Apparatus for processing documents of value

An apparatus for processing documents of value comprises a stationary part and a movable part. The stationary part comprises a singler for singling a stack of documents. The movable part comprises at least two output pockets for receiving processed documents. The movable part is mounted to the stationary part so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The stationary part and the movable part are arranged to form a transport path when in the closed position. The stationary part and the movable part are arranged to allow access to at least a section of the transport path when in the open position. The apparatus is arranged to transport singled documents of value from the singler along the transport path to the output pockets.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing documents of value, in particular banknotes.

Value documents or documents of value are understood here to be sheet-shaped objects that represent for example a monetary value or an authorization and are hence not to be producible at will by unauthorized persons. Hence, they have features that are not easily produced, in particular copied, whose presence is an indication of authenticity, i.e. production by an authorized body. Important examples of such value documents are coupons, vouchers, checks and in particular bank notes.

Documents of value, in particular banknotes, are often processed using an apparatus for processing documents of value. Such an apparatus may be designed to process a stack of documents put into an input section. When processing the documents the apparatus transports the documents one-by-one along a transport path to an output section comprising one or more output receptacles. The apparatus transports a document from the input section past a sensor arranged at the transport path. The sensor captures properties of the document and outputs corresponding sensor signals which the apparatus uses to control a transport system to transport the documents to an output receptacle in response to the sensor signals.

When processing documents of value, in particular during transporting, jams may occur due to dog ears, folds or crumples of documents. In that case, the jammed documents have to be removed from the transport path. For that purpose, it should be possible to access the transport path easily.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect to the present invention an apparatus for processing documents of value according to claim1is provided. The apparatus for processing documents of value comprises a stationary part and a movable part. The stationary part comprises a singler for singling a stack of documents, that is for separating single documents from a stack of documents and feed these to the transport path. The movable part comprises at least two output pockets for receiving processed documents. The movable part is mounted to the stationary part so as to be pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The stationary part and the movable part are arranged to form a transport path when the movable part is in the closed position. Further, the stationary part and the movable part are arranged to allow access to at least a section of said transport path when the movable part is in the open position. The apparatus is arranged to transport singled documents of value from said singler along said transport path to said output pockets.

Preferably, the stationary part and the movable part are arranged to form a section of the transport path in the closed position that is fully accessible by a user when the movable part is in the opened position.

Thus, an apparatus according to the invention allows easy removal of jams simply be moving the movable part from the closed position to the open position.

In a preferred embodiment said movable part may be mounted to said stationary part so that it is pivotable in a vertical plane. The plane is vertical if the apparatus in a working position and rests on the stationary part. Further, the transport path may extend in a plane parallel to said vertical plane or in said vertical plane.

In case that the movable part is swiveled downwards, it is preferred that the apparatus further comprises a restraining member arranged to limit a pivoting range of the movable part. In particular, the restraining member may be arranged to hold the movable part in the opened position. This has the advantage that a user does not need to use one hand to keep the movable member in the open position. Preferably, the stationary part comprises this restraining member.

The apparatus may comprise a transport system arranged to transport documents of value along the transport path. In a preferred embodiment the stationary part and the movable part may comprise transport elements to transport said singled documents along the transport path. Preferably, the movable part comprises a transport motor arranged to drive at least some of those transport elements. In particular, at least some of said transport elements of the movable part may be arranged to be driven by the transport motor. This design has the advantage that all driven parts of the transport are contained in the movable part and no transmission to the stationary part is necessary. Hence, the transport system comprises the transport motor and the transport elements.

In the apparatus the transport path may have branches leading to the output pockets. In that case the transport elements may comprise at least one diverting element arranged to direct a document transported along the transport path towards one or the other of said branches. Preferably the diverting elements and/or the actuator for actuating the diverting elements are arranged in the movable part, i. e. form part of the movable part. Again, this arrangement has the advantage, that the diverting elements and the actuators, e.g. solenoids, are held in movable part, so that no corresponding transmission between the stationary part and the movable part is necessary and adjustment is made easier. In particular, the section of the transport path accessible when the movable part is in the open position may be the section from said singler to the topmost of said branches. It may be accessible for a user when the movable part is in the open position. As a consequence only a single part has to be moved to obtain access to the section of the transport path mentioned.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the singler is arranged in the stationary part. In a preferred embodiment the singler may be a singler module mounted in said stationary part. In particular, the singler module may comprise a singler motor for driving the singler, in particular arranged to drive the singler. That way, all movable parts of the singler are contained in one module that may be manufactured separately. As well the module could be replaced easily. In particular, the singler module may be mounted in the stationary part such that it can be removed as a whole from the stationary part. Further, no transmission from the transport motor is necessary to drive the singler.

In some embodiments of the apparatus the stationary part may comprise a stationary base module and a first stationary extension module mounted on top of the stationary base module and the movable part may comprise a movable base module and a first movable extension module mounted to the movable base module and having an output pocket and wherein said base modules and said extension modules respectively are complementary to each other to form at least sections of said transport path.

In a preferred variant, said movable part may comprises at least one further movable extension module mounted on top of the first movable extension module or one of the movable extension modules and having an output pocket, and said first stationary extension module, said first movable extension module and the at least one further extension module may be arranged to form a section of said transport path when said stationary part and said movable part are in the closed position. As a single stationary extension module, the first stationary extension module and at least two movable extension modules form a section or sections of the transport path, precise alignment of the modules may obtained quite easily.

In another preferred variant, the stationary part may further comprise at least one further stationary extension module mounted on top of the first stationary extension module or one of the stationary extension modules and the movable part may comprise at least one further movable extension module mounted on top of the first movable extension module or one of the movable extension modules and having an output pocket, the at least one further stationary extension module and the at least one further extension module being arranged to form a section of said transport path when said stationary part and said movable part are in the closed position. In that way different versions of the apparatus having different numbers of output pockets may be manufactured at low cost.

In both variants, the extension modules may preferably be of the same type, i.e. equal.

In these embodiments it is preferred that the singler is arranged in the stationary base module and the transport motor is arranged in the movable base module. In particular, the singler module may be arranged in the stationary part, preferably in the stationary base module, so that it is below the output pockets when the movable part is in the closed state. The movable part may comprise driven and driving components of the transport system for transporting the documents of value. This increases the reliability of the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one further movable extension module may comprise transport elements and is arranged so that at least some of the transport elements are driven by the movable extension module below said at least one movable extension module. This results in a very simple design of the transport system.

Further, at least one of said movable extension modules may comprise a diverting element and an actuator for actuating the diverting element, said diverting element and actuator being arranged to direct documents of value to a branch of the transport path leading to one other of the movable extension modules or to the output pocket of said at least one of said extension modules in response to signals received by the actuator. This design allows to use movable extension modules of the same design which may only differ in having said actuator and preferably said diverting element.

In order to allow neatly stacking the processed documents, in the apparatus according to the invention a stapler wheel may be arranged between the transport path and at least one of said output pockets to staple documents of value transported to said output pocket into said output pocket.

In the case that the apparatus comprises at least one movable extension module, e. g. the first extension module, having a stapler wheel, that stapler wheel is preferably driven by the movable module below said extension module via a transmission element, preferably a belt.

The apparatus according to the invention may further comprise a sensor arrangement having a first sensor part mounted in the stationary part and a second sensor part mounted in the movable part on opposite sides of the transport path and between the singler and the output pockets, said sensor module being arranged to detect at least one property of a document of value passing the sensor module and outputting sensor data representing the detected at least one property. Further, the apparatus may comprise a control device arranged to receive and evaluate the sensor data and emitting a control signal to the actuator at least one of the actuators for actuating the diverting element or one of the diverting elements.

The apparatus according to the invention may further comprise a dust collection element arranged in the stationary part below the singler and arranged to be drawn out of the stationary part to allow removing dust from the dust collection element. In particular, the dust collection element may be formed as a drawer to be pulled out of and pushed back into the stationary part. This variant of the apparatus has the advantage, that dust can be removed from the apparatus without moving the movable part.

According to another aspect of the invention in a method of accessing a transport path of an apparatus according to invention, the movable part is moved into the open position by a single movement so that access to the main section of the transport path is possible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

InFIGS. 1A and 1B and 2, an apparatus for processing documents of value, in this embodiment banknotes10, comprises in a housing an input section12having an input receptacle14for receiving a stack of banknotes to be processed, and output pockets16for receiving processed banknotes. The output pockets16are arranged above the input receptacle14and are accessible from the front of the apparatus as is the input receptacle14. For simplicity, the housing is not shown in the Figures.

The input section12further comprises a singler18for singling a stack of documents of value received in the input receptacle14.

The apparatus further comprises a transport system20arranged to transport documents singled by the singler18one-by-one from the singler18along a transport path22to the output pockets16. The transport path22has branches leading to the output pockets16. Said branches start at branchings of the transport path. A main section60of the transport path22is the section of the transport path from the singler18to the topmost branching.

The apparatus further comprises a sensor arrangement24arranged to detect physical properties of documents transported along the transport path22and emit sensor signals representing the result of the detection.

A control unit25is connected to the sensor arrangement24and the transport system20. It is arranged to receive sensor signals of the sensor arrangement24generated for a document passing the sensor arrangement24and to control the transport system20by emitting control signals in response to the sensor signals. In particular, the control unit25is arranged to determine from the sensor signals which of the output pockets the document is to be transported to and to control the transport system to transport the document in response to the sensor signals output by the sensor arrangement24to said output pocket16determined.

The apparatus, in particular the transport system20, is arranged to transport the banknotes with their short edge parallel to the transport direction.

In this embodiment, the apparatus comprises a stationary part30and a movable part32.

The stationary part30comprises a chassis34including a base plate36and first sidewalls38. The input section12is held in the chassis34and comprises the singler18as well as the input receptacle14for receiving a stack of documents to be singled.

The movable part32comprises second sidewalls40and the output pockets16. In this embodiment three output pockets are arranged above the input receptacle14and above each other.

Further, as shown inFIG. 2, the stationary part30and the movable part32, respectively, hold two parts26and28of the sensor arrangement24, these parts being arranged on opposite sides of the transport path22. In this embodiment, these sensor parts26and28are provided as sensor modules26and28, respectively.

The movable part32is mounted to the stationary part30, more precisely to the chassis34, via pin-joints42, so as to be pivotable between two positions relative to the stationary part30, a closed position illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1Band an open position illustrated inFIG. 3. The pin-joints or revolute42joints are arranged at the first and second sidewalls so that the movable part can be swiveled downwardly about an axis extending between the pin-joints42.

In the closed position shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, the stationary part30and the movable part32are arranged to form a section of the transport path22leading from the input section12to the output pockets16. Thus, the closed position is also an operating position. Further, a latching mechanism44holds the movable part in the closed position. The latching mechanism44comprises lever arrangements46mounted on both second sidewalls40of the movable part32and studs48on both first sidewalls38of the stationary part30. The lever arrangements46are connected by a transversal bar50and can be swiveled about revolute joints52held at the movable part32. The studs48are arranged on both first sidewalls38of the stationary part30near the bottom and near the top. Levers54of the lever arrangements46have recesses56complementary to the studs48. In a locked state, the stationary part30and movable part32are fixed in the closed position, the recesses56engaging with the complementary studs48. That way, a suitable distance between the stationary part30and the movable part32is obtained which ensures proper transport of documents along the transport path and proper relative positions of the sensor parts26and28. By moving the levers54into unlocked positions the studs48no longer engage the recesses56and the movable part32is free to be swiveled.

In the closed position, a user may actuate, i. e. unlatch, the latching mechanism44so that the movable part32can be swiveled downwards into the open position (seeFIG. 3). In the open position the movable part32is pivoted away from the stationary part30so as to expose at least a section, in this embodiment main section60, of the transport path22. As the section60of the transport path22is formed by the two parts30and32it is accessible so that documents jammed in the section60of the transport path22are easily accessible and can be removed easily.

Retaining elements58mounted between studs62of the movable part32and the stationary part30on both sides, in this embodiment gas springs, are arranged to provide a restoring force to the movable part32when it is in the open position. Further, it serves as a limiting member that limits the swiveling motion of the movable part32in a downward direction.

The stationary part30and the movable part32have faces forming the main section60of the transport path when in the closed position. The faces are of complementary shape forming the main section60of the transport path22. In this embodiment the main section60of the transport path is generally S-shaped. It starts with a straight sensing section60S passing through the sensor arrangement24and then bends upwards and in a direction to the front of the apparatus to form an evaluation section60E. On the one hand, the shapes of the stationary part30and the movable part32, in particular of their faces forming the main section60of the transport path, are adapted to allow transport of banknotes by the rollers when in the closed position. On the other hand, the shapes are adapted to allow a swiveling motion of the movable part from the closed position into the open position. In this embodiment, the evaluation section60E is curved like an arc of a circle and the stationary and movable part are adapted to form this evaluation section60E. The length of the evaluation section60E is chosen so that evaluating sensor signals captured for a banknote by control unit25is completed to the extent that one of the output pockets is determined the banknote is transported to before the banknote reaches the first deviating element or branching. The main section60of the transport path then bends upwards and slightly back to form a sorting section600. The sections of the main section after the evaluation section60E have output branches64leading to the output pockets16. The transport path22extends parallel to an at least approximately vertical plane V. The swiveling or pivoting motion of the movable part32is also parallel to that plane.

Correspondingly, the housing comprises two parts, one part being mounted to the stationary part, the other being mounted to the movable. The parts are adapted to form a closed housing when the movable part is in the closed state and to allow moving the mobile part with the part of the housing mounted thereto into the open position.

The stationary part30and the movable part32comprise the transport system20. Each of these parts comprises transport elements of the transport system20to transport singled documents along the transport path22. Whereas stationary part30comprises passive transport elements that are not directly driven, e. g. rollers, movable part32comprises driven transport elements to transport said singled documents along transport path22. In particular, the movable part32comprises a transport motor66and transport elements, e. g. rollers, driven by means of the transport motor66. The movable part32may optionally comprise further transport elements.

In this embodiment the stationary part30and the movable part32are of modular design and comprise complementary stationary and movable modules, respectively.

The stationary part30illustrated inFIG. 4comprises a stationary base module68and a stationary extension module70fastened to the stationary base module68. Hence the first sidewalls38are formed by corresponding module sidewalls72and74, respectively, of the stationary base and extension module68and70. The movable part32illustrated inFIG. 7comprises a movable base module76and a movable extension module78fastened to the movable base module76. Thus, also the second sidewalls are formed by corresponding module sidewalls80and82of the movable base and extension module76and78, respectively.

The sidewalls of the base and extension modules comprise complementary fastening elements arranged to fasten the respective extension module to the module below it. In this embodiment, the sidewalls comprise lugs84,86and88,90respectively, adapted to be connected by screws92,94.

InFIG. 5, the stationary base module68comprises a stationary base chassis96comprising the base plate36and first base module sidewalls98,100. In the stationary base chassis96the stationary base module68comprises guiding elements102and rollers104protruding partly through openings106in said guiding elements102as transport elements. The guiding elements102form guiding surfaces on which banknotes can slide when being transported.

InFIG. 8, the movable base module76comprises in a movable base chassis107as transport elements guiding elements108and rollers110protruding partly through openings112in said guiding elements108. The guiding elements108form guiding surfaces on which banknotes can slide when being transported. Contrary to the rollers104of the stationary base module68, the rollers110of the movable base module76are driven by the transport motor66via one or more belts114. The rollers104and110in the base modules are arranged to form transport roller nips when the movable part is in the closed state. Banknotes are driven along the transport path22by the transport rollers110of the movable part32when passing the nips.

Analogously, the stationary extension module70illustrated inFIG. 6comprises in a stationary extension chassis116as transport elements a guiding element118and rollers120protruding partly through openings122in said guiding element118.

Further, the movable extension module78illustrated inFIG. 9comprises in a movable extension chassis124transport rollers126that are driven via a belt128by a driven element of the movable module, the movable extension module is mounted on (seeFIG. 1B). As in the case of the base modules68and76the rollers120and126of the extension modules are arranged to form transport roller nips when the movable part is in the closed state. Banknotes are driven along the transport path22by the transport rollers126of the movable extension module78when passing the nips.

The output pockets16are part of the movable part32and arranged one above the other. The lowermost output pocket is a reject pocket16R; the other output pockets serve as sorting output pockets. In particular, the movable base module76comprises that reject pocket16R and a first of the sorting output pockets16(1)and branches64a,64bof the transport path22leading to said pockets.

The reject pocket16R is provided to receive banknotes that cannot be sorted into one of the other output pockets because they are not in a singled state or are scewed relative to the transport path.

The first sorting output pocket16(1)comprises a stacker wheel130to stack banknotes transported to the first sorting output pocket16(1). The stacker wheel130of the movable base module is driven by the transport motor66via at least one belt132.

The movable extension module provides a second sorting output pocket16(2)arranged at the end of another branch60cof the transport path22. A stacker wheel134for stacking banknotes in the second sorting output pocket16(2)is driven by the movable base module76via another belt136(seeFIGS. 1A, 11).

At the branchings of the transport path22diverting elements138and actuators140(seeFIGS. 1A and 8) for actuating the diverting elements138are provided. Both are held in the movable part32, i. e. those for the reject pocket16R and the first sorting output pocket16(1)at the movable base chassis107. A diverting element of the first movable extension module78may be held in fixed position to divert any banknote reaching the module to the second sorting output pocket16(2). The actuators may be solenoids connected to and controlled by control unit25.

InFIG. 10, the singler18is a self-contained singler module arranged in the stationary part30, in this embodiment in the stationary base chassis96. The singler module18has a singler chassis142. Drive rollers144and separating rollers146arranged opposite to the drive rollers144to form a singling gap are directly or indirectly mounted in the singler chassis142. Feed rollers147transport a lowermost banknote of a stack of banknotes towards the singling gap where it is advanced by the driver rollers144. The separating rollers146are arranged to retain a banknote that sticks to a banknote underneath it which is moved by the drive rollers144. A singler motor148of the singler module18also held in singler chassis142drives the feed rollers147and via a belt149the drive rollers144. The motor148is connected to control unit25which is arranged to control operation of the singler18.

Below the singler18and in the stationary part30, in this embodiment in the stationary base module68, a dust collection element150is arranged for collecting dust resulting from the operation of the singler18above (seeFIG. 5). The dust collection element150comprises a box held between two guiding elements152so as to be pulled from a collecting position in which dust falling from within the apparatus is collected on or in the collection element150to a position allowing removing of the collected dust from the collection element150and pushed back into the collecting position. In this embodiment, the dust collection element150is a box which sits above base plate36of the stationary part30, in more detail base plate36of the stationary base module68, but below the singler18so that it can be drawn out to the front of the apparatus and emptied.

The sensor arrangement24illustrated inFIG. 2has the first part26and the second part28formed by upper and lower sensor modules26and28respectively arranged on opposite sides of the sensing section60S of the transport path22. Whereas the upper sensor module26is held in the movable part32, in this embodiment in movable base module76, the lower sensor module28is mounted in stationary part30, in this embodiment in stationary base module68. The sensor arrangement24comprises optical sensors and a magnetic sensor to obtain corresponding properties of a banknote while being transported past the sensing modules26and28and generating signals therefrom.

The control unit25on base plate36(seeFIG. 2) is connected to the sensors of the sensor arrangement24via sensor signal connections and to the transport motor66, the singler motor148and the actuators140of the diverting elements138via control connections. The control unit25comprises a processor and memory storing instructions of a computer program. In operation, documents are classified into predetermined sorting classes. Further, sorting classes are assigned to the output pockets16so that documents classified to belong to a particular sorting class are stacked in the output pocket16the class is assigned to. When executing the instructions, the processor controls the motors66and148and actuators140. Further, it receives sensor signals of the sensors of sensor arrangement24captured for a document passing the sensor arrangement24, determines a sorting class using the sensor signals and controls the transport system20, in particular at least one of the actuators140by transmitting controls signals to the at least one actuator140in response to the sorting class determined for a document. The processor controls the at least one actuator140so that the document is directed to the output pocket16assigned for the sorting class.

In particular, when detecting banknotes at least partially overlapping and being transported jointly (“double feeds”), the banknotes are directed to reject pocket16R.

In operation, banknotes of a stack of documents placed in the input receptacle14are singled by singler18and fed to the transport system20which transports the banknotes one-by-one. The transport system20transports a banknote fed by the singler18along the sensing section60S, where the sensor arrangement24detects properties of the banknote and generates corresponding sensor signals representing the properties. The control unit25receives the sensor signals. While the banknote is transported along the evaluation section60E of the transport path22, control unit25classifies the banknote using the sensor signals and generates control signals for controlling the transport system20, in particular, the actuators and optionally the transport motor66. At least one of the actuators move a corresponding at least one of the diverting elements in response to the control signals, so that the banknote leaving the evaluation section60E and entering the sorting section600of the transport path22. In the sorting section600the banknote is directed to an output pocket determined by the control unit25.

A second embodiment of the apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12differs from the first embodiment in that it comprises two further extension modules, i. e. a second and third stationary extension module154and156respectively, and movable extension modules, i. e. a second and third movable extension module158and160, respectively, arranged vertically above the first extension modules. The stationary and movable base modules and the first stationary and movable extension modules correspond to those of the first embodiment; the reference numerals and the description with respect to these modules applies also for the second embodiment, unless explicitly stated in the following.

The first to third extension modules are generally identical. However, actuators for actuating respective diverting elements are arranged in the first and second movable extension module only, but not in the third extension module. The third extension module is analogous to the first extension module of the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, the actuators are solenoids.

The transport elements and the stapler wheels of the movable extension modules are driven by the respective extension modules right below them by means of belts136as shown inFIG. 11for the stapler wheels and inFIG. 12for the transport rollers.

Each of these extension modules is mounted on top of the respective extension module below it by means of the lugs and screws.

The control unit differs from the control unit of the first embodiment in that it is connected to all actuators and adapted to control these actuators.

A third embodiment illustrated schematically inFIG. 13differs from the second embodiment in that the first, second and third stationary extension modules70,154,156are replaced by a single stationary extension module70′ that is mounted to stationary base module68in the same manner as module70. The stationary and movable base modules and the movable extension modules correspond to those of the second embodiment; the reference numerals and the description with respect to these modules applies also for the third embodiment, unless explicitly stated in the following.

The single stationary extension module70′ is arranged to form with the three movable extension modules78,158and160a section the transport path as in the second embodiment. This allows precise alignment of the modules. In particular, the stationary extension module70′ comprises a arrangement of transport elements corresponding to the transport elements of the first, second and third stationary extension modules70,154,156.

Further embodiments differ from the second embodiment in that the apparatus comprises further extension modules analogous to the second embodiment. The control unit is adapted accordingly.