EP1730707B1 - System for processing value documents - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for processing value documents, in particular, for quality control of newly -produced banknotes. The invention is characterised in providing means for subsequent processing of those banknotes, monitored by a monitoring device, which do not meet the stack criteria, in particular, the stack criteria relating to the number and/or serial numbers of the stacked banknotes. Said means can introduce, for example, replacement documents, such as separating cards or replacement notes into the stack of the banknotes for subsequent processing. Said means can either be part of the monitoring device itself, in order to permit an automatic subsequent processing of erroneous banknote stacks, or, for example, also integrated in a separate device in which the banknotes for subsequent processing, stacked and monitored by the monitoring device, are subsequently processed. The subsequent processing is thus preferably automatically supported or carried out fully automatically.

Description

The invention relates to a system for processing value documents, such as banknotes or checks, in particular for the quality control of newly produced banknotes.

In the production of banknotes security paper provided with all security features is printed in a sheet and then cut usually in single use. The freshly finished banknotes thus finished are then checked to ensure that the banknotes meet all the requirements of their condition, e.g. the print has been done in sufficient quality. The successfully verified banknotes are then stacked, banded and packaged in predetermined quantities before being circulated for the first time by the competent central banks.

For this purpose, the freshly printed banknotes are usually stacked in a continuous serial number sequence entered into a Banknotensortiervorrichtung, as for example in the DE 1 0225 705 A1 in which, for example, the printed image of the banknotes examined and the banknotes found to be acceptable issued to 100s packet in the various slots, then banded and several packages assembled and then packaged, as are welded in foil. The unacceptable banknotes, so-called Unfit banknotes, such as banknotes, in which the printed image has errors, are collected separately and destroyed. In addition, so-called reject banknotes can still be sorted out in the banknote sorting apparatus, which can not be suitably assessed, for example because of a multiple deduction from the singler.

In DE 100 30 227 A1 there are described a method and an apparatus for processing sheet material, in particular banknotes, securities and the like. When checking the sheet material for compliance with criteria, at least one group of sheet material fulfilling the criteria is formed, and a group of sheet material which does not fulfill the criteria. The group of leaves that does not meet the criteria is divided into at least two subgroups. This makes it possible to treat the subgroups separately in the post-processing and to the presence of certain problems or errors, eg. As counterfeits, especially to pay attention. As a result, a total of relief in the post-processing is achieved, which reduces the effort.

In DE 100 51 554 A1 For example, a method of filing banknotes that have been authenticated in a banknote cassette is described. Further, this document discloses a corresponding banknote cassette and a cash input device incorporating such a banknote cassette.

In many countries, there is a requirement that the freshly-printed banknotes, upon delivery to the central banks, meet certain criteria on the serial number sequence in the banknote packets. For example, as Stapelkriterium required that all banknotes of a stack of banknotes, which is also called deposit in the following, must be present in gapless serial number sequence or at least the serial number of the top banknote of a packet should begin each with the final digits "01".

However, if certain banknotes have been sorted out in the above-mentioned quality check, certain serial numbers are missing in the deposit, so these banknotes must be manually replaced. This leads to a time-consuming post-processing of the banknote stack.

The object of the present invention is therefore to make it possible to provide value document stacks with predetermined requirements, in particular to the serial number sequence, in an effective manner.

This object is solved by the independent claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments.

Although other value documents such as checks can be processed by means of the system according to the invention, the present invention is particularly suitable and designed especially for the processing of banknotes. Therefore, in the following example, only the processing of banknotes will be discussed.

The invention is thus based on the idea of means for reworking those banknotes or other documents of value examined by a test apparatus provide, which do not meet the predetermined stacking criteria, wherein the stacking criteria in particular the number and / or serial numbers of the stacked banknotes concern. These means may, for example, insert replacement documents, such as separation cards or substitute banknotes, into the stack of banknotes to be reworked. These means can also be either part of the test device itself to allow automatic post-processing of faulty banknote stacks or, for example, also be integrated in a separate device on which the post-processed by the tester checked and stacked banknotes are post-processed. The post-processing is automatically supported or fully automatic with the help of associated devices, so that there is a time and cost savings and in particular to a higher security during post-processing with fewer errors and fraud opportunities due to manual activities.

Figur 1

in schematischer Weise ein System zur Nachbearbeitung von geprüf- ten Banknotenstapeln nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,

Figur 2

in schematischer Weise ein weiteres System zur Nachbearbeitung von geprüften Banknotenstapeln nach einem zweiten Ausführungs- beispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,

Figur 3

in schematischer Weise ein weiteres System zur Nachbearbeitung von geprüften Banknotenstapeln nach einem weiteren Ausfüh- rungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,

Figur 4

in schematischer Weise eine erste erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit Mitteln zur Einfügung von Trennkarte,

Figur 5

in schematischer Weise eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Nachbearbeitung von markierten Banknotenstapeln mit Mitteln zur Einfügung von Ersatzbanknoten,

Figur 6

in schematischer Weise eine zweite erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit Mitteln zur Einfügung von Ersatzbanknoten,

Figur 7

in schematischer Weise eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit Mitteln zur Einfügung von Ersatzdokumenten,

Figur 8

in schematischer Weise eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit integriertem Seriennummer- drucker,

Figur 9

in schematischer Weise eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit mehreren parallelen Serien- nummerdruckern,

Figur 10

in schematischer Weise noch eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Vor- richtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit mehreren Serien- nummerdruckern und

Figur 11

in schematischer Weise noch eine weitere erfindungsgemäße Vor- richtung zur Prüfung von Banknotenstapeln mit mehreren Serien- nummerdruckern.

Further advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

FIG. 1

FIG. 2 schematically shows a system for post-processing of verified bank note stacks according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.

FIG. 2

schematically another system for post-processing of checked banknote stacks according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3

schematically another system for post-processing of checked banknote stacks according to a further embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4

schematically a first apparatus according to the invention for checking bank note stacks with means for insertion of separation card,

FIG. 5

schematically a device according to the invention for post-processing of marked banknote stacks with means for inserting replacement banknotes,

FIG. 6

schematically a second apparatus according to the invention for checking banknote stacks with means for inserting substitute banknotes,

FIG. 7

schematically a further apparatus according to the invention for checking banknote stacks with means for inserting replacement documents,

FIG. 8

FIG. 2 schematically shows a further apparatus according to the invention for checking banknote stacks with integrated serial number printer, FIG.

FIG. 9

FIG. 2 schematically shows a further apparatus according to the invention for checking banknote stacks with a plurality of parallel serial number printers, FIG.

FIG. 10

schematically another device according to the invention for testing banknote stacks with several serial number printers and

FIG. 11

schematically yet another inventive device for testing banknote stacks with multiple serial number printers.

It should be particularly emphasized that the features of the dependent claims and the embodiments mentioned in the description can be used advantageously in combination or also completely or at least partly independently of one another and from the subject matter of the main claims.

Based on FIG. 1 Now, a first embodiment of a system according to the invention for quality inspection and subsequent post-processing of freshly cut banknotes already cut into individual use will be explained. In the context of the present invention, a system is understood to mean both the corresponding devices and the associated methods for using the devices.

In the banknote printing company or in the central bank, the newly produced banknotes BN are reexamined in a banknote validator 1 prior to the first being circulated. In particular, the individual banknotes BN are input in a stacked form and in a continuous serial number sequence into an input compartment 2 of the banknote validator 1. After being separated by a singler 3, the banknotes are checked in a test device 4 for their condition by, for example, an electrical, magnetic or optical test, in particular an optical print image inspection is performed to check, for example, the appropriate position and quality of the printed image of the banknotes BN. Unless it can not be completely ruled out that counterfeits are fraudulently introduced into the freshly printed banknote stacks BN to be checked, the test device 4 in addition also a fastness test be performed.

The banknotes thus checked are then sorted and issued. In the output tray 5 all reject bills are stored, which are e.g. could not be tested because of double deduction. The other output compartments 6 are used to hold the checked and acceptable banknotes BN, the so-called fit banknotes. The tested and e.g. due to deficiencies in the printed image for unacceptable banknotes, the so-called unfit banknotes, are preferably stacked separately from the fit banknotes in another output bin, preferably also separate from the reject banknotes, to subsequently destroy them.

However, it may also be that the Unfit banknotes are stacked together with the Fit banknotes in a common output tray 6. Then, in an EDP-based control device 8, which is either a component of the banknote checking device 1 itself or an external component, data are stored which provide information about which banknotes BN in the associated output compartment 6 by the test device 4 as fit and / or Unfit banknote have been assessed. This can be done, for example, by specifying the position of the respective Fit or Unfit banknotes in the stack, such as an indication that the 5th, 13th and 37 banknote in the stack is an Unfit banknote, or in that, for example, the serial numbers the respective banknotes BN are read in the checking device 4 and in the control device 8, for example, data are generated which indicate or infer which banknotes in the stack are Fit or Unfit banknotes or after which Fit banknote an Unfit banknote is present. In this case, an indication of the serial numbers of the fit banknotes preferably takes place, as there are frequently errors in serial number reading in the case of Unfit banknotes can come. As will be explained in more detail below, the Unfit banknotes in the stack can also be specially marked. For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, therefore, only a single output tray can be present, as far as the data on the categorization of the checked banknotes are otherwise provided.

In addition, in the output compartments 6 either a certain predetermined number of banknotes, e.g. 100 banknotes of the predetermined test category stacked or preferably all those banknotes a predetermined amount in the input tray, of e.g. again 100 banknotes BN, which have been assigned to the respective predetermined category for this stacker (Reject, Unfit, Fit). This may therefore be less than the previously entered number of 100 banknotes if any of the 100 banknotes in the input tray have been sorted into other stackers as Reject or Unfit banknotes. Both cases will be briefly referred to as "Deposit" for simplicity.

The banknotes dispensed into the output bins 5 to 6 are loosely stacked and still unbonded. Those banknote stacks, ie deposits with fit banknotes, which still have to be reworked because of the occurrence of reject and / or unfit banknotes because they do not fulfill predetermined stacking criteria for the deposit, are then manually or automatically removed from the output compartment 6 of the banknote validator 1 taken and post-processing in a separate buffer line, such as transferred to a conveyor belt 9, for example, by entering them in a located on the conveyor belt receptacle 10 for one or more separations from each other separated.

It can be provided that also deposits with exclusively Fit and without Unfit banknotes are also transferred to the assembly line 9 or else processed further by other means. It can also be provided that these non-reworkable deposit be banded directly in the bank note checking device 1 or in a separate unit. The stacking criteria may e.g. indicated that each deposit must always include 100 banknotes in full serial number order.

In order to facilitate subsequent reworking of the deposits in the receiving container 10, e.g. 8 data are generated in the control device, which link the receptacle 10 with the deposits contained therein.

At one of the bank note checking device 1 associated post-processing station 12 then removes an operator transported on the conveyor belt 9 receiving container 10 with the nachzubearbeitenden deposits. Subsequently, according to the specifications of the associated central banks, the banknotes to be discarded are removed by the operator and the necessary substitute banknotes are inserted, e.g. to provide a bundle with a predetermined serial number sequence and a predetermined number of fit banknotes.

In this case, these substitute banknotes can either be banknotes which have predetermined serial numbers reserved for the substitute banknotes, which need not necessarily correspond to the serial numbers of the missing or to be replaced reject or unfit banknotes. These are then preferably available directly at the post-processing station 12 for sorting.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that the banknotes having a desired serial number, corresponding to the serial number of the banknotes to be sorted out of the bundles to be processed or already sorted out in the banknotes checking device 1, are only subsequently reproduced. Preference is given to this unnumbered banknotes that have already been completely prepared to the missing serial number and preferably already visually checked by a person or by machine on quality, subsequently on site with the desired serial numbers of the sorted or sorted banknotes for the moment or subsequently at the post processing 12 to be processed deposit printed by a printing device 14. The reprinted substitute notes are then inserted at postprocessing location 12 in the correct location in the stack.

The data on the banknotes to be post-produced and / or to be sorted and / or sorted are preferably transmitted automatically to the printing device 14 or the post-processing station 12. The data is e.g. transmitted in digital form wirelessly by the controller 8.

Now that the replacement banknotes have been inserted into the reworked Deposits, the bundles are banded in a banding 15 and optionally wrapped several banded bundles, such as shrink-wrapped in film. The banded and packaged bundles can then be placed on the assembly line 9 for further processing. FIG. 1 represents, for example, that the banded banknote bundles 7 are again placed in the receptacle 10 on the conveyor belt for removal.

However, it is also possible that in particular in the case in which the non-reworkable deposits are given unbanded on the assembly line 9, these are later collected banded and / or packaged together with the reworked bundles.

Furthermore, it can also be provided that the banknotes to be reworked are first collected and stored once, before they can be stored at an arbitrary later date, e.g. be post-processed in the aforementioned manner.

It is particularly advantageous in all of the above embodiments, if the banknotes before loosening loose, i. unbanded and unpacked are available and will be banded or packaged after finishing. This allows a particularly effective and less labor intensive post-processing.

As an alternative to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 It can also be provided that there are a plurality of banknote testing devices 1 each having a post-processing station 12 or that there are a plurality of post-processing stations 12 assigned to a single banknote checking device 1, of which in FIG. 2 two examples are shown, which are analogous to the post-processing station 12 of FIG. 1 can be configured. As a result, the throughput rate can be increased significantly in the examination of freshly-printed banknotes, since the usually operated at very high speeds of more than 2000 banknotes per minute banknote testing devices 1 need not be stopped constantly until the associated post-processing is completed.

The substitute banknotes with the desired serial numbers can in this case also be reproduced at a central and multiple postprocessing stations 12 associated printing device 14 based on the data supplied by the controller 8 and then assigned to the corresponding postprocessing stations 12 and / or the respective deposits and delivered.

The sorting out of rejected reject and / or Unfit banknotes and / or the sorting of substitute banknotes can be done not only manually, but also in semi or fully automatic form.

For example, according to the exemplary embodiment FIG. 3 It is possible for a further bank note processing device 20 to be available at the post-processing station 12, which is preferably in communication with the bank note checking device 1, for example via a wired or preferably wireless data line 26.

In particular, at the post-processing station 12, for example, a counter with only one output tray 23 may be provided. In the input tray 21 of this counter, all banknotes of a deposit 11 to be processed are entered by the operator. The banknotes from the input tray 21 are then singulated and transported by a check unit 22 which at least counts the banknotes of the input bundle and subsequently stores them stacked in the output tray 23 again. On the basis of the data transmitted by the banknote checking device 1, associated with the respective deposit, the destacking of the banknotes into the single output tray 23 will be stopped when a banknote to be discarded has just been deposited in the output tray 23 and / or if a substitute banknote to be inserted is inserted last stacked in the output tray 23 Banknote to be launched. After removing, inserting or replacing the respective banknote, the singulation, counting and stacking process, eg, upon a manual input, will be restarted and optionally stopped again later if further banknotes are inserted at other positions of the stack and / or should be replaced.

As mentioned, the counting device 20 is thereby transmitted data indicating and from which it can be concluded, which banknotes and / or at which positions in the stack banknotes should be sorted or sorted out. In the case that a serial number reader is integrated in the counter, this data can be stored e.g. also be data such as the serial numbers of the banknotes to be exchanged or the serial numbers of the banknotes according to which a subsequent banknote is to be exchanged.

The use of the counting device makes it easier to find the points where banknotes are to be inserted and / or sorted out during post-processing and is much less prone to error.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment. The banknote validator 1 according to this embodiment has means for identifying the positions in the stack at which banknotes are to be inserted and / or sorted out during postprocessing. In particular, for example, marking elements such as separation cards TK can be introduced into the bank notes to be reworked. The marking elements preferably have a different strength and / or shape and / or coloring than the banknotes in order to better distinguish them from the banknotes. Thus, the separation cards TK may have extensions that protrude beyond the usual banknote format. This ensures that banknotes bundled with separation cards TK Both mechanically and manually can be recognized immediately as marked.

The banknotes separated into the input compartment 2 and separated by the separator 3 individually pass through the checking device 4. If a banknote was categorized as non-assessable reject banknote by the checking device 4, it is ejected from the banknote stream 13 and placed in an output compartment 5 for rejection. Banknotes filed. In such a case, a divider card TK is introduced synchronously into the resulting gap in the banknote stream via a deflection point 34. This means that every conceivable gap can be closed dynamically, even if several gaps directly follow one another. In this case, then preferably several separation cards are successively introduced, preferably one per missing bill, in the banknote stream.

It is possible that the stacked provided marking elements are only separated and introduced when actually a banknote gap is to fill. In order to be able to inject a marking element at the appropriate position into the banknote stream even at high speeds, a separating card circuit 30 can alternatively also be used, as is shown in FIG FIG. 4 is shown. A sufficiently large amount of separation cards TK will be present in an input tray 31, from which the separation cards TK then separated uninterrupted held by a belt transport system 36 in a synchronous transport cycle and then back again stacked by means of a stacker 37 in the input tray 31 of the singler.

If then a banknote gap is to be filled, a separation card TK is discharged from the separation card cycle by means of a switch 35 and over the deflection point 34 is introduced synchronously into the resulting gap in the banknote stream 13. At the deflection point, a switchable mechanical switch may be present. In order to enable a faster introduction without the need for switchover, a position-fixed, non-switchable deflection can be used, that the separation cards TK deflected at the deflection point 34 in the direction of the connected banknote stream 13.

The thus completed banknote stream of a deposit is then stacked in one of preferably several output compartments 6, which are alternately filled with deposits.

The separation cards TK can also be provided with data on the banknotes to be sorted and / or sorted for processing the bundle, such as, for example, banknotes. labeled with the serial number of the bill to be inserted to facilitate manual insertion. However, the separation cards can also only have an identifier, such as an individual barcode, and the data about the banknotes to be sorted and / or sorted out can then be assigned to the respective barcode in a database.

While it has been described above that for marking banknotes to be exchanged, either marking elements are inserted into the stack and / or data about these banknotes to be exchanged are generated, which are subsequently used for post-processing, the rejected rejects and / or Unfit banknotes can also be marked themselves become. This facilitates automatic or manual recognition of these banknotes during the postprocessing of the respective deposits. For this purpose, for example, a method can be used, as in the WO 01/85457 A1 is described. Preferably, however, markings applied to the banknote paper, for example, by being printed or sprayed with a clearly visible ink, which make up an area of 1 cm ² , particularly preferably 5 cm ^{2, of} the total area of a banknote side. Such obviously visible markings make post-processing even easier.

If the bundles to be reworked are last banded, it is alternatively or additionally also conceivable to label or mark the band of the respective bundle concerned accordingly.

An elementary advantage of the system described is that the normal checking process on the banknote validator 1 is not interrupted and thus has no adverse effect on the throughput.

At a machine-external workstation, the numerically correct gap supplement can be made either mechanically or manually by replacing the separation card TK or marked banknotes with a correspondingly numbered substitute banknote.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a semi-automatic post-processing of marked Deposits using a separate post-processing device 60th

In an input tray 61 of the post-processing device 60, all banknotes of a deposit to be processed are entered, which, for example, by means of the separation card cycle 30 of FIG. 4 have been provided with separation cards. As mentioned, at the positions marked by the separation cards in the stack, either banknotes, in particular immediately after the separation card, are inserted and / or subsequent banknotes are exchanged. After separation by the separator 62 and passage through a test device 63 for detecting the separation cards TK, which can distinguish eg by an optical measurement between banknotes BN and separation cards TK, the separation cards TK are output to the output tray 64.

Replacement banknotes BN to be inserted are provided in a separate compartment 65 and are then introduced into the banknote stream by an unillustrated controller of the post-processing device 60 when a separation card has just been ejected therefrom. The substitute notes BN may in turn be e.g. either completely manufactured banknotes with predetermined serial numbers or serial number-free banknotes, which are completely manufactured up to the attachment of the serial number. In the latter case, the serial number-free substitute banknotes BN are transported after separation by a singler 66 by a printing unit 67 or another numbering device in which or the respective serial number is printed.

The amount of the serial number to be printed in each case can be transmitted to the control device of the post-processing device 60, preferably via a wired or wireless data connection from the banknote sorting device 1, in which the separation cards were inserted into the respective batch of banknotes to be reprocessed. Alternatively, the data on the serial numbers of the banknotes to be inserted can also be entered manually. Further, in the post-processing device 60, a test unit may be present, which data, such as the serial number of the individual banknotes in the deposit or on the separation card existing or associated with this data to determine the serial numbers of the banknotes to be printed. For example, if in an otherwise complete serial number sequence the separation cards are inserted for missing banknotes, the next to be arranged each banknote to be printed with a serial number that is greater by 1 than the serial number of the last recognized banknote before the respective separation card.

Now that the separation cards have been sorted out and associated replacement banknotes have been sorted into the banknote stream, a subsequent further checking device 68 may be provided, e.g. to check whether in the now reworked bank note stream of a deposit actually all serial numbers are available in the specified manner. If this is not the case, e.g. due to printing errors of the printing unit 67, the associated banknotes are output to an output tray 69. However, the acceptable banknotes go into an output tray 70.

If no unacceptable reject and / or unfit banknotes have been issued to the output tray 69 in a deposit, the associated deposit is completely in the compartment 70 and can preferably already there banded and packaged. If, however, unacceptable reject and / or Unfit banknotes have been issued to the reject bin 69, the associated deposit together with the already accepted banknotes of the deposit can be found in the bin 70 and manually reworked in a conventional manner.

Alternatively, irrespective of the test result of the further test device 68, all banknotes of a deposit can be output in one of the compartments 69, 70 and, for example, by an optical and / or acoustic display on the post-processing device 60, eg directly on the respectively affected output compartment 69, 70 of the operator Need to be displayed for further post-processing of the respective deposit.

The checking device 63 of the post-processing device 60 may alternatively or additionally also be designed to recognize marked banknotes, by e.g. recognizes the above-mentioned sprayed marking inks. In that case, these recognized tagged banknotes are sorted out into the output tray 64.

It has been explained above to insert marking elements into the banknote stream or to mark banknotes to be sorted out in order to mark the locations in the stack at which banknotes should be removed and / or sorted during the post-processing. According to a further alternative, the post-processing can also take place directly in the banknote checking device 1 itself.

FIG. 6 shows such an example with a sorting device 1. The banknotes to be tested BN are entered into the input tray 2 of the sorting device 1, by means of the singler 3 occasionally transported by a test device 4, the state, in particular the position and / quality of the printed image of the banknotes BN reviewed. Subsequently, the reject banknotes, which could not be recognized due to multiple prints, for example, in the output tray 5 and the Unfit banknotes, in which, for example, printing errors were detected, output to the output tray 40, which optionally also means for destruction, such as for shredding the Unfit banknotes, a so-called shredder may have.

In contrast to the separation card cycle the FIG. 4 there are now FIG. 6 an analogous cycle of substitute banknotes BN which have already been previously tested for appropriate quality, ie print quality, correct printing, etc., and again in the required by the central bank Way can be introduced via the switches 35 and 34 in the banknote stream 13 to replace the previously discharged reject and / or unfit banknotes of a deposit. This embodiment can be used advantageously in particular if it does not depend on the serial number of the inserted substitute banknotes BN.

Subsequently, all banknotes BN also pass through another checking device 41, which can be constructed in accordance with the first checking device 4 and serves, finally, once again to ensure that the appropriate number of substitute banknotes has been introduced into the transport stream.

The thus completed deposits are then alternately fed to the output bins 6 for further processing, such as e.g. Banding and packaging issued. If it is determined by the checking device 41 that the banknotes BN transported past have an error or can not be recognized, the associated deposit will be specially marked, e.g. also by means of a corresponding warning indicator on the respective output tray 6, so that these erroneous deposits must be manually reworked.

Another idea of the present invention is that, if the post-processing takes place directly in the banknote validator 1 itself, the means for post-processing, such as the means for inserting separation cards, after FIG. 4 or from substitute notes FIG. 6 , are present in a separate module of the banknote validator 1. This has the advantage that even existing modular bank note testers can be retrofitted in a simpler way with this feature.

FIG. 7 shows an associated example of a banknote sorting device 1, which has a plurality of separate modules 45 to 50 in its housing 44. These are exemplarily a separator module 45 with input tray 2 for banknotes BN and separator 3, a test module 46 with test device 4, a reject module 47 with output tray 5, a Unfit module 48 with an output tray 40 and a fit banknote module 50 with an output tray 6. The banknote sorting apparatus 1 is characterized by FIG. 7 now in particular the fact that the fit banknote module 50 is preceded by a further module 49, which has a means 51 for reworking, in particular an input tray 52 with singler 53, to replace banknotes if reject and / or unfit banknotes of a deposit occur and / or insert marker elements in the banknote stream of the deposit.

Since the individual functional components of the banknote sorting device 1 have a modular structure and preferably have normalized transport transfer points in order to be able to transfer banknotes from one to an adjacent module; In particular, the post-processing module 49 can also be retrofitted to an already existing banknote sorting device 1 either by replacing another not necessarily required module or by additionally mounting the module 49 to the appropriate location in the housing.

According to yet another independent idea of the present invention, the serial number printing can also be done only in the test apparatus itself by state-fresh banknotes that have no serial number, state tested and printed only after sorting the Unfit banknotes the given serial numbers on the remaining banknotes with the appropriate quality become. This check of banknotes already before and not only after the serial number printing leads to a significantly reduced serial number printing effort than a usual test, in which only the already completely printed banknotes are checked in a machine.

According to the embodiment according to FIG. 8 banknotes BN, which are already made completely to the missing serial number imprint and already have all other electrical, magnetic and optical security features, entered into the input tray 2 a banknote sorting device 1, separated by the separator 3, by a tester 4 on their quality, such as For example, the quality and location of the printed image checked, the unrecognized Reject banknotes in a tray 5 and the recognized Unfit banknotes in a tray 40 issued.

The remaining Fit banknotes are then provided by serial number printing unit 75 with a serial number. As a printing unit, e.g. either a mechanical printing unit or e.g. Also a laser printing unit are used, which burns the serial numbers in the banknote paper. Thereafter, the banknotes provided with serial number are preferably checked again in another test device 76 in which, in particular, the correct printing of the serial numbers is checked.

Subsequently, the still recognized Unfit banknotes in a compartment 77 and the recognized Fit banknotes collected with appropriate quality according to predetermined test criteria for a deposit in one of the output compartments 78 and 79, respectively. For example, after a predetermined number of banknotes have been stacked into the compartment 78 corresponding to a desired deposit, the subsequent banknotes of a other deposits are stacked in the other compartment 79 in order to have time to remove the deposit in compartment 78 or to be able to transport it automatically. The completed deposits are then banded and packed in the banknote sorting device 1 itself or with an external device.

This embodiment has the advantage that due to the check of the serial number-free banknotes verified deposits can be provided with any serial number sequences in a particularly effective manner, without the need for external reworking for reject / unfit banknotes.

In the event, however, that an uninterrupted serial number sequence of the banknotes of a deposit is desired, but after the serial number printing or by the further test device 76 faulty banknotes BN have been sorted out, so that the respective serial numbers are missing, it is necessary that the corresponding faulty stack in the respective output tray 77, 78 still needs to be reworked.

If there is a sufficient distance between the individual banknotes BN to be checked, it can also be provided that the serial number of a banknotes recognized as defective by the further checking device 76 is then printed on the directly following not yet serial-number-printed banknote. If this is checked by the further test device 76 as not faulty and stacked in the respective output tray 78, 79, it can be avoided that there are still post-processing Banknote endorsements. If this next banknote has also been checked as faulty, then the following banknote is also printed again with the corresponding serial number.

If the distance between the individual banknotes to be checked and printed is not so large that the preceding exemplary embodiment is applicable, it may also be provided that, after a banknote identified as faulty by the further checking device 76, not the immediately next banknote with its serial number is printed, but a consecutive even serial number-free banknote in the banknote stream is printed with the corresponding serial number, is stacked after successful examination again in the respective output tray 78 and 79 and all inter-printed notes are sorted out regardless of the result of the test in a separate compartment. In this way it can also be ensured that there are no banknote end-of-stay items to be processed. The two last-mentioned variants allow them to be used in a positive way even if no check of serial number-free banknotes is carried out in the test apparatus, but only the banknotes printed with the serial number.

Another significant advantage of such devices with integrated post-processing is that the integration of the post-processing in the test apparatus and an unauthorized access to the checked banknotes is prevented. This can in particular be further assisted by the fact that also the banding and / or packing of banknote bundles takes place in the area of the checking device which is protected against external access.

In the embodiment of the FIG. 8 The banknotes are preferably printed at the same speed as they are transported in the transport branches connected thereto. However, if the serial number printer 75 needs more time to move on to the next one To switch over the serial number printing, either several Serierummmerdruckwerke 75 can be provided in succession, for example, alternately print or it can be provided with at least one plurality of transport branches 75 each serial number printing unit 75, as for example in the FIG. 9 is shown.

This embodiment differs from that of the FIG. 8 in particular in that the individual banknotes that have been checked as acceptable by the checking device 4 are alternately deflected into one of three transport branches, each of which has a serial number printing unit 75 and a subsequent output bin 78. As a result, there is a greater distance between the individual banknotes to be printed in the individual branches.

According to the further embodiment according to FIG. 10 can also be provided that in contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 9 not every branch has its own output tray for receiving the printed banknotes, but there is at least one common for several branches output tray 78, in the illustrated case, for example, a compartment 78 for all three transport branches.

While in all three embodiments described above the FIGS. 8 to 10 the transport speed of the separated banknotes in the device 1 is preferably substantially constant, a reduction in the speed of the banknotes before passing through the printing unit 75 can be carried out, in particular in the case of printing units 75 at a lower printing speed. This can be done with a roller transport, for example by driving the transport rollers in the area in front of the printing unit 75 at a reduced speed.

Preferably, however, an embodiment according to FIG. 11 can be realized, in which the banknotes to be printed are alternately transferred into a plurality of transport branches, each having a stacking means, such as a Staplerrad 90 having a Spiralfachstaplerrad 91, a stripper 92 and a storage surface 93 for unstacking the stripped banknotes BN in a conventional manner. By now lying on the shelf 93 banknote BN is again transported by a trigger 94 in a direction T to a subsequent printing unit with subsequent output tray 78, it is possible in a particularly simple manner a controlled reduction of the transport speed of the banknotes BN on the for the printing unit 75 necessary speed to reach.

In order to allow a sufficiently high throughput of the transported at a higher speed to the stacker wheels 90 banknotes BN despite the speed reduction, it can, as in the FIG. 11 is shown, preferably several transport branches with associated means for speed reduction (stacker wheel 90) and subsequent printing unit be present.

In particular, so in the embodiment of the FIG. 11 only every third banknote of the bank note stream of a deposit can be injected into the stacker wheel 90 of each transport branch. As a result, there will be enough time to remove the single banknote resting on the support surface 93. If, however, the removal of the banknotes resting on the depositing surface 93 is not fast enough, so that several banknotes are stored stacked there, the withdrawal device 94 can also have a singler for separating the banknotes BN resting on the depositing surface 94.

Optionally, in these embodiments according to the FIGS. 9 to 11 one after the serial number printing unit 75 further downstream test device for testing at least the serial number printing and optionally a subsequent branch to several output compartments (eg for Fit vs. Unfit banknotes) may be provided.

According to a further idea of the present invention, a spindle counting device can furthermore be used for inserting replacement banknotes or marking elements or for marking banknotes to be exchanged. These are devices in which a banknote bundle is clamped on one side and the banknotes are successively opened one by one to be able to quickly count and / or check the banknotes in the stack, as is the case in the banknote DE 195 40156 A1 the applicant is described.

If, on the basis of a prior check, for example in the spindle counting device itself or in an upstream banknote sorting device, it is already clear at which points in the stack banknotes are to be inserted or exchanged, then, for example, marking elements can be inserted into the opened stack in the correct position or the respective sorted out For example, banknotes can be marked by spraying in order to simplify finding these banknotes in later post-processing. To simplify the automatic and or manual insertion of replacement documents in the stack, according to the description of the counter 20 of the embodiment of the FIG. 3 the unfolding operation of the spindle counter is interrupted when a replacement document is to be inserted and / or a mark is to be attached.

As has already been mentioned several times, in the devices in which banknotes are inserted into a banknote end-of-paper to be processed, preferably also a subsequent check and at least count of the post-processed banknotes to ensure that not too erroneously too many or too few banknotes in a deposit available. Alternatively or additionally, this automatic counting can also take place in an external device and preferably before the banding and packaging with the same. Thus, e.g. provision is made for a device which does not sort the banknotes entered but only counts and then bands and optionally packages the counted banknotes.

Finally, it should be emphasized that the invention is not limited to the testing and affixing of serial numbers, but instead also other individualization data, which distinguish the individual value documents from each other, can be attached or checked. Thus, in an individualizing device, e.g. also an individual barcode on a non-individualized, i. not yet provided with this individualization data banknote printed or individual data in a chip of the banknote are preferably inscribed irreversible.

Claims (30)

1. A system for the quality check of documents of value, such as bank notes (BN) or checks before the first bringing into circulation, comprising a checking apparatus (1) having an input pocket (2) for a stack of documents of value (BN) to be checked, not yet brought into circulation, a checking device (4) for the check and classification of the state of the documents of value inputted in the input pocket, one or a plurality of storage pockets (5, 6) for storing the checked documents of value in a stacked fashion in dependence on the classification determined by the checking device and on predetermined stacking criteria, characterized in
   that the stacking criteria relate to the quantity and/ or individualizing data, in particular a serial number, of the stacked documents of value,
   that devices (12, 20, 60) for the postprocessing of those stacks of documents of value checked by the checking apparatus (1) are provided, which do not meet the predetermined stacking criteria, and
   that the devices (12, 20, 60) for the postprocessing insert replacement documents into the transport stream (13) and/ or the stack of documents of value inputted in the input pocket (2) and checked, and/ or mark checked documents of value in dependence on the classification determined by the checking device (4) and/or on the predetermined stacking criteria, and/or comprise an individualization unit (75) which individualizes non-individualized documents of value, provides documents of value, in particular those free of serial numbers with serial numbers, and/or that the devices (12, 20, 60) for the postprocessing comprise a control device (8) of the checking apparatus (1) which generates data on the position of replacement documents (BN, TK) to be inserted into the stack.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the checking apparatus (1) has a singler (3) for singling the documents of value inputted in the input pocket and producing a transport stream (13) of singled documents of value, and the checking device (4) serves to check and classify the state of the singled documents of value.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are one or a plurality of external postprocessing places (12) associated to the checking apparatus (1) for the postprocessing of those documents of value checked by the checking apparatus that do not meet the predetermined stacking criteria.
4. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stacks of documents of value that do not meet predetermined stacking criteria are transported in an unstrapped and unpackaged state from the checking apparatus (1) to the postprocessing place (12).
5. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the devices (30, 75) for the postprocessing are part of the checking apparatus (1).
6. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, employing the device (30, 75) for the postprocessing, independent of the classification determined by the checking device, a stack of documents of value that meets the predetermined stacking criteria is outputted to the storage pocket (6).
7. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the checking device (4) and the storage pockets (5, 6) the checking apparatus (1) has devices (30) for inserting the replacement documents (TK, BN) into the transport stream (13) of the checked documents of value, the replacement documents being inserted into the transport stream of the checked documents of value in dependence on the classification determined by the checking device and/ or on the predetermined stacking criteria.
8. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the checking device (4) classifies the documents of value according to predetermined checking criteria at least into the categories acceptable and unacceptable documents of value.
9. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the postprocessing place (12) a postprocessing apparatus (20, 60) is used for the automatic postprocessing or automatically supported postprocessing.
10. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the devices for the postprocessing are part of the postprocessing apparatus (20, 60).
11. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the postprocessing apparatus (20, 60) is connected with the checking apparatus (1) per data line.
12. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization unit (75) individualizes the non-individualized documents of value in dependence on the classification determined by the checking device and/or on the stacking criteria, such as e.g. provides them with serial numbers.
13. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the checking device (4) of the checking apparatus (1) checks non-individualized documents of value, such as documents of value not having serial numbers, and the postprocessing device has an individualization unit (75), such as a numbering apparatus (75) for providing the documents of value not having serial numbers with serial numbers.
14. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the documents of value provided with individualizing data by the individualization unit (75) are used for the insertion into the transport stream (13) and/ or the stack of documents of value inputted in the input pocket (2) and checked by the checking apparatus (1).
15. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the checking device (4, 76) of the checking apparatus (1) has categorized a document of value as unacceptable, the individualization unit (75) prints the immediately next document of value, or a document of value following after the immediately next one, with the individualizing data of the document of value categorized as unacceptable.
16. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualization unit (75) is a part of the checking apparatus and/ or of the postprocessing apparatus.
17. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further checking device (76) is downstream of the individualization unit (75).
18. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are a plurality of individualization units (75), the documents of value provided with individualizing data being outputted into a storage pocket (78) associated to the individualization unit.
19. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is at least one storage pocket (78) connected with a plurality of individualization units (75).
20. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that upstream of the individualization unit (75) there is a device (90) for reducing the speed of the non-individualized documents of value.
21. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control device (8) of the checking apparatus (1) which generates data on the position of replacement documents (BN, TK) to be inserted into the stack, when the stack outputted to the storage pocket (6) does not meet the predetermined stacking criteria.
22. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data on the position of replacement documents to be inserted into the stack generated by the control device (8) of the checking apparatus (1) are automatically transmitted to the postprocessing apparatus (20, 60) and/ or are manually entered in the postprocessing apparatus.
23. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement documents are marking elements such as e.g. separator cards (TK) which mark the position of documents of value to be inserted into the stack or to be replaced, and/or the replacement documents are documents of value (BN) which are inserted according to the predetermined stacking criteria into the transport stream of the checked documents of value and/ or the stack of the checked bank notes.
24. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement documents are inserted from a replacement document circuit (30) into the transport stream (13) of the checked documents of value.
25. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the checking apparatus and/or the postprocessing apparatus has a housing (44) with a plurality of separate module slots (45-50) at which are mounted in a replaceable fashion modules of different functions and one of the modules (49) is the device for inserting replacement documents.
26. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the checking apparatus and/or the postprocessing apparatus is an apparatus for singling and/or for separating a stack of documents of value and for subsequently stacking the singled and/or separated stack.
27. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the singling and/or separating and/or stacking process is stopped in dependence on data on the position of replacement documents to be inserted into the stack, in order to insert the replacement documents at the suitable position into the stack.
28. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the postprocessing apparatus (60) has an input pocket (61) for a stack of documents to be checked, the documents to be checked comprising mark-free documents of value and marking elements and/ or marked documents of value, a singler (62) for singling the documents inputted in the input pocket and for producing a transport stream (13) of singled documents, a checking device (63) in order to recognize marking elements and/or marked documents of value, a storage space (64) for separately storing the marking elements and/or marked documents of value, and a device (66) for inserting replacement documents into the transport stream at the positions marked by the marking elements and/or the marked documents of value.
29. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that downstream of the device for the postprocessing there is a strapping unit (15) and/or a packaging unit for strapping and packaging the postprocessed stacks of documents of value.
30. The system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the postprocessing apparatus has a strapping unit and/ or a packaging unit for strapping and packaging the postprocessed stacks of documents of value.

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