulation unit 200. The transport elements 248, 302, 304 are designed in particular in the form of a plurality of pairs of rollers, each comprising two rollers arranged on opposite sides of the transport path 218, one of which is designated by the reference numeral 310 by way of example. Between the rollers 310 of a pair of rollers, in each case a gap is formed, through which the note of value is transported. At least one roller 310 of each pair of rollers, preferably both of the rollers 310 of each pair of rollers, by means of a drive unit, in particular a central drive unit of the device 10, driven, so that the driven roller 310 via the contact to the value arranged in the gap this value in the Transport direction transported PI and thus the sensor unit 300 feeds.

The sensor unit 300 comprises an image acquisition unit 306 which is arranged on a first side of the transport path 218 and a lighting unit 308 which is arranged on a second side of the transport path 218 lying opposite the first side. With the aid of the illumination unit 308, a value note arranged between the illumination unit 308 and the image acquisition unit 306 is backlit. tet and thus also illuminated. With the aid of the image acquisition unit 306, at least one image is recorded with an image of the value of the note. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of images, in particular a sequence of images, are received by each value code supplied to the sensor unit 300.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the image capture unit 306 comprises at least one line with image capture elements, which is aligned transversely to the transport direction of the notes of value and extends at least over the width of the widest note of value to be detected. Preferably, the image capture unit 306 comprises a plurality of lines arranged in succession in the transport direction with image capture elements, each of which captures an image of the banknote transported past the image capture unit 306.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a plurality of image capture unit can be provided, wherein the image capture unit are preferably arranged such that with their help images can be recorded with images of both sides of the notes of value. In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the lighting unit 308 can also be arranged on the same side as the image be arranged unit 306, so that the banknote is lit on a light on.

In order to improve the readability, the method by which the control unit 28 is classified into different notes of value as a function of the image recorded using the image acquisition unit 306 or the images recorded using the image acquisition unit 306 is described below for the acquisition of only one image of the banknote to be classified described. The explanations apply analogously to the recording of several pictures of the WertScheines, whereby the inclusion of several pictures a more accurate classification is possible.

The image capturing unit 306 captures the image of the bill of exchange, while the value Schein is transported past it in the transport direction PI. Thus, it is not necessary to stop the transport of the note, so that a rapid processing of the notes of value is possible. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, even if the value is located between the image capture unit 306 and the illumination unit 308, it may be temporarily stopped. When the banknote is stopped, the image acquires by means of the image acquisition unit 306 recorded before the bill of exchange is then transported further in the transport direction PI.

In a first step, the control unit 28 determines at least one dimension of the banknote from the image of the banknote in the image. For this purpose, an image processing algorithm is stored in the control unit 28, which the control unit 28 processes to determine this dimension. The control unit 28 preferably determines not only one dimension of the banknote but also the length and the width of the banknote. In this case, the length is to be understood as meaning, in particular, the edge lengths of the longer edges of the note of value and the width as the edge length of the shorter edges of the note of value. The security note is particularly short-side-first, i. with one of the shorter edges leading through the head module 12.

Further, in the control unit 28, the dimensions of checks and bills to be processed by the apparatus 10 are preset. On the basis of the comparison of the ascertained dimensions of the banknote with these preset dimensions, the control unit 28 determines in the first step whether the entered banknote could be a banknote or a check due to the dimensions. If it is ascertained in the first step that the security note can not be a banknote or a check, then this security note is classified as a sheet-like medium to be reissued.

In addition, the control unit 28 may also detect damage to the bill of exchange, such as cracks, kinks, holes, and the like using at least one other preset image processing algorithm, and classify the tokens into damaged and undamaged banknotes in response thereto. Regardless of whether these are banknotes, checks or other sheet-shaped media, the damaged banknotes are also classified as a sheet-like medium to be reissued.

If, on the other hand, it has been determined in the first step that the value certificate could be due to its dimensions an undamaged banknote or an undamaged check, then in a second step the presence of at least one preset characteristic feature of banknotes is checked. For this purpose, so-called currency data records are stored in the control unit 28, which are different banknotes to be processed by means of the apparatus 10, in particular different currencies and different denominations of banknotes of different currencies, of different characteristics. The control unit 28 checks whether these preset features can be detected in the image and, depending on this comparison, determines whether the value certificate is an allowable banknote. Allowed banknotes are those banknotes that belong to the currency rate that is to be processed by the device 10. In particular, specific security features of the banknotes can be used as characteristic features. Furthermore, for example, the presence of markings, logos, watermarks and / or other security features can be detected.

If, in the second step, it is determined that the bank note is not a permitted banknote, a third step is to check whether the bank note is a check. For this purpose, characteristic features of checks to be processed are again stored in the control unit 28, and the control unit 28 checks whether the preset feature (s) are present in the image by comparing the image with these preset features. If the comparison shows that the leaf-shaped medium is not a check, then For example, the sheet-shaped medium is classified as a sheet-shaped medium to be reissued.

Furthermore, the control unit 28 can also determine further features, for example the orientation and / or position of the banknote, as a function of the depiction of the banknote in the image and take these determined features into account in the control of the aligning unit 600.

In particular, the presence of magnetic information in a preset range of the potential check is checked as characteristic features of checks. Commercial checks include a so-called MICR coding line which comprises a single-line magnetic print of a preset character height of 2.8 mm to 3.2 mm located in an otherwise magnet-free region, the so-called clear band. The detection of this magnetic information on the value code to be checked takes place in particular by illuminating the banknote with light in the infrared spectral range and evaluating the reflection and / or absorption behavior of the banknote in the area in which the MICR coding line should be present , The reflection and / or Absorbtionsverhalten the applied magnetic writing differs significantly from that of Clear band, so that the presence of magnetic writing can be reliably determined in a simple manner.

Additionally or alternatively, a light-dark distribution can also be determined in the image and compared with a preset chiaroscuro distribution of checks. In this way, in particular, an optical coding line can be detected by checks.

Furthermore, specific gray distributions, preset markings, preset logos or preset watermarks can be stored as characteristic features. In the figure, by means of preset image processing algorithms, the control unit 28 checks to see if at least one or more of these preset characteristic features are present in the image. Depending on the result of this comparison, the control unit 28 determines whether the value certificate is a check.

To ascertain the presence of the characteristic preset features, in particular a plurality of images of the note of value can be recorded. be included in the recording of different features different spectral ranges and the mapping of the note in these different spectral ranges is evaluated. In particular, it is thus also possible to take into account characteristic features of banknotes that are only visible in the case of a specific spectral range.

The above-described order of the three steps can also be changed. In particular, after it has been determined on the basis of the dimension that the bank notes could be a check or a banknote, it is also possible first to determine via the check-specific characteristic feature whether the bank notes are a check. If it has been determined that this is not a check, it is then determined by comparison with the banknote-specific characteristic feature whether it is a permitted banknote.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the steps 1 to 3 can also be carried out at the same time, so that a particularly fast classification of the notes of value takes place in the individual note types. Thus, a quick processing of the notes of value can be achieved. Furthermore, the sensor unit 300 can also use further sensors for classifying the notes of value supplied thereto into permissible banknotes, checks and reissues sheet media in addition to the image capture unit 306 or instead of the image capture unit 306.

The sheet-shaped media classified as allowable banknotes and the sheet-shaped media classified as checks together form the permissible sheet-like media.

The control unit 28 controls the switch 400 so as to supply a sheet-shaped medium, which has been classified as an allowable bill or a check, and thus as an allowable sheet-shaped medium, to the alignment unit 600. For this purpose, the switch 400 is connected to the sensor unit 300 via a first transport path 402 and to the alignment unit 600 via a second transport path 406. The diverter 400 comprises a diverter element 410, which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation 408 and, in a first diverter position, directs a value note fed along the first transport path 402 from the sensor unit 300 into the second transport path 406. The sensor unit 300 is used in particular for a kind of pre-examination of the notes of value. The authenticity of the notes of value is ascertained, in particular, with the aid of the sensor unit 29, wherein in this case also information or features determined by the sensor unit 300 are taken into account.

The alignment unit 600 aligns the checks in a first preset target orientation and the allowable banknotes in a second preset target orientation different from the first target orientation. These target orientations are preset in such a way that both the permitted banknotes and the checks can be processed by the sensor unit 29, and in such a way that no value lags occur in the further transport within the device. Subsequently, all sheet-like media classified as allowable banknotes or checks are transported to and stored in the first buffer 32 until all the sheet-like media entered as a stack in either this first buffer 32 or 32, as previously described in connection with FIGS are temporarily stored in the second buffer 500. If, on the other hand, a sheet-shaped medium has been classified by the control unit 28 as a sheet-shaped medium to be reissued, the control unit 28 controls the diverter 400 in such a way that it transports the sheet-like media supplied to it via the first transport path 402 into a third transport path 412 which guides the diverter 400 the second buffer 500 connects. For this purpose, the switch element 410 is pivoted about the axis 408 in a second switch position. The adjustment of the points positions of the switch 400 is carried out in particular by means of a solenoid.

FIGS. 4 and 5 each show a schematic perspective view of the second buffer 500. The sheet-like media coming from the switch 400 are fed to the buffer 500 via a transfer gap 502 in the direction of the arrow P2. The sheet-like media are then transported by a transport unit 504 in a direction of rotation P3 within the second buffer 500. The transport unit 504 includes a plurality of belts, one of which is designated by the reference numeral 506 by way of example. The belts 506 are guided over rollers 508 mounted on shafts 508. The shafts 508 are drivable via a central drive unit of the device 10, not shown, so that the non-rotatable rollers 510 connected thereto and thus the belts 506 are driven in such a way that they transport the recorded in the buffer 500 sheet-like media in the direction of rotation P3. Furthermore, the transport unit 504 comprises a plurality of non-driven pressure rollers 512 and guide elements 514, which together with the belts 506 delimit the transport path along which the sheet-like media are transported in the direction of rotation P3. Here, the sheet-like media between the belt 506 and the pinch rollers 512 and the guide elements 514 are added.

The sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer 500 are stored in the second buffer, in particular in the form of a stack. For this purpose, the feeding of the sheet-like media and the transport of the sheet-like media in the direction of rotation P3 are coordinated such that a newly supplied via the transfer gap 502 sheet-shaped medium rests on the stack formed from the previously recorded in the buffer 500 sheet stack formed. In particular, the feeding is clocked such that the leading edge in the feeding direction P2 of the sheet-like medium is approximately flush with the front edge of the stack in the direction of rotation P3, so that the supplied sheet-like medium rests with one of its front or rear side on the stack already taken up. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sheet-like media can also be accommodated in such a way that they overlap only partially. Furthermore, it is alternatively possible for the sheet-like media to be received one after the other in the buffer 500 and in particular to have a preset minimum distance from one another.

Furthermore, the second buffer 500 comprises a switch 520 which, as shown in FIG. 6, deflects the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the second buffer 500 in a buffering softening position in such a way that they are circulated in the intermediate direction 500 in the intermediate direction 500. The switch 520 includes a plurality of switch fingers 522 which are rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. In the intermediate storage softening position, these fingers do not protrude into the transport path of the second buffer 500, so that the buffered sheet-like media are not directed out of the second buffer 500.

In the removal position shown in Figure 7, the switch fingers 522 of the switch 520 are pivoted so that they protrude into the transport path of the second buffer 500 and thus the in the second buffer 500 cached sheet-like media, as indicated by the arrow P4, out of the second buffer 500 and the Stapelzusammenfuhrungseinheit 802 feed.

The adjustment of the switch 520 between the intermediate storage softening position and the withdrawal switch position is preferably carried out by means of a lifting magnet or stepping motor (not shown).

Subsequently, the removed sheet-like media are output via the input and output unit 20 again to the operator. Depending on whether an operator has entered the confirmation information previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, this can be done together with the sheet-like media temporarily stored in the first buffer 32 or individually.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 device

12 head module

14 safe

16a to 16d value cassette

18 transfer slip z

20 input and output unit

21 transport unit

22 shutter

24, 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

200 separation unit

218 Transport path

248, 302, 304 transport element

300 sensor unit

306 image capture unit

308 lighting unit

310 roll

400 points

402, 406, 412 transport path

408 axis of rotation

410 switch element

500 cache

502 transfer gap

504 transport unit

506 straps

508 wave

510 roll

512 pressure roller 514 guide element

520 switch

522 switch fingers

600 alignment unit

700 points

802 stack merge unit

900 printing unit

PI transport direction

P2 feed direction

P3 direction of rotation

P4 removal direction

Claims

claims

1. Apparatus for handling sheet-shaped media, in particular bank notes,

with a transport unit (24, 26, 248, 302, 304) for transporting the sheet-like media,

a sensor unit (300) for determining at least one feature of a respective sheet-shaped medium,

a control unit (28) which, in dependence on the feature determined by the sensor unit (300), classifies the sheet-shaped media into permissible sheet-like media and sheet-like media to be reissued, and

a switch (400) arranged downstream of the sensor unit (300) and connected to the sensor unit (300) via a first transport path (402), wherein the control unit (28) controls the switch (400) to supply a sheet-shaped medium classified as a permissible sheet-shaped medium to a first buffer (32) for temporarily storing sheet-shaped media classified as permissible sheet-shaped media, and in that the switch (400) engages as a sheet-shaped medium to be reissued sheet-shaped medium to a second buffer memory (500) for temporary storage of classified as re-output sheet-like media sheet-like media supplies.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch (400) via a second transport path (406) to the first latch (32) and via a third transport path (412) to the second latch (500) is connected and in that the control unit (28) controls the switch (400) such that it directs a sheet-shaped medium classified as a permissible sheet-shaped medium from the first transport path (402) into the second transport path (406), and that the switch (400) acts as a to reissue sheet-shaped medium classifies classified sheet-shaped medium from the first transport path (402) in the third transport path (412).

Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the third transport path (412) is shorter than the second transport path (406).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the length of the second transport path (406) between the 10-tray and 100-tray, in particular the 50-tray and 80-tray, the length of the third transport path ( 412).

5. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second buffer (500) is arranged immediately after the switch (400).

Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch (400) is arranged immediately after the sensor unit (300).

7. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second intermediate store (500) has at least one two on transport elements (510) guided circulating belt (506) comprehensive pair of belts, said the sheet media classified as reissuant sheet media are received in the second buffer (500) between the two belts (506) and transported together with the belts (506) in a direction of rotation (P3).

Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second intermediate store (500) has at least one circulating belt (506) guided via transport elements (510) and a plurality of rollers (514) and / or guide elements (514), wherein the sheet-like media classified as reissuant sheet-shaped media are received in the second buffer (500) between the belt (506) and the rollers (512) and / or vanes (514), and together with the belt (506) in a circulating direction (P3 ) be transported.

Device (10) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the sheet-like media are received in the second buffer (500) such that two in the circumferential direction (P3) successively recorded sheet-like media overlap at least partially.

10. Device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the sheet-shaped media are received as stacks in the second intermediate store (500).

11. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second buffer (500) at the same time a maximum of between 3 and 10, preferably at most between 4 and 6, sheet-like media are receivable.

12. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch (400) the sheet media to be reissued as sheet-like media fed to the second buffer (500) at a first location of the second buffer (500), and that a further switch (520) is provided which removes the sheet-like media received in the second buffer store (500) in a pick-off position from the second buffer store (500) at a second location of the second buffer store (500) different from the first location.

Apparatus (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that an output unit (20) for outputting the second temporary storage (500) removed sheet-shaped media to an operator of the device (10) is provided in the form of a stack.

Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an input unit (20) for inputting a stack of sheet-like media and a separating unit (200) for separating the sheet-like media of the stack are provided, and that the transport unit (248, 302 , 304) transports the separated sheet-like media from the singulation unit (200) to the sensor unit (300).

15. Device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that, after all the sheet-like media have been recorded according to their classification in the first buffer (32) and the second buffer (500), a display unit (34) of the operator information about the in the first buffer (32) shows cached sheet-like media, and in that depending on an input via an operating unit (36) information of the Operator, the control unit (28) controls the device (10) such that either both in the first buffer (32) and in the second buffer (500) cached sheet media are returned to the operator, or only in the second buffer (500) cached sheet-like media are returned to the operator and transported in the first latch (32) cached sheet media in at least one cashbox (16a to 16d).

Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (28) classifies banknotes of a preset currency and checks as permissible sheet-shaped media, and that the control unit (28) classifies all other sheet-like media as sheet-like media to be reissued.