Device and method for accumulating stacks of value documents

Abstract

The invention relates to an accumulation device (1) for accumulating stacks (11) of value documents (12). The device (1) comprises a base support structure (10) and a side support structure (20) together defining a receiving space (30) into which a stack (11) of value documents (12) is insertable. The side support structure (20) comprises one or more longitudinal openings (22) in which a gripping element (51) of a robot unit (50) can move from an open end region (32) towards the base support structure (10) during a placement of the stack (11) of value documents (12) onto the base support structure (10) such that the value documents (12) of the stack (11) of value documents (12) are arranged one upon the other within the receiving space (30). The invention further relates to an arrangement and to a method for accumulating stacks (11) of value documents (12).

Description

[0001] Device and method for accumulating stacks of value documents

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The disclosure generally relates to value document processing. In particular, the invention relates to a method and an accumulation device for accumulating stacks of value documents. The invention also relates to an arrangement including said accumulation device.

[0004] Technical Background

[0005] Value document processing devices are employed in a variety of applications, like for instance banknote processing devices. Such banknote processing devices may include banknote stacking systems, banknote sorting systems, banknote singling systems, or combinations thereof. Usually, value document trays are used to transport value documents to and from the respective value document processing device. For example, a robot unit may be used to remove the value documents from the value document processing device in order to place them into the tray. During the removal, the value documents may be present in a stacked form, i.e., in the form of value document stacks comprising multiple value documents, e.g., banknotes. However, some value document processing devices provide value document stacks with a small stacking size. Therefore, a lot of effort is generated to remove the stacks out of the value document processing device and to handle the value document stack in automatic subsequent processing.

[0006] Summary

[0007] It may be seen as an object of the invention to facilitate an automatic subsequent processing of value document stacks provided by a value document processing device. An accumulation device and a method according to the features of the independent claims are provided. Further embodiments are evident from the dependent claims and from the following description.

[0008] According to an aspect, an accumulation device for accumulating stacks of value documents, for example banknotes, is provided. The accumulation device comprises a base support structure configured to receive thereon a stack of value documents. The accumulation device further comprises a side support structure extending from the base support structure such that the base support structure and the side support structure together define a receiving space into which the stack of value documents is insertable. The side support structure defines an open end region opposite to the base support structure such that the stack of value documents is insertable through or via the open end region into the receiving space. The side support structure comprises a first side wall having one or more than one longitudinal openings extending between the base support structure and the open end region. The longitudinal opening / s of the first side wall is / are configured to allow a first gripping element of a robot unit to move within the longitudinal opening / s from the open end region towards the base support structure during a placement of the stack of value documents onto the base support structure such that the value documents of the stack of value documents are arranged one upon the other within the receiving space.

[0009] The inventive accumulation device allows two or more or multiple small stacks of value documents to be stacked one upon the other in order to form a large stack of value documents which consists of the two or more or multiple small stacks of value documents. It is thus possible to adjust a size or height of a stack of value documents before the stack is placed into a tray. In particular, a tray may comprise multiple tray compartments, each tray compartment having specified dimensions so that the size of the stacks to be inserted into the tray compartments should match the specified dimensions of the respective tray compartment. For example, a tray compartment may be dimensioned to receive a stack of 500 value documents, but a value document processing device may output only a stack of 100 value documents. Placing the stacks of 100 value documents directly into the tray compartment would thus lead to a nonoccupied space in the tray compartment, wherein a subsequent filling of this nonoccupied space in the tray compartment might lead to difficulties. The inventive accumulation device overcomes this issue since multiple stacks of 100 value documents output by the value document processing device can be collected within the accumulation device in order to achieve a larger stack with an adjusted size which can be inserted into the respective tray compartment. With respect to the above-given example, this would mean that five stacks of 100 value documents are collected within the accumulation device before the resulting large stack of 500 value documents is inserted into the tray compartment. The large stack of 500 value documents may thus properly fit into the tray compartment and no non-occupied space is left over in the tray compartment. The basic principle of this example can be transferred to an arbitrary number of value documents and to arbitrary stack sizes.

[0010] The configuration of the accumulation device may allow a robot unit, in particular a gripping element of the robot unit, to be at least partially inserted into the receiving space of the accumulation device such that the stack of value documents can be placed in a manner that the value documents within that stack of value documents are arranged one upon the other, i.e., on top of each other, within the receiving space. In other words, the stacks are arrangeable within the receiving space of the accumulation device such that the value documents are stacked on the base support structure. For example, a first stack of value documents may be placed onto the base structure, wherein the first stack of value documents has a lowermost value document which represents the lower end of the first stack, and which therefore directly lies on a support surface of the base support structure. The first stack of value documents may also have an uppermost value document which represents the upper end of the first stack. Afterwards, a second stack of value documents can be placed onto the uppermost value document of the first stack. That is, a lowermost value document of the second stack may directly lie on the uppermost value documents of the first stack. The second stack may have an uppermost value document onto which a further stack can be placed. This procedure can be repeated until a desired size of an accumulated stack is reached.

[0011] The base support structure may represent a bottom support of the accumulation device which supports the multiple stacks collected within the receiving space. The side support structure may extend upwardly from the base support structure to provide a lateral support for the value documents stacked onto the base support structure. In particular, the side support structure may provide a lateral limitation, for example a wall-like structure that prevents the stacked value documents from falling out of the accumulation device. The side support structure may laterally enclose the receiving space in which the stacked value documents are located. The side support structure further defines the open end region which may represent an opening at the top of the accumulation device via which the receiving space is accessible and, thus, via which the individual stacks of value documents can be consecutively inserted into the receiving space and via which the accumulated stacks of value documents can be collectively, e.g., simultaneously, removed from the receiving space.

[0012] The longitudinal opening / s may be connected to the open end region so that a gripping element of the robot unit can be lowered into the longitudinal opening / s. In particular, the longitudinal opening / s may extend the entire way down to the base support structure such that the gripping element of the robot unit can lower the first stack of value documents down towards the base support structure and / or such that the gripping element of the robot unit can lay the first stack of value documents down onto the base support structure, in particular onto a placement surface or support surface of the base support structure. The longitudinal opening / s may extend even beyond the placement surface or support surface of the base support structure such that the gripping element of the robot unit can be removed in a sideward direction from the accumulation device after it has placed the first stack of value documents onto the placement surface or support surface of the base support structure.

[0013] The longitudinal opening / s may have the shape of longitudinal slots. These longitudinal slots may be arranged in one or two side walls of the side support structure, wherein the longitudinal slots are complementary with one or more fingers of the gripping element of the robot unit, so that the finger / s of the gripping element can dip into the longitudinal slots when placing the value document stacks into the accumulation device.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the longitudinal opening / s of the first side wall extend / s from the open end region to the base support structure such that the longitudinal opening / s is / are configured to allow the first gripping element of the robot unit to be inserted into an access region between the base support structure and a lowermost value document of the stack of value documents, for lifting the stack of value documents out of the receiving space.

[0015] The configuration of the longitudinal opening / s starting at the open end region and extending at least down to the base support structure provides the possibility that the gripping element of the robot unit can be inserted in a sideward direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall, into the access region of the accumulation device such that the gripping element can be inserted under the lowermost value document of the stack of value documents. A subsequent lifting of the gripping element, i.e., in a direction parallel to the first side wall and / or parallel to the longitudinal opening / s, may provide a lifting motion to the stack of value documents, thereby moving the stack away from the base support structure. During this lifting, the gripping element may move within and along the longitudinal opening / s, for example when removing the accumulated large stack with the desired stack size. According to an embodiment, the base support structure comprises a support surface having parallel one or more recesses into which the first gripping element of the robot unit is insertable for lifting the stack of value documents within the receiving space.

[0016] It is possible, that the parallel recess / es define / s the above-mentioned access region between the base support structure and a lowermost value document of the stack of value documents. In other words, one or more fingers of the gripping element of the robot unit may be introduced into complementary recess / es while moving the fingers in the direction perpendicular to the first side wall. After the one or more fingers have been introduced into their complementary recess / es, the gripping element may be lifted towards the open end region of the side support structure to lift the collected stack of value documents out of the receiving space.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the longitudinal opening / s at least partially overlap with the parallel recess / es of the support surface in order to allow the first gripping element of the robot unit to be inserted through the longitudinal opening / s and into the parallel recess / es.

[0018] In other words, the longitudinal opening / s are connected to the parallel recess / es such that the gripping element of the robot unit can move from the reces / ses to the longitudinal opening / s in the first side wall without removing the gripping element from the accumulation device. This means that, when introducing a stack of value documents into the receiving space, the configuration of the accumulation device allows the gripping element to be lowered until the stack value documents is laid onto the placement or support surface of the base support structure so that the gripping element can be removed from the accumulation device in the sideward direction without interacting with the stack of value documents. After an accumulated stack consisting of small stacks of value documents has been collected within the receiving space, the gripping element can again be introduced in a sideward direction into the accumulation device without interacting with the accumulated stack of value documents such that the accumulated stack of value documents can then be lifted out of the receiving pace while the gripping element moves within the longitudinal opening / s.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the longitudinal openings of the first side wall are separated by parallel bar elements of the first side wall, the bar elements being connected to the base support structure and extending therefrom towards the open end region.

[0020] The bar elements may be present in the form of rigid rods or posts that protrude away from the base support structure. The base support structure may have a rectangular shape which is defined by corresponding side edges. The bar elements of the first side wall may be arranged at a first side edge of the base support structure. The bar elements may comprise free ends at the open end region of the side support structure.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the accumulation device comprises a compression element for compressing the stack of value documents being arranged within the receiving space.

[0022] In particular, the accumulation device may comprise a compression unit which includes an actuation mechanism and the compression element. The compression element may be pivotably attached to the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism may be attached to a frame of the accumulation device and may activate a pivot movement of the compression element which may press or push the compression element onto the uppermost value document of the stacks of value documents collected within the receiving space of the accumulation device. Upon actuation, the compression element may be configured to reach into the receiving space during the pivot movement of the compression element. For example, the compression element may reach through the longitudinal opening / s during the pivot movement of the compression element. According to an embodiment, the compression element comprises one or more finger elements configured to be inserted into longitudinal opening / s of a second side wall and configured to be moved within the longitudinal openings of the second side wall towards the base support structure in order to compress the stack of value documents arranged within the receiving space.

[0023] Upon actuation, the finger elements of the compression element may be pivoted into the receiving space, thereby pressing or pushing the finger element / s against the uppermost value document of the stacks of value documents collected within the receiving space of the accumulation device. In other words, the finger element / s of the compression element dip / s into the longitudinal opening / s of the second side wall towards the base support structure during the pivot movement of the finger element / s. In this manner, the often bulky or fluffy value document stacks in the accumulation device are compressed from above with the compression element so that, afterwards, the robot unit can grip the compressed stacks securely and with a small opening width of its gripping elements.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the second side wall is arranged opposite to the first side wall such that the receiving space is arranged between the first side wall and the second side wall.

[0025] The second side wall may be similarly or equally constructed as the first side wall. In particular, the second side wall may include bar elements extending from a second side edge of the base support structure, wherein the bar elements of the second side wall define the longitudinal opening / s within the second side wall. The side support structure may further comprise a third side wall and a fourth side wall opposite to the third side wall with respect to the receiving space. Thus, the first, second, third and fourth side wall may together define the receiving space. According to an embodiment, the accumulation device comprises a pivot element which is configured to adjust an inclined orientation of the base support structure with respect to a floor element.

[0026] That is, the base support structure and thus also the side support structure may together be inclined or tilted with respect to the floor element of the environment on which a frame or a foot of the accumulation device is standing. For example, the base support structure may be tilted towards one of the side walls or towards one comer of the base support structure, meaning that the base support structure and the side support structure may be tilted in one or two directions. This tilting of the base support structure and the side support structure may ensure an alignment of the stacks of value documents consecutively placed into the receiving space. For example, due to the tilting of the base support structure towards one side wall / corner, the value documents of the stacks received within the receiving space will abut against the one or two side walls of the side support structure which enables an alignment of the individual value documents of the received stacks.

[0027] Furthermore, it may be possible that a size of the receiving space is adjustable, for example by moving one or more of the side walls with respect to the base support structure, etc.

[0028] According to an aspect, an arrangement for accumulating stacks of value documents is provided. The arrangement comprises at least one accumulation device as described herein. The arrangement further comprises a robot unit having a gripping unit for gripping a stack of value documents. The accumulation device is preferably arranged within an working range of the robot unit. The arrangement may further comprise a value document processing device and / or a value document container / tray and / or an aligning device that are described later on. The arrangement further comprises a control unit for controlling a movement of the robot unit. The control unit is configured to control the robot unit to place a first stack of value documents into the accumulation device and to place at least one (one or more) second stacks of value documents, preferably of the same condition (e.g. unfit or fit or ATM-fit) and / or of the same type (for example denomination and / or currency) as the first stack of value documents, into the accumulation device such that the first and second stacks of value documents are arranged one upon the other within the accumulation device.

[0029] For instance, the control unit is configured to control the robot unit to consecutively, i.e. one after the other, place multiple stacks of value documents into the accumulation device such that the multiple stacks of value documents are arranged one upon the other within the accumulation device. An exemplary control sequence applied by the control unit will be described in the following.

[0030] The control unit may be configured to control the robot unit to adapt an orientation of the at least one second stack of value documents based on a predefined orientation scheme, before placing the second stack of value documents into the receiving space of the accumulation device, in particular such that the orientation of the second stack of value documents is the same as the orientation of the first stack of value documents.

[0031] The control unit can control the robot unit to grip the first stack of value documents, for example using gripping elements of the robot unit, and to remove this first stack of value documents from an output module of a value document processing device, that is configured for checking value documents, or from another device, for example an aligning device for value document stacks, that is configured to receive a value document stack and to align the value document edges of the value document stack. Afterwards, the robot unit may be controlled to place the removed first stack of value documents into the receiving space of the accumulation device. As it is the first stack of value documents placed into the yet empty accumulation device, the control unit may control the gripping elements of the robot unit to lower the gripping elements into the receiving space until the first stack of value documents is laid on a placement or support surface of the base support structure of the accumulation device. In particular, the gripping elements may move within the longitudinal opening / s of the first side wall during the lowering of the gripping elements. Afterwards, the control unit can control the robot unit to release the first stack of value documents by moving the gripping elements away from each other. Thus, the gripping elements can be removed from the receiving space in a sideward direction, i.e., perpendicular to the first side wall, without interacting with the first stack of value documents that has been placed onto the base support structure.

[0032] The control unit can then control the robot unit to grip a second stack of value documents and to remove this second stack of value documents from the output module of the value document processing device or from the other device, for example from the aligning device. The second stack may have the same condition and / or the same type, for example denomination and / or currency, as the first stack of value documents. Afterwards, the robot unit may be controlled to also place the second stack of value documents into the receiving space of the accumulation device. As it is the second stack of value documents placed into the accumulation device, the control unit may control the gripping elements of the robot unit to lower the gripping elements into the receiving space until one of the gripping elements has reached the uppermost value document of the first stack. In particular, the gripping elements may move within the longitudinal opening / s of the first side wall during the lowering of the gripping elements towards the base support structure. Afterwards, the control unit can control the robot unit to release the second stack of value documents by moving the gripping elements away from each other. Thus, the gripping elements can be removed from the receiving space in a sideward direction, i.e., perpendicular to the first side wall. This procedure can be repeated with one or more further stacks of value documents to be removed from the output module of the value document processing device or from an output module of another device, for example from the aligning device, and to be collected within the accumulation device. Thus, the inventive arrangement allows multiple stacks of value documents to be consecutively and individually placed within the accumulation device, wherein the stacks are placed into the accumulation device one after the other.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to control the robot unit or a further robot unit to collectively remove the first and second (or multiple) stacks of value documents from the accumulation device (i.e. not the first and second stack individually, but the combined stack) and to place them collectively into a value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or of the further robot unit, respectively. An exemplary control sequence will be described in the following.

[0034] In contrast to the consecutive placement of the individual (small) stacks into the accumulation device, the control unit can control the robot unit or the further robot unit, in particular the gripping elements of the robot unit, to grip all value documents in the receiving space of the accumulation device and to collectively remove all value documents in the form of a single (large) stack of value documents from the accumulation device. In particular, a first gripping element may be inserted below the lowermost value document in the accumulation device, i.e., between the lowermost value document and the base support structure. This insertion of the first gripping element may be carried out by a sideward movement of the first gripping element which is perpendicular to the first side wall. At the same time, a second gripping element of the robot unit may be arranged above the uppermost value document in the accumulation device. Afterwards, the gripping elements may be moved towards each other to clamp the single (large) stack of value documents between the first and the second gripping element. The gripping elements may be moved within and along the longitudinal opening / s in the first side wall while being moved towards each other. Afterwards, the gripped single (large) stack of value documents can be lifted and removed from the accumulation device. During the lifting the gripping elements may move withing the longitudinal opening / s, away from the base support structure and towards the open end region of the side support structure, thereby collectively, i.e., as a package, removing the single (large) stack of value documents from the accumulation device.

[0035] In particular the control unit may be configured to control the robot unit to collectively insert the removed single (large) stack of value documents into a value document container (that is preferably open on its top side), e.g. into a compartment of a value document container / tray, preferably such that the value documents of the inserted (single / large) stack are standing on their edges in the container. This arrangement of the value documents standing on their edges allows to keep large stacks of value documents densely in the container while they are still easily removable from the container by gripping elements of a robot unit from the top side of the container.

[0036] Additionally or alternatively, the control unit may be configured to control the robot unit to collectively insert the removed single (large) stack of value documents into an ATM-cassette. Preferably, value document stacks of the same type (currency and denomination) having a good condition (fit), removed from one or from more than one accumulation devices, are inserted into the respective ATM-cassette.

[0037] According to an embodiment the accumulation device is assigned to at least one specific condition and / or to at least one specific type, for example currency and / or denomination, of value documents, and the value documents of the at least one second stack of value document are of the assigned condition / s and / or of the assigned type / s of the accumulation device, for example currency and / or denomination. Especially the value documents of the at least one second stack of value document may be of the same condition and / or type, for example currency and / or denomination, as the value documents of the first stack. And the arrangement further comprises at least one (one or more) further / second of the accumulation devices, e.g. identical or similar to the first accumulation device. The further / second accumulation device is assigned to a specific other condition and / or other type, for example currency and / or denomination, of value documents, than the (first) accumulation device. The control unit may then be configured to control the robot unit to remove the first and second stacks of value documents from a value document processing device or from a value document aligning device and to place the removed first and second stacks of value documents into the (first) accumulation device or into the further / second accumulation device in dependence of the condition and / or type, e.g. currency and / or denomination, of the value documents of the first and second stack.

[0038] According to an embodiment the accumulation device is assigned to more than one specific conditions (e.g. fit and ATM-fit) and / or more than one specific types (for example more than one denomination of a specific currency) of value documents, and the value documents of the first and of the at least one second stack of value document both belong to the assigned condition / s and / or the assigned type / s or value documents.

[0039] According to an embodiment the accumulation device (of the first value document stack) is a first accumulation device and the arrangement further comprises a second accumulation devices (identical or similar to the first accumulation device) arranged within a working range of the robot unit. The first and the second accumulation devices are assigned to different conditions and / or types, for example currencies and / or denominations, of value documents. The control unit has access to information about the assignment of the first and second accumulation devices to the conditions and / or different types of value documents. The control unit is configured control the robot unit to place one or more third value document stacks of a different condition and / or type, e.g. denomination and / or currency, than the first and the second stack, into the second accumulation device. Thereby, value document stacks of different condition and / or type are accumulated and sorted in one step.

[0040] According to an aspect, a method for accumulating stacks of value documents is provided. A step of the method comprises removing, by a robot unit, a first stack of value documents from a value document processing device or from a value document aligning device and placing the removed first stack by the robot unit into a receiving space of a first accumulation device, e.g., the accumulation device as described herein. Another step of the method comprises removing, by the robot unit, a second stack of value documents, preferably of a condition and / or of a value document type assigned to the first accumulation device, e.g. of the same condition and / or the same type (denomination and / or currency) as the first stack of value documents, from the value document processing device or from the value document aligning device and placing the removed second stack into the receiving space of the first accumulation device and arranging the second stack of value documents on top of the first stack of value documents. Another step of the method comprises collectively removing the first stack of value documents and the second stack of value documents from the first accumulation device and, preferably, placing the first stack and the second stack collectively into a value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or the further robot unit, respectively. The method steps may be performed in the indicated order.

[0041] According to an embodiment, another step of the method comprises adapting, by the robot unit, an orientation of the second stack of value documents based on a predefined orientation scheme, before placing the second stack of value documents into the receiving space of the first accumulation device, in particular such that the orientation of the second stack is the same as the orientation of the first stack. According to an embodiment, the method comprises the further steps assigning the first accumulation device and a second one of the accumulation devices ((identical or similar to the first accumulation device), both arranged within a working range of the robot unit, to different conditions and / or different types, e.g. denominations and / or currencies, of value documents, and removing, by the robot unit, one or more third stacks of value documents of the different condition and / or different type, for example denomination and / or currency, than the first and the second stack, from the same or from another value document processing device or from the same or from another value document aligning device, and placing the third stack / s of value documents into the receiving space of the second accumulation device.

[0042] For instance, the robot places a third stack, removed from a value document processing device or from a value document aligning device and a fourth stack removed from the value document processing device or from the value document aligning device, into the receiving space of the second accumulation device, wherein the robot places them such that the more third and fourth stack are arranged on top of each other in the receiving space.

[0043] Furthermore, the robot unit or a further robot unit may collectively remove the first stack and the second stack from the first accumulation device and place them collectively into a first value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or the further robot unit, respectively. And the robot unit or the further robot unit may remove the third stack and the fourth stack collectively from the second accumulation device and may place them into a second value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or the further robot unit, or into a different one of at least two compartments of the first container than the compartment the first and second stack have been placed. According to an embodiment, another step of the method comprises removing, by the robot unit, the third stack of value documents from a value document processing device or from a value document aligning device. Another step of the method comprises assigning the third stack of value documents to a second accumulation device based on a predefined sorting scheme. Another step of the method comprises placing the third stack of value documents into the receiving space of the second accumulation device, in response to assigning the third stack of value documents to the second accumulation device.

[0044] According to an embodiment, another step of the method comprises removing, by the robot unit, a fourth stack of value documents from the value document processing device or from the value document aligning device. Another step of the method comprises assigning the fourth stack of value documents to the second accumulation device based on the predefined sorting scheme. Another step of the method comprises placing the fourth stack of value documents into the receiving space of the second accumulation device, in response to assigning the fourth stack of value documents to the second accumulation device. The fourth stack may have the same conditions and / or type, for example denomination and / or currency, as the third stack of value documents, that is different from the condition and / or type, for example denomination and / or currency, of the first stack and second stack.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the robot unit places unfit value documents of two or more than two types (two or more currencies and / or two or more denominations) into one and the same accumulation device, i.e. unfit value documents of different types may be mixed in the respective accumulation device. Thereby, the value document processing device, that provides the value documents for the accumulation devices, is not required to sort different types (e.g. currencies and / or denominations) of unfit value documents for these mixed currencies and / or denominations. Therefore, a value document processing device with a lower number of stackers can be used for to provide the value document stacks.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the arrangement may comprise two or more than two of the accumulation devices, that receive value documents of the same condition and / or type (currency and denomination). Thereby, more receiving space for frequent conditions and / or types of value documents is provided, e.g. for fit value documents of EUR50 fit banknotes.

[0047] Brief description of the drawings

[0048] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0049] Fig. 1 shows an accumulation device for accumulating stacks of value documents.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows an arrangement including the accumulation device of Fig. 1

[0051] Fig. 3 shows a value document processing environment including the accumulation device of Fig. 1.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method for accumulating stacks of value documents.

[0053] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0054] The representations and illustrations in the drawings may be schematic and not to scale. A better understanding of the accumulation device, the arrangement and the method described above may be obtained through a review of the shown illustrations together with a review of the detailed description that follows. Throughout the Figures, same reference numerals denote the same or at least similar elements.

[0055] Fig. 1 shows an accumulation device 1 for accumulating stacks 11 of value documents 12, for example banknotes 12. The accumulation device 1 comprises a base support structure 10 on which a first stack 11 of value documents 12 can be placed. The accumulation device 1 further comprises a side support structure 20 upwardly extending from the base support structure 10, wherein the base support structure 10 and the side support structure 20 together define a receiving space 30 into which said first stack 11 of value documents 12 is insertable. The side support structure 20 defines an open end region 32 opposite to the base support structure 10 such that the first stack 11 of value documents 12 is insertable through the open end region 32 into the receiving space 30. The side support structure 20 comprises a first side wall 21 having longitudinal openings 22 extending between the base support structure 10 and the open end region 32. The longitudinal openings 22 may be defined by longitudinal bar elements 23 extending from a first side edge of the base support structure 10. The longitudinal openings 22 of the first side wall 21 may be slots that allow a first gripping element a robot unit (not shown in Fig. 1) to move within the longitudinal openings 22 from the open end region 32 towards the base support structure 10 during a placement of the first stack 11 of value documents 12 onto the base support structure 10 such that the value documents 12 of the first stack 11 of value documents 12 are arranged one upon the other within the receiving space 30.

[0056] It is particularly noted that the value documents 12 of the inserted first stack 11 may not be lying on their edges, but may instead be lying on the base support structure in a stacked manner. That is, a lowermost value document 12a may face a support surface 14 or placement surface 14, i.e., the lowermost value document 12a may directly lie on the support surface 14 or placement surface 14. All remaining value documents 12 of the stack 11 are stacked one upon the other onto the lowermost value document 12a. The longitudinal openings 22 of the first side wall 21 may extend from the open end region 32 down to the base support structure 10 which allows the first gripping element of the robot unit to be inserted into an access region 13 between the base support structure 10 and the lowermost value document 12a of the stack 11 of value documents 12. When inserted, the first gripping element of the robot unit may thus be able to lift a larger accumulated stack of value documents 12 out of the receiving space 30. In particular, the first gripping element of the robot unit may be considered to act similar to a forklift.

[0057] The support surface 14 or placement surface 14 may include a set of parallel and longitudinal recesses 15 into which the first gripping element can be inserted for placing the first stack onto the support surface 14 or placement surface 14, or for lifting the larger accumulated stack of value documents 12 out of the receiving space 30. The longitudinal openings 22 at least partially overlap with the parallel recesses 15 of the support surface 14 such that, after insertion into the recesses 15, the first gripping element may move upwardly within the longitudinal openings while being inserted in the receiving space 30.

[0058] The accumulation device 1 further comprises a compression element 61 for compressing the stack 11 of value documents 12 being placed within the receiving space 30. The compression element 61 comprises finger elements 62 each of which can be inserted into longitudinal openings 24 of a second side wall 25. The finger elements 62 can be moved within the longitudinal openings 24 towards the base support structure 10 in order to compress the stack 11 of value documents 12 placed within the receiving space 30. In particular, the finger elements 62 may press against an uppermost value document 12, thereby compressing the entire stack 11 of value documents 12, for example after several stacks 11 of value documents 12 have been inserted into the receiving space 30. This may be advantageous since stacked value documents 12 may sometimes be bulky which would require the gripping elements of the robot unit to open up widely in order to grip the entire stack 11. However, when being compressed, the height of the stack 11 may be reduced such that the gripping elements of the robot unit may not be required to open up that widely.

[0059] There may be four longitudinal openings 24 in the second side wall 25 such that a compression element 61 having four finger elements 62 may be inserted into longitudinal openings 24 and lowered within the receiving space 30. In particular, each finger element 62 of the compression element 61 may be inserted into a respective one of the longitudinal openings 24 of the second side wall 25. The compression element 61 may be a pivotably movable component that is actuated by an actuation mechanism of a compression unit 60. The actuation mechanism may include a pneumatic compressor. The longitudinal openings 24 of the second side wall 25 are defined or separated by bar elements 26.

[0060] The side support structure 20 may further comprise a third side wall 27 and a fourth side wall 28 opposite to the third side wall with respect to the receiving space 30. Thus, the first side wall 21, the second side wall 25, the third side wall 27 and the fourth side wall 28 may together define the receiving space 30. These walls may provide a lateral limitation of the accumulation device 1 and may thus provide positional stability to the stacks 11 received in the accumulation device 1.

[0061] The accumulation device 1 may further comprise a pivot element 70 which is configured to adjust and / or maintain an inclined orientation of the base support structure 10 with respect to a floor element 80 within a surrounding environment. For example, the pivot element 70 may maintain a pivoted or tilted orientation of the base support structure 10 with respect to a foot element 90 with which the accumulation device 1 is standing on the floor element 80. Fig. 2 shows an arrangement 100 including the accumulation device 1 of Fig. 1. In particular, the arrangement 100 comprises the accumulation device 1 of Fig. 1 and four further accumulation devices 2, 3, 4, 5, wherein each of the further accumulation devices 2, 3, 4, 5 may be equal to the accumulation device 1 as described with respect to Fig. 1. All accumulation devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may be arranged on a floor element 80 within a value document processing environment.

[0062] The arrangement 100 comprises a robot unit 50 having a gripping unit 55 for gripping stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id of value documents 12. The arrangement 100 further comprises a control unit 56 for controlling a movement of the robot unit 50. The control unit 56 is configured to control the robot unit 50 to consecutively place the stacks I la, 1 lb (and possibly one or more further stacks of value documents) 12 into the accumulation device 1 such that the stacks I la, 1 lb of value documents 12 are arranged one upon the other within the accumulation device 1.

[0063] In particular, the arrangement 100 may provide a robot gripping unit 55 which is controlled by the control unit 56 and which is used to successively, i.e., one after the other, insert several small stacks I la, 1 lb of value documents 12, one on top of the other, into the accumulation device 1 in order to collect them within the accumulation device 1 so as to form a larger stack of value documents 12 consisting of a combination of the small stacks I la, 11b and possibly further small stacks. The larger collected value document stack is then, in its entirety, removed from the accumulation device 1 by the gripping unit 55 or by a gripping unit of another robot unit and placed, for example, in a value document container 300, e.g., a value document tray 300. In particular, the larger collected value document stack is inserted into a tray compartment of the value document tray 300.

[0064] The gripping unit 55 may comprise a first gripping element 51 and a second gripping element 52. The gripping elements 51, 52 can be moved towards each other to provide a clamping force on the gripped stacks of value documents 12 and can be moved away from each other to release the gripped stacks of value documents 12.

[0065] The arrangement 100 may further comprise a value document processing device 200 having a value document output unit 210 with multiple value document output compartments, e.g. for different conditions and / or types of value documents and / or authenticity and / or orientation. In addition, the arrangement 100 may also comprise a value document aligning device (not shown) within reach of the gripping unit 55.

[0066] In an example, the value document processing device 200 stacks 100 value documents in each of its output compartments, i.e., provides multiple stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id each having 100 value documents. However, since the respective compartments of the value document tray 300 may be sized to accommodate 400 or 500 value documents, for example in order to fill them into ATM cassettes in a later step, the accumulation device 1 provides the possibility to collect several stacks I la, 11b, 11c, 1 Id of value documents, each having 100 value documents, from the output compartments of the value document processing device 200. These several stacks I la, 1 lb, 11c, l id of 100 value documents can be accumulated within the accumulation device 1 until a large stack of 400 value documents or a large stack of 500 value documents has been accumulated, see Fig. 2. This accumulated large stack of 500 value documents may then be removed from the accumulation device 1 and placed into a respective compartment of the value document tray 300. In other words, the accumulation device 1 provides the possibility that four or five smaller packages of 100 value documents are accumulated to form a larger package of 400 or 500 value documents, respectively.

[0067] During the transport of the smaller stacks of value documents 12 from the value document processing device 200 or from the aligning device to the accumulation device 1, a sorting of the value document stacks can be performed, e.g., according to a predefined sorting scheme, for example according to a denomination and / or an orientation and / or an authenticity and / or a condition (e.g. fit, unfit, ATM-fit) of each value document stack. For example, Figure 3 shows a situation in which a first value document stack 1 la, a second value document stack 1 lb are inserted into the first accumulation device 1, based on the predefined sorting scheme, and a third value document stack 11c and a fourth value document stack 1 Id are inserted into the second accumulation device 2, based on the predefined sorting scheme. In an example, there may be one or more accumulation devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for each denomination.

[0068] Furthermore, the value document stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id can be rotated by the robot unit before placing them into the respective accumulation device, so that they end up in the respective accumulation device 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the same orientation of the possible four orientations (face up / down and image upside or upside down). This may facilitate the further use of the value documents at later processing steps and / or may avoid a later sorting.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows a value document processing environment 1000 including the accumulation device 1 of Fig. 1 and / or the arrangement 100 of Fig. 2.

[0070] The value document processing environment 1000 comprises an aligning device 400, a first robot unit 500, a second robot unit 50, e.g., the robot unit 50 of Fig. 2, above and optionally a third robot unit (not shown). The remaining components of the value document processing environment 1000 were already explained with respect to Fig. 2 to which reference is made. The control unit 56 is configured to control the individual components of the value document processing environment 1000. An example how the value document processing environment 1000 can be controlled by the control unit 56 will be given in the following.

[0071] In an example, the first robot unit 500 consecutively removes stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id of value documents 12 from the same or from different compartments of the output module 210 of the value document processing device 200, wherein the stacks 1 la, 1 lb, 11c, l id consist of value documents 12 that were checked by the value document processing device 200. Each stack I la, 11b, 11c, l id may include 100 value documents. The first robot unit 500 consecutively transports these value document stacks I la, 11b, 11c, 1 Id to an aligning device 400, where the value document edges of each value document stack I la, 11b, 11c, 1 Id are consecutively aligned. The second robot unit 50 then consecutively grips each stack I la, 11b, 11c, l id via a long edge of the value documents and removes the value document stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id from the aligning device 400 and transports each of the stacks I la, 11b, 11c, l id individually to the respective one of the several accumulation devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to collect them therein. The second robot unit 50 or the third robot unit 600 may then consecutively remove the collected large value document stacks from the accumulation devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and place them into one or in different compartments of the value document tray 300, for example a so-called “handover element”. The collected large value document stacks may be present in the form of stacks comprising 200-500. The value document tray 300 can then be transported away after it has been filled with the large stacks, for example by a transport mechanism for trays or by a further device providing the respective tray 300 in the working range of the second robot unit 50.

[0072] Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method for accumulating stacks of value documents, for example using the arrangement 100 as described with respect to Figure 2 and / or using the value document processing environment 1000 as described with respect to Figure 3. Therefore, with respect to the individual components being part of the method, reference is also made to Figures 1 to 3 above.

[0073] A step S10 of the method comprises placing, by a robot unit 50, a first stack 1 la of value documents 12 into a receiving space 30 of a first accumulation device 1, e.g., the accumulation device 1 as described with respect to Figure 1. Another step S30 of the method comprises placing, by the robot unit 50, a second stack 1 lb of value documents 12 into the receiving space 30 of the first accumulation device 1 and arranging the second stack 1 lb of value documents 12 on top of the first stack 1 la of value documents 12. Another step S40 of the method comprises collectively removing the first stack 1 la of value documents 12 and the second stack 1 lb of value documents 12 from the first accumulation device 1.

[0074] For example, another step S20 of the method may comprise adapting, by the robot unit 50, an orientation of the second stack 1 lb of value documents 12 based on a predefined orientation scheme, before placing the second stack 1 lb of value documents 12 into the receiving space 30 of the first accumulation device 1. For example, the second stack 1 lb may be reoriented by once or twice rotating the gripping unit 55 of the robot unit 50 such that the second stack 1 lb may be placed into the first accumulation device 1 in the same orientation (of the possible four orientations) as the first stack I la has been placed into the first accumulation device 1.

[0075] Another step S50a of the method may comprise removing, by a robot unit 50, a third stack 11c of value documents 12 from a value document processing device 200 or from a value document aligning device 400. Another step S60a of the method may comprise assigning the third stack 11c of value documents 12 to a second accumulation device 2 based on the predefined sorting scheme based on a predefined sorting scheme. Another step S70a of the method may comprise placing the third stack 11c of value documents 12 into a receiving space 30 of the second accumulation device 1, in response to assigning the third stack 11c of value documents 12 to the second accumulation device 1.

[0076] Another step S50b of the method may comprise removing, by a robot unit 50, a fourth stack 1 Id of value documents 12 from the value document processing device 200 or from the value document aligning device 400. Another step S60b of the method may comprise assigning the fourth stack 1 Id of value documents 12 to the second accumulation device 2 based on the predefined sorting scheme. Another step S70b of the method may comprise placing the fourth stack l id of value documents 12 into the receiving space of the second accumulation device 2, in response to assigning the fourth stack l id of value documents 12 to the second accumulation device 2.

Claims

Claims1. An accumulation device (1) for accumulating stacks (11) of value documents (12), comprising: a base support structure (10) configured to receive thereon a stack (11) of value documents (12); a side support structure (20) extending from the base support structure (10) such that the base support structure (10) and the side support structure (20) together define a receiving space (30) into which the stack (11) of value documents (12) is insertable; wherein the side support structure (20) defines an open end region (32) opposite to the base support structure (10) such that the stack (11) of value documents (12) is insertable through the open end region (32) into the receiving space (30); wherein the side support structure (20) comprises a first side wall (21) having one or more than one longitudinal openings (22) extending between the base support structure (10) and the open end region (32); wherein the longitudinal opening / s (22) of the first side wall (21) is / are configured to allow a first gripping element (51) of a robot unit (50) to move within the longitudinal opening / s (22) from the open end region (32) towards the base support structure (10) during a placement of the stack (11) of value documents (12) onto the base support structure (10) such that the value documents (12) of the stack (11) of value documents (12) are arranged one upon the other within the receiving space (30).

2. The accumulation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the one or more longitudinal opening / s (22) of the first side wall (21) extend / s from the open end region (32) to the base support structure (10) such that the longitudinal opening / s (22) is / are configured to allow the firstgripping element (51) of the robot unit (50) to be inserted into an access region (13) between the base support structure (10) and a lowermost value document (12a) of the stack (11) of value documents (12).

3. The accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base support structure (10) comprises a support surface (14) having parallel recesses (15) into which the first gripping element (51) of the robot unit (50) is insertable for lifting the stack (11) of value documents (12) within the receiving space (30), wherein the longitudinal opening / s (22) preferably at least partially overlap / s with the parallel recesses (15) of the support surface (14) in order to allow the first gripping element (51) of the robot unit (50) to be inserted through the longitudinal opening / s (22) and into the parallel recesses (15).

4. The accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal opening / s (22) of the first side wall (21) is / are separated by parallel bar elements (23) of the first side wall (21), the bar elements (23) being connected to the base support structure (10) and extending therefrom towards the open end region (32).

5. The accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a compression element (61) for compressing the stack (11) of value documents (12) being arranged within the receiving space (30), wherein the compression element (61) preferably comprises one or more finger element / s (62) configured to be inserted into one or more longitudinal opening / s (24) of a second side wall (25) and configured to be moved within the longitudinal opening / s (24) of the second side wall (25) towards the base supportstructure (10) in order to compress the stack (11) of value documents (12) arranged within the receiving space (30).

6. The accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base support structure has an inclined orientation, wherein the accumulation device preferably comprises a pivot element (70) which is configured to adjust the inclined orientation of the base support structure (10) with respect to a floor element (80).

7. The accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a size of the receiving space is adjustable by moving one or more of the side walls with respect to the base support structure.

8. An arrangement (100) for accumulating stacks (I la, 1 lb) of value documents (12), comprising: an accumulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, a robot unit (50) having a gripping unit (55) for gripping a stack (I la,1 lb) of value documents (12); a control unit (56) for controlling a movement of the robot unit (50); wherein the control unit (56) is configured to control the robot unit (50) to place a first stack (1 la) of value documents (12) into the accumulation device (1) and to place at least one second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12), preferably of the same condition and / or of the same type, for example denomination and / or currency, as the first stack of value documents, into the accumulation device (1) such that the first and second stacks (I la, 1 lb) of value documents (12) are arranged one upon the other within the accumulation device (1).

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to control the robot unit (50) to adapt an orientation of the at least one second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) based on a predefined orientation scheme, before placing the second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) into the receiving space (30) of the accumulation device (1, S20), in particular such that the orientation of the second stack of value documents is the same as the orientation of the first stack of value documents.

10. The arrangement according to any of claims 8 to 9, wherein the control unit (56) is configured to control the robot unit (50) or a further robot unit to collectively remove the first and second stack (I la, 1 lb) of value documents (12) from the accumulation device (1) and to place them collectively into a value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or of the further robot unit, respectively.

11. The arrangement according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the accumulation device is assigned to at least one specific condition and / or at least one specific type, for example currency and / or denomination, of value documents, and the value documents of the at least one second stack of value documents are of the assigned condition / s and / or of the assigned type / s of the accumulation device, for example currency and / or denomination; wherein the arrangement further comprises at least one further / second accumulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, that is assigned to at least one other condition / s and / or to at least one other type, for example currency and / or denomination, of value documents, than the accumulation device; wherein the control unit is configured to control the robot unit (50) to remove the first and second stacks of value documents (12) from a valuedocument processing device (200) or from a value document aligning device and to place the removed first and second stacks of value documents (12) into the accumulation device or into the further / second accumulation device in dependence of the condition and / or type, e.g. currency and / or denomination, of the value documents of the first and second stack.

12. The arrangement according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the accumulation device is a first accumulation device and the arrangement further comprises a second accumulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and the second accumulation devices are assigned to different conditions and / or different types, for example currencies and / or denominations, of value documents; wherein the control unit is configured control the robot unit to place one or more third value document stacks of a different condition and / or of a different type, e.g. denomination and / or currency, than the first and the second stack, into the second accumulation device (1).

13. A method for accumulating stacks (I la, 1 lb) of value documents (12), comprising: removing, by a robot unit (50), a first stack (I la) of value documents (12) from a value document processing device (200) or from a value document aligning device (400, S50a) and placing the removed first stack (I la) into a receiving space (30) of a first accumulation device (1, S10), in particular a first accumulation device according to any of claims 1 to 7; removing, by the robot unit (50), a second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12), preferably of the same conditions and / or the same type, e.g. denomination and / or currency, as the first stack of value documents, from the value document processing device (200) or from the value document aligning device (400, S50a) and placing the removed second stack (1 lb) into thereceiving space (30) of the first accumulation device (1) and arranging the second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) on top of the first stack (1 la) of value documents (12, S30); wherein the robot unit (50) or a further robot unit collectively removes the first stack (1 la) of value documents (12) and the second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) from the first accumulation device (1, S40) and preferably places the first stack and the second stack (I la, 1 lb) collectively into a value document container arranged within a working range of the robot unit or the further robot unit, respectively.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising: adapting, by the robot unit (50), an orientation of the second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) based on a predefined orientation scheme, before placing the second stack (1 lb) of value documents (12) into the receiving space (30) of the first accumulation device (1, S20), in particular such that the orientation of the second stack is the same as the orientation of the first stack.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 14, comprising: assigning the first accumulation device and a second accumulation device, in particular according to any of claims 1 to 7, both arranged within a working range of the robot unit, to different conditions and / or to different types, e.g. denominations and / or currencies, of value documents, removing, by the robot unit (50), one or more third stacks (11c) of value documents (12) of the different condition and / or different type, for example denomination and / or currency, than the first and the second stack, from a / the value document processing device (200) or from a / the value document aligning device (400, S50a); placing the removed one or more third stacks (11c) of value documents (12) into the receiving space (30) of the second accumulation device (1, S70a).

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