Alignment station for aligning stacks of value documents

Abstract

The invention relates to an alignment station (2) for aligning value documents (21) in a value document stack (14), to a device (1) comprising the alignment station (2) for aligning value document stacks (14), and to a method for aligning value document stacks (14). The alignment station (2) comprises: a base plate (3) for placing a value document stack (14) containing sheet-like value documents (21) in such a way that the value documents (21) are placed on the base plate (3) with a first edge (15); two side walls (4, 4Z) opposite each other; a transverse wall (5) which extends perpendicularly to the base plate (3) in such a way that the transverse wall (5) faces a second edge (16) of the value document (21), the first edge (15) and the second edge (16) being perpendicular to each other; a transverse side (6) opposite the transverse wall (5), which extends parallel to the transverse wall (5) and is at least partially open; and an open upper side (13) opposite the base plate (3), the upper side (13) and the transverse side (6) being configured to be open in such a way that the stack of value documents (14) can be selectively gripped through the transverse side (6) or the upper side (13) of the alignment station by means of a gripper.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an alignment station for aligning a stack of value documents, a device for aligning a stack of value documents comprising an alignment station and a method for aligning a stack of value documents. BACKGROUND

[0002] After the value documents of the stack of value documents to be aligned have been checked by the value document processing device, the corresponding stack of value documents is removed from the output tray of the value document processing device by means of a feed gripper. Subsequently, the feed gripper places the stack of value documents into the alignment station in order to be able to align the value document edges to each other there. The value document edges are aligned in order to achieve an improved stack quality for further processing of the stack, for example when subsequently being bundled or when subsequently being placed into a value document container, from which the stack of value documents is removed and separated again automatically if necessary.

[0003] The value documents in the stack of value documents can be banknotes or value securities, for example.

[0004] In a known alignment station having a base plate and four side walls and being open on its upper side, the stack of value documents to be aligned can be placed into the alignment station from above by means of a feed gripper. Subsequently, in order to align the stack of value documents, two movable walls opposite to each other can be moved simultaneously once or several times towards the placed stack of value documents in order to align the positions of the lateral edges of the value documents of the stack of value documents to each other. Thereafter, the aligned stack of value documents can be removed again upwards by means of a removal gripper and further transported to the next station.

[0005] A problem of the known alignment station is that the removal of the stack of value documents to be aligned and the feed of another stack of value documents to be aligned must be carried out at a sufficient time interval. Because only when the removal gripper moves away with the removed stack, the feed gripper can start to transport the following stack of value documents to the alignment station. SUMMARY

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an improved alignment station to enable a higher throughput of aligning a plurality of stacks of value documents in the alignment station one after the other.

[0007] The above mentioned technical problems are solved by the alignment station for aligning a stack of value documents according to the independent claim, the device for aligning a stack of value documents comprising an alignment station and the method for aligning a stack of value documents. Extensive and design features are given in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present application, an alignment station for aligning sheet-like value documents in a value document stack is provided. These sheet-like value documents can be banknotes, for example.

[0009] The alignment station comprises a base plate for placing a value document stack containing sheet-like value documents in such a way that the value documents lie on the base plate with a first edge. A single value document has a rectangular upper and lower surface and four edges, wherein two of these edges (longitudinal edges) are longer than the other two edges (transversal edges). A plurality of value documents is stacked in such a way that the upper / lower surface of a value document is in contact with the lower / upper surface of an adjacent value document. In this context, an edge does not mean a line, but a thin side of a value document. The first edge of a value document mentioned before can be a longitudinal edge.

[0010] Furthermore, the alignment station comprises two side walls opposite to each other, which extend perpendicularly to the base plate in such a way that the side walls face the surfaces of the value documents of the value document stack placed on the base plate. Thus, the two side walls face the upper and lower surfaces of two value documents on the outside of the value document stack.

[0011] Furthermore, the alignment station comprises a transversal wall, which likewise extends perpendicularly to the base plate and also perpendicularly to the side walls in such a way that the transversal wall faces a second edge of the value documents (different from the first edge), wherein the first and second edges are perpendicular to each other. The second edge can be a transversal edge of the value documents.

[0012] Furthermore, the alignment station comprises a transversal side opposite to the transversal wall, which extends parallel to the transversal wall and is at least partially open. Thus, the transversal side likewise extends not only perpendicularly to the side walls, but also perpendicularly to the base plate. The transversal side is partially open, i.e. has a wall or a low wall (in particular lower than the transversal wall) comprising at least one opening, or is completely open, i.e. has no wall.

[0013] Furthermore, the alignment station comprises an open upper side opposite to the base plate. The upper side is not only perpendicular to the side walls, but also perpendicular to the transversal wall. The receiving space of the alignment station for placing and aligning the value document stack is equipped with the upper side, the base plate, the side walls, the transversal wall and the transversal side.

[0014] In this application, the description of "perpendicular" also includes angles which are not exactly 90°, but approximately 90°.

[0015] The value document stack is fed to the alignment station by a feeding gripper and, after being aligned in the alignment station, is taken out of the alignment station by a taking-out gripper. The taking-out gripper and the feeding gripper can have different configurations, but can also have the same structure, if necessary.

[0016] The upper side and the lateral side of the alignment station are configured to be open in such a way that a stack of value documents located in the alignment station can be grasped by a gripper, in particular by a feed gripper or by a take-out gripper, through the lateral side or the upper side of the alignment station, respectively, from outside the alignment station. Here, the gripping fingers of the gripper, in particular of the feed gripper or of the take-out gripper, grasp from outside the alignment station into the alignment station to grasp the stack of value documents located in the alignment station. In the case of a grasp through the lateral side and in the case of a grasp through the upper side, the gripper, or rather the feed gripper and the take-out gripper, preferably grasp the stack of value documents via different edges of the value documents.

[0017] The gripper, for example the take-out gripper and / or the feed gripper, has two gripping elements which are movable relative to one another, the gripping elements each having one or more gripping fingers. A stack of value documents located between the gripping fingers of the two gripping elements can be clamped, and thus grasped, by the opposing gripping fingers.

[0018] In particular, the upper side and the lateral side of the alignment station are configured to be open in such a way that a stack of value documents located in the alignment station can be grasped by a gripper, in particular by a feed gripper or by a take-out gripper, through the lateral side or the upper side of the alignment station, respectively, from outside the alignment station.

[0019] - a stack of value documents can be fed to the alignment station by a feed gripper which is positioned substantially outside the alignment station, the feed gripper grasping the stack of value documents through the lateral side / upper side of the alignment station at the point in time at which the stack of value documents is released, and

[0020] - a stack of value documents can be removed from the alignment station by a take-out gripper which is positioned substantially outside the alignment station, the take-out gripper grasping the stack of value documents through the upper side / lateral side of the alignment station, i.e. through the respective side of the alignment station which is different from the side through which the feed gripper grasps, at the point in time at which the stack of value documents is grasped.

[0021] By means of the alignment station according to the application, it is possible to operate the alignment station from both sides by means of two grippers: from the open upper side and from the at least partially open lateral side. As a result, a feed gripper which feeds a stack of value documents to be aligned next to the alignment station can approach from a side of the alignment station which is different from the side from which a take-out gripper removes a previously aligned stack of value documents from the alignment station. This has the advantage that the feed gripper, when it moves towards the alignment station, and the take-out gripper, when it moves away from the alignment station, do not impede one another, that is to say, the two grippers do not block one another.

[0022] In particular, by means of the alignment station according to the application, it is made possible for the feeding gripper to already approach the alignment station during the removal of the removed stack of value documents away from the alignment station after the removal of the stack of value documents from the alignment station, so that the feeding gripper can already be able to feed the next stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station. Thus, it is not necessary to wait until the end of the removal process (until the removal gripper is far enough away from the alignment station), but the feeding gripper can already begin to approach during the removal process, or even already begin to place the next stack of value documents. Although two grippers are used for feeding and removing the stacks of value documents, the time interval between the two processes can be significantly reduced, thus increasing the throughput of the alignment station.

[0023] The alignment of the stack of value documents in the alignment station can be achieved by the design of the alignment station, for example by the inclination of its floor, and / or by a movable side wall, and / or by at least one device for generating an air flow present on the alignment station, and / or by a vibration device.

[0024] To this end, the floor of the alignment station is preferably configured to be inclined in the direction of the lateral wall or lateral side, i.e. the lateral wall is lower than the lateral side, or the other lateral wall of the lateral side is lower than the lateral wall. That is to say, the floor of the alignment station is configured to be inclined in such a way that a ramp driving force acts on the stack of value documents placed on the floor, which ramp driving force pulls the value documents perpendicularly to their lateral edges or along their longitudinal edges in the direction of the lower lateral wall or in the direction of the lower other lateral wall and causes the stack of value documents to move in this direction, or can cause the stack of value documents to move in this direction in combination with other measures, for example vibration and / or air flow.

[0025] The floor of the alignment station is configured to be inclined in the direction of the lateral wall or lateral side, preferably in such a way that the angle between the floor of the alignment station and the horizontal plane is greater than 0° but less than 30°, particularly preferably less than 25°. Thereby it is achieved that the stack of value documents carries its main part of weight on the longitudinal edges of the value documents and only a smaller part of its weight on the lateral edges of the value documents. Because it has been found that in the case of heavily used (for example soft) value documents, such a stack of value documents cannot be stably held upright on the lateral edges at a larger angle to the horizontal, but can (at a fold which usually extends parallel to the lateral edges) be bent, i.e. the stack of value documents can lose its flat stack shape. This bent stack of value documents can then no longer be automatically aligned and gripped. By means of the moderate inclination of less than 30° or less than 25°, it is therefore ensured that the alignment in the alignment station proceeds normally even in the case of heavily used value documents, and that the aligned stack of value documents can subsequently be automatically gripped.

[0026] In one embodiment, the lateral side is configured to be completely open and the floor is configured to be inclined so as to enable the movement of the stack of value documents in the direction of the lateral wall due to its gravity or the stack of value documents to slide in the direction of the lateral wall due to its gravity. To this end, the floor is configured to be inclined in the direction of the lateral wall. The inclined posture of the floor ensures that the stack of value documents moves in the direction of the lateral wall due to its gravity so as to align the value document edges at the lateral wall.

[0027] In another embodiment, the lateral side is configured to be only partially open and the floor is configured to be inclined so as to enable the movement of the stack of value documents in the direction of the lateral side due to its gravity or the stack of value documents to slide in the direction of the lateral side due to its gravity. A further (lower) lateral wall is provided at the lateral side, which can hold the stack of value documents. To this end, the floor is configured to be inclined in the direction of the lateral side or in the direction of the further lateral wall. By means of the inclined posture of the floor, the stack of value documents is caused to move in the direction of the further lateral wall due to its gravity so as to align the value document edges at the further lateral wall.

[0028] In some embodiments, as an addition or alternative to the above-mentioned inclined posture, the floor is configured to be inclined in such a way that one lateral wall is lower than the other lateral wall. That is, the floor is configured to be inclined in the direction of one lateral wall, so that one lateral wall is lower than the other lateral wall. Thereby, upon alignment, the stack of value documents is pressed against the lower lateral wall and thereby slightly compressed (especially in case of an inflated stack of value documents). This makes it easier to automatically take out the stack of value documents by means of the gripper.

[0029] However, the floor can also be configured to be horizontal, wherein the lateral side can be completely open or can be only partially open.

[0030] In one embodiment, the lateral side is only partially open and comprises the above-mentioned further lateral wall at the lateral side, and the alignment station is configured to press the stack of value documents against the further lateral wall with respect to the lateral side, for example by means of the lateral wall, and / or vice versa, by means of the further lateral wall. Thus, the lateral wall and / or the further lateral wall exerts a force on the stack of value documents, for example on the lateral edges of the value documents, in order to press the stack of value documents against the opposite further lateral wall on the lateral side or against the opposite lateral wall. To this end, the lateral wall and / or the further lateral wall are configured to be movable along the floor in a direction parallel to the lateral walls.

[0031] Preferably the height of the further transversal wall is less than 4 cm, so that only the lower part of the transversal edge of the valuable document remains retained, while the upper part of the transversal edge of the valuable document remains accessible for grasping by a retrieval gripper or a feeding gripper.

[0032] The alignment station can also have at least one device for moving a valuable document stack placed on the base plate along the base plate, which device exerts a force on the placed valuable document stack to move the valuable document stack along the base plate. Here, the valuable document stack can be moved along the base plate in a direction parallel to the side walls or along the base plate in a direction parallel to the transversal wall.

[0033] Preferably the alignment station comprises at least one device for generating an air flow directed from outside the alignment station into the alignment station and / or a device for generating vibrations of the alignment station, in particular of the base plate of the alignment station, which air flow and vibrations act on the valuable document stack in order to align the valuable document stack or to assist the alignment of the valuable document stack in the alignment station, in particular to assist the movement of the valuable document stack due to gravity towards the further transversal wall or towards the transversal wall.

[0034] The device for generating an air flow can direct the air flow through the gap in the base plate from above or from below into the alignment station towards the valuable document stack placed on the base plate, for example in order to loosen the valuable document stack and thus to assist the alignment.

[0035] Preferably the alignment station is provided with a sensor, for example an optical raster, which is configured to detect the presence of a valuable document stack in the alignment station and to send a signal to the device for generating an air flow when a valuable document stack is present in the alignment station, which signal causes the device for generating an air flow to temporarily open the air flow. For example, the device for generating an air flow is configured to close the air flow opened due to the sensor signal again after a certain period of time, preferably before the valuable document stack is retrieved.

[0036] Preferably the device for generating an air flow directs the air flow from above or from below along the surface of the valuable documents towards the valuable document stack placed on the base plate.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, there can be a device for generating an air flow which directs the air flow from the side into the alignment station towards the valuable document stack, in particular towards the surface of the valuable documents, i.e. the upper surface or the lower surface, in order to move the valuable document stack along the base plate in a direction parallel to the transversal wall. For this purpose, the first one of the side walls can have at least one opening or be configured to be shorter than the other side wall, so that the device can direct the air flow from outside the alignment station through the opening or past the first side wall into the alignment station towards the valuable document stack placed on the base plate. Here, the first side wall is preferably also shorter than the valuable document stack to be aligned in the alignment station, while the other side wall is longer than the valuable document stack to be aligned in the alignment station.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, the alignment can be assisted by a vibration of the bottom plate of the alignment station, for example in the case of an inclined posture of the bottom plate, by means of the force of gravity.

[0039] The alignment station has a receiving space in which the alignment station receives the stack of value documents to be aligned for aligning the stack of value documents.

[0040] In some embodiments, the alignment station further comprises at least one horn element which is connected to the upper end of the side wall and / or the transverse wall, if necessary with a small distance to the side wall / transverse wall. The at least one horn element is oriented outwardly with respect to the receiving space, at an angle, for example between 20° and 70°, to the respective side wall or transverse wall, and extends in the direction of the receiving space or in the direction away from the bottom plate, in order to expand the receiving area of the alignment station. The horn element makes it easier to introduce the stack of value documents to be aligned, in particular when the outermost value documents protrude from the stack.

[0041] Preferably, the alignment station comprises at least two horn elements of the horn elements, which are respectively connected to one of the side walls, if necessary with a small distance to the side wall. The two horn elements are opposite each other. This offers the advantage that, when the stack of value documents is placed in from above by means of the feed gripper, the value documents located at the end of the stack of value documents, which protrude from the stack of value documents to be placed in, are guided in on both sides by the horn elements into the alignment station.

[0042] In some embodiments, there is a distance between the horn element and the side wall or transverse wall to which it is connected. The horn element can be connected to the side wall or transverse wall at at least one location and be spaced apart from the side wall or transverse wall at the remaining locations. Preferably, however, the horn element is fully connected to the side wall or transverse wall. That is, the horn element is connected to the side wall or transverse wall at every location.

[0043] In some embodiments, the bottom plate has at least one gap which extends transversely, for example perpendicularly, to the side wall. The gap is arranged in the bottom plate such that the air flow from the above-mentioned device for generating an air flow, from below or from above, can pass through the gap in order to loosen it. Here, the air flow acts on the edges of the value documents, which lie on the bottom plate with these edges, and flows upwards or downwards along the upper and lower surfaces of the value documents. Thereby, the value documents are loosened so that the adjacent surfaces of the value documents can move better relative to each other. In this way, the value documents can be better aligned at their edges, for example at the lateral edges. The bottom plate preferably has a plurality of such gaps.

[0044] The device preferably used for generating the gas flow is arranged below the alignment station and is configured for directing the gas flow through the gaps from below onto the stack of value documents placed on the floor in order to assist in its alignment. Thereby, the space above the alignment station is reserved for the movement of the feed gripper and the removal gripper.

[0045] The gaps are preferably slits extending transversely, for example perpendicularly, to the side walls. On the one hand, the gas flow acts on the stack of value documents through the slits, on the other hand, the transverse or perpendicular orientation of the slits prevents the value documents from falling. Alternatively, the floor can also have a grid, the interspaces of which form the gaps through which the gas flow passes.

[0046] In some embodiments, a first one of the side walls has at least one opening or is configured to be shorter than the other, second, side wall. The gas flow can be passed through the opening(s) or past the first side wall from outside the alignment station into the alignment station directed at the stack of value documents, i.e. at the upper and lower surfaces of the value documents, which press the stack of value documents against the other, second, side wall. Thereby, the stack is (at least locally) compressed. Thereby, the stack of value documents located in the alignment station can be more reliably grasped by the removal gripper in order to remove it from the alignment station.

[0047] The two opposite side walls can be configured to be rake-shaped, respectively having a plurality of mutually parallel and directed perpendicularly to the floor openings configured such that at least one grasping finger of the removal gripper can pass from the outside through the openings in order to grasp and remove the stack of value documents located in the alignment station.

[0048] In some embodiments, the side walls have a meander-shaped cross-sectional profile such that at least one grasping finger of the removal gripper or of the feed gripper can enter the side walls, the removal gripper or the feed gripper approaching the stack of value documents from above, i.e. the removal gripper or the feed gripper introducing the stack of value documents into the alignment station from above or removing the stack of value documents from the alignment station from above. To this end, at least one of the side walls has a meander-shaped cross-sectional profile corresponding to the shape of the grasping finger of the removal gripper or of the feed gripper. Preferably, both side walls have such a meander-shaped cross-sectional profile in order to enable both grasping elements of the gripper to enter the respective side wall.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the position of at least one side wall of the alignment station is adjustable in such a way that the distance between the two side walls can be changed automatically.

[0050] According to another aspect of the application, a device for aligning a stack of value documents is provided. The device comprises the above-described alignment station, a feed gripper which feeds a stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station, and a take-out gripper (in addition to the feed gripper) which takes out an aligned stack of value documents from the alignment station, and at least one control device which is configured for controlling the feed gripper and the take-out gripper such that the feed gripper feeds a stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station and the take-out gripper takes out an aligned stack of value documents from the alignment station after the stack of value documents has been aligned in the alignment station.

[0051] Furthermore, the control device can also control the devices for performing the stack alignment, for example control the movement of the lateral walls in the direction of the other lateral wall, if present, which is performed for the stack alignment, and / or control the devices for generating an air flow and / or the devices for generating vibrations.

[0052] The device can also have at least one sensor (for example a light barrier) which detects the presence of a stack of value documents to be aligned in the alignment station and, if necessary, the position or the length of the stack of value documents to be aligned in the alignment station. The control device then controls the above-mentioned devices, if necessary, in dependence on the presence and / or the position of the stack of value documents. For example, the alignment is only performed if a stack of value documents is present and is ended in the case of a change in the position or the length of the stack of value documents or in the case of a position or a length of the stack of value documents which corresponds to the alignment.

[0053] In order to also be able to reliably automatically take out stacks of value documents having a small thickness from the alignment station, the device can be configured for performing an automatic change in the distance between the lateral walls of the alignment station. Here, the distance of the two lateral walls is reduced before the respective stack of value documents is taken out of the alignment station. To this end, the control device can be configured for

[0054] controlling the alignment station such that the distance between the lateral walls is automatically reduced from an initial distance of the two lateral walls which the two lateral walls have relative to one another when the respective stack of value documents is placed in, after the respective stack of value documents has been placed in the alignment station (for example by means of an actuator of the alignment station which can move the respective lateral wall), to a target distance which is smaller than the initial distance, and

[0055] controlling the take-out gripper such that the take-out gripper automatically takes out the stack of value documents contained in the alignment station from the alignment station when the two lateral walls have reached the target distance, and

[0056] controlling the alignment station such that the distance of the two lateral walls is automatically increased again (for example to the initial distance) after the respective stack of value documents has been taken out of the alignment station (for example by means of the actuator).

[0057] By the distance reduction of the two side walls performed prior to the taking out, it is achieved that the to-be-aligned stack of value documents, which is significantly thinner than the initial distance of the two side walls and can be tilted upon alignment, is straightened again and, if necessary, is compacted, in particular by the force of one / two of the two side walls, which is pressed against one / two of the end faces of the stack of value documents. The distance reduction of the two side walls performed prior to the taking out is particularly advantageous for swollen value documents.

[0058] Upon reaching the target distance, the stack of value documents placed in the alignment station can or can not be clamped by the side walls. For the case that the stack of value documents to be taken out is clamped by the side walls at the target distance, the control device can control the alignment station such that the distance between the two side walls is again slightly increased to a taking-out distance, for example by 0.5 cm to 1 cm, for the taking out, in order to make it easier to take out the stack of value documents by means of the taking-out gripper (in order to not have to overcome a clamping force for taking out the stack of value documents). Here, the taking-out distance is between the target distance and the initial distance. Preferably, the initial distance is greater than 5 cm and / or the target distance is at least 1.5 cm smaller than the initial distance.

[0059] The target distance can be a fixedly predefined distance or can be automatically selected by the control device depending on the number of value documents in the stack, or, if the stack is clamped by means of the side walls upon the distance reduction, the target distance can be obtained during the clamping process at a certain counterforce of the stack, from which counterforce the movement of the two side walls relative to each other automatically stops. The counterforce of the stack can be determined by the actuator used for the distance reduction or by a sensor.

[0060] In particular, the feed gripper and the taking-out gripper are configured to grip the stack of value documents via different edges of the value documents perpendicular to each other, for example the lateral edges and the longitudinal edges of the value documents of the stack of value documents.

[0061] For example, the feed gripper is configured to grip the (same) stack of value documents via the lateral edges of the value documents (the gripping fingers of the feed gripper are perpendicular to the lateral edges), and the taking-out gripper is configured to grip the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the value documents (the gripping fingers of the taking-out gripper are perpendicular to the longitudinal edges). Alternatively, the feed gripper is configured to grip the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the value documents (the gripping fingers of the feed gripper are perpendicular to the longitudinal edges), and the taking-out gripper is configured to grip the stack of value documents via the lateral edges of the value documents (the gripping fingers of the taking-out gripper are perpendicular to the lateral edges).

[0062] In one embodiment, the at least one control device is configured to,

[0063] - controlling the feed gripper when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station such that the feed gripper, when feeding to the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, grabs the stack of value documents from the lateral side of the alignment station (substantially outside the alignment station), and

[0064] - controlling the feed gripper when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station such that the feed gripper, when feeding to the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, grabs the stack of value documents from the lateral side of the alignment station (substantially outside the alignment station), and

[0065] In feeding to the alignment station, the feed gripper is here positioned at the lateral side of the alignment station at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released (substantially outside the alignment station), while in taking out from the alignment station, the take-out gripper is here positioned at the upper side of the alignment station at the point in time when the stack of value documents is grabbed.

[0066] Additionally or alternatively, the at least one control device can be configured for,

[0067] - controlling the feed gripper when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station such that the feed gripper, when feeding to the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, grabs the stack of value documents from the lateral side of the alignment station (substantially outside the alignment station), and

[0068] - controlling the feed gripper when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station such that the feed gripper, when feeding to the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, grabs the stack of value documents from the lateral side of the alignment station (substantially outside the alignment station), and

[0069] In feeding to the alignment station, the feed gripper is here positioned at the lateral side of the alignment station at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released (substantially outside the alignment station), while in taking out from the alignment station, the take-out gripper is here positioned at the upper side of the alignment station at the point in time when the stack of value documents is grabbed.

[0070] In particular, the control device can be configured for controlling the take-out gripper and the feed gripper such that, during the time the take-out gripper is away from the alignment station after taking out the stack of value documents from the alignment station, the feed gripper is already close to the alignment station in order to feed the stack of value documents to be aligned next to the alignment station. Thereby, a particularly high throughput can be achieved when aligning a plurality of stacks of value documents in succession. For example, the feed gripper can already start driving towards the alignment station or can already start feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned next by the feed gripper during the time the take-out gripper, after taking out the (previous) stack of value documents, is away from the alignment station with the taken-out aligned stack of value documents.

[0071] It is preferred that the feed gripper and the take-out gripper have different configurations. The feed gripper and the take-out gripper can in particular have different widths of the gripping elements or different numbers of gripping fingers. It is preferred that the gripper, in particular the feed gripper or the take-out gripper, of the two grippers which grips the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the value documents or which grips the stack of value documents through the upper side into the alignment station has a greater width or has more gripping fingers on its gripping elements than the other gripper of the two grippers, in particular than the take-out gripper or than the feed gripper. It is particularly preferred that the two gripping elements of the gripper, in particular of the feed gripper or of the take-out gripper, which grips the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the value documents or which grips the stack of value documents through the upper side into the alignment station are each equipped with at least two, preferably at least three, gripping fingers. As a result, a particularly reliable gripping of the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the stack of value documents is achieved.

[0072] It is preferred that the feed gripper and the take-out gripper are configured such that the feed gripper and the take-out gripper grip the stack of value documents via different edges of the value documents, i.e. the stack of value documents is gripped from different edge sides of the value documents on the stack of value documents, respectively.

[0073] In particular, the feed gripper can grip the stack of value documents via the lateral edges when the feed gripper grips via the lateral sides into the alignment station, while the take-out gripper can grip the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges when the take-out gripper grips via the upper side into the alignment station. It is then preferred that the gripping elements of the feed gripper have a smaller width or have fewer gripping fingers on their gripping elements than the gripping elements of the take-out gripper.

[0074] Alternatively, the feed gripper can grip the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the value documents when the feed gripper grips through the upper side into the alignment station. The take-out gripper can grip the stack of value documents via the lateral edges of the value documents when the take-out gripper grips via the lateral sides into the alignment station. It is then preferred that the gripping elements of the feed gripper have a greater width or more gripping fingers than the gripping elements of the take-out gripper.

[0075] For example, the at least one control device is configured to control the feed gripper and the take-out gripper such that the feed gripper is introduced into the alignment station at least partially through the upper side (either exclusively through the upper side or obliquely through the lateral side and the upper side) when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned, wherein the take-out gripper is moved out of the alignment station, for example through the upper side or through the lateral side, when taking out the aligned stack of value documents. Since the introduction through the upper side (in the case of value documents protruding from the stack) is more reliable than the introduction through the lateral side. It is particularly reliable if there are trumpet elements at the side edges of the alignment station, which guide the protruding value documents into the alignment station when feeding the stack. Here, the feed gripper can be configured to grasp the stack of value documents via its longitudinal edges (with the gripping fingers perpendicular to the longitudinal edges) or via its lateral edges (with the gripping fingers perpendicular to the lateral edges).

[0076] Alternatively or additionally, however (for example when the value documents do not protrude or only slightly protrude from the stack), the at least one control device can also be configured to control the feed gripper and the take-out gripper such that the feed gripper is introduced into the alignment station through the lateral side when feeding the stack of value documents to be aligned, wherein the take-out gripper is moved out of the alignment station, for example through the upper side, when taking out the aligned stack of value documents.

[0077] In order to achieve particularly small time intervals between taking out a previous stack of value documents and feeding a following stack of value documents, it is possible for the feed gripper to feed the stack of value documents through or via the upper side and for the take-out gripper to take out the stack of value documents through or via the lateral side, or vice versa, for the feed gripper to feed the stack of value documents through or via the lateral side and for the take-out gripper to take out the stack of value documents through or via the upper side. Correspondingly, the control device can be configured to control the take-out gripper and the feed gripper such that, during the taking out of the (previous) aligned stack of value documents from the alignment station by the take-out gripper through the (configured to be open) upper side or through the (configured to be open) lateral side, the feed gripper already feeds the (next) stack of value documents to be aligned to the alignment station through the (configured to be open) lateral side or through the (configured to be open) upper side, i.e. through the other side of the alignment station.

[0078] In some embodiments, the feed gripper has at least one air blowing nozzle. The air blowing nozzle is configured such that an air blowing flow can be directed through the air blowing nozzle onto a surface, i.e. an upper surface and / or a lower surface, of the outermost value document of a stack of value documents gripped with the feed gripper in order to straighten the protruding outermost value document of the stack of value documents. The outermost value document of the stack of value documents is the two value documents which are located on the upper side and the lower side of the stack of value documents, respectively, or which have the largest contact surface with the feed gripper. The air blowing device is provided for generating an air blowing flow through the air blowing nozzle, wherein the air blowing direction of the air blowing nozzle is oriented parallel to a first edge, e.g. a longitudinal edge, of the value document or slightly tilted inwards towards the upper surface or the lower surface of the value document.

[0079] Preferably, the control device is configured for controlling the feed gripper such that the feed gripper tilts the stack of value documents (starting from a position above and behind the alignment station) down through the upper side of the alignment station in a rearwardly moving manner when depositing the stack of value documents gripped at the short side of the value documents into the alignment station. Thereby, it is achieved that the stack of value documents which is spread apart at the short side opposite to the gripping area of the feed gripper is not further spread apart when being deposited into the alignment station. The rearward movement of the feed gripper when depositing the stack of value documents into the alignment station is directed obliquely downwards into the alignment station in a direction away from the side of the spread apart stack of value documents.

[0080] In some embodiments, the feed gripper and / or the take-out gripper has two gripping elements which are movable relative to each other, the gripping elements each having at least one gripping finger which extends parallel to the side wall. When the feed gripper is gripped through the upper side into the alignment station, at least one gripping finger of the feed gripper extends parallel to the side wall and preferably perpendicular to the floor. To this end, the feed gripper can have two gripping fingers which extend parallel relative to each other. When the take-out gripper is gripped through the lateral side into the alignment station, at least one gripping finger of the take-out gripper extends parallel to the side wall and preferably also parallel to the floor. The take-out gripper can have two gripping fingers which extend parallel relative to each other. When the take-out gripper is gripped through the upper side into the alignment station, at least one gripping finger of the take-out gripper extends parallel to the side wall and preferably perpendicular to the floor. When the feed gripper is gripped through the lateral side into the alignment station, at least one gripping finger of the feed gripper extends parallel to the side wall and preferably also parallel to the floor.

[0081] It is preferred that the feed gripper or the take-out gripper is configured in such a way that at least one of the gripping fingers can enter at least one of the side walls when the feed gripper or the take-out gripper is moved into or out of the alignment station. To this end, at least one of the side walls has a cross-sectional profile which is of a meandering shape or which is provided with openings which are parallel to each other and are oriented perpendicular to the floor, the cross-sectional profile corresponding to the shape of the gripping fingers of the feed gripper, so that the gripping fingers can enter the side wall (in the case of a meandering shape) or can enter through the side wall (in the case of a profile with openings). It is preferred that both side walls each have such a cross-sectional profile, so that the gripping fingers can enter both side walls or can enter through both side walls, respectively. This also applies when the take-out gripper is moved into the alignment station from above, for example when the stack of value documents is taken out through or via the upper side.

[0082] According to another aspect of the present application, a method for aligning a stack of value documents is provided, the method comprising the steps of: feeding the stack of value documents into an alignment station by means of a feed gripper, for example from a first side of the alignment station; aligning the stack of value documents by means of the alignment station; and taking the stack of value documents out of the alignment station by means of a take-out gripper, for example from a second side of the alignment station, the second side being different from the first side. Here, the take-out gripper, when taking the stack of value documents out, and the feed gripper, when feeding the stack of value documents in, preferably grasp the stack of value documents via different edges of the value documents which are perpendicular to each other.

[0083] In particular, one of the two grippers (the take-out gripper and the feed gripper) grasps the stack of value documents via the lateral edges, while the other of the two grippers (the take-out gripper and the feed gripper) grasps the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges.

[0084] In one embodiment, the feed gripper, when feeding into the alignment station, grasps the stack of value documents via the lateral edges, in particular through the lateral sides of the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, while the take-out gripper, when taking out of the alignment station, grasps the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges, in particular through the upper side of the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is seized.

[0085] In another embodiment, the feed gripper, when feeding into the alignment station, grasps the stack of value documents via the longitudinal edges of the stack of value documents, in particular through the upper side of the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is released, while the take-out gripper, when taking out of the alignment station, grasps the stack of value documents via the lateral edges, in particular through the lateral sides of the alignment station, at the point in time when the stack of value documents is seized.

[0086] When the feed gripper feeds the stack of value documents to be aligned, for example from a first side of the alignment station into the alignment station, the take-out gripper can take out the aligned stack of value documents from a second side of the alignment station. The first side can correspond to an upper side of the alignment station, while the second side can correspond to a lateral side of the alignment station, or the first side can correspond to a lateral side of the alignment station, while the second side can correspond to an upper side of the alignment station.

[0087] By means of the feed gripper, the stack of value documents to be aligned is taken out, for example from an output tray of a value document processing device, which previously examined the value documents of the stack of value documents and stacked them in the output tray and directly feeds them to the alignment station for alignment.

[0088] After alignment, the take-out gripper takes out the aligned stack of value documents from the alignment station and, for example, deposits it in a holding section of a value document container, which usually comprises a plurality of holding sections for stacks of value documents, stores it therein temporarily, and / or feeds it to a banding device, which provides the aligned stack of value documents with a banderol.

[0089] The alignment of the value documents is preferably effected by an inclined posture of the floor of the alignment station or is assisted by an inclined posture of the floor. That is to say, the floor encloses an angle with the horizontal which is greater than zero. One edge of the floor, for example the edge on the lateral wall or, if necessary, on the other lateral wall, is thus lower than the other edge of the floor. In this inclined posture, the stack of value documents is caused to be moved by means of its weight onto the lateral wall or onto the other lateral wall in order to align the second edge of the value documents, for example the lateral edge, on the lateral wall or on the other lateral wall.

[0090] If necessary, the alignment is assisted by vibration. For this purpose, vibrations of the alignment station are generated, whereby the second edge of the value documents, for example the lateral edge, is caused to slide more easily onto the lateral wall in order to thus perform the alignment. The duration of the vibrations can be set automatically or manually, for example can be set for the operator of the alignment station.

[0091] In some embodiments, the alignment is effected by pressing a wall of the alignment station against the stack of value documents to be aligned. The lateral wall pushes the stack of value documents to be aligned against the lateral side, wherein the lateral side is provided with a further lateral wall which forms a stop for the stack of value documents pushed by the lateral wall. The second edge of the value documents, for example the lateral edge, is thus pressed against the wall provided at the lateral side in order to thus perform the alignment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0092] In the following, embodiments of the application are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0093] Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of an alignment station and a stack of value documents according to the first embodiment is shown;

[0094] Figure 2 a top view of the alignment station in Figure 1 is shown;

[0095] Figures 3(a) to 3(e) a flow of alignment according to the first embodiment by means of the alignment station in Figure 1 is shown;

[0096] Figure 4 a schematic perspective view of an alignment station according to the second embodiment is shown;

[0097] Figures 5(a) to 5(e) a flow of alignment according to the second embodiment by means of the alignment station in Figure 4 is shown;

[0098] Figures 6(a) to 6(e) a flow of alignment according to the third embodiment by means of the alignment station in Figure 4 is shown;

[0099] Figure 7 a device for aligning a stack of value documents comprising the alignment station in Figure 1 is shown; and

[0100] Figure 8 a schematic perspective view of the alignment station in Figure 1 with a meandering shaped side wall is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0101] Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of an alignment station and a stack of value documents to be aligned according to the first embodiment is shown. In this first embodiment, the alignment station 2 is erected obliquely with respect to the horizontal base 11 by means of the support posts 12 in order to align the floor 3 of the alignment station in an oblique manner.

[0102] In addition to the floor 3, the alignment station 2 has two side walls 4 and 4', a transverse wall 5, an upper side 13 and a transverse side 6. The floor 3 is configured for placing the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 of the stack of value documents 14. The upper side 13 is completely open and extends parallel to the floor 3. The two side walls 4 and 4' are opposite each other and extend parallel with respect to each other and perpendicular with respect to the floor 3. The transverse wall 5 likewise extends perpendicular with respect to the floor 3. The transverse side 6 is opposite and parallel to the transverse wall 5. A further transverse wall 10 is arranged on the transverse side 6, wherein the transverse wall 10 extends parallel to the transverse wall 5 and is lower than the transverse wall 5.

[0103] The floor 3 is configured to be inclined in the direction of the lateral side 6 or in the direction of the other lateral wall 10 with an angle a between the floor 3 and the horizontal plane which is greater than 0° and less than 30°.

[0104] The upper side 13 and the lateral side 6 are configured to be open in such a way that the stack 14 of value documents can be grasped through the gripper, in particular through the feeding gripper and / or through the taking-out gripper, selectively through the lateral side 6 or the upper side 13 of the alignment station 2.

[0105] The stack 14 of value documents to be aligned can be fed to the alignment station 2, for example through or via the lateral side 6, i.e. above the lateral wall 10, and the aligned stack 14 of value documents is later taken out of the alignment station 2 through or via the upper side 13. Conversely, the stack 14 of value documents to be aligned can be fed through or via the upper side 13, while the aligned stack 14 of value documents is taken out through or via the lateral side 6. Instead of feeding and taking out via the lateral side 6, it is also possible to feed and take out via the upper side 13 or in an inclined manner with respect to both.

[0106] The floor 3 comprises a plurality of slits 8 through which a gas flow provided by a device 24 for generating a gas flow passes from below through the slits 8 in the floor 3, directed to the stack of value documents placed on the floor in the alignment station, where it acts on the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 and rises upwards along the surface 22 of the value documents 21 in order to loosen the value documents 21.

[0107] The side wall 4 has an opening 9 through which a sensor, for example a light barrier, can monitor whether the stack of value documents is present in the interior space of the alignment station and, if necessary, its position.

[0108] If necessary, a gas flow can also be directed through the opening 9 from the side to the surface 22 of the value documents 21 in order to press the stack 14 of value documents against the opposite side wall 4'.

[0109] The side walls 4 and 4' have a bell mouth element 7 and 7', respectively. The lateral wall 5 also has a further bell mouth element 7''.

[0110] However, the alignment station can also be implemented without an inclined posture or without slits or a gas flow or without an opening 9 or without a bell mouth element.

[0111] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1Fig. 3(a) shows a top view of the alignment station in Fig. 1. From above, the floor 3 with the plurality of slits 8, the completely open upper side 13, the two opposite side walls 4 and 4', the two opposite lateral walls 5 and 10, and the three horn elements 7, 7' and 7" connected with the side walls 4, 4' and the lateral walls 5, respectively, can be seen, wherein the two lateral walls 5 and 10 have different heights. The connection is not necessarily continuous, but can also be interrupted.

[0112] Figures 3(a) to 3(e) Fig. 3(a) shows a process of alignment of the alignment station in Fig. 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 Fig. 3(a) shows a process of alignment of the alignment station in Fig. 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0113] In Fig. 3(a), the stack of value documents 14 is grabbed by the feed gripper 17, wherein the gripping fingers 18 of the feed gripper 17 extend parallel to the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21. The stack of value documents 14 is introduced into the alignment station 2 through or via the lateral side 6, i.e. over the lateral wall 10, wherein the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21 are introduced first. The feed gripper has two gripping elements movable relative to each other, the gripping elements having only one gripping finger, respectively.

[0114] In Fig. 3(b), the stack of value documents 14 is placed on the floor 3, wherein the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 are in contact with the floor 3 of the alignment station 2.

[0115] In Fig. 3(c), the feed gripper 17 releases the stack of value documents 14. Then, the stack of value documents 14 slides due to its weight onto the lateral wall 10, thereby aligning the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21 with each other. During the removal of the feed gripper 17 from the alignment station 2 through the lateral side 6, the take-out gripper 19 has been moved into the alignment station 2 via or through the upper side 13, wherein the take-out gripper 19 has two gripping elements movable relative to each other, the gripping elements having a plurality of gripping fingers 20, respectively, in this embodiment.

[0116] In Fig. 3(d), the take-out gripper 19 grabs the aligned stack of value documents 14, wherein the gripping fingers 20 of the take-out gripper 19 extend parallel to the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21. Figure 8 Details of the gripping fingers 20 of the take-out gripper 19 are exemplarily shown.

[0117] In Fig. 3(e), the aligned stack of value documents 14 is taken out of the alignment station 2 by means of the take-out gripper 19.

[0118] Figure 4 Fig. 3(a) shows a process of alignment of the alignment station in Fig. 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1The difference between the alignment station according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the transverse side 6 is completely open, and the base plate 6 is inclined toward the transverse wall 5. In the second embodiment, no additional transverse wall is arranged on the transverse side 6.

[0119] To more reliably and automatically remove thinner stacks of valuable documents from the alignment station, the distance between the two opposing sidewalls 4, 4' is automatically reduced relative to each other. This automatic distance reduction can be achieved by an actuator 26, such as a pneumatic pusher mounted on sidewall 4 or 4', reducing the position of either or only one of the two sidewalls 4, 4' perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stack of valuable documents to be aligned. During the automatic distance reduction, the initial (relatively large) distance between the two sidewalls 4, 4' relative to each other when the corresponding stack of valuable documents 14 is placed (e.g., ...) is reduced. Figure 4 Starting from the initial distance, after placing the corresponding stack of valuable documents into the alignment station, the actuator 26 automatically reduces the distance between the two sidewalls 4, 4' to a target distance, which is less than the initial distance. The initial distance is selected to be relatively large so that thicker stacks of valuable documents can also be placed into the alignment station and aligned therefrom.

[0120] When the target distance is reached, the valuable document stack contained in the alignment station is automatically retrieved using the retrieval gripper. Afterward, the distance between the two sidewalls 4' and 4' is automatically increased again to the initial distance or another distance. The initial distance and, if necessary, the target distance can also be adjusted, for example, using adjusting bolts.

[0121] To apply airflow to the stack of valuable documents present in the alignment station from the side, one of the sidewalls 4 or 4' may be shorter than the other, and the airflow is directed through the shorter sidewall 4 or 4' towards the stack of valuable documents present in the alignment station, so as to press the stack of valuable documents 14 against the opposite sidewall 4' or 4'. On the shorter sidewall 4 or 4', sensors, such as gratings, may also be used to monitor the presence of the stack of valuable documents in the interior space of the alignment station, and, if necessary, to monitor its position.

[0122] Figures 5(a) to 5(e) It shows, for example, by means of Figure 4 The alignment process of the alignment stations according to the second embodiment.

[0123] In Fig. 5(a) the stack of value documents 14 is grabbed by the feed gripper 17, wherein the respective gripping fingers 18 extend parallel to the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21. The stack of value documents 14 is introduced into the alignment station 2 via or through the completely open lateral side 6 or through the upper side 6, or as shown in Fig. 5(a) in a tilted direction into the alignment station 2. The bottom plate 3 is configured to be tilted in direction of the lateral wall 5 with an angle a between the bottom plate 3 and the horizontal plane being greater than 0° and less than 30°.

[0124] In Fig. 5(b) the stack of value documents 14 is placed on the bottom plate 3, wherein the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 are in contact with the bottom plate 3 of the alignment station 2.

[0125] In Fig. 5(c) the feed gripper 17 has released the stack of value documents 14 and the stack of value documents 14 due to its gravity moves onto the lateral wall 5, thereby aligning the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21 with each other. During or shortly after the feed gripper 17 is moved out of the alignment station 2, the take-out gripper 19 has been moved into the alignment station 2 via or through the upper side 13, wherein here the take-out gripper 19 again has a plurality of gripping fingers 20.

[0126] In Fig. 5(d) the take-out gripper 19 grabs the aligned stack of value documents 14, wherein the gripping fingers 20 of the take-out gripper 19 extend parallel to the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21. Figure 8 Details of the gripping fingers 20 of the take-out gripper 19 are exemplarily shown.

[0127] In Fig. 5(e) the aligned stack of value documents 14 is taken out of the alignment station 2 by means of the take-out gripper 19 via or through the upper side 13.

[0128] In both embodiments of Figs. 3 and 5 the feed gripper 17 can grab the stack of value documents 14 at the feed point in time or at the deposit point in time through the lateral side 6 of the alignment station 2. Here, because the feed gripper 17 is positioned at the lateral side 6, the take-out gripper 19 already has access to the alignment station from above to deposit the stack of value documents 14 from above into the alignment station 2 without the two grippers interfering with each other. Then, the take-out gripper 19 is positioned at the upper side 13 of the alignment station in order to take out the stack of value documents and to grab the stack of value documents at the take-out point in time or at the grasp point in time through the upper side 13.

[0129] Fig. 6 shows the flow of alignment of the alignment station according to a third embodiment, for example by means of Figure 4 of Fig. 4.

[0130] In Fig. 6(a) a stack 14 of value documents is grabbed by a grabber 19 for feeding, wherein the two movable grabber elements of the grabber 19 have a plurality of grabber fingers 20, respectively, which extend parallel to the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21. The stack 14 of value documents is introduced into the alignment station 2 through or via the fully open upper side 13, wherein the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 are introduced first.

[0131] In Fig. 6(b) the stack 14 of value documents is placed on the floor 3, wherein the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21 are in contact with the floor 3 of the alignment station 2. Subsequently, the grabber 19 for feeding releases the stack 14 of value documents. Afterwards, the stack 14 of value documents moves due to its weight onto the lateral wall 5 to align the lateral edges 16 of the value documents 21. During or shortly after the grabber 19 is moved out of the alignment station 2 via or through the upper side 13, the grabber 17 for taking is moved into the alignment station 2 via or through the lateral side 6 or the upper side 13, wherein the two movable grabber elements of the grabber 17 for taking have a grabber finger 18, respectively, which extends parallel to the longitudinal edges 15 of the value documents 21.

[0132] In Fig. 6(c) the two grabber fingers 18 grab the stack 14 of value documents and move it in the direction of the lateral side 6 or obliquely upwards to take it out.

[0133] In Fig. 6(d) during or shortly after the aligned stack 14 of value documents is taken out of the alignment station 2 via or through the lateral side 6 by the grabber 17, the next stack 14' of value documents to be aligned can be moved by the grabber 19 in the direction of the upper side 13 of the alignment station 2 to be put in.

[0134] In Fig. 6(e) after the aligned stack 14 of value documents is taken out of the alignment station 2 by the grabber 17, the next stack 14' of value documents to be aligned is fed by the grabber 19 through or via the upper side 13 to the alignment station 2.

[0135] When the grabber 17 for taking is not moved out upwards, but sideways through the lateral side 6, the grabber 19 can already be close to feed the next stack 14' of value documents through or via the upper side 13 when the previous stack 14 of value documents has been taken out, without the two grabbers interfering with each other.

[0136] Figure 7 A device for aligning a stack of value documents is shown, which comprises an alignment station in Figure 1 The device 1 comprises a feeding grabber 17, a taking grabber 19, a lateral wall 5 and a floor 3. Figure 1The alignment station 2 according to the first embodiment and a control device 25 for controlling the two grippers in Fig. 1. Alternatively, each of the two grippers 17, 19 can also have its own control device. If necessary, the control device 25 can also be used to control the alignment station, for example its movable side walls or other devices mentioned above for performing the alignment. But this can also be implemented by separate control devices. The feeding gripper 17 can introduce the stack 14 of valuable documents to be aligned into the alignment station 2 through the upper side 13 and / or through the lateral side 6, and after the alignment the taking-out gripper 19 can take the aligned stack 14 of valuable documents out of the alignment station 2 through the upper side 13, or vice versa. Alternatively, the device 1 can also comprise the alignment station 2 of one of the other figures.

[0137] In the case of used valuable documents, the stack 14 of valuable documents, which is gripped at the short side when it is introduced into the alignment station 2 by means of the feeding gripper 17, can spread out at the short side 27 opposite the gripping area of the feeding gripper, see Figure 7 upper right corner. In order to prevent the valuable documents thus spread out from spreading out or bending further when they are introduced into the alignment station, the movement of the feeding gripper 17 can be performed in such a way that the feeding gripper pulls the stack 14 of valuable documents back in a backward movement, i.e. obliquely downward into the alignment station from a position above and behind the alignment station 2, see arrow P, instead of pushing it. By pulling back, further spreading out is avoided and the stack 14 of valuable documents is introduced correctly. This is additionally assisted by the funnel elements (7, 7', 7'').

[0138] Figure 8 a side wall with a meandering shape is shown in Figure 1 schematic perspective view of an alignment station in Fig. 1.

[0139] The side wall 4 has a meandering cross-sectional profile 23. This cross-sectional profile 23 is formed by a plurality of spaced recesses. These recesses face the outside of the alignment station 2. A respective recess can accommodate a respective gripping finger 20 of the gripper 19, so that the gripping finger 20 can enter the recess accordingly. The other side wall 4' can likewise have a meandering cross-sectional profile 23, so that the gripper 19 can enter each of the side walls 4 and 4' with its two gripping elements, wherein each gripping element has a plurality of gripping fingers 20.

Claims

1. An alignment station (2) for aligning sheet-like valuable files (21) in a stack of valuable files (14), the alignment station comprising: - A base plate (3) for placing a stack (14) of valuable documents (21) comprising sheet-like valuable documents in such a way that the valuable documents (21) are placed on the base plate (3) with their first edge (15). - Two opposing sidewalls (4, 4') that extend perpendicularly to the base plate (3) such that the sidewalls face the surface (22) of the valuable documents (21) of the stack of valuable documents (14) placed on the base plate (3). - A transverse wall (5) extends perpendicularly to the base plate (3) such that the transverse wall (5) faces the second edge (16) of the valuable document (21), wherein the first edge (15) and the second edge (16) are perpendicular to each other. - A transverse side (6) opposite to the transverse wall (5), the transverse side extending parallel to the transverse wall (5) and being at least partially open, and - The open upper side (13) opposite to the base plate (3). The feature is that the upper side (13) and the lateral side (6) are configured to be open in such a way that the valuable file stack (14) can be selectively grabbed through the lateral side (6) or the upper side (13) of the alignment station by a grabber.

2. The alignment station (2) according to claim 1, wherein, The transverse side (6) is either fully open or only partially open, and in particular includes another transverse wall (10), the height of which is preferably less than 4 cm.

3. The alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The lateral side (6) is only partially open, and in particular includes another lateral wall (10), the height of which is preferably less than 4 cm, and wherein the alignment station is configured to press the stack of valuable documents (14) along the base plate in a direction parallel to the side wall against the other lateral wall (10) by means of the lateral wall (5), and / or press the stack of valuable documents against the lateral wall (5) by means of the other lateral wall (10) to align the stack of valuable documents.

4. The alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The base plate (3) of the alignment station (2) is configured to tilt toward the direction of the transverse wall (5) or toward the transverse side (6), and in particular, is configured to tilt in such a way that the angle (α) between the base plate (3) and the horizontal plane is preferably greater than 0°, but less than 30°, and particularly preferably less than 25°.

5. The alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a device (24) configured to generate airflow and direct the airflow from outside the alignment station into the alignment station toward a stack of valuable documents (14) placed on a base plate (3) to assist in the alignment of the stack of valuable documents (14), wherein, The device is specifically configured to direct airflow from below / above / side into the alignment station toward the stack of valuable documents.

6. The alignment station (2) according to claim 5, wherein, The device (24) for generating airflow is configured to allow airflow to pass through the gap (8) in the base plate from above or below to the alignment station and point towards the stack of valuable documents, in particular to allow airflow to point towards the stack of valuable documents along the surface of the valuable documents.

7. The alignment station (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein, The device is configured to direct airflow from the side into the alignment station toward a stack of valuable documents, wherein a first sidewall of the sidewalls (4, 4') has at least one opening (9) or is configured to be shorter than the other sidewall (4', 4) so ​​that the device can direct airflow from outside the alignment station through the opening (9) or through the first sidewall (4, 4') into the alignment station toward a stack of valuable documents placed on the base plate (3).

8. The alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, the alignment station comprising a device configured to generate vibrations of the alignment station, particularly the base plate of the alignment station, and to act on the stack of valuable documents (14) to assist the alignment of the stack of valuable documents (14) placed on the base plate (3), particularly its movement due to gravity toward the other transverse wall (10) or toward the transverse wall (5).

9. The alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, the alignment station further comprising at least one flared element (7, 7', 7''), the flared element being connected to the upper end of the sidewall (4, 4') or the transverse wall (5) and being oriented at an angle to the corresponding sidewall or transverse wall, preferably the alignment station comprising at least two of the flared elements, the at least two flared elements being respectively connected to one of the sidewalls and being opposite to each other.

10. An apparatus (1) for aligning a stack of valuable documents (14), the apparatus comprising: - Alignment station (2) according to any one of the preceding claims - Feed grabbers (17, 19) are configured to feed stacks (14) of valuable documents to be aligned to the alignment station (2). - Retrieve grabbers (17, 19), which are configured to retrieve the aligned stack of valuable files (14) from the alignment station (2). - At least one control device (25) is configured to control the feed gripper and the take-out gripper such that the feed gripper feeds a stack of valuable documents (14) to be aligned to the alignment station (2), and the take-out gripper (17, 19) removes the aligned stack of valuable documents (14) from the alignment station (2) after the stack of valuable documents has been aligned in the alignment station (2), wherein the feed gripper (17, 19) and the take-out gripper (17, 19) are specifically configured to grip the same stack of valuable documents (14) via different mutually perpendicular edges (15, 16) of the valuable documents (21).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, - The feed grabber is configured to grab a stack of valuable files along the horizontal edges of the valuable files, and the take-out grabber is configured to grab a stack of valuable files along the vertical edges of the valuable files. - The at least one control device is configured to control the feed gripper when feeding a stack of valuable documents to be aligned to the alignment station, such that the feed gripper, at the point of release of the stack of valuable documents when feeding the stack of valuable documents to the alignment station, grips the stack of valuable documents across the lateral side (6) of the alignment station (14), and controls the take-out gripper at the point of grasping the stack of valuable documents when taking the aligned stack of valuable documents out of the alignment station, such that the take-out gripper grips the stack of valuable documents across the upper side (13) of the alignment station when taking it out of the alignment station.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, - The feed grabber is configured to grab a stack of valuable files along the vertical edges of the valuable files, and the take-out grabber is configured to grab a stack of valuable files along the horizontal edges of the valuable files. - The at least one control device is configured to, when feeding a stack of valuable documents to be aligned to the alignment station, control the feed gripper at the point in time when the stack of valuable documents is released, such that the feed gripper grips the stack of valuable documents (14) across the upper side (13) of the alignment station when it is fed to the alignment station, and control the take-out gripper at the point in time when the stack of valuable documents is taken out of the alignment station, such that the take-out gripper grips the stack of valuable documents (14) across the lateral side (6) of the alignment station when it is taken out of the alignment station.

13. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein, The position of at least one sidewall (4, 4') of the alignment station is adjustable, enabling automatic change of the distance between the two sidewalls, and the control device is configured for... - Control the alignment station such that the distance between the sidewalls (4, 4') of the alignment station, starting from the initial distance between the two sidewalls relative to each other when the corresponding valuable documents are stacked in the alignment station, automatically decreases to a target distance smaller than the initial distance after the corresponding valuable documents are stacked in the alignment station. - Control the extraction gripper such that when both sidewalls reach the target distance, the extraction gripper extracts the stack of valuable documents contained in the alignment station from the alignment station, and - Control the alignment station so that after the valuable file stack is removed from the alignment station, the distance between the two sidewalls is automatically increased again.

14. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein, The control device is configured to control the take-out gripper and the feed gripper such that, while the take-out gripper is moving away from the alignment station after removing the stack of valuable documents from the alignment station, the feed gripper has approached the alignment station in order to feed the next stack of valuable documents to be aligned to the alignment station (2).

15. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein, The feed gripper (17, 19) has at least one air nozzle configured such that an airflow can pass through the air nozzle and act on the surface of the outermost valuable document of the stack of valuable documents gripped by the feed gripper, so as to smooth out the outermost protruding valuable document of the stack of valuable documents that has just been gripped.

16. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein, The control device is configured to control the feed gripper such that, when the feed gripper places a stack of valuable documents, which it has grabbed at the short side of the valuable documents, into the alignment station, it tilts and pulls the stack of valuable documents back into the alignment station in a backward motion, passing over the upper side of the alignment station.

17. A method for aligning a stack of valuable documents (14) using the apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, the method comprising the steps of: - Using the feed grabbers (17, 19), especially from the first side (6, 13) of the alignment station (2), the stack of valuable documents (14) is fed to the alignment station. - Align the stack of valuable documents (14) using the alignment station (2); as well as - The valuable file stack (14) is removed from the alignment station, particularly from the second side (6, 13) of the alignment station (2), using the extraction grabbers (17, 19), which are different from the first side (6, 13). The extracting grabber (17, 19) extracts the stack of valuable documents (14) and the feeding grabber feeds the stack of valuable documents (14) by grabbing the stack of valuable documents via the mutually perpendicular edges (15, 16) of the valuable documents.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, Before being fed to the alignment station, the valuable document stack is removed from the output tray of the valuable document processing device by means of the feed gripper, and after alignment and removal from the alignment station, the take-out gripper places the aligned valuable document stack into the receiving section of the valuable document container and / or feeds it to the strapping device, which provides a nameplate for the aligned valuable document stack.

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