Filling apparatus and method for filling containers with documents of value

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling apparatus (1) and to a method for filling containers (5) with document-of-value stacks (2), and to a document-of-value-processing apparatus. The filling apparatus is designed to fill containers with document-of-value stacks, e.g. document-of-value stacks (40), which are set down in a delivery region (62) of a document-of-value-processing machine (60) by the document-of-value-processing machine. The filling apparatus has a feed interface (2), a delivery interface (4) and a transporting path, along which the containers can be transported from the feed interface to the delivery interface, and also has a filling region (3), in which a respective container fed to the filling apparatus can be positioned in order to be filled with document-of-value stacks by means of a gripping device (30).

Description

[0001] Filling device and method for filling containers with valuable documents

[0002] The invention relates to a filling device and a method for filling containers with value documents, in particular banknotes, as well as a value document processing device with such a filling device.

[0003] In so-called cash centers, such as those operated by cash-in-transit companies or central banks, a large number of valuable documents are checked, sorted, counted, and, if necessary, banded using valuable document processing machines. The processed valuable documents are often placed in designated valuable document containers for storage and / or transport purposes within the cash center.

[0004] In security document processing machines, the valuable documents are separated from a stack and transported past sensors on a conveyor belt. The individual valuable documents are checked by the sensors and, depending on the check result, are fed to specific destinations within the device, e.g., output compartments. The checked valuable documents are fed to the stacking wheel within the device and collected in its compartments, which are arranged spirally one behind the other around a rotational axis. The stacking wheel rotates, filling the compartments with valuable documents. A stripper strips the valuable documents from the stacking wheel compartments, forming a stack that is then dispensed from the device.

[0005] It is also known to remove a stack of valuable documents output from an output compartment of a valuable document processing machine using a gripper and place it into a valuable document container. For this purpose, the container is transported along a transport path to the banknote processing device and placed near the output compartment. A disadvantage of this is that after the respective container has been filled with stacks of valuable documents, it is returned by the valuable document processing machine along the same transport path. Therefore, filling another container must wait until the first container has been removed.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to accelerate the filling of containers with valuable documents, in particular banknotes.

[0007] This object is achieved by the filling device and the method for filling according to the independent claims.

[0008] The filling device is designed to fill containers with stacks of valuable documents, e.g. stacks of valuable documents that are deposited by a valuable document processing machine in an output area of ​​the valuable document processing machine.

[0009] The containers to be filled each have one or more receiving sections, each designed to receive a stack of valuable documents. Preferably, the containers or receiving sections are open at their top so that stacks of valuable documents can be inserted into the container from above. The receiving sections can be separated from one another by separating elements, which can be an integral part of the container or separate elements that can be variably positioned within the container. The stacks of valuable documents are / are usually inserted into the container or into its receiving sections such that the valuable documents stand on their edges in the container. The filling device has a feed interface, in particular a feed opening, through which containers to be filled with stacks of valuable documents are fed (one after the other) to the filling device. They can be fed manually or automatically.Furthermore, the filling device has an output interface, in particular an output opening, through which the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents are output from the filling device after they have been filled (one after the other).

[0010] In addition, the filling device has a transport path along which the containers can be transported from the feed interface to the output interface, as well as a filling area arranged between the feed interface and the output interface with respect to the transport path of the containers, in which a container fed to the filling device (to be filled) can be positioned in order to fill it there with stacks of valuable documents.

[0011] To transport the containers through the filling device, the filling device has at least one transport device designed to transport a container supplied to the filling device for filling from the feed interface along the transport path to the filling area and thereby position it in the filling area, and designed to transport the filled container (after filling) further along the transport path from the filling area to the output interface of the filling device. A control device of the filling device is designed to control the transport of the respective container by means of the transport device along the transport path, in particular from the feed interface to the filling area and further from the filling area to the output interface.Furthermore, the filling device or the value document processing machine can have a gripping device that is configured to (respectively) grip a value document stack, in particular to grip a value document stack deposited in the output area of ​​the value document processing machine, and to remove this from the output area and deposit it in a receiving section of a container positioned in the filling area of ​​the filling device in order to fill the container with the value document stack (and possibly further value document stacks). The above-mentioned control device of the filling device can be configured to control the depositing of the value document stack in the container by means of the gripping device and, if applicable, the gripping of the value document stack deposited in the output area.However, this control of the gripping device can also be carried out by another control device, in particular a gripper control, which is specifically provided for the gripping device and can be part of the filling device.

[0012] By transporting the containers in the filling device along the transport path from the feed interface to the filling area and then from the filling area to the output interface, we achieve that the next container to be filled can already be transported to the filling area while the previously filled container is being transported away from the filling area. Therefore, there is no need to wait for the previously filled container to be transported away before the next container to be filled can be transported. Overall, the invention thus allows several containers to be filled more quickly one after the other with stacks of valuable documents.

[0013] For example, the security document processing machine has a storage shelf in the output area, onto which the security document stacks output by the security document processing machine are deposited by the security document processing machine, in particular by a stacker wheel of the security document processing machine, in order to be removed by the gripping device. Alternatively, the security document stack can also be deposited by a lifting floor located below the storage shelf and removed from there by the gripping device.

[0014] The filling device can have a housing or a casing that surrounds the transport path of the containers. The feed interface and the output interface are preferably designed as a feed opening and the output opening of the housing or casing of the filling device. Alternatively, the filling device can also be implemented without a housing or casing, and the feed interface and the output interface can accordingly not be designed as an opening. For example, the beginning or end of the transport path can form the feed interface and the output interface, respectively.

[0015] Preferably, the control device of the filling device is designed to control the transport device such that a container to be filled temporarily remains in the filling area until the gripping device has deposited several stacks of valuable documents into several receiving sections of the container. In particular, the control device and / or the further control device is designed to control the gripping device and, if applicable, the transport device such that, when filling the container, the gripping device fills the respective receiving section of the respective container with (only) exactly one stack of valuable documents.

[0016] The container can have at least two receiving sections along its longitudinal direction and the control device and / or the further control device can be designed to control the gripping device and optionally the transport device in such a way that several stacks of valuable documents which have been output by the valuable document processing machine (which have been deposited e.g. one after the other in the same output compartment, e.g. on a storage shelf or lifting floor) are deposited in different receiving sections of the same container positioned in the filling area.

[0017] The control device can be designed to control the transport device in such a way that (exactly) one receiving section of a container positioned in the filling area is arranged in a predetermined filling position of the filling area, which is located within the filling area, and to control the transport device in such a way that the respective container positioned in the filling area is transported step by step along a transport direction by means of the transport device in such a way that different (e.g. two or more) receiving sections of the same container are arranged one after the other at the predetermined filling position and remain there temporarily until the gripping device has deposited a stack of valuable documents in the respective receiving section of the container.In particular, the control device can control the transport device in such a way that the respective container stops for inserting the respective stack of valuable documents as soon as the receiving section of the container provided for inserting the respective stack of valuable documents is at the filling position. By arranging the various receiving sections one after the other at the predetermined filling position, it is possible to use a technically simple gripper, since this only has to be moved to the specific filling position and does not need to perform a translational movement along the longitudinal direction of the container. The control device or the further control device can be designed to control the gripping device in such a way that it deposits a stack of valuable documents in the respective receiving section while the respective receiving section of the container to be filled is (temporarily) arranged at the predetermined filling position.remains.

[0018] If the stacks of valuable documents are always placed in the respective container at the same filling position along the transport path, the gripping device can always deposit the stacks of valuable documents at the same location (at the predetermined filling position). Therefore, only a pivoting movement and a translation along a single direction (for inserting the stack of valuable documents into the container and, if necessary, for removing the stack of valuable documents from the valuable document processing machine) are required to deposit the stack of valuable documents, but no additional translation along a second direction along the container. Therefore, a simpler gripping device can be used.

[0019] For example, the transport device has at least one first and at least one second transport device, wherein the at least one first transport device is designed to transport a container supplied to the filling device for filling from the feed interface along the transport path to the filling area (and thereby position it in the filling area), and the at least one second transport device is designed to transport the filled container, after filling, further along the transport path from the filling area to the output interface of the filling device. The at least one first transport device is arranged along the transport path upstream of the filling area and is designed only to transport the container (coming from the feed interface) to the filling area, and not to transport the container away from the filling area (toward the output interface).The at least one second transport device is arranged along the transport path downstream of the filling area and is designed only to transport the container away from the filling area (toward the output interface) and not to transport the container (coming from the feed interface) toward the filling area. Alternatively, both transport tasks could be performed by a single transport device (e.g., T or conveyor belt), possibly with a curve(s), and a stopper for stopping at the filling position.

[0020] Preferably, the transport device, in particular the at least one first transport device, is configured to transport the respective container away from the feed interface (out of the feed interface) along a feed transport direction toward the value-document processing machine in order to retrieve it from the feed interface. And the transport device, in particular the at least one second transport device, is preferably configured to transport the respective container along an output transport direction (away from the value-document processing machine) to the output interface (into the output interface) in order to make it available for collection at the output interface.

[0021] The transport direction of the container within the filling device, along which the container is transported in order to successively arrange various receiving sections of the container at the filling position, preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container, along which the receiving sections of the container are arranged. In particular, the feed transport direction and the output transport direction of the container run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container, along which the receiving sections of the container are arranged.

[0022] The transport path of the containers in the filling device comprises, in particular, a feed section extending from the feed interface to the filling area and possibly having various subsections, and an output section extending from the filling area to the output interface and possibly having various subsections. The feed section and the output section are, in particular, arranged in the filling device such that they are separated from one another or do not overlap. The respective container is transported via the feed section with the aid of the transport device and via the output section to the output interface.In particular, the respective container is transported via the feed section or via a first section of the feed section beginning at the feed interface along the feed transport direction, and via the output section or via a final section of the output section along the output transport direction to the output interface. Preferably, the output transport direction runs essentially opposite to the feed transport direction. This results in a compact design of the filling device.

[0023] Preferably, the feed section along the transport path or along the feed-transport direction has at least the length of the container(s) to be filled and / or the output section along the transport path or along the output transport direction has at least the length of the container(s) to be filled. This ensures that the next container to be filled can be temporarily stored in the feed section while the previous container is still being filled or that the filled container can be transported further to the output section and temporarily stored there while the next container to be filled is already being transported in the filling area. The feed section then forms a type of buffer storage for the containers to be filled, which allows the next container to be fed to the filling device at an early stage while the previous container is still being filled.The output section then forms a kind of buffer storage for the filled containers, allowing the filled container to be picked up or removed from the filling device later while the previous container is already being filled. An operator of the filling device therefore does not have to add or remove the containers at the exact time specified by the filling device, but has flexibility in terms of time when adding or removing the containers.

[0024] Preferably, the filling area has an input side, at which the feed section ends, and an output side, different from the input side (e.g., opposite), at which the output section begins. In particular, the containers to be filled are transported on the feed section only before they are filled by the filling device (not after they have been filled), and the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents are transported on the output section only after they have been filled by the filling device (not before they have been filled). The next container to be filled can already be positioned at the input side of the filling area when the previous container is currently being filled, and at the same time as the recently filled container is being transported away, the next container can already be transported into the filling area, i.e.When the container to be filled is brought into the filling area, there is no need to wait until the previously filled container has been transported away. This allows for a particularly high throughput when filling containers with the filling device.

[0025] Preferably, the feed section or at least a subsection of the feed section, in particular its first subsection beginning at the feed interface, is arranged vertically and / or horizontally offset, and in particular directly adjacent, to the filling area and / or to the output section or to at least a subsection of the output section, in particular to the subsection of the output section ending at the output interface. This ensures good operability of the filling device, since an operator can feed a container to be filled to the filling device and retrieve a filled container from the filling device in the same work step.

[0026] Preferably, the transport directions of the container in the feed section and in the output section run at least partially opposite and parallel to one another. This results in a compact design of the filling device. In particular, the feed section or at least a partial section of the feed section, in particular the first partial section beginning at the feed interface, and the output section or at least a partial section of the output section, in particular the partial section of the output section ending at the output interface, run parallel to one another (with opposite transport directions).

[0027] In some embodiments, the transport path of the containers in the filling device has a connecting section in which the transport direction of the container runs transversely or perpendicularly to the feed transport direction and / or the output transport direction of the container. The connecting section can be a partial section of the feed section or a partial section of the output section. In particular, the transport direction of the container in the connecting section runs along the front of the value-document processing machine, e.g., along its operator side.

[0028] In some embodiments, the transport path of the containers from the feed interface to the output interface runs essentially horizontally throughout. The containers are then easier to transport, since no transport device for vertical transport is required. For example, the feed section and the output section are located horizontally next to one another, and the transport directions of the containers in the feed section and the output section run at least partially opposite and parallel to one another.

[0029] The transport path of the containers in the filling device can be designed such that the containers are deflected twice on their transport path from the feed interface to the output interface, preferably by a total of 180°, e.g. are deflected twice (either horizontally or vertically) by 90°.

[0030] The filling area can in particular be located on the container's return path from the value document processing machine to the output interface or at the start of this return path, or on the outward path from the feed interface to the value document processing machine or at the end of this outward path. The start of the return path or the end of the outward path can be at the nearest point on the transport path to the value document processing machine, e.g. in the connecting section. In one embodiment, the filling area is arranged after the connecting section along the transport path, and the filling area is located on the container's return path from the value document processing machine to the output interface. The containers are deflected horizontally by 90° twice in succession on the feed section, between the feed interface and the filling area.

[0031] In another embodiment, the filling area is located along the transport path upstream of the connecting section, and the filling area is located on the container's outward path from the feed interface to the value document processing machine. The containers are deflected horizontally by 90° twice in succession on the output section, between the filling area and the output interface.

[0032] In further embodiments, the feed section and the output section are at least partially vertically superimposed, and the transport directions of the container in the feed section and the output section run at least partially parallel to each other in opposite directions. Advantageously, the filling device then requires little space in the lateral direction, i.e., on the operator side of the value-document processing machine. The filling area is preferably arranged in the upper region of the filling device, which is located above the output section or feed section.

[0033] In one of the further embodiments, at least a partial section of the feed section, which is located in the lower region of the filling device, is located below the discharge section, and the transport direction in this partial section of the feed section runs opposite to the transport direction in the discharge section. A connecting section of the feed section, in which the transport direction of the container runs vertically or diagonally upwards, connects the lower and upper regions of the filling device. The filling region and the discharge section are located in the upper region of the filling device.

[0034] In one of the further embodiments, the feed section and the filling area are located in the upper area of ​​the filling device, and at least one connecting section of the output section, in which the transport direction of the container runs vertically or diagonally downwards, connects the upper and lower areas of the filling device. A subsequent subsection of the output section is located in the lower area of ​​the filling device below the feed section, and its transport direction runs parallel to the transport direction in the feed section.

[0035] In order to be able to grip stacks of valuable documents with significantly different sizes and place them in the container, different opening widths of the gripping device can be provided for moving the gripping elements of the gripping device apart.

[0036] When using different types of containers whose receiving section(s) have different positions along the longitudinal direction of the container and / or have different lengths, the control device or the further control device can have information about the predetermined position and, if applicable, length of the receiving sections depending on the container type. The information about the container type of the container to be filled can be pre-set on the filling device or entered by an operator (if applicable, container-specific) or automatically determined by the control device or the further control device based on identification data of the container (if applicable, container-specific). The control device then controls the opening width of the gripping elements depending on the container type and, if applicable,depending on the respective receiving section to be filled (if the container type is known to have receiving sections of different sizes).

[0037] The control device or the further control device can be configured to determine receiving section information about the receiving sections of the respective container to be filled, which in particular relates to the position and / or length of the receiving sections along the container. The length corresponds, for example, to a maximum number of valuable documents that can be received in the respective receiving section. It can determine the receiving section information, for example, based on identification data of the container or based on the position of the receiving sections or separating elements determined by a sensor of the filling device, or based on container information provided by the operator of the filling device.

[0038] The control device or the further control device can be configured to transmit the receiving section information of the respective container (possibly container-specific) to the value-document processing machine from whose output area the value-document stack is removed. The value-document processing machine of the value-document processing device can, in particular, be configured to control the quantity, in particular the maximum number, of value documents that it deposits in the value-document stack deposited in the output area of ​​the value-document processing machine for the respective receiving section of the respective container, depending on the receiving section information of the respective receiving section transmitted by the filling device.Alternatively or additionally, the control device or the further control device can be configured to control an opening width of gripping elements of the gripping device depending on the receiving section information when gripping the valuable document stack, in particular when removing the valuable document stack from the valuable document processing machine or when inserting the valuable document stack into the container. The gripping device can be controlled such that its gripping elements assume different opening widths for different receiving sections and / or for different container types.

[0039] In order to determine the recording section information, the filling device

[0040] - have at least one reading device for determining identification data of the respective container (which is arranged, for example, at the feed section of the container or a manually operated barcode reader) and the control device / the further control device has information about the position and, if applicable, length of the receiving sections depending on the identification data (e.g. table) and is designed to determine the receiving section information of the respective container based on the identification data of the respective container to be filled, and / or

[0041] - have a sensor which is arranged on the feed section of the filling device in such a way that, when a container is located in the feed section, it can determine the position of the receiving sections or of separating elements which divide the container into receiving sections, and the control device / the further control device is designed to determine receiving section information for the respective container to be filled on the basis of the position of the receiving sections or separating elements determined by the at least one sensor, and / or - receive information about the container type of the container(s) to be filled (presettable by the operator of the filling device, e.g. for several containers), wherein the position and length of the receiving sections are the same and predetermined for all containers of the same container type, and which provides the control device / the further control device with information about the predetermined position and, if applicable,Length of the receiving sections depending on the container type (e.g. table) and is designed to determine receiving section information of the container based on the container type of the container to be filled.

[0042] The invention also relates to a method for filling containers with stacks of value documents with the aid of a filling device, in particular with the aid of the filling device described above, wherein the filling device has a feed interface (e.g. feed opening) through which the containers to be filled with stacks of value documents can be fed (one after the other) to the filling device, an output interface (e.g.Discharge opening), a transport path along which the containers can be transported from the feed interface to the output interface, a filling area arranged between the feed interface and the output interface with respect to the transport path of the containers, and at least one transport device which is designed to transport a container fed to the filling device for filling from the feed interface along the transport path to the filling area, and (after filling) to transport it further along the transport path from the filling area to the output interface of the filling device. The following steps are carried out in the method:

[0043] - feeding a container to the feed interface of the filling device, - transporting the fed container by means of the transport device of the filling device from the feed interface along the transport path to the filling area of ​​the filling device,

[0044] - filling the container positioned in the filling area with at least one stack of valuable documents by a gripping device which is configured to grip (in each case) a stack of valuable documents and to deposit the gripped stack of valuable documents into a receiving section of a container positioned in the filling area of ​​the filling device in order to fill the container with the stack of valuable documents and, if applicable, further stacks of valuable documents,

[0045] - Transporting the container filled with at least one stack of valuable documents from the filling area to the output interface of the filling device by means of the transport device in order to output the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents from the filling device through the output interface (one after the other).

[0046] The gripping device can be part of the filling device or part of the value document processing machine or be a device designed separately from the two, e.g. a robot gripper. The gripping device can be configured to remove the value document stack(s) (to be gripped) from a value document processing machine, in particular from an output area of ​​the value document processing machine in which the (respective) value document stack is deposited. Alternatively or additionally, the gripping device can be configured to remove the value document stack(s) to be gripped from another storage area on which the value document stack is deposited, or from another container in which the value document stack to be gripped is contained. The invention also relates to a value document processing device for processing value documents, in particular banknotes.The value document processing device comprises a value document processing machine for processing, in particular checking and, if necessary, sorting, value documents. The value document processing machine is configured to output stacks of processed value documents in an output area of ​​the value document processing machine and, if necessary, to deposit them in the output area. The value document processing device also comprises one or more of the filling devices described above, which are configured to fill containers with the stacks of value documents output from the value document processing machine. This filling device(s) can be moved to and / or docked and / or attached to the value document processing machine.

[0047] For example, the valuable documents are banknotes, but the invention relates to any type of valuable document.

[0048] Further advantages, features, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the figures. They show:

[0049] Fig. la Embodiment of a value document processing device with a value document processing machine and a filling device,

[0050] Fig. 1b-c Detailed views of the value document processing device in the area of ​​the filling device with covers (Fig. 1b) and without covers (Fig. 1c), Fig. 2a-c Transporting a stack of value documents from the value document processing machine to the filling device by means of a gripping device of the filling device,

[0051] Fig. 3a-h stepwise horizontal movement of a banknote container through the filling device of the embodiment of Fig. 1-2 and insertion of banknote stacks into it,

[0052] Fig. 4a-d four further embodiments of filling devices with different transport paths of the containers in plan view (Fig. 4a, 4b) and in side view (Fig. 4c, 4d).

[0053] Figure 1a shows a value-document processing device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The value-document processing device 100 has a value-document processing machine 60 for processing value documents, in particular for sorting, counting, and / or checking the value documents, which is configured to provide processed value documents for the filling device 1 or, if necessary, to output them into one of its output compartments 63, 64. The value documents can be input into the input compartment 61 of the value-document processing machine 60 automatically with the aid of an input module 10, in which value documents are removed in stacks from value-document containers. The value-document processing device 100 is used, for example, in a cash center.

[0054] The banknotes provided in the input compartment 61 of the value document processing machine 60 are individually withdrawn from the input compartment by means of a separator and transported in the value document processing machine 60 along a transport path past one or more sensors (not shown). In the process, physical properties of the value documents are recorded and converted into corresponding sensor signals, which are used by a control and evaluation device of the value document processing machine 60 to recognize and check the value documents, for example with regard to quality, denomination, authenticity, or condition. Switches arranged along the transport path are controlled such that, depending on the result of the recognition or check, the value documents are transported to different output compartments 63, 64 or to the filling device 1, where they are automatically inserted into value document containers.For example, a banding device and / or packaging device for the formed stacks of valuable documents can be connected to the output compartments 63, 64.

[0055] The value documents transported to the filling device 1 can, for example, be rejected value documents, which are rejected during the inspection by the device 60, while value documents accepted during the inspection are deposited in the output compartments 63, 64. Alternatively, banknotes accepted during the inspection can also be transported to the filling device 1. Multiple filling devices 1 can also be installed on a value document processing machine 60.

[0056] In front of the output compartments 63, 64 and in an output area 62 of the value document processing machine 60 upstream of the filling device 1, there is a stacking wheel 65 in the value document processing machine 1, with which the banknotes are stacked for output. In the output area 62 of the value document processing machine 60 upstream of the filling device 1, there is a storage shelf 20 below the stacking wheel 65, see Fig. 1c, on which, for example, banknotes are stacked by the stacking wheel 65 to form a banknote stack. In the example shown, the storage shelf 20 is retracted backwards into the device 60 after the banknote stack has been completed in order to strip the banknote stack off a rear wall 21 located behind the storage shelf 20 and thereby deposit it from the storage shelf 20 onto a movable lifting floor 22 arranged underneath.

[0057] The banknote stack 40 thus formed is then lowered by means of the lifting base 22 and thus made available for removal by a gripping device 30 of the filling device 1, see Fig. 2a-c. Alternatively, the storage base 20 itself can also be moved downwards to make the banknote stack 40 available for removal by the gripping device 30 of the filling device 1 (whereby no lifting base 22 is required).

[0058] The filling device 1 is used to fill value document containers 5 with the banknote stacks 40 provided in the output area 62 of the device 60. For this purpose, an (empty or partially filled) value document container 5 to be filled is fed manually or automatically to the filling device at its feed interface 2, designed as a feed opening, see Fig. 1c. The container 5 is divided into several receiving sections by separating elements 6, see Fig. 3a. The fed container 5 is then transported by means of transport devices 7, 8 of the filling device into a filling area 3 of the filling device 1, in which the container 5 is filled with banknote stacks 40.After filling, the filling device transports the container 5 filled with banknote stacks 40 by means of a further transport device 9 from the filling area 3 to the output interface 4 of the filling device, designed as an output opening, in order to make the container 5 available for manual removal from the filling device 1 or for automatic removal of the filled container, if necessary by means of a conveyor belt. The movement of the container 5 through the filling device is controlled by a control device 80 of the filling device, see Fig. 1c. The gripping device 30 is controlled by a control device 70 and has two gripping elements 31, 32, which can be moved away from one another and towards one another by means of a motor in order to grip the respective value document stack between the two gripping elements 31, 32. The gripping device 30 grips the banknote stack 40 deposited on the lifting base 22 between its gripping elements 31, 32, see Fig.2a, and removes the banknote stack 40 from the lifting base 22. By means of a downward pivoting movement (by rotation about the axis A), see Fig. 2b, the gripping device 30 brings the banknote stack 40 into a lowering position directly above the filling position 13 of a value document container 5 arranged in the filling area 3, see Fig. 2c. Previously, the receiving section 6a of the value document container into which the banknote stack is to be inserted was positioned at the filling position 13, see Figs. 3e, 3f.

[0059] Subsequently, the gripping device is lowered from the lowering position into the receiving section 6a of the value document container with the aid of a linear drive 34 (see Fig. 2c), whereby the two gripping elements 31, 32 with the banknote stack 40 dip into the receiving section 6a. The lowering movement is stopped and the two gripping elements 31, 32 are opened slightly in order to release the banknote stack 40 and thereby deposit it into the receiving section 6a of the value document container 5 (see Fig. 3f). Subsequently, the gripping device is moved upwards again out of the container 5 and is available for inserting the next banknote stack 40, which is then deposited on the lifting base 22. The insertion of the next banknote stacks into the other receiving sections 6b-f of the value document container 5 takes place analogously.

[0060] When the banknote stack 40 is released, the gripping elements 31, 32 are moved apart to an opening width which is equal to or slightly less than the length of the respective receiving section 6a-f along the longitudinal direction of the container 5. The separating elements 6 present in the container 5 (cf. Fig. 3a) can have grooves on their side facing the inserted banknote stack, into which the gripping elements 31, 32 are inserted to release the stack of valuable documents, whereby they should at most lightly touch them.

[0061] In order to enable the insertion of valuable document stacks 40 of different sizes into differently sized receiving sections, different opening widths can be provided for the separation of the gripping elements 31, 32 when the respective stack 40 is released. For example, it can be provided that receiving sections of several different lengths can be used in the same or in different containers 5. The control device 70 of the gripping device then controls the separation of the gripping elements 31, 32 such that the opening width when the valuable document stack is released is adapted to the length of the respective receiving section. The opening width when the stack 40 is released is preferably selected such that the gripping elements 31, 32 do not strike the separating elements 6 of the container 5 when moving apart. The opening width of the gripping elements can be varied continuously or discretely.For example, the opening width can be continuously varied by a stepper motor for moving the gripping elements 31, 32. In this exemplary embodiment, however, a discrete number of opening widths is predetermined in the gripping device 30 by several mechanical plungers which mechanically limit the movement apart of the gripping elements 31, 32 when the stack 40 is released and whose position is controlled by the control device 70 with the aid of stop magnets 33, cf. Fig. 2a. The position of the separating elements 6 along the respective container 5 can be the same for several containers of the same container type and can be predetermined for the respective container type. When using different container locations, the control device 70 has, for example, information about the predetermined position of the separating elements 6 or the receiving sections as a function of the container type and, if applicable, about the length of the receiving sections, e.g. in the form of a table.The information required for this purpose regarding the container type of the respective container to be filled can be preset on the filling device, entered by an operator, or automatically determined by the control device 70 based on identification data of the container 5. The control device 70 then controls the opening width of the gripping elements depending on the container type and, if applicable, depending on the respective receiving section to be filled (if the container type is known to have different sized receiving sections).

[0062] To determine the identification data of the respective container 5, the filling device 1 can have a reading device (not shown) in the area of ​​the feed interface 2, e.g., a barcode reader, QR code reader, or RFID reader, which is configured to read identification data of the container 5 fed to the filling device. The identification data of the container can, for example, be applied to the container in a machine-readable manner, such as a number sequence or barcode, or can be stored on a wirelessly readable transponder, such as an RFID tag, of the container 5.

[0063] If no container type is predetermined or the respective container does not belong to a predetermined container type, the position and length of the receiving sections or the separating elements of the respective container 5 can also be determined individually for the respective container 5. For this purpose, the filling device 1 in the feed section 12a, see Fig. 3e, can optionally have one or more light barriers (not shown) arranged above the feed section so that a container 5 located in the feed section - e.g., before or during its transport along the feed section - can be checked for the presence and position of separating elements 6. The control device 70 can then determine the length of the receiving sections of the container by calculating the difference between the position coordinates of the separating elements 6 along the longitudinal direction of the container and control the opening width of the gripping elements 31, 32 accordingly.

[0064] Based on the (predetermined or individually determined) position of the receiving sections or the separating elements 6, the control device 70 can, for example, determine receiving section information about the length of the receiving sections of the respective container or about a maximum number of value documents for the respective receiving section and transmit this receiving section information to the value document processing machine 60. The value document processing machine 60 can then control the quantity of value documents that it deposits in the output area 62 of the value document processing machine in the value document stack 40 for the respective receiving section of the respective container, depending on the receiving section information of the respective receiving section transmitted by the control device 70.

[0065] In particular, the control device 70 determines the length of the receiving sections of the container based on the position of the receiving sections or separating elements and from this a maximum number of valuable documents that the respective stack of valuable documents placed on the storage shelf may have (maximum) so that it fits into the respective receiving section 6a-f. For this purpose, a table can be stored in the control device 70 which specifies the maximum number of valuable documents as a function of the length of the receiving sections, e.g. 20 cm = 1000 valuable documents, 10 cm = 500 valuable documents, etc. Alternatively, the maximum number of valuable documents for the respective stack 40 can also be determined by the valuable document processing machine 60 based on the position of the receiving sections or the separating elements or the length of the receiving sections transmitted to it.

[0066] Figs. 3a-h show the step-by-step horizontal movement of a banknote container 5 through the filling device 1 and the insertion of banknote stacks 40 into the various receiving sections 6a, 6b of the value document container 5. First, the empty banknote container 5 is fed to the feeding interface 2 of the filling device 1, see Figs. 3a, 3b. The first subsection 12a of the feeding section 12a-b, beginning at the feeding interface 2, is horizontally offset and arranged directly adjacent to the output section 14.

[0067] In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport device of the filling device 1 has a horizontally displaceable carriage 7, which can be displaced by means of a drive device along the feed transport direction y (and back again) at least over a partial section 12a of the feed section. The carriage 7 is designed to receive the container (e.g. the container bottom or the container sides). The carriage has, for example, a flat receptacle on which the container can be placed, and optionally a stop against which the placed container can be pushed in order to bring the container into a defined position relative to the carriage 7. The banknote container 5 is pushed automatically or manually up to the stop of the carriage 7 and, if necessary, suspended there. The carriage 7 can, if necessary.by manually pushing it down, into a starting position in which a switch is actuated, which signals the successful feeding of the container to the filling device 1. The control device 80 controls the carriage 7 such that it transports the container 5 along the feed section 12a in the y-direction to the value document processing machine 60 until the container 5 engages with a transverse transport bracket 8, see Fig. 3c.

[0068] The cross-transport bracket 8 is horizontally displaceable transversely or perpendicularly to the feed transport direction (x-direction) by means of a bracket drive device. It is designed to accommodate one or more side walls of the container. The container is transported along the connecting section 12b by means of the cross-transport bracket 8, see Fig. 3d. The cross-transport bracket 8 then returns to its starting position.

[0069] After the transverse movement, the container 5 is then transported by means of a conveyor belt 9 opposite to the feed transport direction along the feed section 12c into the filling area 3 and stopped there, see Fig. 3e. The container is positioned such that the receiving section 6a to be filled is arranged at the predetermined filling position 13. Then, with the aid of the gripping device 30, the banknote stack 40 is removed from the value document processing device 60 and placed in the receiving section 6a, as described in connection with Figs. 2a-c, see Fig. 3f. Alternatively, other transport devices, e.g. transport rollers or several conveyor belts, can be used instead of the carriage 7 or conveyor belt 9 or transverse transport bracket 8. The container 5 is then moved further until the receiving section 6b is positioned at the filling position 13, see Fig. 3g.The next banknote stack 40 from the security document processing machine 60 is then inserted into the receiving section 6b, see Fig. 3h, as described in connection with Figs. 2a-c. In this way, the receiving sections 6a-f are filled with banknote stacks one after the other.

[0070] Due to the step-by-step transport of the various receiving sections 6a-f to the same filling position 13, the gripping device 30 does not need to travel to different filling positions, but can always travel to the same predetermined filling position 13 to fill the various receiving sections 6a-f. The gripper movement is therefore less complex and therefore requires less space. When all or a predetermined number of receiving sections of the container 5 are filled, the container 5 is transported in the output transport direction (-y) along the output section 14 to the output interface 4, where it can be removed manually or automatically.

[0071] In Fig. 4a-d, various embodiments of filling devices 1 with different transport paths of the containers 5 through the respective filling device 1 are shown schematically.

[0072] The embodiment of Fig. 4a has a transport path comparable to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3a-h, but without the third feed section 12c. The transport path of the containers from the feed interface 2 to the output interface 4 runs essentially horizontally throughout. The first subsection 12a of the feed section 12a-b, which begins at the feed interface 2, is horizontally offset and arranged directly adjacent to the output section 14. The connecting section 12b runs transversely or perpendicularly to the feed transport direction (y) or the output transport direction (-y) of the container, along the operator side of the value document processing machine 60 (-x direction). The filling area 3 is arranged along the transport path after the connecting section 12b. In the filling area 3, the container is filled step by step, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.The container's return journey from the security document processing machine to the output interface begins at filling area 3. On their transport path from the feed interface 2 to the output interface 4, the containers 5 are deflected horizontally twice in succession by 90°.

[0073] In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 4b, the transport path of the containers from the feed interface to the output interface also runs essentially horizontally throughout. Here, too, the feed section 12, beginning at the feed interface 2, is horizontally offset and arranged directly adjacent to the output section 14 or its subsection 14b, and the connecting section 14a runs transversely or perpendicularly to the feed transport direction or the output transport direction of the container, along the operator side of the value document processing machine 60 (x-direction). In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 4a, however, the filling area 3 is arranged upstream of the connecting section 14a along the transport path. The filling area 3 lies at the end of the container's outward path from the feed interface 2 to the value document processing machine 60.Here too, the containers are deflected horizontally by 90° twice in succession on their transport path from the feed interface 2 to the output interface 4 and filled step by step in the filling area 3, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. In the exemplary embodiments from Figs. 4c, 4d, the feed section and the output section run at least partially parallel to one another with opposite transport directions. In contrast to the exemplary embodiments from Figs. 4a and 4b, however, in the exemplary embodiments from Figs. 4c, 4d the feed section 12 or 12a and the output section 14b or 14 are at least partially vertically one above the other. This results in a space-saving construction of the filling device 1 in the lateral direction (x-direction) in front of the banknote processing machine 60. The filling area 3 is in this case in the upper area of ​​the filling device 1 orarranged in a vertical arrangement so that the gripping device 30 can insert the banknote stacks into the container 5 from above. The containers 5 are deflected twice in succession, by a total of 180°, on their transport path from the feed interface 2 to the output interface 4.

[0074] In the embodiment of Fig. 4c, at least the partial section 12a of the feed section, which is located in the lower region of the filling device 1, lies below the output section 14, with the transport direction running parallel to the opposite direction. The connecting section 12b of the feed section, in which the transport direction of the container runs vertically or diagonally upwards (z-direction), connects the lower and upper regions of the filling device. The filling region 3 and the output section 14 are located in the upper region of the filling device. The filling region 3 is followed by the return path of the container from the value document processing machine 60 to the output interface 4. The feed interface 2 is arranged in the lower region of the filling device.Along the transport path, the container first passes through the horizontal section 12a of the feed section and then the vertically / obliquely upwardly pointing connecting section 12b, and then reaches the filling area 3 in the upper area of ​​the filling device, possibly after a further horizontal section. After the step-by-step filling there, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the container 5 is then transported through the output section 14, which is located above the horizontal section 12a of the feed section, and thus to the output interface 4.

[0075] In the embodiment of Fig. 4d, the feed section 12 and the filling area 3 are located in the upper area of ​​the filling device 1, and a connecting section 14a of the output section, in which the transport direction of the container runs vertically or diagonally downwards (-z direction), connects the upper and lower areas of the filling device. The filling area 3 is located at the end of the container's outward path from the feed interface 2 to the value document processing machine 60. A partial section 14b of the output section, following the connecting section 14a, is located in the lower area of ​​the filling device and runs below the feed section, with the transport direction running parallel to it.Along the transport path, the container, after the feed interface 2, first passes through the horizontally extending feed section 12 in the upper area of ​​the filling device 1 and then, in the upper area of ​​the filling device, reaches the filling area 3, where it is filled step by step, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Subsequently, the container 5, after possibly passing through a further horizontal section of the output section, is transported vertically / obliquely downwards through the connecting section 14a of the output section and through the horizontal section 14b of the output section, which lies below the feed section 12, and thus to the output interface 4.

Claims

Patent claims Filling device (1) for filling containers (5) with stacks of valuable documents (2), in particular stacks of valuable documents which have been dispensed by a valuable document processing machine (60) in an output area (62) of the valuable document processing machine, wherein the containers each have one or more receiving sections which are each designed to receive a stack of valuable documents, wherein the filling device comprises: - a feed section (2) through which the containers to be filled with stacks of valuable documents are fed to the filling device, - an output interface (4) through which the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents are discharged from the filling device, - a transport route along which the containers can be transported from the feed interface to the output interface, - a filling area (3) in which a container supplied to the filling device can be positioned in order to fill it with stacks of valuable documents, - possibly a gripping device (30) which is configured to grip a stack of valuable documents (40), in particular a stack of valuable documents (40) placed in the output area (62) of the valuable document processing machine, and to place it into a receiving section (6a-f) of a container (5) positioned in the filling area (3) of the filling device (1) in order to fill the container with the stack of valuable documents and possibly further stacks of valuable documents, - at least one transport device (7, 8, 9) designed to transport one of the containers supplied to the filling device for filling from the feed interface (2) along the transport path to the filling area (3), and designed to carry the loaded- After filling, the filled containers are transported further along the transport route from the filling area to the output interface (4) of the filling device. - a control device (80) configured to control the transport of the respective container along the transport path by means of the transport device, wherein the control device or optionally a further control device (70) is configured to control the gripping of the stack of valuable documents (40), in particular the stack of valuable documents (40) placed in the output area (62), and the placement of the stack of valuable documents (40) in the container (5) by means of the gripping device (30). Filling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (80) is configured to control the transport device such that a container to be filled remains temporarily in the filling area (3) until the gripping device has placed several stacks of valuable documents into several receiving sections of the container. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container has at least two receiving sections and the control device (80) and optionally a further control device (70) are configured to control the stack of valuable documents (40) in the dispensing area (62) and the gripping device (30).The further control device (70) is / are configured to control the gripping device and, if applicable, the transport device such that several stacks of valuable documents, which have been dispensed by the valuable document processing machine, are successively placed into different receiving sections of the same container positioned in the filling area. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (80) is configured to… - to control the transport device (7, 8, 9) such that each receiving section of a container positioned in the filling area is arranged in a predetermined filling position (13) of the filling area (3), and - to control the transport device (9) in such a way that the respective container positioned in the filling area is transported step by step along a transport direction by means of the transport device (7, 8, 9) in such a way that different receiving sections of the same container are arranged successively at the predetermined filling position (13) and remain there temporarily until the gripping device has placed a stack of valuable documents in the respective receiving section of the container.

5. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device (7, 8, 9) has at least one first and at least one second transport device, wherein the at least one first transport device (7, 8) is configured to transport a container supplied to the filling device for filling from the feed interface (2) along the transport path to the filling area (3), and the at least one second transport device (9) is configured to transport the filled container further along the transport path from the filling area to the output interface (4) of the filling device after filling.

6. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport device, in particular the at least one first transport device (7, 8), is configured to transport the respective container along a feed transport direction from the feed interface (2) to the document processing machine (60), and The transport device (7, 8, 9), in particular the at least one second transport device (9), is configured to transport the respective container along an output transport direction from the document processing machine (60) to the output interface (4). Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport path of the containers in the filling device comprises a feed section (12, 12a-c) extending from the feed interface (2) to the filling area (3), and an output section (14, 14a-b) extending from the filling area (3) to the output interface (4), wherein the feed section and the output section are arranged in the filling device in such a way that they are separated from each other.Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed section (12, 12a-c) or at least a subsection of the feed section (12, 12a-c), in particular the first subsection (12a) beginning at the feed interface, is arranged vertically and / or horizontally offset, and preferably directly adjacent, to the filling area (3) and / or to the dispensing section (14, 14a-b) or at least a subsection of the dispensing section (14b), in particular to the subsection (14b) of the dispensing section ending at the dispensing interface. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport path of the containers in the filling device has a connecting section (12b, 14a) in which the transport direction of the container is transverse or perpendicular to the feed transport direction and / or to the. The output transport direction of the container runs, with the connecting section (12b, 14a) running in particular along the front of the security document processing machine (60).

10. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport directions of the container in the feed section and in the output section run at least partially oppositely parallel to each other, wherein the transport path of the containers in the filling device is preferably designed such that the containers are deflected twice, preferably by a total of 180°, on their transport path from the feed interface to the output interface, in particular deflected twice by 90°.

11. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport path of the containers from the feed interface to the output interface is continuously essentially horizontal and / or wherein the feed section and the output section are at least partially horizontally adjacent to each other and at least partially parallel to each other.

12. Filling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the feed section and the output section are at least partially vertically aligned and at least partially parallel to each other.

13. Filling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling device, in particular the control unit (80) or the further control unit (70), is configured to provide receiving section information about the receiving sections of the respective to be filled. to determine the position and / or length of the receiving sections along the container, and, if necessary, to transmit this information to the security document processing machine, wherein the control unit (80) or the further control unit (70) is specifically designed to control the opening width of gripping elements (31, 32) of the gripping device (30) when gripping the stack of security documents, depending on the receiving section information. Security document processing device (100) for processing security documents, in particular banknotes, with - a document processing machine (60) for processing, in particular checking and, if necessary, sorting documents of value, which is set up to output stacks (40) of processed documents of value in an output area (62) of the document processing machine, and - a filling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is configured for filling containers (5) with the stacks of security documents (40) dispensed from the security document processing machine (60). Method for filling containers (5) with stacks of security documents (40) using a filling device (1), in particular using the filling device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the filling device comprises - a feed section (2) through which the containers to be filled with stacks of valuable documents can be fed to the filling device, - an output interface (4) through which the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents are discharged from the filling device, - a transport route along which the containers can be transported from the feed interface to the output interface, - a filling area (3) arranged in relation to the transport path of the containers between the feed interface and the output interface, - at least one transport device (7, 8, 9) configured to transport a container supplied to the filling device for filling from the feed interface (2) along the transport path to the filling area (3), and configured to transport the filled container further along the transport path from the filling area to the output interface (4) of the filling device after filling, wherein the following steps are carried out in the method: - Feeding a container to the feed interface (2) of the filling device, - Transporting the supplied container (5) by means of the transport device of the filling device from the feed interface along the transport path to the filling area (3) of the filling device (1), - Filling the container (5) positioned in the filling area with at least one stack of valuable documents (40) by means of a gripping device which is designed to grip a stack of valuable documents (40) and, if necessary, to remove them from the output area of ​​a valuable document processing machine, and into a receiving section (6a-f) of the filling device (1) positioned in the filling area (3) to place the container (5) in order to fill the container with the stack of valuable documents and, if necessary, further stacks of valuable documents, - Transporting the container (5) filled with at least one stack of valuable documents (40) from the filling area to an output interface (4) of the filling device by means of the transport device of the filling device in order to discharge the containers filled with stacks of valuable documents from the filling device through the output interface (4).

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