FR2688616A1 - DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING PAPER SECURITIES SUCH AS BANKNOTES, AND CORRESPONDING METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for processing valuable documents, especially thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, comprises a container (50) in which a stack of sheets (B) is stored, and extraction means suitable for taking out the sheets, one by one, from the container. The stacked sheets (B) are individually fixed, over at least a part of their surface, to a flexible, self-adhesive and removable plane support (S); the container has an outlet slot (75), accompanied perpendicularly by a recess (90) where the support of a first sheet is accessible for extraction of this sheet. The support is a sheet of paper, of thickness lying between about 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between about 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one face of which is at least partially equipped with a substance endowed with unilateral and reversible self-adhesive properties. Advantageously, the said face is also equipped with a substance endowed with permanent, hot-bonding properties. In a variant, the support is at least partially impregnated with a substance capable of a permanent alteration when hot, for example change of colour, with migration towards the sheet.

Description

Device for the transfer of paper securities such as banknotes

  The invention relates to the transfer of securities, in particular of

  paper securities such as banknotes.

  Current cash dispensers use note cassettes, enclosed inside a cabinet arranged like a safe. To be almost certain to take the notes out one by one from the cassette, it is necessary to resort to fairly complex mechanisms, including the settings

are delicate.

  In addition, special procedures, which need not be emphasized here, are used to transport the cassettes of banknotes to the distributors. As things stand, it is practically impossible

  to ensure the material inviolability of the note cassettes.

  Different difficulties ensue, including a question of attribution.

  increase in responsibilities between the various parties involved, in particular in the event of an anomaly in the number of tickets finally available at the distributor level, compared to what was planned. The present invention seeks to improve techniques

transfer of values.

  A first object of the invention is to simplify the mode of storage of paper values, in particular banknotes, as well as to simplify their unit extraction mechanism. The object of the invention is also to propose different techniques allowing a thorough control of the integrity of the

  bank note deliveries to ATMs.

  The invention applies to different types of thin and in principle fragile sheets. It is particularly advantageous when it comes to paper values, such as banknotes, which are difficult to separate from each other, counting. , and to handle, mainly because of properties

  mechanical highly sensitive to ambient conditions (humidi-

  tee, in particular) To simplify the explanations, we will speak

  tickets in the rest of the description, rather than

  thin sheets or paper stocks.

  The proposed device is of the type comprising a container where a stack of banknotes is stored, and own extraction means

  to take the tickets out, one by one, from the container.

  According to an important characteristic of the invention, the stacked tickets are individually secured, on at least part of their surface, to a flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support. The container offers an exit slot, in principle.

  formed along one of its edges, and cross-matched-

  ment of a recess where the support of a first ticket is

  accessible for the extraction of this post.

  Advantageously, the support is a sheet of paper, thick

  sor between about 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between about 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one side of which is at least partially

  provided with a substance endowed with unilateral self-adhesive properties

rales and reversible.

  This face can also be provided with a substance endowed with definitive hot bonding properties. In case of thermal attack of the container, the stack of banknotes is definitively

  glued en bloc As a variant, the support is at least partial-

  ment impregnated with a substance liable to a definitive hot modification, with migration to the ticket (or the ticket is at least partially impregnated with a substance liable to a final hot modification) The modification is by

  example an irreversible coloring occurring when hot.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear

  will be in the light of the detailed description below and

  annexed drawings in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B show a bank note and a support, respectively, while FIG. 2 illustrates a bank note and support assembly, integral; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the two unassembled shells of a container used according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the two assembled shells of the same container; Figure 5A is a sectional view of means for placing the container in a dispenser; Figure 5B is a top view of a counterweight; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the unlocking means and means for detecting the absence of a ticket; FIG. 7 very schematically represents the principle of the extraction means; and FIGS. 8 as well as 9 A and 9 B represent a mode of

  currently preferred embodiment for these extraction means.

  The accompanying drawings are, for the most part, certain.

  Consequently, they form an integral part of the description and

  can not only be used to complete it, but also

  contribute to the definition of the invention if necessary.

  Figure l A shows a bank note B, in exaggerated thickness.

  FIG. 1B shows a thin support S, also in exaggerated thickness On at least part (SE) of one of its faces, the

  support S is provided with a self-adhesive substance, with removable

  tee, and this substantially without leaving a trace on the receptor to the bonding element (one-sided reversible sticker) This substance is for example that used for self-adhesive butterflies sold under the name POST-IT (registered trademark) by the company 3 M. La Figure 2 shows a ticket B secured on the underside of a

such support.

  Although it is conceivable that the support is smaller than the ticket, the Applicant currently prefers to provide a support of dimensions equal to or even greater than that of the ticket. The glued area SE of the support S is then at least of the order of a quarter. of it in length; it starts from an edge of the support (advantageously, symmetrically with respect to its

  middle), extending at most over the width of the ticket.

  In a particular embodiment, the support is a sheet of paper, of thickness between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between approximately 0.20 and 0.30 mm. These dimensions may however have to be modified in depending on the thickness of the banknotes to be treated, and more generally their mechanical properties The use of other materials,

  synthetic in particular, is possible.

  It is important to choose the material well, in particular at the level of the rigidity obtained after gluing the support on a ticket, and the ability of the support (superior) to slip on

a ticket (lower).

  The general structure of a banknote dispenser is considered to be known. In short, it comprises a cabinet housing a banknote container, hitherto a special metal cassette, housed in a sub-assembly of the cabinet arranged as a safe Electro-mechanical means extract the notes one by one from the cassette, recount them, and route them to an airlock, which is subsequently made accessible to the user Electronic means with processing unit (s), screen and keyboard allow a dialogue with the user to verify his right to withdraw tickets, generally using a bank card reader with magnetic stripe and / or chip

(memory card).

  FIG. 3 represents a container 50, as used according to

  the invention, disassembled Figure 4 shows it assembled.

  The container is of rectangular parallelepiped shape, adapted

  in horizontal cross-section, in the format of the banknotes to be processed.

  It comprises two shells (52; 54) of elongated shape, generally-

  symmetrical They have a rectangular bottom (56; 66), two longitudinal walls (58,60; 68,70) and two end walls (62,64; 71, 73) The edges 58,60,62,64 of the shell 52 are

  conjugated with the edges 68,70,71,73 of the shell 54.

  It is provided a non-removable assembly without breaking the edges of the shell 52 and the edges of the shell 54 For example, the assembly means comprise six tabs 72-1 to 72-6

  protruding and arranged on the walls 58 and 60 longitudina-

  those of the shell 52, as well as, opposite, housings

  forming mortises 74-1 to 74-6, arranged on the longitudi-

  nales 68 and 70 of the shell 54 The protruding ends

  tabs 72 each consist of two semi-finger

  elastic suitable for snapping into mortises 74 Such

  snap-in ensures a non-removable assembly without breakage.

  We prepare a numbered stack of tickets individually secured to their support, on the same side in the stack This stack is placed between the two shells, with the support below for the lower ticket Optionally, a counterweight (described below) is placed at- above the last post Then the

shells are assembled (fig 4).

  From this moment, there is a container, formed by the hermetic assembly, which cannot be dismantled without breakage, of the two shells 52 and 54 By the recess 90, it is possible to access

  to the support S of the lower ticket, in its "sticker" part.

  The assembly of the two shells 52 and 54 defines at one end of the container device, near the edge joining the faces 58, 68 and 64, 73, an outlet slot 80, parallel to this edge This slot can be made adjustable in thickness, using a movable lip (not shown) The dimensions of

  the slot are chosen taking into account the width and thickness

  Sister of the ticket-holder assembly A cover 85 forming a witness

  breakable normally obstructs the transverse outlet slot 75.

  The cover 85 is for example of rectangular shape.

  In practice, the shells 52 and 54 are made of a reinforced plastic material. The tabs 72 are

  made of semi-elastic plastic material.

  For its part, the breakable cover 85 is made of a light plastic material. It is for example heat-sealed with

longitudinal wall 58.

  As described in more detail below, the non-breakable assembly device without breakage as well as the breakable cover will make it possible to verify that the container has not been opened during

  transportation from the place of manufacture to the place of

  and that no ticket has been fraudulently removed from it or

  unfortunately during said transport.

  It follows that the device according to the invention provides secure transport of tickets from the place of manufacture to the place of automatic distribution. Indeed, any break-in leaves traces. It may be advantageous to add one or other of the precautions. following: add to the support a substance endowed with properties of permanent hot bonding (with the self-adhesive substance or next to or on the opposite side); provide a substance liable to a definitive modification when hot, whether apparent or not (coloring for example) This

  can be done by the fact that the support is at least partial-

  impregnated with said substance which is subject to modification

  definitive hot, with migration to the ticket

  generation of the ticket itself is possible as a variant,

  although it poses certain problems.

  In another variant, which can be combined with the previous ones, an indelible ink cartridge is provided at a wall of the container In the event of forcing, and / or on external order (during the transport phase, or in the dispenser) , the cartridge is released, definitively marking the tickets Again, it is not useful to insist here on the particular procedures used for the transport of ticket containers. Inside the side walls 62 and 74 (FIG. 3), there is provided a housing 77 allowing the installation of a mass or a

  spring (not shown) pressing the banknotes down.

  The container can be attached to its support plate using four legs (110-1 to 110-4) in the form of a claw or protruding hooks. The four legs 110 are arranged, for example in the vicinity of the split end of the device

  container, in pairs, on the bottoms 56 and 66 of the shells.

  The protruding end of the legs 110 consists of a hook or claw Positioning tabs 91 and 93

  can be inserted between the pairs of legs 110.

  Figures 5 A, 5 B and 6 illustrate, in a simplified manner, the positioning of the container in the cash dispenser This latter, in principle in its safe part, a support plate shown schematically in 100 The claws of the legs 110 penetrate into openings 112 formed in the support plate 100 to lock on the latter Locking / unlocking of the container on the support plate is advantageously controlled by

  a ticket absence detection system in the container.

  In mechanical production, a removable plate 120 is disposed under the support plate 100 The claws of the legs 110 penetrate into openings 125 in the removable plate 120 This necessitates or forces the breaking of the cover A lever 130 is articulated by two elbows 132 -1 and 132-2 on the plate 100 It is subjected to an elastic return towards the removable plate 120 The lever 130 comprises branches

  134-1 and 134-2 vertical fitted with lateral shoulders, such as 136-

  1, which cooperate with notches, such as 128-1, on the plate

  removable 120, to normally block the latter in translation.

  In the container, a free counterweight 140 (FIG. 5B) is placed above the banknotes. The container being emptied, the notches 136 in the counterweight allow the lever 130 to rise, which releases the removable plate 120 (drawn along the arrow F1). , and therefore authorizes the unlocking of the fixing of the container Otherwise, the container cannot be removed from the plate

  support 100 by breaking the hooks of the claws 110-1 to 110-4.

  This opens a possibility of control, insofar as one

  requires the return of empty containers in good condition.

  As a variant, the detection of the absence of a ticket in the container is electronic. The locked fixing of the container

  can also be done electronically and / or electromechanically

  The distributor can also alert by telephone link.

  than a central site, to tell him that a container is empty.

  Advantageously, the unlocking system described with reference to FIG. 6 is hidden by a protective cover which prevents any unauthorized person from extracting a non-empty container without tearing off the claws 110-1 to 110-4 The removal of the cover from protection requires the use of a mechanical key held

by an authorized agent.

  Figure 7, a vertical section of the container along the axis of symmetry, represents the means of extracting a ticket To clarify the drawing, the interior of the container is simplified to a single ticket with its support (B + S) The mechanisms of Figures and 6 are not shown. The invention allows a considerable simplification of the extraction means Indeed, these can be reduced to a roller G, or better a train of coaxial rollers of aligned peripheries (transversely to the figure) The roller or rollers G are offset on their axis, and / or provided with a non-circular periphery This periphery is flexible, for example made of rubber, or of another material suitable for entraining paper The rollers therefore have a movement other than of revolution, which allows them to come into contact with strong friction on the adhesive part of the support, thereby causing the ticket + support assembly for the

  exit through slot 75 The thickness of the transverse slot

  exit room 75 is set such that it prohibits the simultaneous exit of two ticket-support assemblies It is emphasized that the use of a support of selected geometry and well-known thickness, and of stable mechanical characteristics, makes it possible to control by a simple slot that a ticket and only one is issued Then, the handling of the ticket can be done as in known distributors, with recount However, the improvement according to the invention is likely to avoid the exit of two tickets at once ; so it allows deletion

of the recount.

  A variant will now be described with reference to Figures 8, 9 A and 9 B In this variant, the support plate 100 is internally secured to a frame 140, supporting an electric motor 150, provided with a worm axis 152 On this screw is mounted a carriage 160, whose flanges 164 (on either side of the plane of the figure) form a slide, and provide guiding in translation from left to right and vice versa. The electric motor 150 is controlled to produce a forward movement (to the right), then return (to the left) of this carriage 160 Between the two flanges 164 is mounted a wide cam-roller 170, made of flexible material such as polyurethane The cam is mounted eccentrically on an axis provided with '' a spring which urges it with limited pivoting anticlockwise (third or quarter turn) Advantageously, a flat

  174 (Figure 9 A) is provided for this purpose.

  In FIGS. 8 and 9, only one B + S ticket-support assembly is illustrated. In fact, there is a stack, biased downwards by mass or spring. Preferably, the biasing means is

fitted with an upward non-return valve.

  At the start, the B + S assembly is lightly supported on the cam 170 As soon as the motor 150 starts to bias the carriage to the right, the spring effect of the axis 172 rotates the cam 170, in the direction of the needles of a watch, towards its spokes

  croissants, resulting in a markedly increased friction with the support.

  After having, at the start of its pivoting, slipped on the support S, the cam is locked in rotation when the friction with the support has increased From this moment, the translation of the carriage 160 to the right produces the same translation for the

  cam 170 (locked in pivoting), therefore for the ticket assembly-

  support (which must be glued to the right of cam 170).

  At the end of translation (fig 9 B), the ticket-support assembly has largely advanced The parts forming the die, 182 and 184, are adjusted so that a single ticket-support assembly can exit

at a time.

  In addition, one can provide a lever (not shown) normally closing the outlet of the slot 182,184, and actuated in synchronism with the movement of the carriage 160 so as not to release the

  slot only when the ticket-holder assembly begins to come out.

  An optoelectronic sensor system 190 (FIG. 9B) informs the central processing unit of the correct extraction of the ticket, and of the following conventional operations of an ATM, until the tickets are withdrawn by a transporting carrier. tickets up to the exit airlock where they will be taken by the user As a variant, a more direct exit of the tickets can be provided to the user, in particular for few tickets, since a recount is not imperative The lever shutter

is therefore very useful.

  Of course, the user separates each ticket from its support.

  According to the invention, the transfer of banknotes to

  distributor includes the following steps.

  The beginning is placed in a secure site (for example the monetary issuing institute). A pile of bills is prepared there, preferably arranged by consecutive numbers. Each note has been individually secured, on its underside, of the

  flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support mentioned above.

  As a variant, this preparation takes place in a protected room, placed at the service of one or more banks. The support can then

  receive printed information chosen by the bank.

  The battery is housed between the two shells of the container described

  above, and these two shells are assembled Advantageously-

  ment, there is provision for marking the container by bar code, and / or embedded smart card (with memory), with an identifier of the container, tickets, the recipient distributor, and the transport operator (s), as well as other information such as the date In an interesting variant, the first support at the bottom of the stack, not glued, or stuck on something other than a ticket, ("boot support") carries said information

  marking, by barcode and / or magnetic strip or other.

  The container is transported to a distributor Any thermal attack during transport can be sanctioned by the final sticking of the stack of banknotes, and / or by marking

indelible of these.

  In this dispenser, an authorized operator must: remove (if possible) an empty container, and keep it as proof, maneuver to set up a full container in its place, this maneuver only operating if the full container (50) is integrates at the level of its assembly (72 and 74) and means

forming (85) witness.

  This gives a high degree of security to the transfer of values

  until they are placed in the dispenser.

  The operator, whose role is to set up the container in the dispenser, checks that the assembly and the means forming a witness are still intact and in place. This check enables the operator to determine whether the container device during transport thereof

from the manufacturer to the operator.

  When the container verifies a predetermined condition (non-deterioration of the assembly and of the indicators; control of the bar code and / or of the smart card), the operator knows that the container has not been altered since its stage initial of

preparation.

  The operating operator then performs service operations in the cash dispenser (service card in the memory card reader, service code on the keypad) The central control unit 12 checks its authorization, and authorizes the opening of the cabinet with a mechanical key After a positive check, the operating operator is authorized to replace the empty container device (s) with full container devices. It electronically indicates all information relating to the loaded banknote container. This information can be compared with that of the barcode and chip card of the container In the variant with "boot medium", this is extracted and read by the distributor (failing which the container would not be taken into account) The result can be sent to a monitoring center, to which the ATM is connected. In the case of theft of a fully or partially full container, after its installation in the dispenser, it is possible thanks to the identification data of the batch of tickets according to the security protocol mentioned above to know

tickets so stolen.

  In addition, the thermal attack of the distributor is sanctioned

as for transport.

  Although the invention has been described with particular reference to banknotes, it is understood that it applies to paper values (or as thin plastic sheets),

whatever their nature.

Claims (13)

  1 Device for processing securities, in particular thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, comprising a container (50) where a stack of sheets (B) is stored, and extraction means suitable for removing the sheets , one by one, of the container, characterized in that the stacked sheets (B) are individually integral, on at least part of their surface, with a flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support (S), and by the fact that the container (50) offers an outlet slot (75), perpendicularly matched with a recess (90) where the support of a first sheet is accessible for the extraction of this sheet.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is a sheet of paper, of thickness between approximately 0, 10 and 0.50 mm, preferably between approximately 0.20 and 0.30 mm, one side of which is at least partially provided with a substance endowed with unilateral self-adhesive properties and reversible.   3 Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, character-   laughed in that said face is also provided with a substance   endowed with properties of final hot bonding.   4 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that the sheet is at least partially impregnated with a   substance liable to final modification when hot.   5 Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized   in that the support is at least partially impregnated with a substance capable of definitive modification when hot, with migration to the sheet.   6 Device according to one of claims 4 and 5, character-   laughed at that said substance changes irreversibly from hot color.   7 Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that the outlet slot of the container is of adjustable width.   8 Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that the means of extracting a ticket include at minus a pebble.   9 Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the roller is provided with a flexible peripheral coating, in especially rubber.   Device according to one of claims 8 and 9, character-   laughed in that the periphery of the roller is subject to movement   pivot other than revolution.   11 Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the container comprises two shells (52; 54) of elongated shape, having conjugate edges, on which they are joined by assembly means (72,74) which cannot be dismantled without breakage, one of the ends of the device container offering said outlet slot (75), which, during transport, is obstructed by means (85) forming a breakable indicator, while   that the container (50) cannot be placed in the device   distributor if the container meets a predetermined condition relating to the integrity of said assembly means (72,74) and witness means (85), which allows   give a high degree of security to the delivery of values-   paper from their source to the dispensing device, as well   than placing the container in the dispenser.   12 Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the means forming a witness (85) comprise a breakable cover   made of plastic material.   13 Device according to one of claims 11 and 12, character-   laughed in that the first and second shells (52,54) are   made of reinforced synthetic material.   14 Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized   in that it comprises a support plate (100) capable of substantially vertically supporting the container (50) in which the stack of paper values is stored, substantially vertically,   fixing means (110) suitable for fixing in a lockable manner   lée the split end of the container device on the support plate (100), and breaking means adapted to break the witness means (85) when said split end is fixed on said support plate.   Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it further comprises detection means (140, 130) suitable for indicating the absence of paper values in the container, and means authorizing the unlocking (120) of the fixing means only the absence of paper values in the container. 16 A method of transferring securities, in particular thin sheets of paper such as banknotes, characterized in that it comprises the following steps A) in a secure site, Ai) prepare a counted stack of sheets, individually secured, on at least part of one of their faces, and on the same side, of a flexible, self-adhesive and removable flat support, A 2) housing this stack between the two shells of a container (50) and assembling these two shells to each other according to a non-removable assembly without breakage, defining at one end of the container, an outlet slot, obstructed by   breakable witness means (85), and matched perpendicular   culaire a recess o the support of a first sheet is accessible for the extraction of this sheet, B transport the container to at least one distributor, C to this distributor, Cl remove an empty container, and C 2 maneuver to put in place a full container in its place, this maneuver operating only if the full container (50) satisfies a predetermined condition relating to the integrity of the assembly (72 and 74) and of the means forming (85) witness, this which gives a high degree of security to the transfer   until they are placed in the distributor.