Methods and devices for transporting valuable documents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (5) and method for transporting valuable documents (1), wherein the valuable documents are transported sequentially and individually along a transport path (10). Along the transport path of the valuable documents, a preceding transport means (21, 22, 3a, R0), a speed adjustment device (12), and a succeeding transport means (23, 24, 3b, R5) are arranged. The speed adjustment device comprises at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26, R1~R4) which changes the transport speed of the valuable documents from a first transport speed (v1) of the preceding transport means to a second transport speed (v2) of the succeeding transport means.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transporting valuable documents.

[0002] It is known to individually transport valuable documents successively using transport means such as a belt or a roller around which the valuable document is clamped. The transport means may be arranged inside or outside the processing device for valuable documents. It may happen that the transport means runs at different transport speeds with respect to the valuable document. The difference in transport speed may be small, for example, it may occur only as a result of slightly different drives of the transport means. However, the difference may also be large and intentional, for example, because the transport means belong to different devices or have different transport tasks. The subsequent transport means arranged downstream may run faster or slower than the preceding transport means arranged upstream.

[0003] When shifting abruptly from the preceding transport means to the subsequent transport means, the valuable document may be subjected to significant mechanical stress or even damaged. In the case of the subsequent transport means running more slowly, the valuable document may be, for example, compressed together and thus may be folded in some cases. In the case of the subsequent transport means running faster, the valuable document may be, for example, stretched and may be torn in some cases.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus in which the risk of damaging a valuable document during the transition between transport means running at different speeds is reduced.

[0005] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the method and apparatus described in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention proposes a transport device for transporting documents of value sequentially and individually along a transport path, comprising: at least one preceding transport means along the transport path that provides a first (e.g., constant) transport speed to the documents of value being transported by it; and at least one succeeding transport means downstream of the preceding transport means that provides a second (e.g., constant) transport speed to the documents of value being transported by it, wherein the second transport speed is different from, and in particular lower or higher than, the first transport speed. The transport device comprises a speed-adjusting device having at least one pair of transport rollers arranged along a transport path between the preceding and succeeding transport means. The speed-adjusting device is configured to change, in particular increase or decrease, the transport speed of documents of value being transported to the speed-adjusting device at a first transport speed by the preceding transport means from a first transport speed to a second transport speed of the succeeding transport means, by using at least one pair of transport rollers, and in particular by changing or modulating the rotational speed of one or both of the transport rollers of at least one pair of transport rollers.

[0007] The speed-adjusting device according to the present invention, having a pair of transport rollers, allows valuable documents to be accelerated or decelerated to different transport speeds with a low risk of damage. This is particularly important when using valuable documents, for example, but is also advantageous for other valuable documents.

[0008] In particular, the preceding transport means is configured to transport valuable documents to a speed-adjusting device. The speed-adjusting device is configured to use at least one pair of transport rollers to bring valuable documents from a first transport speed of the preceding transport means to a second transport speed of the succeeding transport means.

[0009] A speed-adjusting device may be configured to transport or transfer valuable documents to a subsequent transport means at a second transport speed, for example, at the end of a change in transport speed or after a change in transport speed. The subsequent transport means is configured to transport valuable documents further along the transport path after the speed-adjusting device. In other words, the speed-adjusting device is configured to adapt the transport speed of valuable documents to the different transport speeds of the two transport means.

[0010] Preferably, the speed adjustment device is configured to rotate one or both of the conveyor rollers of at least one pair of conveyor rollers at a variable or modulated rotational speed. In particular, the rotational speed of at least one pair of conveyor rollers is modulated by the action of at least one (preferably both) of the conveyor roller pair rotating at a modulated rotational speed, such that the conveying speed of valuable documents is changed from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed.

[0011] Further conveying elements, such as guide elements and freewheel rollers, may also be arranged along the conveying path between the preceding conveying means and the speed-adjusting device, and / or between the speed-adjusting device and the subsequent conveying means.

[0012] One advantage of a speed-adjusting device having at least one pair of conveyor rollers is that, compared to, for example, a conveyor belt used to change speed, at least one pair of conveyor rollers has a smaller range along the conveying path. Thus, it is achieved that speed adjustment can be intentionally performed for a single value document without further value documents being engaged by at least one pair of conveyor rollers. This makes individual speed adjustment possible, particularly for single value documents.

[0013] For example, compared to a conveyor belt guided via rollers and used to change speed, a further advantage of a speed-adjusting device having at least one pair of conveyor rollers is that the conveyor rollers of at least one pair of conveyor rollers have a lower inertial mass than a conveyor belt guided via rollers. Thus, at least one pair of conveyor rollers can achieve acceleration / deceleration dynamics with lower inertia and therefore more quickly.

[0014] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the direction of the second transport speed substantially corresponds to the direction of the first transport speed, i.e., the valuable documents are transported further after the speed-adjusting device in at least substantially the same direction as they are transported to the speed-adjusting device. For example, the preceding transport means, the speed-adjusting device, and the subsequent transport means form a straight portion of the transport path for the valuable documents.

[0015] The speed adjustment device comprises at least one pair of rotatable conveyor rollers arranged along the conveyor path in the transition area between a preceding conveyor and a succeeding conveyor. The conveyor roller pair of the speed adjustment device comprises at least one upper conveyor roller positioned above the conveyor path of the valuable document and at least one lower conveyor roller positioned below the conveyor path of the valuable document, with the valuable document clamped between the conveyor rollers. The conveyor rollers can mechanically act on the valuable document to accelerate / decelerate it as it is conveyed between them. Preferably, each conveyor roller in the conveyor roller pair has a uniform roller radius along its circumference.

[0016] A conveyor roller pair may be configured to clamp a valuable document between the upper and lower conveyor rollers to transmit force, particularly force, to accelerate or decelerate the valuable document, to the valuable document, preferably by frictional engagement. For example, the conveyor rollers of the conveyor roller pair are configured to accelerate / decelerate the valuable document with respect to the valuable document being transported along the transport path (the next valuable document immediately following the said valuable document along the transport path) by mechanical action on the valuable document. One or both of the conveyor rollers of the conveyor roller pair may be adapted to attract the valuable document in order to transmit force for acceleration / deceleration to the valuable document. Preferably, one or both of the conveyor rollers of the conveyor roller pair are configured to transport the valuable document by frictional engagement.

[0017] The speed-adjusting device preferably comprises at least one conveyor roller drive unit for at least one conveyor roller pair and a control device for controlling at least one conveyor roller drive unit. The control device is particularly adapted to drive at least one conveyor roller pair by at least one conveyor roller drive unit so that at least one conveyor roller pair receives valuable documents from a preceding conveyor at a first conveying speed, brings the valuable documents to a second conveying speed (accelerating / decelerating), and transports or transfers the valuable documents to a subsequent conveyor at the second conveying speed.

[0018] The transport roller pair of the speed-adjustable device may be driven by at least one transport roller drive unit such that the path speed of the transport rollers changes, for example, periodically between exactly or nearly a first transport speed and exactly or nearly a second value document transport speed.

[0019] The control device may be adapted to drive at least one pair of transport rollers by at least one transport roller drive unit so that the path speed or rotational speed of the transport rollers is periodically, i.e., repeatedly modulated. Thus, the transport speeds of multiple valuable documents can be changed sequentially. The valuable documents can be accelerated or decelerated in the same or different manner.

[0020] Preferably, the transport roller path speed is continuously or continuously (i.e., not abruptly) changed (continuously increased or continuously decreased) from a first transport speed to a second transport speed for valuable documents, and then returned to the first transport speed (decreased or increased). Continuously changing the transport speed is particularly gentle on valuable documents and the transport roller drive mechanism because it keeps the mechanical stress on the transport roller drive mechanism low.

[0021] The conveyor roller drive unit can be a modulated rotary drive unit, such as a variable-speed motor. The control device may be adapted to control at least one conveyor roller drive unit to rotate at least one, preferably both, of the conveyor rollers of at least one pair of conveyor rollers at a modulated rotational speed. Thus, the upper and / or lower conveyor rollers of a pair of conveyor rollers can be driven by the conveyor roller drive unit. This is because, when a document of value is being conveyed along by the opposite driven conveyor roller, it may be sufficient for only one of the two conveyor rollers to be driven, while the other is rotated simultaneously (by frictional engagement with the clamped document of value). However, preferably, both conveyor rollers are driven at the same (varying) rotational speed, and the upper and lower conveyor rollers are rotated in opposite directions to each other to convey the document of value along the conveyance path.

[0022] The control device of the speed-adjusting device is adapted to control at least one transport roller drive unit of at least one transport roller pair such that the transport speed of valuable documents is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed by a modulated rotational speed of at least one transport roller pair. The control device can modulate the rotational speed of at least one transport roller pair using at least one transport roller drive unit of at least one transport roller pair, and as a result, the transport speed of valuable documents is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed using at least one transport roller pair, in particular by a modulated rotational speed of at least one transport roller.

[0023] The apparatus may comprise a plurality of described speed adjustment devices, which may be identical or different, and may be arranged, for example, in succession to compensate for a larger difference in the conveying speeds of a preceding conveying means and a succeeding conveying means.

[0024] To prevent valuable documents from twisting when they are accelerated, at least one additional upper conveyor roller can be positioned concentrically with the upper conveyor roller (e.g., on the same drive shaft) and laterally offset therefrom, and / or at least one additional lower conveyor roller can be positioned concentrically with the lower conveyor roller (e.g., on the same drive shaft) and laterally offset therefrom. These form a pair of laterally offset additional conveyor rollers, between which the valuable documents are similarly clamped and accelerate / decelerate the valuable documents in the same manner as the first mentioned pair of conveyor rollers.

[0025] The conveying device comprises at least one preceding conveying means and at least one succeeding conveying means along a conveying path, each of which may comprise, for example, at least one conveying belt and / or at least one conveying roller and / or at least one pair of conveying rollers or a combination thereof. For example, the preceding and / or succeeding conveying means comprises mutually opposing conveying belts (e.g., running on rollers), and documents of value are clamped between them as they are conveyed. However, the preceding and / or succeeding conveying means may also comprise one or more pairs of conveying rollers having upper and lower conveying rollers, and documents of value are clamped between the pairs of conveying rollers. The succeeding conveying means may have a conveying speed of documents of value conveyed by it that is higher or lower than that of the preceding conveying means. In particular, the preceding and / or succeeding conveying means may be configured to convey documents of value by frictional engagement.

[0026] In particular, valuable documents can be accelerated / decelerated from a first transport speed to a second transport speed by the rotation of at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device. For example, at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device can, for this purpose, provide each valuable document with a transient acceleration / deceleration pulse reaching the transition between the preceding and succeeding transport means in order to accelerate / decelerate the valuable document from the speed of the preceding transport means to the speed of the succeeding transport means. Thus, a more gradual acceleration / deceleration of valuable documents can be achieved than in the case of abrupt acceleration / deceleration by the succeeding transport means alone, i.e., without the speed-adjusting device.

[0027] Preferably, the speed adjustment device is configured to accelerate / decelerate each first value document, particularly each first value document being transported along the transport path downstream of the second value document immediately following the first value document, relative to the second value document. Thus, the distance between the first value document and the second value document can be increased / decreased.

[0028] In a first modification of the present invention, the speed matching device is configured to accelerate a valuable document from a first conveyance speed to a (higher) second conveyance speed. By accelerating the valuable document, the speed matching device can achieve an increase in the distance between successive valuable documents. This acceleration has the advantage that, compared to increasing the distance by decelerating subsequent valuable documents or by the stop-and-go operation of the conveyance device, the increase in distance does not have a retroactive braking effect on the upstream process and does not require a buffer store for valuable documents between them.

[0029] In a second modification of the present invention, the speed matching device is configured to decelerate a valuable document from a first conveyance speed to a (lower) second conveyance speed. By decelerating, the speed matching device can achieve a reduction in the distance between successive valuable documents. By reducing the distance between valuable documents, it is possible to convey more valuable documents along the conveyance path per unit length than in the case of a longer distance. Therefore, a part of the conveyance path located after the speed matching device, for example, a part of the subsequent conveyance means, can be used as a buffer store for valuable documents, i.e., to temporarily store valuable documents if they are required for a subsequent process or at least to decelerate them.

[0030] Instead of or in addition to accelerating / decelerating, the speed adaptation device can also be adapted to match the distances between successive valuable documents to each other. Thus, after passing through the speed adaptation device, the leading edge distances of successive valuable documents can be achieved to be at least approximately equal for all or at least a majority of successive valuable documents. Thus, a more uniform processing of valuable documents can be achieved, for example, a high loading quality of the load produced from these valuable documents by a loading wheel. This is because when the leading edge distances of successive valuable documents are at least approximately equal, a uniform conveyance of the valuable documents into the rotating loading wheel is achieved, thereby improving the loading quality.

[0031] The speed adaptation device can also achieve different accelerations / decelerations of valuable documents of different lengths in a simple way. For this purpose, the intensity or duration of the acceleration is adapted corresponding to the length of the valuable document, for example, so that the leading edge distances of valuable documents of different lengths become equal.

[0032] For adaptation, the speed adaptation device, especially the control device and its conveyor roller drive, can be configured to individually control the acceleration / deceleration intensity of the first valuable document, for example, according to the distance of the valuable document from the next valuable document and / or according to the distance of the valuable document from the previous valuable document. For example, the speed adaptation device accelerates the valuable document more strongly when the distance to the subsequent valuable document is smaller than the lower limit distance and / or accelerates the valuable document more weakly when the distance to the subsequent valuable document is larger than the upper limit distance. This control of the speed adaptation device can be performed based on sensors (e.g., one or more light barriers) located upstream of the speed adaptation device, and the sensors measure the distance between successive valuable documents. Advantageously, by individually accelerating / decelerating the valuable documents, a more uniform distance between the valuable documents can be achieved.

[0033] To individually accelerate one or more valuable documents more strongly than others, a modulated rotary drive unit can, in a short time, increase / decrease the transport speed of the relevant valuable document(s) more than that of the other valuable documents. If the acceleration / acceleration of one or more valuable documents is not individually very strong, the increase / decrease in transport speed will also be less strong accordingly.

[0034] Preferably, the distance between the last engagement point of the preceding transport means and the first (optionally single) engagement point (clamping point) of at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device is less than the length of the document of value, and / or the distance between the last (optionally single) engagement point of at least one pair of transport rollers and the first engagement point of the succeeding transport means is less than the length of the document of value. The document of value then engages with the preceding transport means and simultaneously engages with the (first) pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device. This has the advantage that the document of value is clamped at at least two positions that are successively located. Thus, the document of value is better guided while being transported, and skew or lateral deflection (run-up or run-down) of the document of value is avoided.

[0035] Furthermore, the short distance allows for acceleration / deceleration while the valuable document is clamped at these two positions. The speed adjustment or control device may be adapted to initiate a change in the transport speed of the valuable document by at least one pair of transport rollers while the second valuable document is (still) being transported by the preceding transport means.

[0036] Normally, when a valuable document is being accelerated relative to a preceding transport, and the preceding transport is still engaged / frictionally engaged with the valuable document, the frictional force of the preceding transport acts on the acceleration of the valuable document, causing mechanical stress to the document. To keep mechanical stress low during acceleration, the preceding transport may be configured to transport the valuable document without fixing it, or with low static friction, so that the valuable document can be accelerated relative to the preceding transport while it is being transported by the preceding transport, and can, for example, roll or slide relative to the preceding transport without being damaged. For example, the preceding transport may be configured to transport the valuable document without holding it in relation to its relative movement to the preceding transport. To transport valuable documents without fixing them, or with such low static friction, or without holding them, - The preceding conveying means may include an integrated free wheel for higher conveying speeds, for example, one or more conveying rollers or a pair of conveying rollers equipped with such a free wheel, or - The preceding transport means can transport the valuable documents with a friction force selected to be low enough that it can accelerate the valuable documents relative to the preceding transport means or slide them relative to the preceding transport means without damage.

[0037] Even if the distance between the last engagement point of the preceding transport means and the first engagement point of at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device is less than the length of the document of value, the preceding transport means can be accelerated / decelerated in sync with the (first) pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device instead of transporting the unattached document of value, in order to keep mechanical stress low during the acceleration / deceleration of the document of value. Optionally, at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device can further accelerate the document of value even after it has left the engagement point of the preceding transport means.

[0038] In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the preceding transport means is driven by a drive unit (i.e., it actively transports the document of value and is not merely incidentally moved by the document of value), and the distance between the last engagement point of the preceding transport means and the first engagement point (clamping point) of at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device is less than the length of the document of value. To enable the document of value to be extracted without resistance from the clamp by the preceding transport means while the document of value is being accelerated by the speed-adjusting device, the preceding transport means is equipped with an integrated freewheel for higher transport speeds.

[0039] In particular, the control device may be configured to control the start time at which the path speed of the transport rollers of the transport roller pair (the first transport roller following the preceding transport means) is changed, starting from a first transport speed, in response to a sensor signal transmitted by the sensor. For example, a sensor, which may include one or more light barriers, is located within the area of ​​the preceding transport means and / or in the transition between the preceding transport means and at least one transport roller pair of the speed-adjusting device. The sensor is configured to align, for example, a valuable document being transported across its leading edge and to transmit a corresponding sensor signal to the control device at the time of alignment. For example, the sensor is positioned between the last engagement point of the preceding transport means and the first engagement point or first clamping point of the transport roller pair. Thus, the leading edge of the valuable document can be aligned at a point before the valuable document is engaged by the transport roller pair. For example, the sensor is positioned in the transition to align the leading edge of the valuable document when it leaves the engagement point of the preceding transport means, or immediately afterward.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, the control device of the speed-adjusting device may have information regarding a first transport speed of a preceding transport means and information regarding a second transport speed of a succeeding transport means. For example, this information may be received from another control device (e.g., of the preceding / successing transport means) or determined based on signals received from a sensor device (e.g., a light barrier positioned along the preceding and succeeding transport means). Based on this information regarding the first and second transport speeds, the control device can control at least one transport roller drive unit of at least one pair of transport rollers. For example, the intensity of acceleration / deceleration of valuable documents can be changed depending on the difference between the first and second transport speeds. For example, the rotational speed of a transport roller pair (or the first transport roller pair if there are multiple transport roller pairs) upon arrival of a valuable document can be changed to correspond to a first transport speed, and / or the rotational speed of a transport roller pair (or the last transport roller pair if there are multiple transport roller pairs) upon transfer of a valuable document can be adapted to the subsequent transport means to correspond to a second transport speed (i.e., the path speed of the (last) transport roller pair is equal to the first or second transport speed).

[0041] In its simplest form, the speed-adjusting device comprises only one pair of conveyor rollers (without a cascade of conveyor rollers) between the preceding and succeeding conveyor means when viewed along the conveyor path. However, additional conveyor rollers may be used, optionally, at the same locations along the conveyor path, for example, on the same shaft of the upper / lower conveyor rollers of a conveyor roller pair. The control device is then configured to modulate the rotational speed of the conveyor rollers of the conveyor roller pair by a conveyor roller drive unit, such that the path speed of the conveyor rollers changes, for example, periodically between a first conveyor speed and a second conveyor speed of the documents of value.

[0042] In one advanced form, the speed adjustment device comprises at least two pairs of conveyor rollers (e.g., a cascade of conveyor roller pairs) between a preceding conveyor and a succeeding conveyor when viewed along the conveyor path, wherein the conveyor roller pairs are arranged along the conveyor path between the preceding and succeeding conveyor and are arranged front to back along the conveyor path, and a plurality of conveyor roller drive units for these conveyor roller pairs. The control device may be adapted to control the conveyor roller drive units of these conveyor roller pairs so that valuable documents are accelerated or decelerated from a first conveyor speed to a second conveyor speed by the rotation of the conveyor roller pairs. An advantage of multiple conveyor roller pairs is that greater speed changes are possible with smaller space requirements, for example, for more aggressive acceleration or deceleration operations.

[0043] The control device may be adapted to control the transport roller drive units of at least two pairs of transport rollers such that the change (acceleration / deceleration) of a valuable document from a first transport speed to a second transport speed is performed in at least two stages.

[0044] For example, a speed adjustment device has at least one first pair of conveyor rollers and at least one second pair of conveyor rollers, and optionally additional pairs of conveyor rollers, along a conveyance path between a preceding conveyor and a succeeding conveyor, wherein the first pair of conveyor rollers, the second pair of conveyor rollers, and optionally additional pairs of conveyor rollers are arranged front to back along the conveyance path. The control device may be configured to control the conveyor roller drive units of the conveyor roller pairs so that, in a first stage, a valuable document is transported from a first conveyance speed to an intermediate conveyance speed (accelerated / decelerated) using the first pair of conveyor rollers, and in one or more further stages, it is transported from an intermediate conveyance speed to a second conveyance speed (accelerated / decelerated) using the second and optionally additional pairs of conveyor rollers. The intermediate conveyance speed is between the first conveyance speed and the second conveyance speed.

[0045] For example, the control device is configured such that the first pair of transport rollers receives a valuable document from a preceding transport means at a first transport speed, accelerates / decelerates the valuable document in the first stage to an intermediate transport speed, and transports it to the second pair of transport rollers, and the second pair of transport rollers then transports the valuable document that has been accelerated / decelerated to an intermediate transport speed by the first pair of transport rollers. -In the second stage, it is further accelerated / decelerated to an even higher / lower intermediate transport speed and transported to one or more further pairs of transport rollers, the transport roller drive unit of which is controlled by a control device, thereby accelerating / decelerating the documents of value from the higher / lower intermediate transport speed of the second transport roller to the second transport speed (in one or more further stages) and transporting them to the subsequent transport means (R5), or -In the second stage, it is accelerated / decelerated to a second transport speed and then transported to the subsequent transport means at the second transport speed. The system can be configured to control the transport roller drive unit of a transport roller pair.

[0046] To obtain two acceleration / deceleration clamping points for a valuable document, the distance between pairs of conveyor rollers of a speed-adjustable device along the conveyor path is selected to be less than the length of the valuable document. Thus, the risk of run-up / run-down / skew during acceleration / deceleration of the valuable document is reduced. For example, the rotational speeds of two pairs of conveyor rollers arranged sequentially are then increased / decreased synchronously with respect to each other while they are simultaneously engaged with the valuable document. For example, the first driven conveyor roller pair is actively accelerated / decelerated by its motor when the second driven conveyor roller pair accelerates / decelerates the valuable document. Alternatively, for possible acceleration, the first driven conveyor roller pair may be equipped with a free wheel for a higher rotational speed so as not to act against the accelerating force of the next driven conveyor roller pair.

[0047] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for processing valuable documents, the apparatus comprising a first apparatus module and a second apparatus module arranged successively along a transport path for valuable documents, the apparatus comprising the above-described apparatus for transporting valuable documents. The first apparatus module provides a first transport speed for valuable documents, and the second apparatus module provides a second transport speed for valuable documents. The preceding transport means belongs to the first apparatus module, and the succeeding transport means belongs to the second apparatus module. The second apparatus module is arranged downstream of the first apparatus module along the transport path for valuable documents.

[0048] Next, the speed adjustment device is configured to change the transport speed of valuable documents being transported at a first transport speed in the first device module from the first transport speed to the second transport speed in the second device module, using at least one pair of transport rollers.

[0049] At least one pair of conveying rollers of the speed-adjusting device can be positioned at the end of the first device module or at the beginning of the second device module, or it can be positioned between the first and second device modules, for example, in a coupling module positioned between the first and second device modules.

[0050] A first device module may be equipped with a first module drive for driving a preceding transport means, and a second device module may be equipped with a second module drive (preferably operating independently of the first module drive) for driving a subsequent transport means. If such distributed drive units provide different transport speeds for documents of value, a speed-adjusting device may be advantageously used to allow gradual transitions between these transport speeds for documents of value.

[0051] The second device module may be part of a document processing unit of the same value as the first device module, or it may be part of a different document processing unit located downstream of the document processing unit of the first device module along the document transport path. In the second case, the first device module belonging to the first document processing unit can be positioned along the document transport path at the end of the first document processing unit, and the second device module belonging to the second document processing unit can be positioned along the document transport path at the beginning of the second document processing unit. Thus, the above-described coupling module can be positioned and optionally connected between the first device module of the first document processing unit and the second device module of the second document processing unit.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a method for transporting valuable documents, particularly using the apparatus described above. In this method, valuable documents are transported individually, one before and one after another, along a transport path for valuable documents, using a transport device, particularly using the transport device described above. Valuable documents are transported, using at least one preceding transport means, at a first transport speed to a speed-adjusting device having at least one pair of transport rollers. The speed-adjusting device uses at least one pair of transport rollers to change the transport speed of the valuable documents from the first transport speed to a second transport speed of a subsequent transport means, the second transport speed being different from the first transport speed. Valuable documents are then further transported, using the subsequent transport means, at the second transport speed along the transport path. In particular, valuable documents are transported individually, one before and one after another to the speed-adjusting device.

[0053] The features and advantages described in relation to the apparatus and speed-adjusting device according to the present invention apply in accordance with the method according to the present invention. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the claims, drawings and description of the drawings.

[0054] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0055] [Figure 1a] This figure shows a first exemplary embodiment of a device for transporting valuable documents, which has a speed-adjusting device. [Figure 1b] This figure shows a first exemplary embodiment of an optical barrier signal. [Figure 1c] This figure shows a first exemplary embodiment of the time profile of the modulated rotational speed. [Figure 2a] This figure shows a second exemplary embodiment of a device for transporting valuable documents, which has a speed-adjusting device. [Figure 2b] Another figure shows a second exemplary embodiment of a device for transporting valuable documents having a speed-adjusting device. [Figure 3] This figure shows the time profile of the optical barrier signal LS and the modulated rotation speed in the case of a second exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4a] This figure shows a valuable document processing device having multiple device modules and a coupling module having a speed-adjustable device. [Figure 4b] This figure shows two valuable document processing devices mediated by a speed-adjusting device. [Figure 5] This figure shows a third exemplary embodiment of a device for transporting valuable documents, having a speed adjustment device (top) and a modulated rotational speed of a transport roller pair (bottom).

[0056] Figure 1a shows a transport device 5 on which a valuable document 1 is transported along a transport path 10. The transport device 5 comprises a plurality of transport rollers 3 positioned opposite each other, and opposing transport belts 21, 22 and 23, 24 that travel around the rollers, with the valuable document clamped and transported between them. A speed adjustment device 12 is positioned along the transport path 10 between the transport belts 21, 22 and 23, 24, and the speed adjustment device comprises a pair of rotatable driven transport rollers having two transport rollers 25, 26 opposite each other. The two preceding transport belts 21, 22 travel at a first transport speed v1, and the two succeeding transport belts 23, 24 travel at a second, faster transport speed v2. The transport speed v of the valuable document 1 is adjusted from v1 to v2 while the valuable document is being transported through the speed adjustment device 12.

[0057] In the example in Figure 1, the transport speed v2 is greater than v1, and the speed adjustment device 12 performs acceleration of the valuable documents from v1 to v2. Thus, the distance between the valuable documents increases from a first distance a to a larger second distance A. However, alternatively, v2 may be lower than v1, and the speed adjustment device 12 can perform deceleration of the valuable documents and reduction of the distance. Alternatively or additionally, the speed adjustment device 12 can also perform variable distance adjustment, in which case the valuable documents are accelerated or decelerated more strongly or less strongly depending on the purpose of the adjustment.

[0058] During the transition between the slower conveyor belt pair 21,22 and the faster conveyor belt pair 23,24, the valuable document 1 is gripped by frictional engagement through the mechanical engagement of the conveyor roller pair 25,26 of the speed-adjusting device 12, and is constantly accelerated or decelerated to further convey at the higher / lower conveying speed of the conveyor belt pair 23,24. Conveyor belt 21 is shorter than conveyor belt 22 and conveys the valuable document with low friction such that the valuable document can slide against conveyor belt 21 without being damaged when accelerated by the conveyor roller pair 25,26.

[0059] Figure 1b shows the optical barrier signal LS of the optical barrier L (see Figure 1a), and Figure 1c shows the time profile of the path velocity of the accelerating transport roller pair 25,26, the path velocity being modulated between v1 and v2.

[0060] At time t1, when the leading edge of the valuable document is aligned by the light barrier L, the rotational speed of the conveyor rollers 25,26 slowly increases. Immediately after time t, the valuable document 1 is clamped between the two conveyor rollers 25,26 and is therefore continuously accelerated from a first path speed v1 to a second path speed v2. The first path speed v1 of the conveyor roller 26 corresponds, for example, to the conveying speed of the conveyor belt pair 21,22 that conveys the valuable document 1 to the conveyor rollers 25,26, and the second path speed v2 of the conveyor roller 26 corresponds, for example, to the conveying speed of the conveyor belt pair 23,24 that conveys the valuable document 1 further after the conveyor roller pair 25,26. At time t2, when the light barrier L aligns with the trailing edge of the valuable document, the valuable document is still clamped by the transport rollers 25, 26. Therefore, at time t3, after the valuable document 1 has been securely transported from the transport roller pair 25, 26, the rotational speed of the transport rollers 25, 26 decreases again, but only by a time offset.

[0061] Figures 2a and 2b show a second exemplary embodiment of the conveying device 5. Figure 2a shows a side view of the speed adjustment device 12, and Figure 2b shows a top view of the conveying surface of the valuable document 1. The arrows in each case indicate the conveying direction of the valuable document 1 along the conveying path 10. The time profile of the optical barrier signal LS is shown at the top of Figure 3, and the time profile of the path velocity v of the accelerating conveying roller pairs 25,26 is shown at the bottom of Figure 3.

[0062] Along the transport path 10 for valuable documents, a first transport roller pair 3a, acceleration / deceleration transport roller pairs 25, 26 of the speed adjustment device 12, and a second transport roller pair 3b are arranged in succession, with each transport roller pair having a different transport speed. The first transport roller pair 3a is driven by motor M1 at a low rotational speed corresponding to the low transport speed v1 (see Figure 3) of the valuable documents. The third transport roller pair 3b is driven by motor M2 at a higher rotational speed as the transport speed v2 of the valuable documents increases. Alternatively, the first transport roller pair 3a and / or the third transport roller pair 3b may be driven by the drive unit of a further transport means preceding the first transport roller pair 3a, or by a further transport means following the third transport roller pair 3b, thereby not requiring their own motors M1 or M2. Alternatively, motor M2 can drive not only the third transport roller pair 3b but also the first transport roller pair 3a at a constant increasing / decreasing speed.

[0063] To prevent valuable documents from twisting as they are accelerated, additional transport rollers 25 are positioned on the shaft of transport roller 25, and additional transport rollers 26 are positioned on the shaft of transport roller 26, and the additional transport rollers can be identical to transport rollers 25 and 26, driven in phase with the transport rollers, and used to accelerate valuable documents (see Figure 2b).

[0064] One or both of the conveyor roller pairs 25,26 of the speed-adjusting device 12 are driven by a stepper motor MS, which is initially driven at a rotational speed corresponding to the lower conveying speed v1 of the first conveyor roller pair 3a until a valuable document 1 arrives (see Figure 3). Modulation of the rotational speed of the conveyor rollers 25,26 is generated by changing the motor speed of the stepper motor MS, which is controlled by a control device S.

[0065] The transport rollers 3a are driven, but may also be equipped with integrated freewheels for higher rotational speeds, the freewheels allowing, for example, the transport roller pairs 25,26 of the speed-adjusting device 12 to perform acceleration of the valuable documents, to extract the valuable documents from the clamp by the transport rollers without resistance. Motor M1 can also be used to return the transport rollers 3a from higher rotational speeds back to their starting speed. Otherwise, upon the arrival of the next valuable document, the transport rollers 3a may rotate at a higher rotational speed than the first transport speed due to their inertia, and decelerate as a result of undesirable friction with the subsequent valuable document.

[0066] When viewed along the transport path, four pairs of optical barriers L1 to L4 are positioned in Figures 2a and 2b, and these pairs of optical barriers align the leading and / or trailing edges of valuable documents and transmit the corresponding alignment time to the control device S. A first optional pair of optical barriers L1, located on the left side of the transport roller 3a, aligns the arriving leading edge of a valuable document to signal its arrival. A second pair of optical barriers L2 is located at the end of the transport roller 3a but in front of the transport roller pairs 25, 26 of the speed adjustment device 12, and aligns the arrival of the leading edge of valuable document 1 at time t0, reporting this to the control device S of the distance increasing device 12 (optical signal LS2, see Figure 3). The control device S, triggered by the leading edge signal reported by the optical barrier pair L2 at time t0, controls the motor MS of the transport roller pair 25,26 to increase the path speed of the transport rollers 25,26 from the immediately following time t1 to increase the rotational speed of the transport rollers 25,26, starting from a low first transport speed v1 at time t1 to a high second transport speed v2 at time t2 (see Figure 3). This ensures that the valuable document is smoothly and continuously accelerated from the first transport speed v1 of the transport roller pair 3a to the second transport speed v2 of the transport roller pair 3b. The transport roller pair 3b then transports the valuable document at an even higher second transport speed v2. Using the optical barrier pair L4 positioned in the region of the transport roller pair 3b, it is possible to check whether the desired speed adjustment has been successfully performed for the valuable document in question.

[0067] Next, when the optical barrier L3 reports to the control device at time t3 that it has aligned the trailing edge of the valuable document 1 (optical barrier signal LS3), the control device responds by instructing the transport roller drive unit of the transport roller pair 25,26 to reduce the rotational speed of the transport rollers 25,26 again from time t3, specifically reducing the path speed of the transport roller pair 25,26 from the second transport speed v2 to the first transport speed v1 (see Figure 3). This is done until time t4, which is within the time interval until the arrival of the next valuable document 1', so that the next valuable document 1' can again be gripped by the transport rollers 25,26 at the first transport speed v1. Optionally, the deceleration behavior of the transport roller pair 25,26 can be controlled using the alignment time of the next valuable document determined by the optical barrier pair L1 and / or L2, so that the transport speed reaches the first transport speed before the next valuable document is clamped by it.

[0068] Instead of using ramp-shaped profiles for the angular velocity or path velocity of the conveyor rollers 25, 26, the velocity can also be modulated by a sinusoidal or similar profile. A shorter acceleration ramp can also be selected to accelerate valuable documents more quickly to conveyor speed v2. Thus, the deceleration of the conveyor rollers to conveyor speed v1 can also be performed earlier, for example, to prepare the rollers to receive the next valuable document more quickly.

[0069] However, alternatively, v2 can be smaller than v1, and the speed-adjusting device 12 can perform deceleration and distance reduction of the document of value. Alternatively or additionally, the speed-adjusting device 12 can also perform variable distance adjustment, in which case the document of value is accelerated or decelerated more strongly or less strongly depending on the purpose of the adjustment.

[0070] Figure 4a shows a valuable document processing device 100, which consists of different processing zones embodied by modules 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 and 13. The valuable document processing device 100 comprises an entry module 2, an operation module 3, a delivery module 4, an additional delivery module 11, a coupling module 13, and a shredder module 5, which are enclosed by a cover 6.

[0071] Documents of value to be processed by the document of value processing 100 are placed in an inlet module 2 located to the left of the operation module 3. For this purpose, the inlet module 2 is equipped with an inlet compartment 7 for receiving loads of documents of value. The documents of value are then isolated by a singler and checked, for example, for their authenticity and / or face value and / or suitability for circulation by a measuring system in the form of a measuring unit with test sensors.

[0072] Following the inlet module 2 is the operation module 3, which contains a rejection section 24 where valuable documents rejected for measurement in the inlet module 2, such as valuable documents identified as forgeries, or valuable documents that could not be clearly identified by the test sensors in the inlet module 2, are not stacked. The remaining valuable documents are further transported along a transport path in the valuable document processing unit 100 to the delivery module 4, where they are delivered in bundled or stacked form. For this purpose, the delivery module 4 also includes multiple stackers, optionally a bundling unit, and a delivery section 15 for valuable documents. An optional additional delivery module 11 includes two delivery stackers 14 without bundling units to increase the delivery capacity of the valuable document processing unit and, for this purpose, allow for the delivery of larger quantities of valuable documents in a loosely stacked form. In the final shredder module 5, valuable documents identified as unsuitable for circulation, i.e., damaged or heavily soiled valuable documents, may be destroyed and then delivered to a secure section for disposal.

[0073] The coupling module 13 connecting the delivery module 4 and the shredder module 5 includes a speed adjustment device 12 to change the transport speed of valuable documents along the transport path from the transport speed of the delivery module 4 to a lower or higher transport speed of the shredder module 5. The speed adjustment device 12 installed between the modules can achieve different transport speeds within the modules or equalize the synchronous fluctuations of the drive units of individual modules.

[0074] Alternatively or additionally, one or more speed-adjusting devices 12 may be provided between other modules 2, 3, 11, and 4, which adapt the transport speed of valuable documents along the transport path from the transport speed of the preceding module to the transport speed of the subsequent module. This is particularly advantageous when distributed drive units for different modules are used in the valuable document processing device 100.

[0075] Figure 4b shows a device 1000 having two valuable document processing devices 101 and 102 arranged sequentially along a valuable document transport path 10. The first valuable document processing device 101 comprises a first device module 4, and the second valuable document processing device 102 comprises a second device module 5. Between the two device modules 4 and 5 is a coupling module 13 having one or more speed-adjusting devices 12 that accelerate or decelerate valuable documents from a first transport speed v1 of the first valuable document processing device 101 to a second transport speed v2 of the second valuable document processing device 102.

[0076] Figure 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a device for transporting valuable documents, having a speed-adjustable device 12 with four driven transport roller pairs R1-R4 arranged front-to-back along a transport path 10. The leading transport roller pair R0 transports valuable documents 1 to the speed-adjustable device 12 at a first transport speed v1, and the following transport roller pair R5 further transports valuable documents 1 coming from the speed-adjustable device 12 at a second transport speed v2. The rotational speeds of the transport roller pairs R0 and R5 are constant. In the case of the transport roller pairs R1-R4 of the speed-adjustable device 12, the rotational speeds are modulated.

[0077] The control device S of the speed adjustment device 12 controls the transport roller drive units MR1 ​​to MR4 of the four transport roller pairs R1 to R4 so that the acceleration of valuable documents from a first transport speed v1 to a second transport speed v2 is carried out in four stages.

[0078] In the velocity diagram at the bottom of Figure 5, the distance x traveled by the leading edge of the valuable document is shown on the x-axis, and the path velocities v(R0), v(R1), v(R2), v(R3), v(R4), and v(R5) of the transport roller pair R0-R5 as the leading edge of the valuable document passes the transport rollers are shown on the y-axis. For illustrative purposes, the relevant positions of the valuable document along the transport path 10 are shown below diagram v(R0).

[0079] The rotational speed of the transport roller pair R1 is a target rotational speed v(R1.Soll) = v1. The instantaneous rotational speed of the transport roller pair R1 changes within the profile and increases from its own target rotational speed v(R1.Soll) to the target rotational speed of the subsequent roller v (R2.Soll) as soon as the leading edge of a valuable document is clamped by the subsequent transport roller pair R2 (see diagram v(R1)).

[0080] The rotational speed of the conveyor rollers R2-R4 is the target rotational speed v(Rn.Soll), where n=2,3,4. The instantaneous rotational speed of the conveyor rollers R1-R4 is: - While the target rotational speed v(Rn-1.Soll) of the previous conveyor roller is... - Its own target rotational velocity v(Rn.Soll) and, -Target rotational speed v(Rx+1.Soll) of the following roller, It changes depending on the profile, Here: - Until the leading edge of the banknote is clamped by the transport roller pair Rn, v(Rn) <v(Rn.Soll)またはv(Rn)=v(Rn-1.Soll)、 Accelerate v(Rn) from -v(Rn-1.Soll) to its target rotational speed v(Rn.Soll). -The valuable documents are transported at the target rotational speed v(Rn.Soll) until they are clamped by the subsequent transport rollers Rn+1. -As soon as the leading edge of the valuable document is clamped by the following transport roller pair Rn+1, it accelerates further from v(Rn.Soll) to v(Rn+1.Soll).

[0081] After acceleration, the valuable document follows the velocity of conveyor roller pair Rn+1 until its trailing edge is released from the clamp by conveyor roller pair Rn. Next, the conveyor roller pair Rn is decelerated to the rotational velocity v(Rn)=v(Rn-1.Soll) for the next valuable document (n=1~4).

[0082] To achieve the following rotational speed of the next conveyor roller pair Rn (n=1~4) (which is greater than the target rotational speed v(Rn.Soll)), the rotation of the conveyor roller pair Rn is actively accelerated in sync with the motor speed of the conveyor roller pair Rn+1. Alternatively, the conveyor roller pair Rn can be equipped with freewheels for higher rotational speeds.

[0083] To obtain two accelerating clamping points for the valuable document, the distances between the transport roller pairs R1 and R2, R2 and R3, and R3 and R4 along the transport path are selected to be smaller than the length of the valuable document. Thus, the risk of run-up / run-down / skew of the valuable document is reduced, i.e., the risk of the valuable document taking a skewed position or acquiring a lateral offset to the left or right as it accelerates is reduced.

Claims

1. A device (5) for transporting a valuable document (1), The transport device (3a-b, 21-24, R0-R5) is configured to transport the aforementioned valuable documents one by one in succession along the transport path (10), The transport device (3a-b, 21-24, R0-R5) comprises, along the transport path, at least one preceding transport means (21, 22, 3a, R0) that provides a first transport speed (v1) to the valuable documents being transported, and at least one succeeding transport means (23, 24, 3b, R5) that provides a second transport speed (v2) different from the first transport speed (v1) to the valuable documents being transported, in the apparatus (5), The apparatus (5) includes a speed adjustment device (12) having at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26, R1 to R4) arranged along the transport path (10) between the preceding transport means and the succeeding transport means, The speed adjustment device (12) is configured to change the transport speed (v) of documents (1) that are to be transported to the speed adjustment device at the first transport speed (v1) from the first transport speed to the second transport speed (v2) by using the at least one transport roller pair (25, 26, R1 to R4) and, in particular, by changing the rotational speed of at least one transport roller of the at least one transport roller pair. Apparatus (5) characterized by the following.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed adjustment device (12) comprises at least one conveyor roller drive unit (MS, MR1 to MR4) for the at least one conveyor roller pair (25, 26, R1 to R4), and a control device (S) for controlling the at least one conveyor roller drive unit, wherein the control device is adapted to control the at least one conveyor roller drive unit (25, 26, R1 to R4) to rotate at least one, preferably both, of the conveyor rollers of the at least one conveyor roller pair (25, 26, R1 to R4) at a variable rotational speed, particularly at a modulated rotational speed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device (S) is adapted to change, in particular to modulate, the rotational speed of at least one conveyor roller of the at least one conveyor roller pair (25, 26, R1 to R4) using the at least one conveyor roller drive unit (MS, MR1 to MR4) of the at least one conveyor roller pair, so that the conveying speed of each of the valuable documents is changed from the first conveying speed (v1) to the second conveying speed (v2) by the action of the at least one conveyor roller (25, 26) rotating at a modulated rotational speed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control device is configured to drive one or both of the transport rollers of the at least one transport roller pair (25, 26, R1 to R4) by the at least one transport roller drive unit, thereby the at least one transport roller pair continuously changes the transport speed (v) of each of the valuable documents from the first transport speed to the second transport speed.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one sensor (L, L1, L2) is positioned within the area of ​​the preceding transport means and / or in the transition between the preceding transport means and the at least one pair of transport rollers of the speed-adjusting device, configured to align the valuable documents that have been transported in the past and to transmit a sensor signal corresponding to the time of the alignment to the control device, the control device being configured to control the start time at which the path speed of each of the transport rollers of the pair of transport rollers is changed starting from the first transport speed, in response to the sensor signal transmitted by the sensor.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device (S) of the speed adjustment device (12) has information relating to the first transport speed (v1) of the preceding transport means and information relating to the second transport speed (v2) of the succeeding transport means, and controls the change of the rotational speed of the at least one transport roller drive unit (MS, MR1 to MR4) of the at least one transport roller pair, in particular the at least one transport roller of the at least one transport roller pair, based on this information.

7. The distance between the last engagement point of the at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26, R1-R4) and the first engagement point of the subsequent transport means (23, 24, 3b, R5) is less than the length of the document of value, and / or The distance between the last engagement point of the preceding transport means (21, 22, 3a, R0) and the first engagement point of the at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26, R1-R4) along the transport path is less than the length of the document of value, and the preceding transport means preferably includes an integrated freewheel. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the speed adjustment device (12) comprises only one pair of transport rollers (25, 26) between the preceding transport means and the succeeding transport means when viewed along the transport path, and the control device is configured to modulate the rotational speed of at least one of the transport rollers of the transport roller pair (25, 26) by the transport roller drive unit, thereby the path speed of the at least one transport roller changes particularly periodically between the first transport speed (v1) and the second transport speed (v2) of the valuable documents.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the speed adjustment device (12) is arranged along the transport path between the preceding transport means (R0) and the succeeding transport means (R5), and comprises at least two transport roller pairs (R1 to R4) arranged front to back along the transport path, and comprises a plurality of transport roller drive units (MR1 to MR4) for these transport roller pairs, and the control device is adapted to control the transport roller drive units (MR1 to MR4) of the transport roller pairs (R1 to R4) to bring each of the valuable documents from the first transport speed (v1) to the second transport speed (v2) by the rotation of the transport roller pairs (R1 to R4), particularly to accelerate or decelerate.

10. The speed adjustment device (12) comprises at least one first transport roller pair (R1) and at least one second transport roller pair (R2), and optionally further transport roller pairs (R3, R4), along the transport path between the preceding transport means (R0) and the succeeding transport means (R5), wherein the first transport roller pair, the second transport roller pair, and optionally the further transport roller pair are arranged sequentially along the transport path, and the control device drives the transport rollers of the transport roller pairs (R1 to R4). The apparatus according to claim 9, configured to control parts (MR1 to MR4), thereby accelerating / decelerating the valuable documents in a first stage using the first transport roller pair (R1) from the first transport speed (v1) to an intermediate transport speed (vR2.Sol - vR4.Sol), and in one or more stages accelerating / decelerating them in a second transport roller pair and optionally additional transport roller pairs (R2, R3, R4) from the intermediate transport speed to the second transport speed (v2).

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pair of conveying rollers of the speed-adjusting device (12) are at a distance from each other along the conveying path which is less than the length of the document of value.

12. A device (100, 1000) for processing valuable documents, The apparatus comprises (5) a device for transporting a valuable document as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, The system comprises a first device module (4) and a second device module (5) arranged front to back along the transport path of the valuable documents, wherein the preceding transport means (21, 22, 3a) belong to the first device module (4), and the succeeding transport means (23, 24, 3b) belong to the second device module (5), the first device module (4) in particular comprising a first module drive for driving the preceding transport means, and the second device module (5) comprising a second module drive for driving the succeeding transport means. Equipment (100,1000).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the second apparatus module is part of the same valuable document processing apparatus (100) as the first apparatus module, or the second apparatus module (5) is part of a different valuable document processing apparatus (102) located downstream of the valuable document processing apparatus (101) of the first apparatus module (4) along the transport path of the valuable documents.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the at least one pair of conveying rollers (25, 26, R1 to R4) of the speed adjustment device (12) is positioned at the end of the first device module (4) or at the beginning of the second device module (5), or is positioned between the first device module and the second device module, for example, in a coupling module (13) positioned between the first device module and the second device module.

15. A method for transporting valuable documents (1) using the apparatus (5) described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the valuable documents (1) are transported individually in succession along a transport path (10) using transport devices (3a to b, 21 to 24), The aforementioned valuable document is transported by at least one preceding transport means (21, 22, 3a) at a first transport speed (v1) to a speed-adjustable device (12) equipped with at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26), The speed adjustment device uses the at least one pair of transport rollers (25, 26, R1 to R4) to change the transport speed (v) of each of the valuable documents from the first transport speed to the second transport speed (v2) of the subsequent transport means (23, 24, 3b), wherein the second transport speed is different from the first transport speed (v1). Each of the aforementioned valuable documents is further transported along the transport path at the second transport speed (v2) using the subsequent transport means (23, 24, 3b). method.

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