EP2936456B1 - Method for processing value documents and means for performing the method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for processing documents of value and means for carrying out the method.

Documents of value are understood to mean objects in sheet form which represent, for example, a monetary value or an authorization and should therefore not be able to be produced by unauthorized persons at will. They therefore have features that are not easy to produce, in particular to copy, the presence of which is an indication of authenticity, i.e. production by an authorized body. Important examples of such documents of value are coupons, vouchers, checks and, in particular, banknotes.

Depending on the type, documents of value can have an individual identifier. Within the scope of the present invention, an individual identifier is understood to mean a machine-readable property that distinguishes the individual value document from other value documents, including those of the same type, which allows the individual value document to be uniquely identified and reliably differentiated from other value documents. In the case of documents of value in the form of banknotes, such an individual identifier can be a serial number of the banknote. In the case of cheques, a check number, possibly in connection with account details.

Documents of value, in particular banknotes, are frequently checked by machine and sorted into stacks in order to then fill them into containers, for example cassettes or boxes, which do not necessarily have to be completely closed. The containers are then used, for example, to distribute the banknotes or to use the banknotes in ATMs. It would often be desirable, even after a cassette has been filled with such documents of value to be able to determine with individual identifiers which documents of value were filled into the cassettes. Similar requirements can arise for other uses of stacks with value documents with individual identifiers.

WO 2006/063555 A1 , US6065672A , EP 2479729 A1 and DE 102009035028 A1 disclose various methods for processing documents of value.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for processing documents of value with an individual identifier that makes it possible to easily determine the individual identifiers of documents of value in a stack of documents of value that are to be used for a specific purpose, and to specify means for carrying out the method .

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

In particular, the object is achieved by a method for processing value documents that have an individual identifier, for example a serial number, in which the individual identifier is recorded for the value documents and a stack is formed from at least part of the value documents, with the individual identifiers for the stack of the value documents of the stack are stored as belonging to a stack, usage data for the stack, by means of which the use of the stack can be identified, and identification data describing the individual identifier of at least one value document of the stack are recorded, and using the identifier data, the usage data and the individual identifiers of the Value documents of the stack, which were stored as belonging to a stack, are stored in association with one another.

The object is further achieved by a computer program with program code, when executed by a data processing device with a memory device and interfaces for detecting individual identifiers of value documents that are transmitted as belonging to a stack, usage data, based on which the use of the stack can be identified, and of identifier data that describe an individual identifier of a value document, when executed by the data processing device as belonging to a batch, individual identifiers provided as belonging to a batch are stored, the usage data and the identifier data are recorded and, using the identifier data, the usage data and the individual identifiers of the value documents of the Stacks saved as belonging to one stack are saved associated with each other.

The object is further achieved by a data processing device with a memory device, interfaces for detecting individual identifiers of documents of value that are transmitted as belonging to a stack, usage data by means of which the use of the stack can be identified, and identifier data that an individual identifier of a document of value describe, which is designed to store individual identifiers provided as belonging to a batch as belonging to a batch, to record the usage data and the identifier data and, using the identifier data, to record the usage data and the individual identifiers of the value documents of the batch, which were stored as belonging to a batch, associated with each other to save. In particular, the object is achieved by a data processing device with a memory device, interfaces for detecting individual identifiers of documents of value that are transmitted as belonging to a batch, at least part of usage data, on hand which the use of the stack can be identified, and identification data which describe an individual identification of a document of value, and a memory in which a computer program according to the invention is stored, so that it can be executed by means of the data processing device

In the method according to the invention, the individual identifiers of value documents from which a stack is formed are first recorded. In particular, a device for processing value documents with an individual identifier can be used for this purpose, which has a feed device for feeding value documents, an output device for outputting processed value documents, which has at least compartments for a stack of processed value documents, a transport device for transporting individual value documents along a transport path from the feed device to the output device, at least one sensor device arranged on the transport path for detecting the individual identifier of a transported document of value and a control and evaluation device which is designed to detect the individual identifiers of the documents of value stacked in the output compartment. The individual identifiers can initially be stored in a memory device of the value document processing device and optionally later transferred to the data processing device, but it is also possible for the data to be transferred to the data processing device while the stack is still being formed.

The data processing device can be separate from the value-document processing device, i.e. embodied separately as an independent device, but it is also possible for the data processing device to form part of the value-document processing device, in which case it can also be partially integrated with the control and evaluation device, for example the two devices can have a common processor. The subject matter of the invention is therefore also a device for processing value documents with an individual identifier with a feed device for feeding value documents, an output device for outputting processed value documents, which has at least compartments for a stack of processed value documents, a transport device for transporting individual value documents along a transport path from the feed device to the output device, at least one sensor device arranged on the transport path for detecting the individual identifier of a transported document of value, and a control and evaluation device which is designed to detect the individual identifiers of the documents of value stacked in the output compartment, and a data processing device according to the invention, its interface is connected to capture individual identifiers with a corresponding interface of the control and evaluation device, so that individual data stored as belonging to a batch can be transmitted via this interface. The control and evaluation device can detect the individual identifier of the documents of value stacked in the output compartment using corresponding sensor data formed by the sensor device as a result of detecting the individual identifier of a respective document of value, preferably data representing the individual identifier.

The data processing device can be embodied as a local computer or also as a system of networked computers provided locally or at a number of locations. In the latter case, the program code can then be distributed over the various computers, with each of the computers possibly only needing to execute parts of the program code.

In principle, it is sufficient that only at least one stack of loose documents of value is formed, but it is also possible for the device to have a banding device for banding the stack or the documents of value of the stack. The stacks formed can then also be banded.

The individual identifiers can be stored as belonging to a batch, for example, by only storing them together, for example as a list, preferably a linked list, but it is also possible to assign the individual identifiers a batch identifier that identifies the batch. Other alternatives are also conceivable.

The stack can now be put to use. Usage data and the identification data for at least one of the documents of value of the stack are now recorded before, during or after, preferably immediately after, the supply for use. The use of the stack can be identified from the use data; the usage data can be selected in particular in such a way that the usage can be clearly described using the usage data and/or can be distinguished from other specified possible usages. The identifier data are selected in such a way that the individual identifier of the document of value can be determined from them.

Using the identification data, the usage data and the individual identifications of the documents of value of the stack, which were stored as belonging to a stack and also contain the individual data corresponding to the identification data, are stored in association with one another.

This procedure has the advantage that it is not necessary to identify the stack more precisely in order to be able to determine later which documents of value were put to what use. Only the properties of a document of value in the stack that are present in any case are used. The method is therefore particularly easy to carry out.

In principle, the stack can be used as desired. It is only necessary that use can be clearly identified by the use data. In a preferred embodiment, the usage data include a container identifier of a container for documents of value, preferably a security container, into which the stack is or was introduced and preferably at least one date on which the stack is or was introduced into the container. Accordingly, the computer program and the data processing device are designed in such a way that the usage data is a container identifier for a container for documents of value, preferably a security container, into which the stack is or was introduced and preferably at least one date on which the stack is or was introduced into the container. include. The date, preferably also in connection with the time, allows the usage data to be formed in a simple but meaningful form when a container is used several times. The feature that the use data includes the date and preferably also the time of use of the value documents of the stack is also preferred for other uses of value document stacks.

In this embodiment, it is particularly preferred that in the method at least part of the usage data, for example from the container for documents of value, preferably the security container, via be read or transmitted via a wired or wireless interface. The computer program is then preferably designed for use with a data processing device with a wired or wireless interface for at least some of the usage data. In the case of the data processing device, the interface for at least some of the usage data is then preferably a wired or wireless interface. When the computer program is executed, at least some of the usage data can then be read or received, for example from the container for documents of value, preferably the security container, via the wired or wireless interface. In the case of use with a container for documents of value, preferably a security container, the container can preferably have an electrical or electronic circuit that can be read wirelessly or by wire, in particular an RFID chip, which can be read via the interface. The circuit can particularly preferably include the container identifier, which uniquely distinguishes the container from others and serves as at least part of the usage data.

In other exemplary embodiments, however, it is also possible for the usage data to be recorded at least in part via an input device connected to the data processing device via the corresponding interface for recording at least part of the usage data. The computer program and the data processing device are then designed in such a way that usage data is recorded by means of an input device connected to the data processing device via the interface for recording at least part of the usage data.

In principle, the identification data can be recorded as desired. In particular, it is preferred that the identifier data as an individual identifier only includes the individual identifier of only one document of value of a stack, but not that of several documents of value. In principle, it is sufficient that the individual identifier can be determined from the identifier data. For example, the identifier data can include a digital image of a section of the document of value with the individual identifier. However, the identification data is preferably the individual data. The type of detection can depend on the type of characteristic data.

According to one embodiment, it is possible for the identification data to be recorded by means of an input device for manual input of identification data in the method. The computer program is then preferably provided or written for a data processing device with an input device for manual input of identification data, and when it is executed, the identification data is recorded by means of an input device for manual input of identification data. The input device and the corresponding interface can preferably also be designed to record usage data. This embodiment is particularly suitable for characteristic data in the form of an individual identifier that is formed by an alphanumeric character string.

As an alternative or in addition, it is preferable for the identification data to be recorded in the method using a reading device, preferably a hand-held reading device. The computer program is then designed such that the interface of the data processing device is designed to record the identification data from a reading device, preferably a hand-held reading device, and that when it is executed, the identification data is read from the reading device via the interface. The reader may vary depending on Type of identification data, for example, be designed as a simple device for capturing an image of a portion of the document of value containing the individualization identifier, for example as a camera, with an interface for transmission to the interface of the data processing device. However, it is preferred that the reading device is designed in such a way that it records the individual identifiers as identifier data and transmits them via the interface. For this purpose, in the case of individual identifiers in the form of alphanumeric character strings, for example serial numbers of banknotes, it can have a device for recognizing alphanumeric character strings, for example a correspondingly programmed processor. The subject matter of the invention is therefore also a hand-held reading device for detecting an individual identifier of a document of value with an interface for transmitting the individual identifier as characteristic data.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that in the method the identifier data comprise image data for an image of the individual identifier, and the individual identifier is determined from the identifier data using a data processing device in which the usage data and the individualization data are and/or are stored. The computer program can then preferably be designed in such a way that the identification data includes image data for an image of the individual identification, and that when it is executed by the data processing device, the individual identification is determined from the identification data. The data processing device can then preferably have a processor and/or program code which, when executed, determines the individual identifier from the identifier data. This embodiment offers the advantage that the hand-held device can be constructed in a particularly simple manner. For example, it can be a simple camera with an interface for transmitting image data.

The mutually associated storage of the usage data and the individual identifier corresponding to the identifier data can in principle take place in any desired manner. According to a preferred embodiment, individual identifiers can be stored as belonging to one batch in the method for various additional batches, and to store the usage data, the individual identifier corresponding to the identifier data can be searched for in the individual identifiers for the batch and the other batches stored as belonging to one batch become. The computer program can then preferably be designed such that when it is executed, if individual identifiers are stored as belonging to one batch for various other batches, the individual identifier corresponding to the identifier data in the individual identifiers for the batch stored as belonging to one batch is stored for storing the usage data and the other stacks are searched for. This allows the individual identifiers of the respective stack to be found reliably and easily. The usage data and the individual identifiers stored as belonging to a batch can then be stored in association with one another.

The fact that the individual identifiers stored as belonging to one or the stack and the usage data are stored in association with one another means that data is stored in such a way that it can be determined using a specified method which usage data is associated with one of the individual identifiers and which individual data is associated with a use or are assigned to predetermined usage data.

Preferably, in the method, the individual identifiers of those documents of value whose individual identifiers belong to the same stack are stored, and which contain the individual identifier described by the identifier data and the usage data are stored directly assigned to one another. The computer program can preferably be designed so that when it is executed, the individual identifiers of those documents of value whose individual identifiers are stored as belonging to the same batch and which contain the individual identifier described by the identifier data and the usage data are stored directly associated with one another. The already stored individual identifiers can be used particularly preferably for this purpose, to which only the usage data are to be stored associated. This type of storage is particularly simple.

However, it is also possible in the method for the usage data and only the recorded individual identifier of the value document to be stored in association with one another. The determination of the individual data stored as belonging to the stack can take place in that, as described above, to find these individual identifiers, the recorded individual identifier is searched for in the individual identifiers stored as belonging to a stack. The computer program can then preferably be designed in such a way that the usage data and only the recorded individual identifier of the document of value are stored in association with one another. this alternative allows the usage data to be saved very quickly.

It is also possible with the method for the usage data and a stack identifier identifying the stack to be stored in association with one another, with a stack identifier being associated with the individual identifiers stored as belonging to a stack.

The specific type of storage is arbitrary, but a database is preferably used.

The data stored using the method according to the invention not only allows the individual identifiers assigned to them and stored as belonging to a stack to be determined in a simple manner, namely by detecting usage data to be searched for and searching for the usage data. Conversely, it is also easily possible to determine the use of a document of value. The present invention also relates to a method for identifying the use of a document of value with an individual identifier, in which the individual identifier is read in and is searched for among the individualization identifiers stored by means of a processing method according to the invention, stored as belonging to a stack and assigned use data, and, if the individual identifier is found , assigned usage data are determined. These can then preferably be output via a suitable output device or interface.

The subject matter of the invention is also a data carrier which can be read by means of a data processing device and has a computer program according to the invention stored thereon or therein. The data medium is an object on or in which the computer program is stored, for example an optical data medium or a data medium with an electronic memory, for example a flash memory. Other forms of data carriers are also possible, for example hard disks or the like.

In the following, the invention is explained further by way of example with reference to the drawings. The only figure shows a schematic view of a value-document processing device with a remote data processing device.

A system for value document processing in the single figure comprises a value document processing device 10, in the example a device for processing value documents 12 in the form of banknotes with serial numbers, and an external data processing device 11. The value document processing device is for sorting value documents depending on the detection of authenticity and the state of processed documents of value. The components of the device described below are arranged in a housing of the device (not shown) or held on it, unless they are designated as external. The data processing device 11 is arranged externally and offset from the value-document processing device.

The device 10 has a feed device 14 for feeding documents of value, an output device 16 for receiving processed, i. H. sorted documents of value and a transport device 18 for transporting separated documents of value from the feed device 14 to the output device 16.

In the example, the feed device 14 comprises an input compartment 20 for a stack of documents of value and a separator 22 for separating documents of value from the stack of documents of value in the input compartment 20 and for feeding the separated documents of value to the transport device 18.

In the example, the output device 16 comprises three output sections 24, 25 and 26, into which processed documents of value can be sorted according to the result of the processing. In the example, each of the sections includes a stacking compartment and a stacking wheel, not shown, by means of which supplied documents of value can be deposited in the respective stacking compartment.

The transport device 18 has at least two, in the example three, branches 28, 29 and 30, at the ends of which one of the output sections 24 or 25 or 26 is arranged, and at the branches via points 32 and 34 that can be controlled by actuating signals, by means of which Documents of value can be fed to the branches 28 to 30 and thus to the output sections 24 to 26 as a function of actuating signals.

A sensor device 38 is arranged on a transport path 36 defined by the transport device 18 between the feed device 14, in the example more precisely the separator 22, and the first diverter 32 in the transport direction after the separator 22 forms sensor signals reflecting the measurement results. In this example, the sensor device 38 has three sensors, namely two optical remission sensors 40 and 42 arranged on opposite sides of the transport path 36, which each capture a remission color image and a remission IR image of a corresponding side of the document of value, and a transmission ultrasonic sensor 44, which detects or measures spatially resolved ultrasonic transmission properties of the document of value and is only referred to below as an ultrasonic sensor for the sake of simplicity. The sensor signals formed by the sensors correspond to measurement data from the sensors, which, depending on the sensor, may already have been subjected to a correction, for example as a function of calibration data and/or noise properties.

In order to display operating data and to record operating data from a user, the value document processing device 10 has an input/output device 46 which is implemented in the example by a touch-sensitive display device (“touch screen”).

A control and evaluation device 48 has data interfaces, not shown in the figure, by means of which it is connected to the sensor device 38, the display device 46 and the transport device 18, in particular the points 32 and 34, via signal connections. Furthermore, the control and evaluation device 48 has a data interface 50, by means of which the control and evaluation device 48 can transmit data records to the external data processing device 11 or by means of which the external data processing device 11 can read data records. In the present example, the data interface 50 has an Ethernet network interface.

The control and evaluation device 48 displays operating data by means of the input/output device 46 and uses these to record user inputs, based on which it controls the device 10 accordingly.

The control and evaluation device 48 is also designed, among other things, to evaluate the sensor signals of the sensor device 38, to determine an authenticity class and a condition class for a respective value document and, depending on the determined classes, to control the transport device 18 in such a way that the value documents in an output tray corresponding to the classes can be sorted and stacked.

Furthermore, the control and evaluation device 48 is designed to, from the sensor signals of the sensor device 38, more precisely its remission sensors, to determine an individual identifier of a respective document of value in the form of the serial number of the document of value.

The control and evaluation device 48 has a storage device 52 in which the determined individual identifiers of the documents of value sorted into the stack compartment can be stored as belonging to a stack for each of the stack compartments.

The control and evaluation device 48 is designed to, starting with the detection of a corresponding signal from the input/output device, which is triggered by a user, or in other exemplary embodiments when a stack is inserted into the feed device, when processing documents of value for at least one in the example of each of the stacking compartments to store the previously determined individual identifiers of the documents of value stacked in the respective stacking compartment as belonging to a stack in the data memory 52 .

To carry out the functions mentioned, the control and evaluation device 48 (not shown in the figure) has a memory in which program code is stored and a processor connected to the interfaces, the memory and the storage device 52 via signal connections. When the program code is executed by the processor, the control and evaluation device performs the functions mentioned.

The external data processing device 11 has an interface 54 corresponding to the interface 50 for detecting individual identifiers stored in the value-document processing device 10, in this exemplary embodiment the storage device 52, as belonging to a stack. The interface 54, which is accordingly also designed as an Ethernet interface, is connected to the interface 50 via a LAN.

The data processing device 11 also has an interface 56 for capturing use data and an interface 58 for capturing identification data of a document of value. Both interfaces are designed as USB interfaces in this exemplary embodiment.

The data processing device 11 is designed to execute the parts of a method for processing documents of value described below, for which purpose in this exemplary embodiment it has a processor 60 connected to the interfaces 54, 56 and 58, a memory section 62 for storing a computer program which can be executed by the processor 60 and has a storage section 64 for processing data. When the program is executed by the processor, the data processing device 11 executes the parts of the method mentioned above and described in more detail below. In this embodiment, the memory sections 62 and 64 are memory areas of only one memory, in other embodiments they can be provided by separate memory modules.

A barcode reader 66 is connected to the interface 56 as a reading device for at least part of the usage data, which, when a barcode is detected, outputs an alphanumeric character string represented by the barcode via its USB connection.

A reading device 68 for identification data of a document of value is connected to the interface 68 . In this exemplary embodiment, a reading device designed as a hand-held device is provided as the reading device 68, which has a camera section 70 for generating image data of a digital image, an OCR device 72 for recognizing an alphanumeric individual identifier in a digital image recorded by means of the camera section 70 on the basis of the image data and an interface 74 connected to the OCR device 72, in the example a USB interface. The OCR device 72 can be given, for example, by a processor and a memory in which the processor can execute program code for recognizing characters, in the example alphanumeric characters. The interface 74 is connected to the interface 58 via a corresponding cable.

The system described is intended, among other things, for filling security containers 76 with documents of value from the stacking compartments. Each of the security containers 76 used has a barcode that uniquely identifies the security container, represents a container identifier that uniquely identifies the individual security container and that can be detected by the reading device 66 .

The system can be used to carry out the following method for processing documents of value.

At the start of the processing, the output sections or stacking compartments of the value-document processing device 10 are empty. By means of the input/output device 46, the control and evaluation device 48 detects a start signal, upon which it creates a list for individual identifiers for each of the stacking compartments in the storage device 52, which list is initially empty. On the other hand, it controls the feed device 14 and the transport device 18 in such a way that the feed device 14 feeds documents of value placed in the feed device 14 individually to the transport device 18 and the transport device 18 transports the documents of value individually at the sensor device 38 or through it; in doing so, it detects the corresponding physical properties and forms sensor signals describing them, which the control and evaluation device 48 receives. In other exemplary embodiments, the control and evaluation device 48 can also detect a different start signal, for example from the feed device 14 when the feed device uses a suitable sensor to determine that there are documents of value in the input compartment 20 .

The control and evaluation device 48 evaluates the sensor signals. On the one hand, it determines the individual identifier for each document of value using the remission image data recorded by the sensor device 38 for at least one side, preferably both sides, of the document of value. On the other hand, it determines an authenticity class and a condition class for the value document using the sensor signals and controls the transport device 18 in such a way that the value document is transported into an output section or its stacking compartment assigned to the authenticity class and condition class. In addition, it stores the ascertained individual identifier as belonging to the respective stack in the list assigned to the respective stack compartment in the memory 52 .

When the supply of documents of value has ended, individual identifiers stored as belonging to a stack are therefore stored in the memory 52 for each stacking compartment, which belong to the documents of value belonging to the respective stacking compartment. Individual identifiers are therefore stored for different stacks as belonging to one stack.

In response to a corresponding signal from value-document processing device 10 via interface 50, data processing device 11 reads now, by means of their interface 54, the individual identifiers stored as belonging to a stack are separated for each of the stack compartments and stores these in each case in the memory section 64, for example again as a list.

A user can now remove a stack of documents of value from one of the stacking compartments and place them in the security container 76 . The user uses the reader 66 to capture the barcode on the security container 76 and thus the container identifier. He also uses the reading device 68 to record the individual identifier, here the serial number, of the uppermost document of value in the stack as identifier data.

The data processing device 11 uses the interface 56 to record the character string, which corresponds to the barcode and is output by the reader 66 and which represents the container identifier, and the date and time of the recording provided by the data processing device 11 as usage data via the interface 56 .

It also uses the interface 58 to record the individual identifier of the uppermost document of value in the stack, which is output by the reading device 68, as identifier data.

To store the usage data, the individual identifiers corresponding to the identifier data are searched for in the individual identifiers stored in the memory section 64 as belonging to one batch for the various batches. In this exemplary embodiment, the data processing device 11 searches more precisely for the individual identifier recorded for the uppermost value document of the stack in the individual identifiers to which no use data have been stored as yet assigned. If it finds the individual identifier, it saves the usage data as a stack associated stored individual identifiers, among which the individual identifier found is also assigned. In this exemplary embodiment, this takes place in that the usage data is stored in association with the list. The individual identifiers of those documents of value whose individual identifiers are stored as belonging to the same batch and among which the individual identifier described by the identifier data is found, and the usage data are thus stored directly associated with one another.

The last steps can now be repeated for further stacks and/or security containers.

If it is later to be determined which documents of value with which individual identifier were used to fill a security container, the data processing device 11 can, for example via a corresponding input device such as a keyboard, record the container identifier and, after a search in the stored data records, the data belonging to a stack and the usage data with the Output container identifier associated with stored individual identifiers, optionally with the output of date and time, via an output device, such as a display device or a printer.

If, on the other hand, it is later to be determined how a document of value with a specified individual identifier was used, in a method for identifying the use of a document of value with an individual identifier, data processing device 11 can read in the individual identifier, for example by means of the aforementioned input device, and this can be stored individualization identifiers associated with a stack and associated with use data seek. If it finds the individual identifier, it determines the assigned usage data and outputs it via the output device.

Other exemplary embodiments differ from the exemplary embodiments described above in that instead of the individual identifier of the uppermost document of value, the individual identifier of any other document of value of the stack is recorded.

Still other embodiments differ from the previous embodiments in that at least part of the usage data is read or transmitted from the security container via a wireless interface. Instead of the _USB interface 56, an RFID reader is now provided. Instead of or in addition to the barcode, the security containers now have an RFID chip in which the container ID is stored. The container identifier is then transmitted via this interface.

Other exemplary embodiments differ from the exemplary embodiments described above in that the data processing device 11 has an input device for manually entering identification data, in the example individual identifiers, and these are recorded using the input device, for example a keyboard.

Further exemplary embodiments differ from the exemplary embodiments described above in that the handheld reader uses a simple camera with a WLAN interface. The handheld reader is for capturing a digital image of at least one section of a document of value with an individual identifier and for transmitting the image formed via the WLAN interface. Accordingly, the data processing device is modified in that the interface 58 is replaced by a WLAN interface. The data processing is now designed to capture the digital image as identifier data via the WLAN interface and to determine the individual identifier from the image by means of the processor, which it then uses as in the exemplary embodiments described above. To determine the individual identifier from the identifier data, the method that is also used by the value-document processing device 10 can be used, for example.

Still other exemplary embodiments differ from the preceding exemplary embodiments in that the value-document processing device comprises at least one banding device, by means of which the stacks are banded before they are put to use.

Still other exemplary embodiments differ from the exemplary embodiments described above in that the data processing device is integrated into the value-document processing device 10 .

Other exemplary embodiments can differ from the exemplary embodiments described above in that other sorting criteria are used. For example, sorting by currency and/or denomination and/or authenticity can alternatively take place.

Furthermore, in further exemplary embodiments, the data processing device 11 can have a database in which the individual identifiers stored as belonging to a batch and the usage data are stored in association with one another.

Furthermore, it is possible that in other exemplary embodiments the memory device 52 is omitted and the individual identifiers are transmitted directly to the data processing device and stored there.

In other exemplary embodiments, instead of security containers, other containers for documents of value can be used, in which documents of value are only temporarily stored, for example. These need not be designed as security containers, but can be open, so that direct access to the documents of value is possible.

Claims (20)

1. A method for processing value documents (12) which have an individual identifier, for example a serial number, in which

   - for the value documents (12), there is respectively captured the individual identifier and a stack is formed from at least a part of the value documents (12), wherein for the stack the individual identifiers of the value documents (12) of the stack are stored as belonging to a stack, characterized in that

   - for the stack, usage data, with the help of which the usage of the stack is identifiable, and identifier data, which describe the individual identifier of at least one value document (12) of the stack, are captured, and

   - using the identifier data, the usage data and the individual identifiers of the value documents (12) of the stack, which were stored as belonging to a stack, are stored so as to be associated with each other.
2. The method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the usage data comprise a container identifier of a container (76) for value documents (12), preferably of a security container, in which the stack is or was loaded, and preferably at least one date at which the stack is or was loaded in the container (76).
3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which at least a part of the usage data are read or transmitted via a wired or wireless interface (56).
4. The method according to claim 1, in which the identifier data are captured by means of an input device for the manual input of identifier data.
5. The method according to claim 1, in which the identifier data are captured by means of a reading device (66), preferably a hand-held reading device.
6. The method according to claim 5, in which the identifier data comprise image data for an image of the individual identifier, and the individual identifier is ascertained from the identifier data by means of a processor (60) of a data processing device (11) in which the usage data and the individualization data are stored.
7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, in which for various further stacks individual identifiers are respectively stored as belonging to a stack, and for storing the usage data, the individual identifier corresponding to the identifier data are searched for in the individual identifiers for the stack and the further stacks, which are stored as belonging to a stack.
8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the individual identifiers of those value documents whose individual identifiers are stored as belonging to the same stack and which include the individual identifier described by the identifier data and the usage data are stored as directly associated with each other.
9. A method for identifying the usage of a value document with an individual identifier, in which the individual identifier is read in and is searched for among the individualization identifiers that are associated with usage data, and stored as belonging to a stack and stored by means of a method according to any of the preceding claims, and, if the individual identifier is found, associated usage data are ascertained.
10. A computer program having program code, upon the execution of which by a data processing device (11) having a memory device (62, 64) and interfaces (54, 56, 58) for capturing individual identifiers of the value documents, which are transmitted as belonging to a stack, usage data, with the help of which the usage of the stack is identifiable, and identifier data which describe an individual identifier of a value document (12), upon the execution of which by the data processing device individual identifiers supplied as belonging to a stack are stored as belonging to a stack,
    the usage data and the identifier data are captured and, using the identifier data, the usage data and the individual identifiers of the value documents (12) of the stack, which were stored as belonging to a stack, are stored so as to be associated with each other.
11. The computer program according to claim 10, in which the usage data comprise a container identifier of a container (76) for value documents, preferably of a security container, in which the stack is or was loaded, and preferably at least one date at which the stack is or was loaded in the container (12).
12. The computer program according to claim 10 or 11, which is provided or written for a data processing device (11) having a wired or wireless interface (56) for at least a part of the usage data and upon the execution of which at least a part of the usage data are read or received via the wired or wireless interface (56).
13. The computer program according to any of claims 10 to 12, which is provided or written for a data processing device (11) having an input device for the manual input of identifier data and upon the execution of which the identifier data are captured by means of an input device for the manual input of identifier data.
14. The computer program according to any of claims 10 to 13, in which the interface (56) of the data processing device (11) is configured for capturing the identifier data from a reading device, preferably a hand-held reading device, and upon the execution of which the identifier data are read via the interface from the reading device.
15. The computer program according to any of claims 10 to 14, in which the identifier data comprise image data for an image of the individual identifier and upon the execution of which the individual identifier is ascertained from the identifier data.
16. The computer program according to any of claims 10 to 15, upon the execution of which, when for various further stacks individual identifiers are respectively stored as belonging to a stack, for storing the usage data, the individual identifier corresponding to the identifier data are searched for in the individual identifiers for the stack and the further stacks, which are stored as belonging to a stack.
17. The computer program according to any of claims 10 to 16, upon the execution of which the individual identifiers of those value documents whose individual identifiers are stored as belonging to the same stack and which include the individual identifier described by the identifier data and the usage data are stored as directly associated with each other.
18. A data carrier having stored thereon or therein a computer program according to any of claims 10 to 17.
19. A data processing device having a memory device (52), interfaces (54, 56, 58) for capturing individual identifiers of the value documents (12), which are transmitted as belonging to a stack, at least a part of usage data with the help of which the usage of the stack is identifiable, and identifier data which describe an individual identifier of a value document (12), and a memory (62) in which a computer program according to any of claims 10 to 17 is stored so that this can be executed by means of the data processing device.
20. An apparatus for processing value documents (12) having an individual identifier with

    a feeding device (14) for feeding value documents (12), an output device (16) for outputting processed value documents (12), which has at least pocket (24, 25, 26) for a stack of processed value documents (12),

    a transport device (18) for transporting singled value documents (12) along a transport path (36) from the feeding device (14) to the output device (16),

    at least one sensor device (38) arranged at the transport path (36) for capturing the individual identifier of a transported value document (12), and

    a control and evaluation device (48) which is configured to capture the individual identifiers of the value documents (48) stacked in the output pocket,

    and a data processing device (11) according to claim 19.

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