EP2720203A1 - Device for handling vouchers - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a stacking unit (26) that is provided for stacking a bundle (68) of banknotes taken from a banknote cassette. A rejection and retraction container (30) is provided for receiving the sorted and not-taken bank notes. A transporting unit (24) is provided for transporting the banknotes between the stacking unit, inlet and/or dispensing compartment, and rejection and retraction container. A gate (50) is provided to convey a banknote from the banknote cassette to the stacking unit in a first gate position and to the transporting unit in a second gate position.

Description

The invention relates to a device for handling bank notes, which comprises a cassette holder for receiving cash cassettes and a head module. In the head module is a stacking unit for stacking the withdrawn from the money cassettes banknotes to a value bundle, an input and / or output tray for entering and / or outputting notes of value and a reject and Retractbehälter for receiving sorted and not removed notes of value provided.

In known devices for handling banknotes, for example, in known ATMs, the banknotes withdrawn banknotes are first cached in a cache until such time as all the banknotes intended for payment have been removed from the cash boxes. The latches are often in the form of reel memories. The caching takes place so that in the event that the withdrawal of the notes multiple deductions occur or the withdrawn notes of value can not be disbursed for another reason and must be sorted out (so-called rejects), so that it does not come to disbursement of a faulty amount of money. Should a reject case occur, the notes of value cached in the buffer are transported into a reject container and the collection of the notes of value of the note bundle to be dispensed is started again. Only when all banknotes are taken from the banknote storage container and fed to the temporary storage, they are again removed from the buffer and stacked in a stacking unit to be issued value bundle.

The problem with these devices is that a lot of space is required for the cache, which is generally scarce in ATMs and thus is not available for other components. Furthermore, the caching of the notes slows down the payout process.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for handling bank notes, with the help of which value bundles can be issued in a simple manner and in a short time.

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 first transport unit is provided for transporting notes of value between the cassette receiving area and the head module. At the head module end of the first transport unit, a first switch is arranged. Further, a second transport unit is arranged within the head module for the transport of notes of value, with the help of notes of value and value bundles between the Stacking unit, the input and / or output tray and the reject container are transportable. The first switch is designed in such a way that, in a first switch position, a note of value taken from a cassette and transported via the first transport unit can be fed to the stacking unit. On the other hand, in a second point setting, the first switch leads the note of value of the second transport unit taken from a cash box directly to it.

This ensures that the banknotes removed notes of value that are to be sorted out, for example, because a double deduction has occurred, so-called rejects, directly the second transport unit and can be fed directly to the reject and Retractbehälter. On the other hand, the notes of value that are found to be good, ie not sorted out, are fed to the stack module via the first switch and are thus stacked to form the note bundle. Thus, the overall result is that it is possible to dispense with a temporary storage since the sorted out notes of value can be fed directly to the reject and retract containers independently of the notes of value actually used for the payment in the stack module. Thus, eliminating the need for a temporary storage of the space required for this purpose. Furthermore, costs are also saved and the time required for the payment is reduced. In addition, the banknotes transported to the stacked module before the banknotes can still be used for payment.

It is advantageous if the second transport unit is designed such that both value bundles and individual banknotes can be transported with their help. Thus, with the second transport unit, the value bundle stacked over the stacking unit can be transported to the input and / or output compartment or possibly to the reject and retract container. Likewise, however, the second transport unit also makes it possible for the individual notes of value, which have already been sorted out of a cash box when being removed, to be fed directly to the reject and retract containers. Thus, a particularly simple compact design is achieved, since only one transport unit for the transport unit downstream of the first transport unit is necessary in the head module.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the stacking unit is designed in such a way that a bundle of value bundles stacked in it can be fed directly from the stacking unit to the second transport unit. Direct feeding is understood in particular to mean that the bundle of value bundles does not have to be supplied from the second stacking unit via the first transport unit and then via the second transport unit, but is transferred from the stacking unit to the second transport unit without another transport unit. Thus, the shortest possible transport path is realized and the first transport unit can be particularly simple in construction, since with their help only individual banknotes must be transported.

For this purpose, the stacking unit comprises in particular a pivotable support element, which is adjustable between a feed position and a removal position. In this case, the feed position is the position in which the support element is arranged when bank notes are fed to the stack unit and stacked to form the value bundle. For this purpose, in particular, the value added first supplied on the support element, wherein the other supplied notes of value then rest on this. The removal position, however, is the position in which the support element is arranged for transferring the value bundle to the second transport unit. In particular, a drive unit, preferably a DC motor, is provided, with the aid of which the support element is pivoted about a predetermined angle between the feed position and the transfer position about an axis of rotation. Thus, a particularly simple and compact construction is achieved.

The reject and retract container comprises, in particular, a first compartment for receiving rejected receipts (so-called rejects) and a second compartment separate from the first compartment for receiving notes of value not withdrawn from the input and / or output compartment (so-called retracts). Thus, the rejects and retracts can be stored separately, which is important for the fulfillment of legal standards for note-tracking. The reject and retract container is designed in particular in the form of a cash box, so that the rejects and retracts can be removed in a simple manner.

The second transport unit preferably comprises a second switch for feeding notes of value transported by means of the second transport unit to the reject and retract containers. In a first point setting the second switch is arranged in particular such that with the help of the second transport unit along the Rejects- and Retractbehälters transported notes of value are not supplied to the reject and Retractbehälter and thus transported in particular between the stacking unit and the input and / or output tray can. On the other hand, in the second point setting, the second point is designed such that notes of value transported along the reject and retract container with the aid of the second transport unit can be deflected out of the transport path and fed to the reject and retract container.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, both sorted notes of value (rejects) and not withdrawn from the input and / or output tray (retracts) can be fed to the reject and retract containers with the aid of the second switch. Thus, only a single turnout for deflecting both rejects and retracts must be provided in the transport path of the second transport unit. In this embodiment, a third switch is provided in particular within the reject and Retractbehälters, with the aid of which the banknotes supplied via the second switch can then be divided into the first and the second compartment. Thus, a particularly compact simple construction is achieved, since within the head module itself only one switch, namely the second switch provided and separating the rejets and retracts in the reject and retract container.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the second switch can also be designed such that with their help only the money cassettes removed, sorted notes of value (rejects) can be fed to the first compartment. In this case, the second transport unit comprises a fourth switch for feeding retracts (not taken from the input and / or output compartment) to the second compartment.

The stacking unit is arranged in particular in a first end region of the second transport unit and the input and / or output compartment at a second end region of the second transport unit opposite the first end region. The reject and retract container is arranged between the stacking unit and the input and / or output tray along the transport path of the second transport unit. Thus, all necessary transport operations of the notes of value and value bundles can be made via the second transport unit. In particular, with the aid of the second transport unit, the notes of value sorted out upon removal from the cash boxes can be fed individually to the reject and retract containers. Likewise, the value bundle can be transported from the stacking unit via the second transport unit to the input and / or output tray. Furthermore, it is also possible that the entire bank of notes, when sorted out, is fed to the reject and retract container. About that In addition, the second transport unit also allows the transport from the input and / or output tray not removed value bundles (retracts) to the reject and Retractbehälter.

The second transport unit comprises at least one belt guided via at least one drivable deflection element. The deflecting element is in particular a roller which can be driven via a drive unit, for example an electric motor.

The belt is preferably for transporting banknotes from the stacking unit to the input and / or output tray, for transporting individual sorted banknotes taken from the cash boxes to the reject and retract containers and for transporting a sorted bundle of values from the stacking unit to the reject and retract containers first direction of rotation driven. Conversely, the belt is driven in particular for transport from the input and / or output tray not removed notes of value to the reject and Retractbehälter in one of the first rotational direction opposite second direction of rotation. Thus, all necessary transports can be done by simply reversing the direction of rotation of the belt.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second transport unit has a receiving unit for receiving the security bundle for transporting the security bundle from the stacking unit to the input and / or output compartment and / or to the reject and retract container includes. This receptacle is formed for example in the form of a counter-pressure element which is attached to the belt and moves the individual banknotes or the Wertscheinbündel in the transport direction by pressing against the edges of the notes of value.

The first and second transport units are in particular designed such that in a transfer area at the top end of the first transport unit, notes of value can be transferred directly from the first transport unit to the second transport 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.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Geldautomaten;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Kopfmoduls des Geldautomaten nach Figur 1 gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform in einem ersten Betriebszustand;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung des Kopfmoduls nach Figur 2 in einem zweiten Betriebszustand;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung des Kopfmoduls nach den Figuren 2 und 3 in einem dritten Betriebszustand;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung des Kopfmoduls nach den Figuren 2 bis 4 in einem vierten Betriebszustand; und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines Kopfmoduls gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an ATM;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a head module of the ATM after FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment in a first operating condition;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of the head module according to FIG. 2 in a second operating state;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of the head module after the Figures 2 and 3 in a third operating condition;

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of the head module after the FIGS. 2 to 4 in a fourth operating condition; and

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of a head module according to a second embodiment.

In FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a designed as an ATM 10 device for handling banknotes shown. Alternatively, the device may also be an automatic cash deposit or an automatic cash register system.

The ATM 10 comprises a head module 12 and a cassette area 14, in which four receiving areas 16 are provided for receiving a respective cash box 18. Each of the receiving areas 16 is associated with a withdrawal module 20 for taking notes of value from the respective cash box 18. Alternatively, the withdrawal modules 20 may also be such be formed that with their help not only notes of value can be removed from the cashbox 18, but the cash boxes 18 and notes of value can be fed.

The withdrawn notes of value can be transported by means of a first transport unit 22 from the cassette area 14 into the head module 12 and further in the direction of a second transport unit 24.

In the head module 12, a stacking unit 26 is provided, with the aid of which the cash cassettes 18 withdrawn notes of value can be stacked to a value bundle. The value bundle is then transported by means of the second transport unit 24 to an input and / or output tray 28 and presented via this to an operator of the ATM 10 for payment.

Furthermore, a reject and retract container 30 is provided in the head module 12, which is designed in particular in the form of a cash box, so that it can be easily removed. In the reject and Retractbehälter 30 on the one hand over the input and / or output tray 28 for payment to a customer presented but not taken by this customer bank notes (so-called retracts) recorded. On the other hand, so-called rejects are also recorded in the reject and retract container 30, which are sorted banknotes that are no longer intended for payment. These may be, for example, banknotes that are suspected of being counterfeit are, or to value notes of a multiple deduction, ie if several notes were unintentionally withdrawn from a cash box 18 at the same time.

The reject and retract container 30 comprises a first compartment 32 for receiving the rejects and a second receiving compartment 34 for receiving the retracts, so that the rejects and retracts can be received separately from one another.

In the FIGS. 2 to 5 in each case a schematic representation of the head module 12 is shown according to a first embodiment, wherein in the individual figures different operating states are shown. In the following, the construction of the head module 12 will first be explained in more detail, before the individual operating states are described with reference to the respective figure.

The first transport unit 22 comprises a plurality of drivable belts 36, 38, 40, which are guided over a plurality of rollers, one of which is designated by the reference numeral 42 by way of example. In each case, at least one of the rollers 42, via which a belt 36 to 40 is guided, can be driven by means of a drive unit, for example an electric motor, so that the respective belt 36 to 40 can likewise be driven. Furthermore, the first transport unit 22 has a plurality of stationarily arranged guide elements 44, which are designed in particular as guide plates. The notes of cash taken from the cash cassettes 18 are in this case in each case in particular between the belt 36 to 40 and the Guide elements 44 along a transport path transported, as indicated by the arrows 46 and 48.

At the head module-side end of the first transport unit 22, ie at the end in the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 to 5 Upper end of the first transport unit 22, a first switch 50 is provided, by means of which the money cassettes 18 removed and transported over the first transport unit 22 notes of value are fed to the stack module 26. For this purpose, a pivotable switch element 52 of the switch 50 is arranged in a first switch position such that it protrudes into the first transport path and deflects along the first transport path transported in the direction of arrow P1 banknotes out of the transport path and the stack module 26 supplies. In contrast, in a second set point position, the switch element 52 is arranged such that the notes of value transported along the transport path of the first transport unit 22 are not deflected out of this and transported further in the direction of the second transport unit 24 and transferred to the second transport unit 24 in a transfer area 54.

The path of the bills module 26 supplied notes of value, which have been deflected over the switch element 52 arranged in the first switch position, is in this case FIG. 2 schematically indicated by the arrow 56. The path along which those notes of value, which are not supplied to the stack module 26, namely those notes of value, as Reject be sorted, transported, however, is indicated by the dashed arrows 58 to 62.

The stacking module 26 comprises a paddlewheel 64, with the aid of which the notes of value supplied to it are stacked on a support surface 66 to the value bundle 68. During the stacking of the notes of value, this support element 66 is arranged in a feed position, as shown in FIG FIG. 2 is shown. The support element is by means of a drive unit 70 from this feed position into an in FIG. 3 shown removal position in the direction of arrow P2 pivotable.

The second transport unit 24 is designed such that with its help both a security bundle 68 and individual banknotes are transportable. The transport unit 24 likewise comprises a plurality of belts 72, 74 and guide elements 77 between which the notes of value can be transported. The belts 72, 74 are guided over several rollers 76, of which at least one can be driven by means of a drive unit 78. On the belt, a receiving unit 82 is provided for receiving the value bundle 60 to be transported, with the aid of which the value bundle 68 in the direction of the input and / or output tray 28 is transportable.

Furthermore, the second transport unit 24 comprises a second diverter 84, with the aid of which a note of value conveyed by this transport unit 24 is fed to the first compartment 32 of the reject conveyor. and Retractbehälters 30 can be fed. In addition, a fourth switch 86 is provided, with the help of the input and / or output tray 28 not removed notes of value, so-called retracts, the second compartment 34 can be fed. For this purpose, the second switch 84 and the fourth switch 86 are adjustable, in particular by means of a drive unit between two switch positions.

In FIG. 2 FIG. 12 illustrates the operating state in which the device 10 is operated while a receipt bundle 68 is assembled for payment. In this case, the corresponding notes of value are taken from the cash boxes 18 via the first transport unit 22 and transported in the direction of the stack module 26. The use of sensors monitors the occurrence of multiple prints. Furthermore, the authenticity and / or identity of the removed notes of value can be checked with the aid of corresponding sensors. As long as no abnormalities occur in this case, the notes of value taken from the cash cassettes 18, as shown by the arrow 56, are fed to the stacking unit 26 with the aid of the first switch 50 and stacked to the note bundle 68. However, if a note of value is sorted out, it is transferred via the first switch 50 in the transfer area 54 to the transport unit 24 and transported by the latter to the reject and retract container 30, where it is fed to the first pocket 32 via the second switch 84.

This ensures that the rejects can be sorted out directly, without, as in known devices, have to be cached together with all other withdrawn banknotes in a buffer before, in the event that no reject occurred, all in the buffer cached notes of value via the stack module 26 are merged to a value bundle 60, which then on the input and / or Output bin 28 is presented for issue. This achieves a particularly simple, cost-effective and space-saving design and realizes a quick payout.

After all banknotes intended for payment have been merged into the value bundle 68, the support element 66 of the stacking unit 26 is pivoted via the drive unit 70 from the supply position into the removal position. In this removal position, the value bundle 68 can then, as in the second operating state in FIG. 3 shown transported by means of the second transport unit 24 to the input and / or output tray 28 and output via this to a customer. In this second operating state, the second switch 82 and the fourth switch 84 are arranged in such a way that no notes of value are deflected into the reject and retract container 30 so that the security billet 68 is transported in the direction of the arrow P3 with the aid of the second transport unit 24 can.

In FIG. 4 the operating state is shown in which the entire value bundle 68 is sorted out and thus the first compartment 32 of the reject and Retractbehälters 30 must be supplied. In this case, the first turnout is 84, as well as the sorting out of the individual notes of value in the first operating state, arranged in that switch position in which the transported along the transport path of the second transport unit 24 notes of value in the first compartment 32 are deflected. As in FIG. 4 indicated by the arrow 62, thus the transported in the direction of arrow P3 bank note 68 is deflected and thus sorted out.

In FIG. 5 a fourth operating state is shown showing the retract case. If the value bundle 68 presented via the input and / or output compartment 28 has not been removed, then the transport unit 24 is driven in the opposite direction in the direction of the arrow P4, so that the value bundle 28 is also transported in the direction of the arrow P4. The fourth switch 86 is arranged in this operating state such that it deflects the value bundle 68 transported via the second transport unit 24 in the direction of the arrow P4 out of the transport path of the second transport unit 24 and feeds it to the second compartment 34 of the reject and retract container 30.

Thus, a total of all necessary transport operations using the second transport unit 24 can be performed without further transport units are necessary. Thus, a particularly simple and quick handling of the individual notes of value and the value bundle 68 is achieved.

In FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a head module 12 is shown according to a second embodiment. The essential difference between this second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the second transport unit 24 comprises only one switch 84, by means of which both the rejects and the retracts are fed to the reject and retract container 30. In this embodiment, a third switch 90 is provided within the reject and retract container 30, with the aid of which the rejects and retracts are then divided onto the first compartment 32 and the second compartment 34. Thus, the second transport unit 24 can be even simpler and more compact.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption

12

head module

14

cassettes area

16

receiving compartment

18

cashbox

20

trigger module

22, 24

transport unit

26

stacker

28

Input and / or output tray

30

Reject and retract containers

32, 34

subject

36, 38, 40, 72, 74

belt

42, 76

deflecting

44, 77

guide element

46, 48, 56, 58, 60, 62

Wertscheinweg

50, 84, 86, 90

switch

52

soft member

54

Transfer area

64

paddlewheel

66

support element

68

Bundles of notes

70, 78

drive unit

82

recording unit

P1, P2, P3, P4

direction

Claims (14)

Apparatus for handling notes of value,
with a cassette receiving area (14) for receiving cash cassettes (18),
a first transport unit (22) for transporting notes of value between a head module (12) of the device (10) and the cash boxes (18) receivable in the cassette receiving area (24),
a first switch (50) arranged at the head module-side end of the first transport unit (22),
a stacking unit (26) for stacking the notes of value withdrawn from the cash boxes (18) to a banknote bundle (68) to be dispensed,
an input and / or output compartment (28) for issuing and / or entering notes of value,
a reject and Retractbehälter (30) for receiving sorted and not removed notes of value, and
with a second transport unit (24) for transporting notes of value between the stacking unit (26), the input and / or output compartment (28) and the reject and retract container (30),
wherein the first switch (50) in a first switch position one of a cashbox (18) withdrawn note of the stacking unit (26) and supplies in a second switch position one of a cashbox (18) withdrawn note of the second transport unit (24). Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second transport unit (24) is designed such that with their help both value bundles (68) and individual banknote can be transported. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stacking unit (26) is designed such that a value bundle stacked in it (68) from the stacking unit (26) directly to the second transport unit (24) can be fed. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the stacking unit (26) comprises a pivotable support layer element (66) which is arranged between a feed position in which it is arranged when stacking the supplied notes of value to the note stack (68), and a removal position in which it is arranged to transfer the value bundle (68) to the second transport unit (24) is adjustable. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reject and retract container (30) has a first compartment (32) for receiving sorted banknotes and a second compartment (34) separate from the first compartment (32) for receiving of undelivered banknotes. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second transport unit (24) comprises a second switch (84) for feeding by means of the second transport unit (24) transported notes of value to the reject and Retractbehälter (30). Apparatus (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that with the help of the second switch (84) both sorted notes of value and not taken from the input and / or output tray (30) notes of value to the reject and Retractbehälter (30) can be fed and in that a third switch (90) is provided within the reject and retract container (30) for distributing the notes of value supplied via the second switch (84) to the first compartment (32) and the second compartment (34). Apparatus (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that with the aid of the second switch (84) only the money cassettes (18) removed sorted notes of value are the first compartment (32) can be fed, and that the second transport unit (24) a fourth switch ( 86) for feeding from the input and / or output tray (28) not removed notes of value to the second compartment (34). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stacking unit (26) in a first end region of the second transport unit (24) and the input and / or output tray (28) in a first end region opposite the second end region of the second Transport unit (24) are arranged, and that the reject and Retractbehälter (30) between the stacking unit (26) and the input and / or output tray (30) is arranged. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second transport unit (24) comprises at least one belt (72, 74) guided via at least one drivable deflecting element (76). Apparatus (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the belt (72, 74) for transporting notes of value from the stacking unit (26) to the input and / or output tray (28), for transporting individual, the cash boxes (18). removed, sorted out notes of value to the reject and Retractbehälter (30) and for transporting a sorted Wertscheinbündels (68) from the stacking unit (26) to the reject and Retractbehälter (30) is driven in a first direction of rotation. The apparatus (10) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the belt (72, 74) for transport from the input and / or output tray (28) not taken notes of value to reject and Retractbehälter (30) in one of the first direction of rotation opposite second direction of rotation is driven. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second transport unit (24) has a receiving unit (82) for receiving a value bundle (68) for transporting the security bundle (68) from the stacking unit to the input and / or output tray (28) and / or to the reject and retract container (30). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first transport unit (22) and the second transport unit (24) are formed such that in a transfer area (54) notes of value directly from the first transport unit (22) to the second Transport unit (24) can be transferred.

Images