GB2524062A

GB2524062A - Document sorting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2524062A
Application number: GB1404491.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Derek Brooks
Original assignee: ICUBED TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Current assignee: ICUBED TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-13
Filing date: 2014-03-13
Publication date: 2015-09-16
Also published as: GB201404491D0; WO2015136305A1

Abstract

A document sorting apparatus 1, suitable for banknotes, which comprises a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part 10 and a plurality of document handling modules 20, 30, 40 each document handling module comprising a stacking area 25 into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part. Each document handling module comprises one or more holding areas 27 into which the documents held in the stacking area or another holding area of the document handling module are moved when the stacking area is either full or completed. As a result, documents can be removed from the holding areas while new documents continue to be stacked up in the stacking areas, meaning that there is no need to pause the operation of the document sorting apparatus while documents are being removed. The document sorting apparatus may also include the ability for each output stacking bin to have its document type dynamically allocated so that each document handling module is capable of handling different document types so it is possible to have fewer document handling modules than document types.

Description

Document Sorting Apparatus

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a document sorting apparatus. Embodiments of the present invention relate to a document sorting apparatus for sorting documents of value, for

example banknotes.

Background to the invention

In a document sorting apparatus, documents of value, for example banknotes, are sorted by their attributes (for example fitness and denomination) into different output bins so that they may be assigned separate final destinations. For example, unfit banknotes may be shredded, fit notes may be re-issued, ATM cassettes may be filled according to denomination. Traditionally, one output stacking bin within the sorting apparatus is assigned to receive banknotes of a certain type and this stacking bin will need to be manually emptied every time it becomes full. This requires the sorting apparatus to pause its operation while the stacking bin is emptied, which slows down the process of sorting the documents.

Alternatively, multiple output stacking bins may be assigned to receive banknotes of the same type; this, however, increases the size and cost of the machine.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to address this problem.

Summary of the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part; wherein each document handling module comprises one or more holding areas into which the documents held in the stacking area or another holding area of the document handling module are moved when the stacking area is either full or completed.

As a result, documents can be removed from the holding areas by the operator while new documents continue to be stacked up in the stacking areas, meaning that there is no need to pause the operation of the document sorting apparatus while documents are being removed.

Preferably, each holding area has an associated display which displays an indication of the type of the documents currently held in that holding area and the number of documents currently held in that holding area. This enables an operator to remove stacks/bundles of documents from the apparatus in full knowledge of the number and type of documents in the bundle, making it much easier to complete customer orders. This is particularly valuable if each document's handling module is dynamically allocated to receiving different documents types at different times (see below), in which case it would be very hard for an operator to be able to retrieve a desired document type from the counting apparatus without a visual indication of what is in each holding station.

Preferably, each display displays an indication of a grouping to which the documents currently held in the holding area belongs. The indication of the grouping may for example be a customer order number. This enables an operator to very easily pick out bundles of documents intended for a particular customer, without needing to determine manually how many/what type of documents are required to be included in the order.

Preferably, when the documents held in the stacking area are moved into a first holding area, the display associated with the first holding area is updated to indicate the type and number of documents which have been moved into the first holding area. Similarly, when the documents within the first holding area are moved into a second holding area, preferably the display associated with the second holding area is updated to indicate the type and number of documents which have been moved into the second holding area.

While the holding areas could be arranged in various configurations, preferably the holding areas are vertically disposed beneath the stacking area and with respect to each other. This results in an apparatus having a relatively small footprint.

The stacking area may be considered to be completed when the stacking area contains the number of documents required to satisfy a user specified order. The user specified order may explicitly indicate a number of documents of a particular type to be counted, in which case the stacking area will be completed once the apparatus has counted (in relation to that particular order) that numbel of documents, irrespective of whether or not the stacking area is full. For example, if a full" stacking area contains 100 documents, and an order is for 237 documents, then after the first 200 documents have been counted a stacking area will be considered completed when it contains 37 documents. It will be appreciated that by this time the earlier 200 documents may be in holding stations (either in the same module or a different module to the current stacking area) or may already have been removed from the sorting apparatus.

The stacking area may also be considered to be completed in response to a user interaction with the document sorting apparatus. This could be a manual override for

example.

Preferably, each stacking area can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and the holding areas and stacking area of a given document handling module are able to hold documents of the same or a different type. In this case, a stacking area may be allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document. Advantageously, by dynamically allocating stacking areas to particular document types, it is possible to have fewer document handling modules than document types. While this may result in some of the documents travelling through the system being temporarily discarded (because at the time they are travelling through the system all of the stacking areas are allocated to other document types and there is nowhere for them to go), these documents can readily be reinserted into the apparatus at a later time.

A stacking area may be available for reallocation when its contents are moved into a holding area.

The detector part may comprise one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and documents determined not to be authentic may be diverted to a discard area. When no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document can be diverted to the discard area.

The detector part may comprise one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and documents detected to be subject to a transport problem may be diverted to a predetermined return area. When no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document can be diverted to the return area.

Preferably, documents stored within at least one of the holding areas of each document handling module can be removed from the document sorting apparatus while the apparatus continues to sort documents into the stacking areas. As a result, it is not necessary to pause operation of the apparatus in order to remove documents from the apparatus.

While embodiments of the present invention may be applicable to various different documents, preferably the documents are notes of value. In this case, a type of document may comprise one or more of the currency, denomination, issue, issuer and condition of the notes of value.

According to another aspect, there is provided a document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type; and moving the documents held in a stacking area of a document handling module into a holding area of the same document handling module when the stacking area is either full or completed.

According to another aspect, there is provided a document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area which can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part.

Advantageously, by dynamically allocating stacking areas to particular document types, it is possible to have fewer document handling modules than document types. While this may result in some of the documents travelling through the system being temporarily discarded (because at the time they are travelling through the system all of the stacking areas are allocated to other document types and there is nowhere for them to go), these documents can readily be reinserted into the apparatus at a later time. It will be appreciated that, while the dynamic allocation technique has a particular synergy with the use of holding areas (preferably with associated displays), dynamic allocation also has substantial benefit when used without these features.

The detector part may comprise one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and documents determined not to be authentic may be diverted to a discard area. When no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type may be diverted to the discard area.

The detector part may comprise one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and documents detected to be subject to a transport problem may be diverted to a predetermined return area. When no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type may be diverted to the return area.

Preferably, a stacking area is allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document.

According to another aspect, there is provided a document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; dynamically allocating a stacking area of a document handling module to received documents of a particular type; and diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type.

Detailed description

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a document sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of document handling modules; Figures 2A and 23 schematically illustrate one of the document handling modules of Figure 1 in front view (Figure 2A) and side view (Figure 2B); Figure 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a main process for controlling the operation of a document handling module of the document sorting apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic flow diagram of a dynamic allocation process for controlling the operation of the document sorting apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a document sorting apparatus 1 is shown to comprise a feeder/detector module 10, a first escrow (document handling) module 20, a second escrow (document handling) module 30, a third escrow (document handling) module 40, and a controller 50 for controlling the operation of the feeder/detector module 10 and each of the escrow modules 20, 30, 40. The feeder/detector module 10 comprises a document feeder/hopper 12 which stores documents 14, and feeds them through a series of document detectors 18, 19 by way of wheels 16 and a belt 17. The document detectors 18, 19 detect certain characteristics of the documents, and use these characteristics to categorise the documents. For example, in the case of a document sorting apparatus for sorting notes of value (e.g. banknotes) the document detectors 18 may comprise a series of detectors which determine the currency, the denomination, the issue, the issuing authority of the banknotes, or their condition (whether the banknote is soiled, holed, has corner folds or tears and so on -these characteristics may be used to categorise the banknote as "fit", "superfit" or "unfit" for example). The document detectors 19 may comprise a series of detectors which identify the facing (the orientation of the banknote within the apparatus), and/or the authenticity (whether or not the banknote is genuine or counterfeit). The document detectors 19 may also comprise a series of detectors which identify transport problems, for example where multiple banknotes are stuck together or fed from the hopper 12 together. Various different types of detectors may be used, for example using magnetic techniques, or optical techniques (such as imaging, IR and lasers). The skilled person is aware of how such detection techniques can be used to categorise banknotes (or other documents) by type, condition and authenticity, and how transport errors can be detected.

The categorisation of documents in this way enables each document to be routed to an appropriate destination. In the case of a document which is categorised as counterfeit, this would typically be diverted to a reject bin 60. In the case of documents which are subject to transport errors, these may be diverted either to the reject bin 60, or (if present) to a return area 70, from which they can be taken and reinserted into the hopper 12, possibly after manual intervention to the document to reduce the likelihood of a further transport problem in relation to that document. In the case of a document which is categorised to be of a particular type, these can be diverted to a particular escrow module where documents of that type are currently being collected. For example, the document sorting apparatus may be used to sort notes according to their denomination. In this case, a note of a given denomination will be diverted to an escrow module currently allocated to handling notes of that denomination. While the escrow modules can be used in an implementation in which each module is statically allocated to receiving a particular type (e.g. denomination) of document, preferably the escrow modules can be dynamically allocated to receive different types of banknotes at different times. Dynamic allocation enables the number of escrow modules to be less than the number of different types of document to be sorted.

The module 20 comprises a diverter 22 which selectively diverts incoming documents into the module 20 when it is determined by the controller 50 that the document is of a type which the module 20 is currently allocated to receive. When the controller 50 determines that the document is not of a type which the module 20 is currently allocated to receive, the document passes by the module 20. The module 30 comprises a diverter 32 which selectively diverts incoming documents into the module 30 when it is determined by the controller 50 that the document is of a type which the module 30 is currently allocated to receive. When the controller 50 determines that the document is not of a type which the module 30 is currently allocated to receive, the document passes by the module 30. The module 40 comprises a diverter42 which selectively diverts incoming documents into the module 40 when it is determined by the controller 50 that the document is of a type which the module 40 is currently allocated to receive. \Mien the controller 50 determines that the document is not of a type which the module 40 is currently allocated to receive, the document passes by the module 40, and is either diverted to the reject bin 60 or the return area 70, depending on implementation.

The module 20 comprises a stacker 24, which catches the documents diverted into the module 20, decelerates them and redirects them onto a pile within an output stacking bin 25. The output stacking bin 25 has an associated display 26 which indicates the type of document currently present in the output stacking bin 25 and a number of documents currently present in the output stacking bin 25. The display 26 also indicates a reference number (for example a customer order number) which provides an indication of, for example, a customer order for which the notes within the output stacking bin are intended. Beneath the output stacking bin 25 there is arranged a set of holding areas 27. Each holding area is arranged to receive documents from the holding area above it (or in the case of the top-most holding area, from the output stacking bin 25) when the output stacking bin 25 is full or completed (and thus needs to be emptied into a holding area). Each holding area 27 has its own associated display 28, which indicates the type of document currently present in the that holding area, and a number of documents currently present in that holding area (and the reference number). It will be appreciated that, as documents move from the output stacking bin 25 into a holding area the information displayed on the display 26 is cleared from the display 26 but then displayed at the display associated with the holding area into which the documents from the output stacking 25 have been moved (i.e. the display information moves downwards with the documents). Similarly, as documents move from a first holding area into a second holding area immediately below the first holding area, the information displayed on the display 28 associated with the first holding area is replaced with information indicative of documents which are being moved into the first holding area, but is effectively moved down with the documents to be reflected in the display associated with the second holding area. The module 30 and the module 40 have an identical structure and function to the module 20, and in the interests of brevity are not described again.

A module can be reallocated to receive a different type of document whenever the output stacking area of that module is full (contains a maximum permitted number of documents), or is completed (for example holds sufficient documents that a particular customer order can be completed -at least in relation to that type of document). As a result, it will be appreciated that the holding areas may each hold documents of either the same or a different type than each other, and of the same or a different type than the output stacking areas. It will further be appreciated that documents of a particular type may be distributed across holding areas and stacking areas of a plurality of modules. While this could be expected to make it very difficult for a user to identify where to find a particular type of note, the use of displays associated with each stacking area and each holding area makes it straightforward for the user to quickly identify from which holding area he needs to retrieve documents of a desired type, and quantity.

It will therefore be appreciated that each output stacking bin has an associated escrow unit containing multiple holding stations. Each of these holding stations may be significantly smaller in size than a traditional output stacking bin (because the output stacking bin must necessarily include a mechanism for decelerating the documents as they are stacked) and therefore it is possible to fit many more presentation stations into the same machine footprint. This is an advantage both in terms of desk space used and for convenience of the operator. Additionally, the invention includes the ability for each output stacking bin to have its document type dynamically allocated while documents are travelling through the machine transport. This allows fewer output stacking bins to be included in the machine build than would theoretically be needed for maximum throughput. This gives the advantages of reducing desk space needed for siting the machine and reducing the cost of the machine. Additionally, as each output stacking bin and holding station has its own independent display, all information about the particular contents may be kept with the documents. This facilitates a configuration of machine that satisfies the requirements of customer order filling. The machine is passed the details of the required mix of documents to fill a customer order and an algorithm that is internal to the machine routes documents to appropriate output stacking bins. Generally for document counting, each output stacking bin is configured so that its maximum contents is set to a convenient, fixed number of documents (often 100). The output stacking bin is said to be full" when this value has been reached. In the case of fulfilling customer orders, the contents of a stacking bin may be classed as complete when the number of documents contained is less than this fixed, convenient number. As groups of documents are passed from an output stacking bin to a holding station, the information pertaining to those documents is passed on to the display that is physically next to (or otherwise associated with) the documents (this information includes, but is not limited to, the document type, the number of documents and the customer order reference). Further movement of the holding station to a new holding station has the document information passed to the new holding station. The operator may remove the documents from single or multiple output stacking bins and holding stations that fulfil a customer order by referencing the information on the display units. This system allows the operator to conveniently prepare and pack customer orders.

Figures 2A and 23 schematically illustrate the structure of one of the escrow modules of Figure 1. In particular, Figure 2A provides a front view of the escrow module 20 of Figure 1, in which the stacker 24, the output stacking bin 25, the display 26, the set of holding areas 27 (in this case labelled 27a for the top holding area through to 27d for the bottom holding area) and the associated displays 28 (in this case labelled 28a through to 28d in correspondence with the holding areas 27a to 27d) are shown. It can be seen from Figure 2A that documents in a particular holding area rest on two fingers 212, 214 (in the interests of clarity only the fingers of the bottom holding area are labelled in the drawings) which are carried on belts 222, 224. To move a stack of documents from a first holding area to a second (lower) holding area, the belts 222, 224 are moved, which carry the fingers 212, 214 down from the first holding area to the second holding area. In Figure 2B, a side view of the arrangement of Figure 2A is provided. From Figure 23 it can be seen that the fingers 212, 214 are provided at equal intervals around the belts 222, 224, which are continuous, and are driven by rollers 230. The fingers 212, 214 are articulated, so that they extend out substantially perpendicular to the belts 222, 224 while they are travelling downwards through the stacking area 25 and the holding areas 27, but relax (droop) into a position closer to the belts 222, 224 while travelling upwards at the other side of the belts 222, 224. In particular, the fingers 212, 214 each comprise two parts connected together by a joint which permits the finger to fold from a linear extended position in one direction only. In other words, gravity (in some implementations complemented with springs attached to the fingers which urge the fingers to their perpendicular position) causes the fingers 212, 214 to be in their linear extended position when they are the stacking area 25 and the holding areas 27, and to fold towards the belt when they are away from these areas. The fingers 212, 214 are also connected to the belts 222, 224 in a manner which permits the fingers 212, 214 to fold away from a perpendicular extended position in one direction only. Again, gravity causes the fingers 212, 214 to project perpendicularly from the belt when they are the stacking area 25 and the holding areas 27, and to fold towards the belt when they are away from these areas.

An enclosure 240 is provided which is open at a front portion to permit documents to be removed from the holding areas 26, but which encloses the top, back and base of the conveyor. The base portion of the enclosure 240 serves to constrain the fingers 212, 214, which start to fold towards the belts 222, 224 when they contact the enclosure 240 once they move below the bottom-most holding area 27d. Together, the articulation of the fingers 212, 214 and the enclosure 240 result in the conveyor system of the fingers 212, 214 and the belts 222, 224 taking up less space. It will be appreciated that, instead of the fingers 212, 214, platforms can be provided. It will also be appreciated that the structure shown in Figures 2A and 2B is merely exemplary, and many other mechanisms can be envisaged which will permit documents collected in a stacking area to be progressively moved through a series of holding areas.

Figure 3 is a schematic flow diagram which illustrates the main document handling process at one of the escrow modules. At a step Al, the module is waiting for a new document to arrive at the stacking bin. When a new document arrives, at a step A2 the document total is updated on the display associated with the stacking bin, and then at a step A3 it is detected whether the stacking bin now contains the selected quantity for triggering the escrow process. The selected quantity may be a fixed "full" quantity, or may be dynamically set according to mode or customer order list. For example, if the full capacity of the stacking bin is 100 documents, then a customer order may require less than this (for example 37 documents) for the order to be met. Once the 37 documents have been counted into the stacking bin, it is then appropriate for those documents to be moved into a holding station, where they can be removed by an operator and collected together with other documents which make up the customer order. The stacking bin is then freed up to receive new documents (of either the same type or a different type, depending on the dynamic allocation process). If at the step A3 it is determined that the stacking bin is neither full nor completed, then the process returns to the step Al. If at the step A3 it is determined that the stacking bin is either full or completed, then at a step A4 it is determined whether the lowest holding station is empty. If the lowest holding station is determined not to be empty, then at a step A5 the module waits for the stacking bin to become empty. This could be achieved by manually emptying the stacking bin so that it can receive further documents by returning to the step Al. Alternatively, the lowest holding station could be emptied, which allows the process to move on to the step A6, where the documents in each of the output stacking bin and any (except the bottom most) of the holding stations are moved down by one station, again resulting in the stacking bin being freed up to receive further documents. At a step A7, all information on the displays is moved down by one station in concert with the documents.

This action moves the information on the stacking bin display down to the top holding station, and moves the information on each holding station display (except the bottom one) down to the next lowest holding station display. It will be appreciated that, if the lowest holding station contains documents then it is not possible for the conveyor system (see Figure 2) to move the contents of the other holding stations downwards until such a time that the documents have been manually removed from the lowest holding station.

Figure 4 is a schematic flow diagram which illustrates a dynamic allocation process.

At a step Bi, the transport of a particular document is started, with that document being fed from the hopper/document feeder 12 at a step B2. At a step B3, the type of the document is detected using the detection system (detectors 18, 19). Ata step B4 itis determined whether a stacking bin is currently available for receiving document of the detected type.

This will be the case if one of the stacking bins already contains documents of that type, and is neither full nor completed. In other words, the step B4 poses the question of whether there is an output stacking bin which is partially filled with documents of that type. If the step B4 determines that a stacking bin is available for (currently allocated to) that type of document, then at a step B5 the document is routed to that stacking bin by activating the diverting mechanism into that bin. It at the step B4 it is determined that there is no stacking bin currently available for (currently allocated to) that type of document, then at a step B6 the document is routed to any empty bin, and that bin is allocated to receive documents of that type. If the step B6 is not possible, because there are no empty bins, then the document will be temporarily discarded, for example into the reject bin 60 or into the return area 70. In effect, the performance cost of utilising dynamic allocation is that some of the documents may not be able to be diverted to an appropriate location within the sorting apparatus at certain times, and may need to be fed through again.

The document sorting apparatus may be connected to an external device via (for example) a WiFi link -to show live running status on, for example, a local tablet. This allows an end user to monitor the progress of the sorting operation and the machine performance without affecting operational throughput. Preferably, all text presented on the display areas of the machine is bit map rendered allowing full flexibility of display definition by the customer -customer simply creates the bit maps he wants to appear on the displays. This gives the customer control over the machine interface to the end customer, and allows better quality local language to be used.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector pad having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector pad; wherein each document handling module comprises one or more holding areas into which the documents held in the stacking area or another holding area of the document handling module are moved when the stacking area is either full or completed.
2. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each holding area has an associated display which displays an indication of the type of the documents currently held in that holding area and the number of documents currently held in that holding area.
3. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each display displays an indication of a grouping to which the documents currently held in the holding area belongs.
4. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the indication of the grouping is a customer order number.
5. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein when the documents held in the stacking area are moved into a first holding area, the display associated with the first holding area is updated to indicate the type and number of documents which have been moved into the first holding area.
6. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the documents within the first holding area are moved into a second holding area, the display associated with the second holding area is updated to indicate the type and number of documents which have been moved into the second holding area.
7. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding areas are vertically disposed beneath the stacking area and with respect to each other.
8. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking area is completed when it contains a number of documents required to satisfy a user specified order.
9. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking area is completed in response to a user interaction with the document sorting apparatus.
10. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein each stacking area can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and wherein the holding areas and stacking area of a given document handling module are able to hold documents of the same or a different type.
11. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a stacking area is allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document.
12. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a stacking area is available for reallocation when its contents are moved into a holding area.
13. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and wherein documents determined not to be authentic are diverted to a discard area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document is diverted to the discard area.
14. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and wherein documents detected to be subject to a transport problem are diverted to a predetermined return area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document is diverted to the return area.
15. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein documents stored within at least one of the holding areas of each document handling module can be removed from the document sorting apparatus while the apparatus continues to sort documents into the stacking areas.
16. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the documents are notes of value.
17. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a type of document comprises one or more of the currency, denomination, issue, issuer and condition of the notes of value.
18. A document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type; and moving the documents held in a stacking area of a document handling module into a holding area of the same document handling module when the stacking area is either full or completed.
19. A document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area which can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part.
20. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and wherein documents determined not to be authentic are diverted to a discard area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type is diverted to the discard area.
21. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and wherein documents detected to be subject to a transport problem are diverted to a predetermined return area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type is diverted to the return area.
22. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein a stacking area is allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document.
23. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the documents are notes of value.
24. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a type of document comprises one or more of the currency, denomination, issue, issuer and condition of the notes of value.
25. A document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; dynamically allocating a stacking area of a document handling module to received documents of a particular type; and diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type.
26. A document sorting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
27. A document sorting method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows:CLAIMS1. A document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part; wherein each document handling module comprises one or more holding areas into which the documents held in the stacking area or another holding area of the document handling module are moved when the stacking area is either full or completed; and wherein documents stored within at least one of the holding areas of each document handling module can be removed from the document sorting apparatus while the apparatus continues to sort documents into the stacking areas.2. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each holding area has an -15 associated display which displays an indication of the type of the documents currently held in that holding area and/or the number of documents currently held in that holding area. r3. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each display displays an tiC) indication of a grouping to which the documents currently held in the holding area belongs.4. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the indication of the grouping is a customer order number.5. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein when the documents held in the stacking area are moved into a first holding area, the display associated with the first holding area is updated to indicate the type and/or number of documents which have been moved into the first holding area.6. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the documents within the first holding area are moved into a second holding area, the display associated with the second holding area is updated to indicate the type and/or number of documents which have been moved into the second holding area.7. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding areas are vertically disposed beneath the stacking area and with respect to each other.8. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking area is completed when it contains a number of documents required to satisfy a user specified order.9. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the stacking area is completed in response to a user interaction with the document sorting apparatus.10. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein each stacking area can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and wherein the holding areas and stacking area of a given document handling module are able to hold documents of the same or a different type.11. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a stacking area is allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document.12. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a stacking area is available for reallocation when its contents are moved into a holding area. r13. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector LCD part comprises one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and o wherein documents determined not to be authentic are diverted to a discard area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document is diverted to the discard area.14. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and wherein documents detected to be subject to a transport problem are diverted to a predetermined return area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then that document is diverted to the return area.15. A document sorting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the documents are notes of value.16. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a type of document comprises one or more of the currency, denomination, issue, issuer and condition of the notes of value.17. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each holding area has an associated display which provides a visual indication of what is currently held in that holding area.18. A document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type; and moving the documents held in a stacking area of a document handling module into a holding area of the same document handling module when the stacking area is either full or completed; wherein documents stored within at least one of the holding areas of each document handling module can be removed from the document handling module while documents are sorted into the stacking areas.19. A document sorting apparatus, comprising: a detector part having one or more detectors for determining a type of a document received at the detector part; tX) a plurality of document handling modules, each document handling module comprising a stacking area which can be dynamically allocated for receiving documents of a particular type, and into which documents are diverted in dependence on their type as determined by the detector part.20. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for determining the authenticity of the document, and wherein documents determined not to be authentic are diverted to a discard area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type is diverted to the discard area.21. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the detector part comprises one or more detectors for detecting document transport problems, and wherein documents detected to be subject to a transport problem are diverted to a predetermined return area, and wherein when no document handling module is available to receive a document of a particular type, then a document of that particular type is diverted to the return area.22. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein a stacking area is allocated for receiving a particular type of document when a document of the particular type is detected by the detector part, and no other stacking area is both currently allocated to the particular type of document and has remaining capacity to receive the document.23. A document sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the documents are notes of value.24. A document sorting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a type of document comprises one or more of the currency, denomination, issue, issuer and condition of the notes of value.25. A document sorting method, comprising the steps of: determining a type of a received document; dynamically allocating a stacking area of a document handling module to received documents of a particular type; and diverting received documents into a stacking area of a document handling module in dependence on their determined type. rLCD 26. A document sorting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.27. A document sorting method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.