Filling of valuable document cassettes

Abstract

The invention relates to the filling of valuable document cassettes and, for this purpose, has a cassette holding device for receiving a valuable document cassette and a holding device for transferring a stack of valuable documents from a valuable document hopper to a valuable document cassette. Additionally, this device optionally has a formatting device for automatically aligning the stack of valuable documents received from the valuable document hopper before it is placed into the valuable document cassette. In a preferred application, a finger element is fitted to the conveying device of the holding device, in addition to the holding device itself, which is inserted before the valuable documents are placed into the valuable document cassette.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for filling security document cassettes with security documents.

[0002] Sturdy document cassettes are used when processing banknotes and other valuables, for example, to hold the documents securely for transport. These cassettes are designed for the automatic dispensing of valuables in a self-service machine. While they can be used for banknotes, other valuables such as vouchers, tickets, checks, etc., can also be stored in them.

[0003] The familiar banknote cassettes can be used in self-service devices designed to automatically dispense banknotes from the cassettes. Such self-service devices can be, for example, ATMs that dispense a specific amount to an operator and debit the operator's account. This amount is then composed of banknotes taken from the cassettes in the dispensing machine and dispensed to the operator. It is common practice to use at least one separate cassette for each denomination. The self-service devices can also be configured to accept banknotes inserted by an operator, deposit them into one or more cassettes, and credit the operator's account with the corresponding amount.

[0004] When the cassettes of a self-service machine become empty over time due to withdrawals, they must be replaced with other cassettes filled with banknotes of the respective denomination. To do this, empty or partially empty cassettes are removed from the self-service machines and then refilled with banknotes so they can be used again in a self-service machine. Relevant prior art can be found in US 5101979A.This document discloses a device comprising a container receiving device for receiving at least one container for valuable documents, a gripping device for gripping a stack of valuable documents, a transport device for moving the gripping device, which is configured to remove a stack of valuable documents from a container for valuable documents held in the container receiving device using the gripping device, a housing, preferably lockable, in which the container receiving device and the gripping device are arranged, and a control device for controlling the device, in particular for controlling the transport device and the gripping device, which is configured to remove a stack of valuable documents from a container for valuable documents held in the container receiving device using the gripping device.

[0005] Currently, security document cassettes are typically filled manually. However, it has been proposed that security document cassettes be filled fully automatically using a security document processing device. In this system, banknotes of the same denomination are dispensed directly into a cassette within a banknote sorting machine. The cassette is positioned at the end of the sorting machine's transport path in place of the usual output tray and filled there without manual intervention.

[0006] A disadvantage of this process is that the valuables arriving at the sorting machine's output are not all oriented in the same way due to slight variations in the transport process. If these valuables are automatically stacked and placed in a document cassette, the problem arises that the edges of the documents do not align precisely. If these valuables are later to be automatically removed from the cassette, for example, in a self-service machine, some documents whose orientation differs significantly cannot be automatically removed.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a device for filling security document cassettes that allows security document cassettes to be automatically filled with stacks of security documents.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of claim 1. A corresponding method is the subject matter of the dependent method claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] In the processing of valuables, it is common practice to transport the documents in secure document containers before or after they enter a sorting device. Unlike secure document cassettes, these containers are not designed for the automatic removal of valuables by a self-service machine. For example, in a cash center, banknotes are stored and transported in secure document containers that are open at the top to allow for easy insertion and removal of valuables – either manually or automatically. The valuables contained in such secure document containers can then be used to replenish secure document cassettes.

[0010] The device according to the invention comprises a cassette receiving device for receiving a security document cassette, which is to be filled with the security documents from a security document container. The cassette receiving device can be designed such that the security document cassette lies horizontally within it. However, it can also be designed such that the security document cassette stands vertically within it or is inclined obliquely backwards.

[0011] The device also includes a container receiving device for receiving at least one security document container, into which a security document container can be inserted for the removal of security documents and from which the respective security document container can be removed after the removal of the security documents.

[0012] Furthermore, the device features a gripping mechanism designed to transport a stack of valuable documents from the valuable document container to the valuable document cassette. The gripping mechanism is designed to grasp and release a stack of valuable documents. For example, the gripping mechanism has two gripping elements that can be moved towards each other to grasp a stack of valuable documents.

[0013] Optionally, the device features a formatting unit for automatically aligning a stack of valuable documents removed from the valuables container before it is placed in the valuables cassette.

[0014] The device also features the following: A transport device with the aid of which the gripping device can be moved, in particular vertically and horizontally, in order to remove a stack of valuable documents from the valuable document container and transport it to the valuable document cassette and insert it into the cassette, wherein the removed stack of valuable documents can optionally be transported to the formatting device and from the formatting device to the valuable document cassette, if alignment of the removed stack of valuable documents is required or desired. A control device for controlling the device, in particular the transport device and the gripping device, which is configured to remove a stack of valuable documents from a valuable document container held in the container receiving device with the aid of the gripping device, and, if necessary, to adjust the stack of valuable documents with the aid of the gripping device.to insert the document into the formatting unit and (after the stack of valuable documents has been automatically formatted in the formatting unit) to remove it from the formatting unit using the gripping device and insert it into a valuable document cassette held in the cassette receiving unit. The control unit, if present, is also designed to control the formatting unit and / or a finger element and / or a hold-down device described in more detail below.

[0015] In contrast to the fully automated filling of document cassettes by a document sorting device, the device according to the invention decouples the cassette filling process from the document sorting process. This is because the documents are not stacked directly into a document cassette, but are first placed into a document container and only then removed from this container by a gripper and inserted into a document cassette. This allows the document cassettes to be filled more flexibly and according to demand. If necessary, the stacks of documents can also be aligned using the formatting device.

[0016] Optionally, the device's control unit can also be configured to control the formatting unit and the opening and closing of a window. However, these functions can also be controlled in other ways. For example, the formatting unit can have a sensor to detect the insertion of a stack of valuable documents and automatically start its alignment. The window can also be opened and closed manually or by the operator at the push of a button.

[0017] The document container, from which the stacks of documents are removed, contains one or more stacks of documents. For example, several stacks of documents are separated from each other by dividers within the document container so that they can be removed separately from the container by the gripping device. The document container can be arranged horizontally, vertically, or at an angle within the device.

[0018] The container receiving device is designed, for example, to hold at least two document containers placed side by side. The receiving device may, for instance, have a mechanical anti-rotation device that ensures the document containers can only be received in a predetermined orientation. For this purpose, the document containers are shaped asymmetrically (on their underside or side wall) so that they can only be received in this predetermined orientation. The document container can be stationary while the stacks of documents are removed. Alternatively, the document container can be moved while the stacks of documents are removed.

[0019] Preferably, in addition to the gripping device, the device includes a finger element, which can be attached, for example, to the transport mechanism of the gripping device or to the cassette receiving device. Before the valuables are inserted, the finger element is inserted into the valuables cassette by means of a traversing device, which can be attached to the transport mechanism of the gripping device or to the cassette receiving device. The traversing device allows the finger element to be moved into the valuables cassette independently of the gripping device. Thus, the finger element can be inserted into the valuables cassette independently of the gripping device.

[0020] The finger element is preferably inserted into the document cassette before the gripping device is inserted. Its purpose is to hold or support the stack of documents already in the cassette and, if necessary, to compress them against the direction of the stack. For example, the finger element is inserted into the document cassette so that it is positioned at the end of the stack of documents, making full contact with the top surface of the uppermost document in the existing stack. The finger element can be a single piece or comprise two or more individual elements.

[0021] The finger element, for example, has two crescent-shaped individual elements that are attached to opposite sides of the cassette receiving device and can be pivoted from the outside into a security document cassette that is held in the cassette receiving device. Alternatively, the finger element can be attached to the transport mechanism of the gripping device so that it moves with the movement of the transport mechanism.

[0022] The cassette receiving device may include a support element for supporting or holding the stack of valuables contained within the cassette, in order to reliably maintain the stack's shape during transport. In particular, the support element may be designed as a slider that is pressed against the stack of valuables contained within the cassette.

[0023] To insert a stack of valuable documents into the cassette, the holding function of the support element can be temporarily taken over by the finger element. While the finger element is performing this holding function, the support element can be temporarily removed from the stack of valuable documents in the cassette to allow the insertion of a new stack. After the new stack of valuable documents has been inserted into the cassette, the support element is moved back to the top sheet of the stack and resumes its holding function from the finger element.

[0024] In a cassette receiving device with a support element, the finger element is preferably inserted into the security document cassette such that it is positioned next to the support element at the end of the stack of security documents contained in the cassette. For example, the finger element has at least two individual fingers that are moved together by the traversing device. When the finger element is inserted into the security document cassette, the slider is positioned between the individual fingers of the finger element.

[0025] The finger element is inserted into the document cassette by means of the moving mechanism at a point before the gripping device for inserting a stack of documents is inserted. This is advantageous, for example, if the existing stack of documents is bulky, as the bulky stack can be compressed by the finger element. The finger element is only withdrawn from the document cassette once the gripping elements of the device are no longer in contact with the stack of documents as they move out of the cassette. Alternatively, the finger element can also be withdrawn from the document cassette simultaneously with or before the gripping elements of the device.

[0026] The device is designed so that the respective stack of valuable documents is inserted into the cassette by the gripper along a direction parallel to the surface of the valuable documents in the stack of valuable documents, in contrast to the usual stamping of a stack of valuable documents into a cassette, in which the stacks of valuable documents are moved into the valuable document cassette along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the valuable documents.

[0027] The formatting unit is designed to receive one stack of valuable documents at a time, which has been removed from the valuable document container by the gripper. In particular, the formatting unit has a base upon which the stack of valuable documents to be formatted rests, with the valuable documents of the stack held in the formatting unit resting on the base of the unit with their edges, preferably their longitudinal edges. For example, the formatting unit is open on its upper surface opposite the base to allow the respective stack of valuable documents to be inserted into and removed from the top of the formatting unit. The base of the formatting unit can be oriented horizontally or at an angle to the horizontal.

[0028] In one embodiment, the formatting device for formatting the stack of valuable documents has two opposing movable side walls that move simultaneously toward a stack of valuable documents placed in the formatting device to format the stack. During formatting, the positions of the edge edges of the valuable documents in the stack are aligned. If the valuable documents are of the same size, all edge edges of the valuable documents in the respective stack are flush with each other after formatting.For formatting, the opposing movable side walls of the formatting unit are moved once or several times towards and away from the opposing edges of the valuable documents in the stack, in order to shift any protruding edges and thus align their positions. The formatting unit is located in the device, for example, between the container receiving unit and the cassette receiving unit.

[0029] The container receiving device, the cassette receiving device, and the formatting device are, for example, stationary and arranged directly next to each other. Preferably, the document container held in the container receiving device, the document cassette held in the cassette receiving device, and the optional formatting device are each open at their top to allow stacks of documents to be removed from or inserted into them from above by the gripping device. The gripping device is then positioned above the assembly of container receiving device, cassette receiving device, and optional formatting device, and is moved over it.

[0030] The device comprises a lockable housing in which the container receiving device, the cassette receiving device, the gripping device, and, if applicable, the formatting device are arranged. The housing forms a protected space that can be locked to prevent tampering. The lockable housing may have a transparent window on the side facing the operator, which can be opened and closed manually or automatically for inserting and removing document containers and the document cassette. Preferably, the document containers are opened and the documents are removed from the container by the gripping device only after the housing with the window has been closed. The window opens only after the document cassette filled with documents has been closed.

[0031] Optionally, the device also includes a mechanism for opening and / or closing the document containers from which the stacks of documents are removed. For example, the mechanism is designed to remove and unlock and / or place and lock a lid on the document container. The lid can, for example, be gripped by a suction cup and removed from or placed on the container.

[0032] For multiple stacks of valuable documents contained in the same valuable document container, the gripping device performs the following steps sequentially: a) Removing the respective stack of valuable documents from the valuable document container held in a container receiving device, b) optionally inserting the respective stack of valuable documents into the formatting device and removing the stack of valuable documents placed in the formatting device after it has been automatically formatted, c) inserting the (possibly formatted) removed stack of valuable documents into the valuable document cassette held in the cassette receiving device using the gripping device.

[0033] These steps a)-c) are performed for multiple stacks of valuable documents contained in the same valuable document container or in different valuable document containers. As soon as one of the valuable document containers is emptied, stacks of valuable documents are removed from another valuable document container, e.g., from a valuable document container positioned next to the emptied container in the container holder or from a valuable document container inserted into the device after the emptied valuable document container.

[0034] If the gripping elements of the gripping device or a finger element located between the valuables are pulled out of the valuables cassette, there is a risk that valuables will be partially or completely pulled out of the valuables cassette due to friction with the gripping elements or the finger element. a) To prevent this, a hold-down device can be positioned directly next to the finger element or gripping elements. This device holds the valuables in the valuables cassette when the finger element or gripping elements are withdrawn. When the finger element or gripping elements are withdrawn, the hold-down device touches the upper edges of at least those valuables in the valuables cassette that are directly adjacent to the finger element or gripping elements (i.e., both the upper edges of the topmost valuables in the stack already in the valuables cassette and the top edges of the bottommost valuables newly inserted into the valuables cassette). The hold-down device is movable independently of the gripping mechanism.It can be spring-loaded and therefore movable relative to the gripping device, with the spring force pressing against the inserted stack of valuable documents, or it can be actively movable, e.g. pneumatically or electrically driven.

[0035] The hold-down device is attached to the transport mechanism of the gripping device, so that it moves along with the movement of the transport mechanism. Compared to a hold-down device attached to the cassette holder, the moving hold-down device can be smaller and is more flexible for use with different cassette shapes and sizes.

[0036] The hold-down device remains stationary when the finger element or gripping elements are withdrawn, until the finger element or gripping elements no longer touch the valuables in the inserted stack of valuables and are then also removed from the stack. For example, the hold-down device is plate-shaped and perpendicular to the plane of the valuables, in order to touch the top edges of the valuables over a longer distance along their edge and hold them in the valuables cassette. The hold-down device can have one, two, or more than two hold-down elements, which can be angled or L-shaped. The hold-down device is attached, for example, to the traversing mechanism of the finger element, directly next to the finger element. In one embodiment, the hold-down device is connected to the finger element.It can be mounted on the finger element and mechanically coupled to the finger element in such a way that it is automatically pulled out of the document cassette by the finger element when the finger element is withdrawn. In another embodiment, the hold-down device is attached to the transport mechanism of the gripping device, in particular directly next to the gripping elements.

[0037] b) To prevent valuables from being pulled along when the finger element is withdrawn, the finger element can be designed as a roller finger as an alternative to using a hold-down device. The roller finger has at least one single finger with two rows of rollers along its longitudinal axis, located on opposite sides of the respective single finger. Preferably, the rollers are actively rotated when the finger element is withdrawn from the valuables cassette so that the rollers roll on the surface of the valuables. In this way, the frictional force generated between the finger element and the valuables adjacent to the finger element when the finger element is withdrawn is significantly reduced. As an alternative to driven rollers, free-running, ball-bearing rollers could also be used.

[0038] c) As an alternative to a roller finger, one or both gripping elements can also be equipped with two rows of rollers located on opposite sides of the respective gripping element. Preferably, the rollers are then actively rotated when the gripping element is withdrawn from the document cassette so that the rollers roll on the surface of the documents.

[0039] d) Alternatively or additionally, the surface of the finger element can also have a particularly low-friction material, thus preventing valuable documents from being pulled out of the cassette.

[0040] Further details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the figures. The figures show Fig. 1 An exemplary embodiment of a device for filling security document cassettes with security documents, Fig. 2a-h step-by-step insertion of a stack of valuable documents into a valuable document cassette from above using the gripping device and a finger element, Fig. 3a-g the process of formatting a batch of value documents using a formatting device, Fig. 4a-b Example of a finger element shaped like a roller finger, Fig. 5a-d step-by-step insertion of a stack of valuable documents from the side into a vertically arranged valuable document cassette using a finger element and a hold-down device, Fig. 6a-e step-by-step insertion of a stack of valuable documents into a valuable document cassette from the top using a finger element and a hold-down device, Fig. 7 the insertion of a stack of valuable documents into a valuable document cassette that is tilted diagonally backwards, Fig. 8 Another example of a formatting device.

[0041] In Fig. 1 Figure 50 shows an example of a device 50 for automatically filling a document safe 40. The device 50 has a lockable housing 53 in which the automatic filling of a document safe 40 takes place and in which a container receiving device 80, a cassette receiving device 41 for a document safe 40, a formatting device 10, and a gripping device 20 for gripping a stack of documents 1 are arranged. The cassette receiving device is formed by frame elements 41, which may be adjustable, that contact the document safe 40 on several sides of the cassette. The position of the frame elements 41 is selected according to the outer dimensions of the document safe 40 to be filled. To insert the stack of documents 1, a side wall of the cassette 40 is opened.

[0042] The housing 53 of the device 50 has a rear wall and two transparent side walls 54, and an openable window consisting of two parts 56, 57, which is opened to insert the document containers 81, 82 and the document cassette 40. Before the filling process begins, the window 56, 57 is closed, so that the housing 53 forms a protected, tamper-proof space for the automatic filling process, which can be observed from the outside through the window 56, 57.

[0043] The valuable documents are delivered in document containers 81, 82, which are inserted manually or automatically into the interior of the device 50. The document containers 81, 82 are placed on a receptacle 80, which in this example is designed to hold two document containers. The receptacle 80 has, for example, indentations that match the shape of the document containers. These indentations can act as an anti-rotation device, ensuring that the document containers can only be inserted in the correct orientation. The cassette receptacle 41 can also have an anti-rotation device. Optionally, the document containers are closed with a lid, which is automatically removed only after the device is closed by a corresponding mechanism located inside the device (not shown).

[0044] The device includes a control unit 51, which in this example is a computer that also serves as an operator interface. The operator can start the automatic filling process there and, if necessary, change settings for the automatic filling process. The computer is programmed with appropriate software that controls the movement of the gripping device 20 for removing the stacks of valuable documents 1 from the valuable document containers 81, 82, for transporting the stacks of valuable documents to the formatting device 10, for removing the stacks of valuable documents 1 from the formatting device, and for inserting them into the valuable document cassette 40. Furthermore, the control unit 51 controls the movement of the finger element 30 described below.

[0045] For example, several stacks of valuables 1 are first taken successively from the valuables container 81 and placed in the valuables cassette 40. When the valuables container 81 is empty, further stacks of valuables 1 are taken from the valuables container 82. When the valuables cassette 40 is full, it can be automatically closed inside the device and then removed from the device 50. The remaining valuables from the valuables container 81 can then be placed in an empty valuables cassette, which is subsequently inserted into the cassette receiving device 41. If the valuables cassette 40 is to be used in an ATM, the valuables placed in the valuables cassette 40 typically all have the same denomination.

[0046] Furthermore, the device 50 has a two-dimensionally movable transport unit 55, which in this example is designed as an xy-table. This allows the gripping device 20 to be moved vertically (y-direction) and horizontally (x-direction) in order to remove a stack of valuable documents 1 from the valuable document containers 81, 82, transport it to the formatting unit 10, and transport the formatted stack of valuable documents 1 from the formatting unit 10 to the valuable document cassette 40 and insert it therein.

[0047] In addition to the gripping device 20, a further, vertically movable traversing device 35 is attached to the transport device 55. This traversing device 35 can be moved vertically (in the y-direction) independently of the transport device 55. A finger element 30 is attached to the lower end of the traversing device 35, which is used when inserting the stacks of valuable documents 1 into the valuable document cassette 40. The finger element 30 can be lowered by means of the traversing device 35 even before the gripping device 20 is lowered into the valuable document cassette 40, in order to hold or support a stack of valuable documents already present in the valuable document cassette 40 before the stack of valuable documents 1 is inserted by the gripping device 20.

[0048] The finger element 30 is used, for example, in the case of a security document cassette 40, which has a spring-loaded lifting base 43 on which the stack of security documents 2 in the cassette rests, cf. Fig. 1 . On the upper side of the cassette, i.e. opposite the lifting floor 43, a support element (slider 44) is attached to the cassette receiving device 41, which is moved towards a stack of valuable documents 2 located in the valuable document cassette 40 by means of an actuator 70 and moves them against the spring force of the lifting floor 43, cf. Fig. 2a The stack of valuable documents 2 in the cassette is held between the spring-loaded lifting floor 43 and the slide 44.

[0049] However, even with differently designed document cassettes that do not have a spring-loaded lifting base, a finger element 30 can be advantageous for inserting a stack of documents 1 to prevent the documents from swelling or falling over. With the aid of the finger element 30, a stack of documents in the cassette, where the documents are standing on their edges, can be supported while a support element – ​​for inserting a new stack of documents – is temporarily removed from the stack of documents in the cassette.

[0050] When using a finger element 30, the following steps are performed sequentially to insert a stack of valuable documents 1 into the valuable document cassette 40: If the security document cassette has a spring-loaded lifting base 43 on which the stack of security documents 2 in the cassette rests, the lifting base 43 of the security document cassette is pushed back (to the left) by the slide 44 opposite the lifting base. Fig. 2a ) that space is created for the stack of valuable documents 1 to be newly inserted by the gripping device 20, cf. Fig. 2b The finger element 30, which in this example has two individual fingers 31, 32, is lowered vertically into the document cassette 40 by means of the traversing device 35, so that it makes full contact with the top of a stack of documents already located in the document cassette and fixes the position of this stack of documents 2 (if necessary against the spring force of the lifting base 43), cf. Fig. 2c The slide 44, which held the stack of valuable documents 2 in the cassette 40 against the spring force of the lifting base 43, is then moved away from the stack of valuable documents 2. The holding function of the slide 44 is now temporarily taken over by the finger element 30 until the slide 44 resumes this holding function after the respective stack of valuable documents 1 has been inserted, cf. Fig. 2d The gripping device 20 (which in this example has two gripping elements 21, 22) that holds the stack of valuable documents 1 to be inserted is lowered into the valuable document cassette 40 by means of the transport device 55 such that the finger element 31, 32 is located between the stack of valuable documents 2 already in the cassette and the stack of valuable documents 1 to be inserted, cf. Fig. 2e The gripping elements 21, 22 of the gripping device 20 move apart to release the stack of valuable documents 1 and thereby place it in the valuable document cassette 40, cf. Fig. 2f Approximately simultaneously, the slider 44 moves next to the finger element 30 and approaches the newly inserted stack of valuables 1 to hold it in place. Subsequently, the gripping device 20 and the finger element 30 are moved vertically upwards out of the valuables cassette 40, cf. Fig. 2g, 2h In the case of a roller finger, the rollers of the finger element 30 are rotated when the finger element is raised. In the case of a simple finger, a hold-down device may be used to retain the valuables. After the gripping device 20 and the finger element 30 have been moved out of the valuables cassette 40, the slider 44 can optionally be moved towards the newly inserted stack of valuables 1 to push it together with the stack of valuables 2 already in the valuables cassette and combine the two stacks of valuables 1 and 2. Alternatively, the combination of the two stacks of valuables 1 and 2 can also occur automatically due to the elasticity of the stacks (bulging).

[0051] In Fig. 3a-g The formatting of a stack of valuable documents in the formatting unit 10 is shown. To accommodate a stack of valuable documents 1 to be formatted, the formatting unit 10 has a base 13, two fixed side walls 14, 15, and two movable side walls 11, 12. The formatting unit is open on its upper side opposite the base to allow the stack of valuable documents to be inserted from above.

[0052] In Fig. 3a Figure 1 shows a stack of valuables 1 removed from the valuables container by the gripping device 20 and held between the gripping elements 21 and 22. The gripping device 20 was in operation at the time of Fig. 3b moved downwards to place the stack of valuable documents 1 on the base 13 of the formatting unit 10, so that the valuable documents stand on their long edges. Then the two gripping elements 21, 22 move slightly apart to release the stack of valuable documents 1 ( Fig. 3c ). The stack of valuable documents 1 is then supported by the fixed side walls 14, 15.

[0053] To format the stack of valuable documents, the movable side walls 11, 12, which are spread apart at the time of insertion, are moved towards each other by means of a motor 16 until the distance between the movable side walls corresponds to the length of the valuable documents ( Fig. 3d The edges of the valuable documents are moved. When the positions of the valuable document edges are aligned, i.e., the valuable documents are aligned with each other, the stack of valuable documents is formatted. Before the formatted stack of valuable documents 1 is removed, the movable side walls are separated ( Fig. 3e ). Subsequently, the gripping elements 21, 22 move towards each other again to grip the formatted stack of value documents 1 ( Fig. 3f ) and to be removed from formatting unit 10 ( Fig. 3g ). Subsequently, the formatted stack of valuable documents 1 is placed into the provided valuable document cassette 40 using the gripping device 20.

[0054] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows another embodiment of a formatting device 10, which has only a base and a side wall perpendicular to it. The base 13 of the formatting device 10 is inclined to the horizontal (e.g., at least 30°) and the side wall is located on the lower side of the base. When the gripping device 20 places the stack of valuable documents 1 onto the base 13 and the gripping elements 21, 22 are moved slightly apart to release the stack of valuable documents 1, the valuable documents slide along the base 13 towards the side wall due to gravity and are thus held in place at their (in Fig. 8 left) edge aligned. If necessary, the sliding of the stack of valuable documents 1 can also be assisted by vibrating or shaking the sloping base 13 and / or the side wall.

[0055] In Fig. 4a, b A finger element 30 designed as a roller finger is shown, which in this example has two individual fingers 31, 32. Fig. 4a shows the front and Fig. 4b The reverse side of the roller finger. Both on the front and on the reverse side, the roller finger has a row of rollers 33, 34 along its longitudinal direction at each end. Thus, when a stack of valuables is inserted into the valuables cassette, there is a first row of rollers 34 on the side of the roller finger facing the stack of valuables 1 to be inserted, and a second row of rollers 33 on the side of the roller finger facing the valuables 2 already in the cassette. To keep the thickness of the roller finger low, rollers with a small diameter are preferred, e.g., with a diameter of no more than 1 cm. The number of rollers in a roller row is at least 2.

[0056] Preferably, the rollers 33, 34 are actively rotated when the finger element 30 is withdrawn from the document cassette 40, so that the rollers roll on the surface of the topmost document in the stack. This significantly reduces the frictional force generated between the finger element and the documents adjacent to it when the finger element is withdrawn. Additionally, the rollers can also be actively rotated when the finger element is lowered into the cassette 40. The rotational speed of the rollers 33, 34 when the finger element 30 is withdrawn from the document cassette is preferably selected such that the peripheral speed of the rollers 33, 34 corresponds to the translational speed of the finger element during its vertical upward movement. This speed can be exactly the same, or the rollers 33, 34 can be rotated slightly faster than the finger element moves upward.The rollers belonging to the same roller row rotate at the same speed and are, for example, mechanically coupled to each other. However, rollers 33 and 34 of the two roller rows are rotated in opposite directions (rollers 33 against rollers 34) so ​​that the rollers on both sides of the finger element roll on the surface of the security documents. Rollers 33 and 34 of the two roller rows can each be mechanically coupled to the vertical movement of the finger element 30, for example, by means of a rack 38 (only in ). Fig. 4a (shown), so that the rollers are automatically rotated with the correct direction and speed during the vertical movement of the finger element 30, cf. Fig. 4b .

[0057] Fig. 6a-e Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which four vertical rods are used as finger elements 30, which are vertically movable by means of the traversing device 35. A hold-down device 60 is used to retain the valuables in the valuables document cassette, which has two L-shaped hold-down elements. Each hold-down element 60 has two vertical holes whose cross-section is slightly larger than the diameter of the rods. The two holes of an L-shaped hold-down element 60 enclose two of the vertical rods, so that the respective hold-down element is freely movable along the two rods. Fig. 6a The four rods have been moved all the way down by means of the moving device 35 in order to hold back the stack of valuables 2 already in the valuables cassette. The two L-shaped hold-down elements 60 rest on the upper edges of the valuables of the stack of valuables 1, which is to be inserted into the valuables cassette 40. Fig. 6b The stack of valuable documents 1 has been lowered into the valuable document cassette 40 by means of the gripping elements 21, 22. Since the two L-shaped hold-down elements 60 rest on the upper edges of the valuable documents in the stack of valuable documents 1, the hold-down elements 60 slide downwards along the bars accordingly when the stack of valuable documents 1 is moved downwards by means of the gripping elements 21, 22. Fig. 6c The gripping elements 21 and 22 have released the stack of valuable documents 1 and have moved back upwards. Fig. 6d The four rods were pulled upwards out of the document safe 40 by means of the moving device 35, thereby also pulling the two L-shaped retaining elements 60 upwards. These elements are mechanically coupled to the four rods by means of pins that protrude laterally from the lower end of each rod, thus preventing the two L-shaped retaining elements 60 from slipping out at the lower end of the rods. Fig. 6e The two stacks of valuable documents, 1 and 2, have been pushed together by means of a slider 44 and thus combined into one stack. As an alternative to the two L-shaped hold-down elements 60, a single (wider) hold-down element 60 can also be used. Instead of 4 rods, 2 rods can also be used as finger elements 30.

[0058] In Fig. 5a-d Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the document cassette 40 is arranged vertically in a cassette receiving device 41 and the documents lie on top of each other in the document cassette 40. In this embodiment, a finger element 30 and a hold-down device 60 are used, both of which are attached to the transport device 55 of the gripping device 20 and are actively movable relative to the transport device 55 independently of each other (and independently of the gripping elements 21, 22). The finger element 30 is, for example, a single piece and plate-shaped perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the finger element 30 is, for example, a single piece and plate-shaped perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Fig. 5a-d The finger element 30 is used to compress a stack of valuables 2 located in a valuables document cassette 40, causing it to bulge. The hold-down device 60 has, for example, two angled hold-down elements, one of which is located in Fig. 5a-d in front of the gripping elements 21, 22 and one behind them, so that the stack of valuable documents 1 is held back on both sides of the gripping elements 21, 22 when the gripping elements 21, 22 are pulled out of the valuable document cassette 40.

[0059] The stack of valuable documents 1 was removed from a valuable document container 81, which is located, for example, in the cassette receiving device 41, by the gripping elements 21, 22 of the gripping device 20 (in the cassette receiving device 41). Fig. 5a-d (not shown). Optionally, the side edges of the valuable documents from the extracted stack of valuable documents 1 may have been aligned in a formatting device 10.

[0060] In Fig. 5a The finger element 30, located directly below the gripping element 21, has been inserted into the document cassette 40 and positioned above the topmost document in the document stack 2. The transport device 55 is then moved downwards (see arrow) to compress the expanding document stack 2 using the finger element 30 (cf. Fig. 5b ). In Fig. 5c The transport device 55 was then moved to the left to insert the stack of valuable documents 1, gripped by the gripping elements 21 and 22, into the space above the finger element 30 in the upper part of the valuable document cassette 40. The hold-down device 60 was also moved to the left until it abutted the edges of the valuable documents in both stacks 1 and 2. The gripping elements 21 and 22 were moved slightly apart to release the stack of valuable documents 1. The transport device 55 was then moved to the right to pull the gripping elements 21 and 22 out of the valuable document cassette 40. The finger element 30 was also pulled out of the valuable document cassette 40 (to the right). When the finger element 30 is pulled out, the hold-down device 60 holds the valuable documents of the two stacks of valuable documents 1, 2, which are located near the finger element 30, in the valuable document cassette 40, so that they are not pulled out by friction with the finger element 30, cf. Fig. 5d .

[0061] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows a simple embodiment in which a finger element 30 is omitted. It can be used if the stack of valuable documents does not expand or expands only minimally, e.g., if it consists primarily of rarely used or newly printed valuable documents, and the stack of valuable documents 2 is not pushed upwards by a spring-loaded lifting floor. A hold-down device 60 can also be omitted in this embodiment. Fig. 7 This can be dispensed with. To prevent the removal of valuable documents, the following is used in the exemplary implementation: Fig. 7 The document cassette 40 is held in a cassette receiving device 41, in which the document cassette 40 is inclined obliquely backwards, so that the stack of documents is pressed by its own weight against both the base and a rear wall of the document cassette. Compared to a vertical arrangement of the document cassette 40, the stack of documents to be inserted can simply slide down from the lower gripping element 21 due to its own weight and thus fall into the document cassette 40. Compared to a horizontal arrangement of the document cassette 40, the inclined arrangement is advantageous because the upper end of the stack of documents 2 does not need to be supported due to the weight of the documents.

[0062] If necessary, the exemplary embodiment can also be used if needed. Fig. 7A hold-down device 60 can be used to retain the valuable documents when the gripping elements 21, 22 are withdrawn. Additionally, a particularly low-friction material can be used for the gripping elements 21, 22.

Claims

1. Device for filling a valuable document cassette (40), having - a cassette receptacle unit (41) for receiving a valuable document cassette (40), - a container receptacle unit (80) for receiving at least one valuable document container, - a gripping unit (20) for gripping a valuable document stack (1), - a transport unit (55) for moving the gripping unit (20), which is designed to, with the aid of the gripping unit (20), retrieve a valuable document stack (1) from a valuable document container (81, 82) received in the container receptacle unit (80) and to transport said valuable document stack to the valuable document cassette (40) received in the cassette receptacle unit (41), and to insert said valuable document stack into the valuable document cassette (40), - a preferably closable housing (53) in which the container receptacle unit, the cassette receptacle unit and the gripping unit are disposed, - a control unit (51) for controlling the device, in particular for controlling the transport unit (55) and the gripping unit (20), which is designed to, with the aid of the gripping unit, retrieve a valuable document stack from a valuable document container received in the container receptacle unit and, with the aid of the gripping unit, to insert said valuable document stack into a valuable document cassette received in the cassette receptacle unit.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device has, in addition to the gripping unit (20), a finger element (30) which for inserting the valuable document stack (1) is introduced into the valuable document cassette (40), wherein the finger element (30) is in particular attached to the transport unit (55) of the gripping unit (20) or to the cassette receptacle unit (41).

3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the device has a displacement unit (35) by means of which the finger element (30) is displaceable independently of the gripping unit (20), wherein the displacement unit (35) is in particular attached to the transport unit (55) of the gripping unit or to the cassette receptacle unit (41), wherein the control unit (51) is specified to control the displacement unit (35) in such a manner that the finger element (30) is introduced into the valuable document cassette (40) and in the process is positioned at the end of a valuable document stack (2) located in the valuable document cassette (40) so that said finger element touches in a planar manner the upper side of the uppermost valuable document of the stack of the valuable document stack (2) located in the valuable document cassette (40).

4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (51) is designed to, with the aid of the displacement unit (35), introduce the finger element (30) into the valuable document cassette (40) at a point in time before the gripping unit (20) is introduced into the valuable document cassette for inserting a valuable document stack, so as to hold or support the valuable document stack already located in the cassette by the finger element and optionally also to compress said valuable document stack counter to the stacking direction.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the preferably closable housing has, on its side facing an operator, a preferably transparent window for introducing and retrieving valuable document containers and the valuable document cassette, wherein the gripping unit is preferably designed to retrieve the valuable documents from the valuable document container only after the housing has been closed with the window.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a hold-down device (60) which is specified to retain the valuable documents in the valuable document cassette when gripping elements (21, 22) of the gripping unit (20) are extracted from the valuable document cassette (40), wherein the hold-down device during extraction touches the upper edges of at least those valuable documents located in the valuable document cassette that are present in the valuable document cassette (40) directly next to the gripping elements.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cassette receptacle unit (41) is designed in such a way that the valuable document cassette (40) received in the cassette receptacle unit (41) is inclined obliquely to the rear when the valuable documents are being inserted.

8. Device according one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has, in the preferably closable housing, a formatting unit (10) for automatically aligning a valuable document stack (1), and the transport unit (55) is designed to, with the aid of the gripping unit (20), transport a valuable document stack (1) from the valuable document container (81, 82) to the formatting unit (10) and from the formatting unit (10) to the valuable document cassette (40) received in the cassette receptacle unit (41).

9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the formatting unit (10) has a base (13) which is aligned obliquely to the horizontal and on which a valuable document stack (1) to be formatted can bear, wherein the valuable documents of the valuable document stack (1) inserted into the formatting unit rest on the base (13) of the formatting unit by way of their edges, preferably by way of their longitudinal edges.

10. Device according to one of Claims 8 to 9, characterized in that the formatting unit (10) has a sensor in order to detect the insertion of a valuable document stack and to automatically start the alignment thereof, wherein preferably slipping of the valuable document stack (1) along the base (13) aligned obliquely to the horizontal is assisted by vibrating or agitating the base (13).

11. Device according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the formatting unit (10) has two movable lateral walls (11, 12) which lie opposite one another and can be moved simultaneously towards a valuable document stack (1) inserted into the formatting unit, so as to mutually adapt the positions of the lateral edges of the valuable documents of the valuable document stack (1).

12. Device according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the container receptacle unit (80), the cassette receptacle unit (41) and the formatting unit (10) are stationary in the device and are disposed directly next to one another, wherein the formatting unit (10) is preferably disposed between the container receptacle unit (80) and the cassette receptacle unit (41).

13. Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the gripping unit (20) is disposed above the assembly of the container receptacle unit (80), the cassette receptacle unit (41) and the formatting unit (10), and the control unit (51) and the transport unit (55) are designed to move the gripping unit (20) in such a way that a plurality of valuable document stacks (1) are transported successively from the valuable document container (81, 82) to the formatting unit (10) and from the formatting unit to the valuable document cassette (40).

14. Device according one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping unit (20) is designed to first successively retrieve a plurality of valuable document stacks from the valuable document container (81) disposed in the container receptacle (80) and to insert them into the valuable document cassette (40) and, when the valuable document container (81) disposed in the container receptacle is empty, to retrieve further valuable document stacks from another container, in particular from a valuable document container (82) disposed next to the empty container in the container receptacle (80), and to insert them into the valuable document cassette (40).

15. Method for filling a valuable document cassette (40) with the aid of the device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a plurality of valuable document stacks (1) the following steps are in each case carried out successively: a) retrieving the respective valuable document stack (1) from a valuable document container (81, 82) by the gripping unit (20), b) optionally formatting the valuable document stack (1), wherein the respective valuable document stack (1) retrieved from the valuable document container is inserted into a formatting unit (10) by the gripping unit (20), is formatted in the formatting unit, and is subsequently retrieved from the formatting unit (10) again by the gripping unit (20), c) inserting the valuable document stack retrieved by the gripping unit (20) into a valuable document cassette (40) received in the cassette receptacle unit, wherein steps a)-c) are repeated for a plurality of valuable document stacks (1) that are contained in the same valuable document container or in different valuable document containers (81, 82).