EP3362193A1

EP3362193A1 - Device and method for sorting book-type valuable or security documents

Info

Publication number: EP3362193A1
Application number: EP16778814.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Neumann
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Current assignee: Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Priority date: 2015-10-12
Filing date: 2016-10-10
Publication date: 2018-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-10
Also published as: DE102015219736A1; WO2017063967A1; EP3362193B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (1) for sorting book-type valuable documents or security documents, said device (1) comprising a document identification device (3a, 3b), an individual document storage device (4) and an individual document bundling device (5a, 5b), and wherein: document-specific information can be determined for an individual document (7) using said document identification device (4); at least one individual document (7) can be stored using said individual document storage device (4); and, depending on the document-specific information, a document bundle (12) consisting of at least one stored or non-stored individual document (7) can be provided using said individual document bundling device (5a, 5b).

Description

Apparatus and method for sorting book-type value or security documents

Book-type value and / or security documents are usually sent after their production in a letter or package to a desired delivery address. This concerns e.g. also passport books. Previously, individual passports were packaged into bundles in the production facility and handed over manually to a transport facility for shipment to a shipping warehouse facility, which bundles were removed for shipment from the shipping storage facility and packaged in a package. Packaging into bundles has been made in light of the fact that production plants usually produce a fixed number of passbooks in a so-called batch mode, e.g. a number of over 500 pieces.

It is desired to enable a single passport book making, which allows a timely and flexible manufacture of desired passbooks. In this case, there is no bundling of passbooks at the end of the production process, but a single passport book.

The technical problem arises of providing a method and a device for sorting book-type value or security documents which, after production, enable a time-saving, cost-saving and packaging-reducing shipping.

The solution of the technical problem results from the objects with the features of claims 1 and 1 1st Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

It is a basic idea of the invention, after the production of a single passport book, or preferably several single passport books with at least partially

matching document-specific information, e.g. with the same document order number or document delivery address, and to deliver this bundle to a shipping warehouse facility.

Proposed is a device for sorting book-like value or

Security documents. The value and / or security document may be any document that is a physical entity that is against unauthorized manufacture and / or

Falsified by security features or elements are protected.

Security features are features that make it difficult to falsify and / or duplicate compared to a simple copy at least. Physical entities that include or form a security feature may be referred to as security features. A security document may include multiple security features and / or security elements. As defined herein, a security document is always a security element. Examples of

Security documents, which also include value documents representing a value, include, for example, passports, identity cards, driving licenses, identity cards, access control cards, health insurance cards, banknotes,

Postage stamps, bank cards, credit cards, smart cards, tickets and labels.

In particular, the device may serve for sorting passbooks, these books being provided by a single passport book manufacture. This means in particular that no predetermined number in a batch operation by the

Production is produced.

The device may include an input handover device. By means of

Input handover device are handed over the finished produced and possibly already quality-tested individual documents to the device for sorting. For example, multiple individual documents in a magazine, e.g. stacked in the magazine, to be handed over. By means of the input transfer device, the individual documents contained in the magazine can be removed and, as explained in more detail below, transported to a document identification device. Thus, the input handover facility enables the provision of the

Individual document for sorting.

An individual document can have at least one identification feature. Such an identification feature allows a unique identification of the individual document. The identification feature can encode, for example, identification information, for example a document identity. Depending on the identification information, an individual document can receive further document-specific information For example, in a memory device, in particular in the form of a database, are stored assigned. This will be explained in more detail below.

The identification feature can be provided, for example, in the form of a barcode, for example a 2D data matrix barcode. The identification feature may in this case be arranged on an outer surface, for example on a back side, of the document, e.g. be printed or glued. Alternatively, the

Identification feature can also be arranged on a document label, wherein the document label is in turn arranged on an outer surface or at least a part thereof of the individual document. The label can be a particular

Closure label of a book-type value and / or security document.

Furthermore, the device comprises a document identification device. Document-specific information can be determined by means of the document identification device. By means of the document identification device, e.g. the at least one identification feature is detected and the identification information is determined. Thus, the single document can be identifiable. Depending on the identification information, the previously explained further document-specific information can then be determined, in particular retrieved. For example, the document identification device can have at least one means for detecting the previously explained identification feature.

Preferably, an optical detection of the individual document and thus a picture-based identification. This will be explained in more detail below.

Of course, however, another type of identification may be conceivable. An identification can be, for example, an RFID or NFC-based identification, wherein the individual document can have corresponding RFID or NFC devices. Also, an identification can be made by reading and evaluating information stored in a magnetic stripe of the individual document. Also, an identification can be made via the reading and evaluation of information stored in a contact chip of the individual document. Also, an identification can be made by reading out and evaluating a serial number of the individual document, for example by an OCR-based evaluation. For identification, the individual document can be transported into a detection area of the document identification device, for example, by the input transfer device. For this purpose, the proposed device may comprise at least one transport device, for example a transport device designed as a transport belt.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least one individual document storage device.

Of course, the device may also include a plurality, for example, two, three or four, single-document storage facilities. By means of the single-document storage device at least one individual document is storable. This single-document storage device can also be referred to as an intermediate storage device. The individual document storage device is different in particular from the previously mentioned shipping storage device. By means of the single-document storage device several individual documents can be stored for a desired period of time. A predetermined number of individual documents, for example more than 5,000 individual documents, can be stored in the at least one individual document storage device.

An individual document can hereby be transported from the document identification device to the single-document storage device. Alternatively, the

Individual document from the document identification device to a single-document bundle device to be transported. The proposed device may include one or more suitable transport means, e.g. Transport device (s) designed as a conveyor belt.

Furthermore, the device comprises the single-document bundling device. By means of the single-document bundling device is dependent on the document-specific information, a document bundle from at least one stored or

Unpublished single document available. By means of the single-document bundling device, e.g. a document bundle is provided, which comprises at least one, but preferably several, individual documents / e. This may mean that one or more of the single-document storage device or the document identification device to the single-document bundling device

transported individual documents are bundled by this. In this case, a maximum number of individual documents in a document bundle can be predetermined. The Maximum number can be determined in particular depending on a packaging size of a packaging used for shipping.

For example, a document bundle may be provided by stacking a plurality of individual documents one on top of the other, thus providing the document bundle

Stack of documents is provided with at least one band.

The proposed device may further at least one control and / or

Include evaluation. This can in particular one or more

Computing devices, e.g. designed as a microcontroller computing devices include.

By means of the control and / or evaluation device, the individual devices can be controlled. A control can also be understood as a regulation. Also, a transport between the individual devices of the proposed device for sorting can be controlled. The control and evaluation device can also be part of the individual devices, e.g. the document identification device, be. Of course, the device may also comprise a plurality of control and / or evaluation devices, which each serve for the previously explained control and evaluation.

The proposed device may further comprise an output handover device. This can provide a document bundle provided by the single-document bundling device to a transport device for transport to the shipping storage device.

Furthermore, the device may comprise at least one bundle testing device. This will be explained in more detail below.

The proposed device advantageously allows individually and in particular individually produced individual documents as a function of

document-specific information can be sorted and summarized in a bundle for shipping. This in turn means that not every individually produced individual document has to be sent individually. Thus shipping and costs can be saved. In a further embodiment, the document identification device comprises at least one image capture device. The image capture device can be designed, for example, as a camera. The image capture device enables optical detection of the individual document. In particular, the

Image capture device an optical detection of the previously explained

Identification feature. The image of the individual document or of the identification feature generated by the at least one image capture device can be evaluated by means of one or the previously explained control and evaluation device, wherein identification information and document-specific information in

Dependence of the evaluation can be determined. Methods for image evaluation are known in the art.

As a result, an as simple and reliable as possible

Identification of the individual document allows. A coverage of the

In this case, the image capture device can correspond to the previously described acquisition range of the document identification device.

In a further embodiment, a document identity can be determined by means of the document identification device as document-specific information. The

Document identity can be a unique, unique identity. For example, the document identity may be in the form of an identifier, e.g. in the form of a serial number, in particular in the form of a unique letter and / or

Number sequence, be given.

The document identity may be stored in a storage device,

for example in the form of a database. The proposed device may comprise the at least one storage device.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a document order number can be determined as document-specific information. The document order number identifies one

Order process by which the individual document was ordered, whereby the order triggered the production. Of course, several individual documents can be ordered through the ordering process. Thus, several of each other

different individual documents are assigned the same order number. The document order number can also be stored in a storage device, preferably in the previously explained, for example in the form of another database or the same database.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a document dispatch time can be determined by means of the document identification device. The document dispatch time may indicate the time at which the document must be sent at the latest. Also, the document dispatch time can be determined by the ordering process. Furthermore, the document delivery time can likewise be stored in a storage device, preferably in the previously explained, storage device, for example in the form of a further database or in the same database.

Alternatively or cumulatively, a document delivery address can be determined by means of the document identification device as document-specific information. These can also be determined by the ordering process. Furthermore, the document delivery address can be stored in a storage device, preferably explained above, for example in the form of a further database or in the form of the same database.

In particular, it is possible that by means of the document identification device first the document identity can be determined and then the document order number and / or the document delivery address and / or the document dispatch time is determined depending on the document identity. For example, this information can be retrieved from one or more databases.

This makes it possible in an advantageous manner, sorting relevant

to determine document-specific information quickly and reliably in a timely manner.

In a further embodiment, at least one is dependent on the document-specific information by means of an evaluation device

Document group-specific information can be determined.

In this case, an individual document can be assigned to a document group. The

Document group can hereby comprise one or more individual documents, to which the same document order number and / or the same document delivery address is assigned.

In this case, the evaluation device can be formed by the at least one control and / or evaluation device explained above. A

Document group-specific information can be, for example, a number and / or a document identity of further individual documents with the same document order number. Document group-specific information may also include a number and / or document identity of further individual documents with the same

Be a document delivery address. This document group-specific information can be determined, for example, by evaluating the previously explained stored information, for example by evaluating at least one or more databases.

As a result, the determination of further information relevant for the sorting is made possible in an advantageous manner.

In a further embodiment, by means of an evaluation device, in particular the evaluation device explained above, an earliest dispatch time and / or a current storage period of further individual documents can be determined from the document group of the individual document.

The earliest time of shipment thus indicates the earliest date of all

Dispatch times of document group documents. The storage period refers to the period of time for which an individual document of the document group is stored in the single-document storage facility.

Depending on the delivery time, a bundle delivery time can also be determined. This indicates the time at which the bundle of documents containing the individual document has to be provided. Also, the document delivery time may indicate the time at which the

Document bundle must be transported from the proposed device to the shipping storage facility. This bundle provisioning time may be, for example, a predetermined period of time prior to the time of shipment. The predetermined period of time may be, for example, a period of time necessary for transporting the Document bundle is required for shipping storage facility, storage, packaging and delivery for shipping. However, the bundle deployment time can also be equal to the time of shipment.

Further, if the earliest shipping time or the earliest bundle delivery time is reached, all the individual documents of the document group can be transported to the single-document bundle device.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the transport of all individual documents of the

Document group to document bundling device take place if the current storage period is equal to or greater than a maximum allowable storage period. The maximum allowable storage period may be a predetermined period of time.

If the document group comprises more documents than permitted in a document bundle, then quantities of individual documents from the document group with the maximum permissible number of document groups or with a number that is smaller than this maximum permissible number can be transported to the document bundle device.

This results in an advantageous manner that a desired shipping time is maintained despite the combination of several individual documents in a document bundle. Alternatively or cumulatively, exceeding the maximum allowable

Storage period can be met in the document storage facility.

In a further embodiment, the individual-document storage device comprises at least one shelf, wherein at least one storage compartment of the shelf can be moved in and out. For example, the single-document storage device comprise a shelf, wherein a storage compartment on both sides, in particular longitudinal sides, of the shelf is extendable. Alternatively, a storage compartment of the shelf to a first page and another storage compartment can be extended to another side of the shelf, the other side of the first side opposite. Of course, a single-document storage device may also include several shelves, for example, two, three or four shelves. A storage compartment can also be referred to as an extract. The single-document storage device can guide elements for guiding the inputs and

Extract movement include. A guide element may in particular be a telescopic guide element.

The shelf may include a plurality of retractable and extendable storage compartments, for example, several retractable and retractable storage compartments per longitudinal side of the shelf.

In particular, the at least one storage compartment of the shelf can be retracted and extended by actuators. This may mean that the entry and exit movement of the

Storage compartment is effected by means of an actuator or a control device. At least one, but preferably several, individual documents can be stored in or on or at the storage compartment of the shelf. It is possible for the storage compartment to have or form accommodation elements or means for receiving one or more individual documents. For example, a storage compartment may comprise a plurality of rows of receiving elements or means. This results in a particularly advantageous

Space-saving and thus space-minimizing training of the storage facility.

In a further embodiment, the single-document storage device comprises at least one storage transport device, wherein a single document can be transported by means of the storage transport device into a storage position or from the storage position. The storage position may designate a position of the single document in which it is located in, on, or at the single document storage facility. This can e.g. be determined by the previously described receiving elements or means.

In this case, for example, a single document can only be transported to a storage position if a storage compartment of the rack is in the extended state. Also, the single document can be transported by the storage conveyor only from the storage position, when the storage compartment of the shelf is in the extended state. Thus, the storage position, which, as

previously explained, located on or on a storage compartment of the shelf, be accessible only when the storage compartment is in the extended state.

The storage transport device may in particular be designed as a gripper or comprise a gripper. Preferably, the single-document storage device comprises at least two storage transport devices per shelf. In this case, in each case one storage transport device per side, in particular longitudinal side, of the shelf may be present. This can mean that by means of a first storage transport device

Individual documents can be transported to a storage position or from the storage position if the storage compartment of the shelf has been extended to a first side of the shelf. By means of the further storage transport means individual documents in a

Storage position or be transported from the storage position when the or another storage compartment is extended to the opposite side.

Of course, in addition to the at least one gripping device, the bearing transport device may also comprise further elements for linear movement and optionally for rotational movement. For example, an individual document can be moved by means of the storage transport device in three spatial directions oriented at right angles to one another. It is also conceivable that an individual document can be rotated by at least one of these spatial directions, preferably around each of these spatial directions.

This results in an advantageous manner, a time-saving and space-saving storage and retrieval of individual documents in the single-document storage facility.

The single document storage device may include more than one storage transport device. These can be designed and / or controlled in such a way that a temporally parallel storage of a plurality of, for example two, individual documents, a temporal parallel storage of one or more individual documents and a

Outsourcing of one or more individual documents or one parallel in time

Outsourcing of several individual documents is feasible. Of course, one or more transport device (s) for transporting individual documents to the single-document storage device or from the single-document storage device can be designed and / or controllable such that a temporally parallel transport of several, for example two, individual documents to be stored for the individual-document storage device temporally parallel transport of one or more individual documents to be stored for individual-document storage and transport of one or more outsourced individual documents / e of the single-document transport device or a temporally parallel transport of several outsourced individual documents of the single-document transport device is feasible.

In a further embodiment, a single document in the single-document storage device is storable standing. This may mean that e.g. a book-like single document with a spine portion on a surface of the storage compartment, in particular of the storage shelf, is storable. Here, the previously explained receiving elements or means may be designed such that the stationary storage is made possible. This results in an advantageous manner that a plurality of documents in, on or on the storage compartment can be stored, at the same time a simple storage and retrieval of each of these stored individual documents is possible.

In a further embodiment, the individual-document storage device comprises at least one device for transferring an individual document from a lying state to a standing state. A lying state here refers to a state in which a front or back of the book-like single document rests on a support surface. A standing state here refers to a state in which the individual document rests on the support surface with a spine section, an end section or a section opposite the spine section.

Alternatively or cumulatively, the single-document storage device comprises at least one device for transferring an individual document from the stationary state to the horizontal state. For example, it is possible for the individual-document storage device to comprise a device for transferring an individual document from the lying state to the standing state, wherein the individual document in the lying state is transported to the single-document storage device, then put into the standing state and then in the standing state by means of the previously explained storage transport device is transportable to the storage position. Furthermore, the individual document storage device may comprise a device for transferring the individual document from the stationary state to the horizontal state, wherein a single document transported in the stationary state from the storage position is put back into the lying state by means of this device and then to

Single-document bundle device can be transported. Thus, it is possible that the single-document storage device has at least two devices for changing state, in particular two devices per longitudinal side of the shelf.

The means for dislocation can be used as so-called Sternaktoren

be educated. For example, a star actuator may be configured in a star-shaped cross-section and / or have at least one projecting section. The at least one projecting portion may be a contact surface for the

Single document. Furthermore, the at least one cantilevered section can be rotatable in such a way that an individual document resting on / at the contact or contact surface is displaced from the stationary to the lying state or vice versa.

In a further embodiment, the single-document bundling device comprises at least one alignment device for aligning the bundles to be bundled

Individual documents.

For example, individual documents can only be bundled in the lying state. By means of the alignment device, e.g. several individual documents are rotated by 180 ° to each other to provide a bundle. Furthermore, the alignment device may comprise an image capture device, wherein an image-based positional image and image acquisition device by means of the image capture device

Orientation determination of the individual documents to be bundled is feasible. Depending on the thus determined position and / or orientation of the individual documents to be bundled, the alignment device can then be controlled in order to arrange the individual documents to be bundled as desired or to one another.

Further proposed is a method for sorting book-like value or

Security documents. The method is practicable by means of an apparatus according to an embodiment described in this disclosure. Thus, the device is in particular designed such that a method according to one of the in this

Revelation explained embodiments by means of the device is feasible.

In the method, document-specific information of a provided individual document is determined. An individual document may in particular be a book-type individual document. Furthermore, the individual document will depend on the document-specific information stored in a single-document storage device or transported to a single-document bundling device. Will that be

Individual document stored in the single-document storage device, so it can be transported to the document-specific storage period from the single-document storage device to single-document bundle device. Furthermore, a single document or several individual documents can be bundled to form a document bundle by means of the single-document bundle device.

The method advantageously makes it possible to sort individual documents provided in any order, in particular random ones, according to predetermined criteria. In particular, as explained in more detail below, individual documents with a matching order number and / or matching delivery address are bundled into a document bundle, wherein the

Document bundle can then be sent later. This saves, as previously explained, shipping costs and advantageously reduces packaging material.

In a further embodiment, a document identity and / or a document order number and / or a document delivery address and / or a document dispatch time is / are determined as document-specific information / s. This has been explained previously.

In a further embodiment, document-group-specific information is determined as a function of the document-specific information. These

Document group-specific information has already been explained above. The document-specific information as well as the document group-specific information can be obtained, for example, by evaluating one or more

Databases are determined. In this case, further document-specific information can be determined, for example, depending on the particular document identity. Depending on this additional document-specific information, document group-specific information can then be determined.

In a further embodiment, an earliest dispatch time and / or a current storage period of further individual documents of the document group of the individual document provided are determined, insofar as the individual document provided belongs to the document group. Depending on the shipping time, a Bundle provisioning time. This has already been explained above.

In a further embodiment, the individual document is stored in the single-document storage device if a bundle provisioning time that depends on the document shipping time is not reached. In this case, as

Document specific information determines a document dispatch time and the corresponding bundle provisioning time and a current one

Time compared. If the document delivery time or the bundle provision time is not reached, then the individual document is transported from the previously explained document identification device to the single-document storage device and stored therein.

Alternatively or preferably cumulatively, the individual document is stored in the single-document storage device if the bundle-providing time point of further, in particular all other, individual documents of the document group which depends on the earliest dispatch time is not reached. The document group refers to the document group to which the provided individual document belongs.

Further alternatively or further preferably cumulatively, the individual document is stored in the single-document storage device if a current storage period of further, in particular all further, individual documents of the document group is shorter than a predetermined maximum storage period. The maximum storage duration can be predetermined. For example, the maximum storage duration may be one day. Also, that can

Individual documents are stored in the single-document storage facility if the bundle provisioning time or the earliest bundle provisioning time of all individual documents of the document group is more than the maximum storage period before the current time.

This results in an advantageous manner that a single document, which does not have to be sent immediately and belongs to a document group whose

Individual documents also need not be sent immediately, can be stored in the single-document situation device, then with more

Individual documents of the same document group bundled together and sent. In another embodiment, the single document is transported to the single-document bundle device if the bundle-provisioning time dependent on the document shipping time is reached

Alternatively or preferably cumulatively, the individual document is transported to the single-document bundling device, if the bundle provisioning time of at least one further individual document, which is dependent on the earliest dispatch time, is transported

Document group is reached.

Alternatively or more preferably cumulatively, the individual document becomes

Transport single-document bundle device, if a current storage period of the individual document and / or at least one other individual document of the

Document group is longer than or equal to the maximum storage period. Here, the individual document of the document identification device or from the

Single-document storage device to be transported to the single-document bundling device. Thus, an identified single document can be transported directly to the single-document bundle device without intermediate storage. Alternatively, an intermediately stored single document can be transported to the single-document bundling device. By means of the single-document bundling device can then be provided a document bundle of individual documents of the document group.

If the single document is transported to the single-document bundle device, then before, at the same time or temporally, further individual documents of the

Document group are transported to the single-document bundle device. This can also include or have a bundle storage device for receiving these individual documents.

If the single document is the only document in the document group, the single document can be transported alone to the single-document bundle device.

Also, the identified single document may be transported directly from the document identifier to the single-document bundle device if a time subsequent to the maximum time period after the current time is a later time than the bundle provisioning time. This results in an advantageous manner that a timely shipment of the

Single document, while ensuring that, as explained above, cost-effective shipping and

In another embodiment, a single document or multiple individual documents are bundled into a document bundle. This means that a bundle of documents can include only a single document. Preferably, however, several individual documents are bundled into a document bundle. A maximum number of individual documents in a document bundle can be limited. For example, the maximum number can be 5. The bundling may mean that at least one, but preferably two, band / n is arranged around a document stack. Furthermore, the bundling may include the application of a bundle-specific identifier. For example, the bundle-specific identifier may encode information about a product type and a sub-product type. A product type may be, for example, a passport or a travel document. A sub-product type may be, for example, an express pass, a direct mail pass, a 32-page pass, or a 48-page pass. The bundle-specific identifier can in particular enable an optical detection of this information. In particular, the bundle-specific identifier can be applied, for example printed, to the document bundle or a banderole as a barcode, in particular as a 2D DataMatrix barcode. This results in an advantageous manner that several

Individual documents, in particular a document group, can be summarized in shipping.

In a further embodiment, a plurality of individual documents of a

Group of documents bundled into a document bundle. Includes the

Document group more individual documents than the maximum allowable number for a document bundle, so several document bundles can be made for individual documents of a document group. It is possible that one of these

Document bundles for individual documents of a document group less

Individual documents as the maximum number of a document bundle allowed. This results in an advantageous manner that individual documents of a document group, so for example, with the same order number and / or the same delivery address, can be summarized for shipping.

In a further embodiment, the individual documents to be bundled are arranged one above the other in the document bundle. In particular, the individual documents in the horizontal state can be arranged on one another, that is, stacked. Next, the individual documents are rotated, in particular rotated by 180 °, arranged to each other. Of course, the individual documents can also be arranged undistorted to each other. However, if the individual documents are arranged twisted relative to one another, then advantageously a height of the thus produced is reduced

Documents bundle. However, a reduced height of the document bundle advantageously allows the further saving of packaging material.

In another embodiment, a quality check is performed on a document bundle. In this case, at least one bundle-specific quality criterion can be evaluated.

If the at least one quality criterion is fulfilled, then the document bundle can be transported to the previously explained shipping storage facility. If the at least one criterion is not met, then the document bundle can be sorted out. After sorting, a manual inspection or a post-processing or correction can take place.

For example, a height or thickness of the document bundle can be determined. If the height is greater than a maximum allowable height, the quality criterion is not met.

This results in an advantageous manner that only quality-tested document bundles are provided for shipping.

In a further embodiment, the document bundle is transported to a shipping storage facility. For this purpose, the document bundle from the explained output transfer device to a transport device, for example a

Conveyor belt to be passed, this transport means the Document bundles then transported to said bundle shipping warehouse facility. In this case, the document bundle can be stored in the bundle shipping storage facility until the bundle shipping time. The burst shipping time may be the earliest all shipping times of the individual documents in the document bundle. When the bundle dispatch time is reached or before it is reached, the

Document bundles are packed in a transport packaging. It is possible that several bundles of documents are packed in a transport packaging. Then the packaged bundle of documents can be provided with a corresponding shipping sticker and provided for shipment. The shipping storage facility may be part of the proposed device.

The shipping storage facility can be used to store the document bundles, for example identity card bundles. In a bundle shipping warehouse facility, the document bundle can be stored until the earliest time of the quantity

Time of delivery of the individual documents summarized in the document bundle. If this is the case, all bundles of documents from the

Bundle shipping warehouse equipment are packed and shipped with the same delivery address.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to several embodiments. The figures show:

1 is a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention in a first embodiment,

2 is a schematic plan view of a single document storage device,

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of that shown in Fig. 2

Single-document-storage facility,

4 shows a schematic top view of a sorting device according to a further embodiment,

5 is a perspective view of a document bundle, Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a single-document bundling device and

7 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the invention.

Hereinafter, like reference numerals designate elements having the same or similar technical features.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an inventive device for sorting book-type value or security documents. The device 1 comprises two input transfer devices 2a, 2b. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a first document identification device 3a and a further document identification device 3b. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a single-document storage device 4, a first single-document bundling device 5a and a further single-document bundling device 5b. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a first bundle testing and transfer device 6a and a further bundle test and

Transfer device 6b.

It is shown that individual documents 7 are delivered in magazines 8 to the input transfer devices 2a, 2b. By means of the input transfer devices 2a, 2b, the individual documents 7 can be removed from the magazines 8 and arranged on conveyor belts 9a, 9b. The conveyor belts 9a, 9b form

Transport devices of the device 1 according to the invention.

About a first conveyor belt 9a are individual documents 7 from the first input transfer device 2a to the first document identification device 3a

transportable, in particular in a detection range of the first document identification device 3a. The document identification devices 3a, 3b may each comprise at least one image capture device, e.g. an image acquisition device designed as a camera.

By means of the image capture devices (not shown), an image of a

Individual document 7 are generated. On the individual documents can a

Identification feature be arranged, in particular a 2D matrix data barcode. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a central control and evaluation device 10. This is data and / or signaling technology connected to the document identification devices 3a, 3b. By means of the evaluation and control device 10, the images generated can be evaluated. In particular, a document identity of an imaged individual document 7 can be determined, in particular by the

Identification feature is detected and evaluated.

The central control and evaluation device 10 is connected to a memory device 1 1 data and / or signaling technology. In this memory device 1 1 is the document identity, a document-specific order number, a

Document-specific delivery address and a document-specific document shipping time stored, for example in the form of a database. These

Information can be stored for each individual document 7 delivered.

By means of the control and evaluation device 10 can depend on the

document-specific information, ie the document order number and / or the document delivery address and / or the document dispatch time, at least one document group specific information to be determined.

For example, all document identities of individual documents 7 can be determined, to each of which the same document order number is assigned. Alternatively, document identities of all the individual documents 7 can be determined to which the same document delivery address is assigned.

The set of individual documents 7, to which the same document order number and / or document delivery address are assigned, forms a document group.

Individual documents 7 of the document group can, as explained in more detail below, be combined into one or more document bundles 12.

The central control and evaluation device 10 can also operate the

Control conveyor belts 9a, 9b. This is not shown in Fig. 1.

The control and evaluation device 10 is further data and / or signal technology connected to the single-document storage device 4. Thus, the central control and Evaluation device 10 also control an operation of this single-document storage device 4 or provide information to the controller.

In particular, the control and evaluation device 10, the conveyor belts 9 a, 9 b and the single-document storage device 4 control such that a single document 7 is stored in the single-document storage device 4, if one of the

document-specific document shipping time dependent bundle deployment time is not reached and if the one from the earliest

Dispatch time of all other individual documents 7 dependent bundle provision time of the document group is not reached and if a current storage period of further individual documents 7 of the document group is shorter than a predetermined maximum storage period.

The control and evaluation device 10 can also control the conveyor belts 9a, 9b and the single-document storage device 4 such that an individual document 7 is transported to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b and thus not in the

Single-document storage device 4 is stored, if that of the

document-specific document dispatch time dependent bundle provisioning time reached or if the bundle provision time of the document group dependent on the earliest dispatch time of at least one further individual document 7 is reached or if a current storage period of the document

Individual document 7 or at least one further individual document 7 of the

Document group is longer than or equal to the maximum storage period.

The maximum storage period may be, for example, one day. It denotes the duration for which an individual document 7 may be stored in the single-document storage device 4.

Furthermore, the control and evaluation device 10 can control the conveyor belts 9a, 9b and the single-document storage device 4 in such a way that all individual documents 7 of a document group are transported sequentially to the corresponding single-document bundle device 5a, 5b.

By means of the single-document bundling devices 5a, 5b can then a

Document bundles 12 are produced, wherein a document bundle 12 a or several individual documents 7 may comprise a document group. A maximum number of individual documents 7 in a document bundle 12 can be limited.

The document bundles 12 are then from the single-document bundles 5a, 5b by means of further conveyor belts 13a, 13b to the bundle Prüf- and

Transfer devices 6a, 6b transportable. Through this, a quality inspection of the document bundle 12 can be performed. Furthermore, the bundle checking and transfer devices 6a, 6b can arrange document bundles 12 on a further conveyor belt 14, which transports the document bundle 12 into a shipping storage device 15.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the single-document storage device 4 illustrated in FIG. 1. Further illustrated are conveyor belts 9a, 9b on which

Individual documents 7 are transported from the document identification device 3a, 3b shown in FIG. 1 to the single-document storage device 4. Next can be transported to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b by the conveyor belts 9a, 9b of the single-document storage device 4 outsourced individual documents.

The single-document storage device 4 comprises a shelf 16, wherein storage compartments 17 (see, for example, Fig. 3) can be retracted and extended by actuators. In Fig. 2, a storage compartment 17 is shown in the extended state. In the storage compartment, especially on one

Floor surface of the storage compartment 17, individual documents 7 are stored in a standing state. For clarity, only a standing individual document 7 is denoted by a reference numeral.

It is conceivable that the storage compartment shown in the extended state 17 or another storage compartment 17 of the shelf is also extendable to the opposite side, ie to the side on which the second conveyor belt 9b is arranged.

Furthermore, the single-document storage device 4 comprises a first storage transport device 18a and a second storage transport device 18b. These

Transport devices 18a, 18b each include a gripper 19a, 19b. From the document identification devices 3a, 3b via the conveyor belts 9a, 9b towards the single-document storage device 4 in the lying state transported individual documents 7 can by not shown controls in storage sections 20a, 20b are moved. This can be done, for example, if the corresponding

Single documents 7 are to be stored. By means also not shown facilities for transferring a single document 7 from a recumbent state to a standing state, these individual documents 7 can then be placed in the standing state. In the standing state, the individual documents 7 are gripped by the grippers 19a, 19b and transported to a storage compartment 17 in the opened or extended state and at a predetermined

document-specific storage position. This can also be called

Storage procedure. If an individual document 7 is to be outsourced, the corresponding storage compartment 17 is set in the extended state, in which case the desired individual document 7 is gripped by means of the gripper 19a, 19b and transported to a removal section 21a, 21b. By means not shown means for moving a single document 7 from the standing state to a horizontal state, these individual documents 7 can then be placed in the corresponding section 21 a, 21 b in the lying state. Furthermore, these individual documents 7 can then be arranged on the conveyor belt 9a, 9b again by means of unillustrated actuating devices, these being then transported by the conveyor belt 9a, 9b to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b.

An operation of the storage compartments 17, the storage transport means 18a, 18b and an operation of the means for transferring to different states can be controlled by the central control and evaluation device 10 shown in FIG. 1 or at least one further control device (not shown).

Also, an operation of the conveyor belts 9a, 9b and thus a transport of the individual documents 7 can be controlled by the control and evaluation device 10 or at least one further (not shown) control device.

If a single document 7 is to be transported directly from the document identification device 3a, 3b to the single-document bundle device 5a, 5b, then none occurs

Storage, in particular no transport into the storage sections 20a, 20b.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the single-document storage device 4 illustrated in FIG. 2. In this case, in particular a plurality of storage compartments 17 of the rack 16 are shown. It is further shown that the storage conveyor 18a the gripper 19a can move in three mutually perpendicular directions in space.

In particular, the gripper 19a can be moved in a vertical direction and in two horizontal directions. Of course, other embodiments of the storage transport devices 18a, 18b are conceivable.

Fig. 4 shows a device 1 according to the invention according to another

Embodiment. The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is in this case formed similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, reference may be made in substantial parts to the explanation of FIG. 1. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the device 1 shown in FIG. 4 comprises two storage conveyor belts 22a, 22b which transport individual documents 7 (see eg FIG. 1) from the document identification devices 3a, 3b to

Enable single-document storage device 4. Furthermore, the device 1 comprises two removal conveyor belts 23a, 23b, which enable a transport of individual documents 7 to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b. By means of the storage transport devices 18a, 18b shown in FIG. 2, individual documents 7 can be lifted from the storage conveyor belts 22a, 22b and either stored in a storage compartment 17 or transported directly to the corresponding removal conveyor belt 23a, 23b. In this case, at the end of each storage conveyor belt 22a, 22b, an unillustrated means for dislocation from the lying in the standing state, for example, a star actuator, be arranged. Further, at the beginning of each paging conveyor belt 23a, 23b, a device also not shown for the displacement of the standing in the horizontal state, for example, also a star actuator, may be arranged.

In Fig. 4 it is shown that both the storage conveyor belts and the

Swap conveyor belts 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b are arranged next to longitudinal sides of the shelf 16. In this case, sections of the conveyor belts 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b extend along longitudinal sides of the single document storage device 4 comprising a shelf 16. It is of course conceivable that others

Arrangements of the storage conveyor belts 22a, 22b and Auslagerungs- conveyor belts 23a, 23b are realized. For example, the conveyor belts may be arranged on an upper side of the shelf 16. Here, portions of the storage conveyor belts 22a, 22b may be disposed between portions of the outfeed conveyor belts 23a, 23b or vice versa. Of course, an embodiment is conceivable, the only one input handover device 2a, a document identification device 3a, a

Single-document storage device 4, a document bundling device 5a comprises. This may, for example, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, comprise only a conveyor belt 9a. Also, this may comprise, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a storage conveyor belt 22a and an outfeed conveyor belt 23a.

Also conceivable is an embodiment which comprises a plurality of individual document storage devices 4. For example, one embodiment of the device may include a plurality, e.g. in the transport direction of the document identification device 3a, 3b to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b arranged in a row, shelves 16 each having a plurality of retractable and retractable storage compartments 17 include.

The storage compartments 17 can each receiving elements for receiving the

Have individual documents 7 in the standing state.

5 shows a document bundle 12 which can be provided by the single-document bundling devices 5a, 5b. Here it is shown that the

Document bundle 12 comprises a plurality of stacked individual documents 7, which are each rotated by 180 ° to each other stacked. This means that a spine section of the individual document 7 is arranged above a front section of the individual document 7 arranged directly underneath, the front section lying opposite a spine section of the individual document 7

The ready-made stack of documents is provided with two banderoles 24a, 24b, whereby the document bundle 12 is cross-banded. It is further shown that an identification label 25 for identifying the document bundle 12 and individual documents 7 contained therein is mounted on an outer banderole 24b. This allows the subsequent identification of the document bundle 12 and the individual documents 7 arranged therein as well as the determination of the corresponding ones

Document-specific information. FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a single-document bundling device 5a. This comprises an input section 26 for individual documents 7. Furthermore, the single-document bundling device 5a comprises an actuating device 28 with a gripper 27. By means of the actuating device 28, the gripper 27 can be moved in three mutually perpendicular spatial directions. Also, the gripper 27 can be rotated by the actuator 28. It is possible to grasp by means of the actuator 28 and the gripper 27 arranged in the input section 26 individual document 7 and to arrange in an output section 29. In this case, the gripped individual document 7 can be arranged on an individual document 7 already arranged in the output section 29 in order to provide a document bundle 12. By means not shown banding devices, the document stack thus provided can then be banded.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the invention. Here, an individual document 7 (see, for example, Fig. 1) is provided in a first method step S1, for example by an input transfer device 5a, 5b.

In a second method step, document-specific information of the individual document 7 provided is determined. In particular, the previously explained document identity, document order number,

Document delivery address and document shipping time are determined. Not shown is the transport between the corresponding facilities.

In a third method step S3, document-group-specific information is determined as a function of the document-specific information, in particular the number and document identities of all the individual documents 7 with the same document order number.

In a fourth step S4a, the individual document 7 is stored in a single-document storage device 4 (see FIG. 1) if a bundle provisioning time dependent on the document-specific document delivery time is not reached and if one of the earliest dispatch time of all further individual documents 7 is dependent Bundle provisioning time of the document group is not reached and if a current storage period of further individual documents 7 of the document group is shorter than a predetermined maximum storage period. Otherwise, in a fourth Step S4b transports the individual document 7 to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b (see FIG. 1), in particular if the bundle provisioning time dependent on the document dispatch time has been reached or if the bundle dependent on the earliest dispatch time of at least one further individual document 7 of the document group Provisioning time is reached and / or if a current storage period of the individual document 7 or at least one further individual document 7 of the document group is longer than or equal to the maximum storage period.

A stored individual document 7 is also transported to the single-document bundling device 5a, 5b when these conditions occur. This can be done in an intermediate step S4a_2 after the fourth step S4a.

In a fifth method step S5, a plurality of individual documents 7 are bundled into a document bundle 12. In a sixth step S6, the document bundle 12 provided in this way is checked and transported to a shipping storage device 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I Device for sorting book-type value or security documents 2a, 2b Input transfer device

3a, 3b document identification device

4 single-document storage facility

5a, 5b single-document bundling device

6a, 6b bundle testing and transfer device

7 individual document

8 magazine

9a, 9b conveyor belt

10 control and evaluation device

I I storage device

12 bundles of documents

13a, 13b conveyor belt

14 conveyor belt

15 shipping warehouse facility

16 shelf

17 storage compartment

18a, 18b bearing transport device

19a, 19b gripper

20a, 20b storage section

21 a, 21 b Swap section

22a, 22b storage conveyor belt

23a, 23b Outfeed conveyor

24a, 24b band

25 label

26 entry section

27 grippers

28 actuating device

29 output section

51 first step

52 second step

53 third step

S4a fourth step S4b fourth step

S4a_2 intermediate step

55 fifth step

56 sixth step

Claims

claims

1 . Device for sorting book-like value or security documents, wherein the device (1) comprises a document identification device (3a, 3b), a

Single-document storage device (4) and a single-document bundling device (5a, 5b), wherein by means of the document identification device (4) document-specific information of a single document (7) can be determined, wherein by means of the single-document storage device (4) at least one

Individual document (7) can be stored, wherein by means of the single-document bundle device (5a, 5b) depending on the document-specific

Information a document bundle (12) from at least one stored or un-stored individual document (7) can be provided.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the document identification device (3a, 3b) comprises at least one image capture device.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that by means of the document identification device (3a, 3b) as a document-specific

Information a document identity and / or a document order number and / or a document delivery address and / or a document dispatch time can be determined.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that by means of an evaluation device (10) in dependence on the document-specific information at least one

Document group specific information can be determined.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that by means of an evaluation device (10) an earliest

Dispatch time and / or a current storage period of further individual documents (7) from the document group of the individual document (7) can be determined.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the individual document storage device (4) at least one Shelf (16), wherein at least one storage compartment (17) of the shelf (16) is retracted and extended.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the individual-document storage device (4) comprises at least one storage transport device (18a, 18b), wherein an individual document (7) can be transported to a storage position or from the storage position by means of the storage transport device (18a, 18b).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that an individual document (7) can be stored standing in the single-document storage device (4).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the individual-document storage device (4) comprises at least one device for transferring a single document (7) from a horizontal state to a stationary state and / or at least one device for transferring a single document (7) from a stationary state to a horizontal state ,

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the single-document bundling device (5a, 5b) comprises at least one alignment device for aligning the individual documents (7) to be bundled.

1 1. A method for sorting book-type value or security documents, wherein document-specific information of a provided individual document (7) are determined, wherein the individual document (7) in dependence of

document-specific information stored in a single-document storage device (4) or transported to a single-document bundling device (5a, 5b).

12. The method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that as

Document-specific information is a document identity and / or a document order number and / or a document delivery address and / or a Document shipping time is determined.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 12, characterized in that depending on the document-specific information

Document group specific information to be determined.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that an earliest shipping time and / or a current storage period further

Individual documents (7) of the document group of the individual document (7) provided.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 14, characterized in that the individual document (7) in the single-document storage device (4) is stored, if a dependent of the document dispatch time bundle deployment time is not reached and / or if the bundle provisioning time depending on the earliest dispatch time

Individual documents (7) of the document group is not reached and / or if a current storage period of further individual documents (7) of the document group is shorter than a predetermined maximum storage period.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 15, characterized in that the individual document (7) to the single-document bundling device (5a, 5b) is transported, if the dependent on the document dispatch time bundle provisioning time is reached and / or if from the earliest

Dispatch time-dependent bundle provisioning time of at least one further individual document (7) of the document group is reached and / or if a current storage period of the individual document (7) and / or at least one further individual document (7) of the document group is greater than or equal to the maximum storage period.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 16, characterized in that one or more individual documents (7) is bundled to a document bundle (12) / are.

18. The method according to any one of claims 17, characterized in that a plurality of individual documents (7) of a document group to a document bundle (12) are bundled.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the

bundling individual documents (7) in the document bundle (12) are arranged on top of each other, the individual documents (7) are arranged twisted to each other.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that a quality inspection for a document bundle (12) is performed.

21. Method according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the document bundle (12) is transported to a shipping storage facility (15).