Patent Publication Number: US-11655116-B2

Title: Apparatus for aligning notes of value

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 15/923,081 for an Apparatus for Aligning Notes of Value, filed on Mar. 3, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application also claims priority to and the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2017 105 845.1, Filed 17 Mar. 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning notes of value during the transport along a transport path, for example within an automated teller machine or an automatic cash safe or a cash register system. The note of value can in particular be a banknote or a check, which shall for example be fed to a receiving area of a box for storing notes of value or shall be removed therefrom. The apparatus includes at least one transport element for transporting the note of value along the transport path. The transport element is driven by at least one first drive unit. 
     In value note machines, such as automated teller machines, automatic cash safes as well as machines for the output and/or input of vouchers and tickets, notes of value to be input are transported from an input compartment into a receiving area and/or notes of value to be output are transported from a receiving area to an output compartment. The receiving area can be provided by a transport box for storing and for transporting the notes of value. To achieve a value note throughput that is as high as possible during the transport of the notes of value and to avoid disturbances resulting from value note jams, so-called paper jams, the usually rectangular notes of value are oriented with their longitudinal axis transversely to the transport direction. Such an orientation is also referred to as long-side first orientation. The risk of a paper jam is particularly high in the case of used notes of value since the stiffness of such notes of value decreases with use and contaminations of the surface of the notes of value increase. Especially in the case of such used notes of value, a skewed feed or skewed pull of the notes of value during transport may occur. As a result, the notes of value can have a lateral offset or an angular offset with respect to a desired target position so that these should be aligned. 
     An apparatus for aligning notes of value is for example known from document DE 10 2004 060 191 A1. In this apparatus, lateral guiding elements, as used for example for aligning and guiding single sheets in printers or copiers, are dispensed with. In the case of notes of value, the use of lateral guiding elements would result in a misalignment and/or a disturbance as a result of a paper jam due to the different stiffnesses and the different edge qualities of the notes of value. Further apparatuses for aligning notes of value are known from documents DE 10 2008 050 534 A1, DE 10 2008 038 771 A1, DE 10 2011 000 783 A1 and DE 102 03 177 C1. 
     It is the object of the invention to specify apparatuses for aligning a note of value, by which at least a lateral offset of the note of value can be corrected easily during its transport along the transport path. 
     This object is solved by an apparatus having the features of claim  1  and by an apparatus having the features of the further independent apparatus claim. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. 
     By the apparatus for aligning at least one note of value along a transport path having the features of claim  1  it is achieved that the second drive unit displaces at least one of the deflecting elements along its axis of rotation so that a note of value in contact with the drive belt is moved both in transport direction by means of a drive by the first drive unit and in the case of an additional activation of the second drive unit obliquely to the transport direction. As a result, a lateral displacement of the note of value during the transport along the transport path is possible, while having a very compact and robust structure of the apparatus. The inventive apparatuses can alternatively or additionally be used in apparatuses for handling notes of value, such as automated teller machines, automatic cash safes, ticket machines, or cash register systems. 
     In an advantageous development, the first drive unit drives the first deflecting element or the second deflecting element via at least one drive shaft. As a result, a simple force transmission from the drive unit to the deflecting element is possible so that a simple and compact structure of the apparatus is achieved. 
     It is particularly advantageous when the deflecting elements each comprise at least one shaft, one roller, one disk, or one drum. As a result, standard elements can be used for driving and guiding the drive belt so that a simple and cost-efficient structure of the apparatus is achieved. 
     Further, it is advantageous when the second deflecting element is arranged downstream of the first deflecting element in transport direction and when the second deflecting element is laterally displaced by the second drive unit. As a result, the distance by which the note of value shall be laterally displaced by the drive belt during transport, can be set during the transport of the note of value by activation of the second drive unit. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the second deflecting element is displaced along its axis of rotation by the second drive unit during a rotation of the first deflecting element by the first drive unit so that the note of value is moved obliquely to the transport direction between the first deflecting element and the second deflecting element. As a result, the note of value can be displaced laterally by the drive belt during the transport so that a lateral offset of the note of value can easily be corrected. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the second deflecting element is connected to a shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and is displaceable axially on or together with the shaft along the axis of rotation of the second deflecting element or along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. As a result, a simple arrangement for a lateral displacement of the second deflecting element is possible. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, a counter-pressure element arranged opposite to the drive belt is provided, wherein the transport path of the note of value runs between the drive belt and the counter-pressure element. The counter-pressure element guarantees that during the transport the note of value is pressed against the drive belt by this drive belt so that a safe transport of the note of value by the drive belt is possible. 
     Here, it is particularly advantageous when the counter-pressure element is a belt, which is guided over a deflecting element that is laterally displaceable by the second drive unit together with the second deflecting element, i.e. along the axis of rotation of the deflecting element. As a result, the note of value can be guided along the transport path between the opposite belts so that it is reliably held. 
     A second aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for aligning at least one note of value along a transport path with a first transport element for the transport of the note of value along the transport path in at least one transport direction. The apparatus comprises at least a second transport element for the transport of the note of value along the transport path in transport direction and at least one transverse transport element, which is arranged between the first transport element and the second transport element. Further, the apparatus comprises at least one counter-pressure element arranged opposite to the transverse transport element. The transport path of the note of value runs between the transverse transport element and the counter-pressure element. The transverse transport element comprises at least one vane wheel. Further, a second drive unit for driving the at least one vane wheel is provided. The axis of rotation of the vane wheel runs parallel to the transport direction and has a distance to the transport plane. Upon rotation of the vane wheel, the vane wheel contacts a note of value arranged between the vane wheel and the counter-pressure element and moves it transversely to the transport direction. The vane wheel is preferably only rotated whenever the note of value shall also be moved transversely to the transport direction in addition to the transport in transport direction, for example for correcting a lateral offset of the note of value. The apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention thus causes that a determined lateral offset of the note of value can be corrected easily in that the note of value is moved by the apparatus not only in transport direction but also transversely to the transport direction. 
     It is particularly advantageous when the counter-pressure element is ball-shaped and freely rotatable. As a result, the counter-pressure element can generate both a counter-pressure when the note of value is transported in transport direction by the first and the second transport elements and, given an activation of the vane wheel, guarantee a contact between the vane wheel and the note of value. By means of the vane wheel, the note of value can be moved out of the transport plane in particular at least in parts so that the contact or the adhesive force between the note of value and the first transport element and the note of value and the second transport element is reduced when the vane wheel moves the note of value transversely to the transport direction. By the free rotatability of the ball-shaped counter-pressure element, the ball-shaped counter-pressure element allows the generation of a press-on force both given a movement of the note of value in transport direction and given a movement of the note of value transversely to the transport direction. 
     It is particularly advantageous when the axis of rotation of the vane wheel has a distance to the transport plane that is shorter than the enveloping circle of the vane wheel, wherein the radius of the enveloping circle of the vane wheel is the distance of the outer points of the vane wheel to the axis of rotation of the vane wheel. Thus, the enveloping circle is the circle along which the points of the vane wheel, which have the longest distance from the axis of rotation of the vane wheel, are moved given a rotation of the vane wheel. As a result, it is guaranteed that at least the areas of the note of value contacted by at least one vane of the vane wheel are moved out of the transport plane at least for a short period of time so that the note of value is preferably lifted upward from the transport path given a horizontal arrangement of the transport path. If the note of value shall not be moved laterally during the transport through the apparatus, the vane wheel is not moved, i.e. the second drive unit is not activated. Here, the vanes of the vane wheel are preferably held in such an angular position in which no vane of the vane wheel projects into or through the transport plane. 
     Further, it is advantageous that upon a rotation of the vane wheel by means of the second drive unit the vane wheel moves at least a portion of the note of value out of the transport plane and presses it against the counter-pressure element. As a result, an easy and safe movement of the note of value transversely to the transport direction is possible. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the direction of rotation of the vane wheel can be changed, in particular by a change of the direction of rotation of the second drive unit. As a result, the note of value can be transported in a first direction transversely to the transport direction and in a second direction transversely to the transport direction, which second direction is opposite to the first direction. 
     Further, it is advantageous when the apparatus comprises at least one elastically deformable element, which generates a press-on force of the counter-pressure element on a note of value arranged between the vane wheel and the counter-pressure element. As a result, a safe transport of the note of value, in particular a safe movement of the note of value in transport direction can be made possible. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the apparatus has a banknote reader, which detects the position of the note of value. Based on the detected position, the banknote reader or a control unit determines a lateral offset with respect to a preset target position. The alignment of the note of value then takes place in that the second drive unit for moving the transport element is controlled dependent on the determined lateral offset such that the lateral offset is reduced or corrected. As a result, an easy detection of the lateral offset is possible. Since banknote readers are generally used in automated teller machines for an authenticity check, it is advantageous to use this device already present in the automated teller machine to detect the position of the note of value in order to determine a lateral offset of the note of value based thereon. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the direction of rotation of the transport element can be changed. This in particular takes place by a change of the direction of rotation of the first drive unit. As a result, a bidirectional transport of the notes of value along the transport path in a first transport direction and in a second transport direction opposite to the first transport direction is possible. As a result, it is in particular possible to transport notes of value to be deposited in the first transport direction through the apparatus and notes of value to be dispensed in the second transport direction. Further, it is possible to transport a note of value in the first transport direction through the apparatus and in doing so to perform a first correction of the lateral offset and, given a transport of the same note of value in the second transport direction through the apparatus, to perform a second correction of the lateral offset. As a result, the possibility for correcting a determined lateral offset is further improved. 
     A third aspect of the invention relates to an arrangement with a first apparatus according to claim  1  or according to the independent further apparatus claim or according to a claim dependent thereon or according to one of the developments indicated above and with a second apparatus according to claim  1  or according to the independent further apparatus claim or according to a claim dependent thereon or according to one of the developments indicated above. The note of value is successively fed to the first apparatus and the second apparatus. In doing so, a first alignment of the note of value can be made by the first apparatus and a second alignment of the note of value can be made by the second apparatus. As a result, a lateral offset that is twice as high can be corrected as compared to arrangements with only one apparatus for correcting a lateral offset of a note of value. 
     The transport path is preferably limited by several transport elements, of which at least a part is arranged one after the other in transport direction. Further, the transport path can be arranged between a first guide element and a second guide element. In particular, the transport elements can be arranged such and the guide elements can be designed such that the transport plane has a curved or curve-shaped course in transport direction. A note of value transported along the transport path can be transported along the transport path such that its face is arranged opposite to a contact area of the first guide element and that its back is arranged opposite to a contact area of the second guide element. 
     The transport elements can comprise driven and/or non-driven rotating transport rollers, transport bands, and/or drums. 
     The note of value can in particular be a banknote, a check, a voucher, or a ticket. 
     Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description, which explains the invention in more detail in connection with the enclosed Figures on the basis of an embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a schematic perspective illustration of several notes of value transported along a transport path. 
         FIG.  2    shows a schematic perspective illustration of an apparatus for aligning notes of value according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    shows a schematic perspective illustration of an apparatus for aligning notes of value according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    shows a schematic perspective illustration of an apparatus for aligning notes of value according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    shows a top view of an apparatus for aligning notes of value according to a fourth embodiment. 
         FIG.  6   a    shows a sectional view of the apparatus according to  FIG.  5    in a first operating state, and 
         FIG.  6   b    shows a sectional view of the apparatus according to  FIG.  5    in a second operating state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIG.  1   , a schematic illustration of several notes of value  12  to  18  arranged along a transport plane  10  is illustrated. The notes of value  12  to  18  are transported by means of non-illustrated transport means, such as rollers, drums, bands, and/or switches along the transport path  10  in transport direction T 1 . The dash-dotted line  20  indicates the central axis of the transport path  10 . The notes of value  12  to  18  are transported in a transport plane formed by the transport path  10 . In the following, such a transport plane is likewise identified with the reference sign  10 . 
     The notes of value  12  to  18  should have a target position relative to the transport path  10 . From this target position, the positions of the notes of value  12  to  18  should only deviate within little tolerances. In the target position, the longitudinal sides of the notes of value  12  to  18  are aligned orthogonally to the transport direction T 1  and the short central axis of the note of value  12  to  18  lies on the central axis  20  of the transport path  10 . From the notes of value  12  to  18  illustrated in  FIG.  1   , only the note of value  18  is in the target position. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal sides of the notes of value  12  to  18  are, at least in the target position, oriented substantially transversely to the transport direction T 1 . Such an orientation of the longitudinal sides of the notes of value  12  to  18  orthogonal to the transport direction T 1  is also referred to as long side first (LSF) orientation. Further, it is advantageous when two successive notes of value  12  to  18  each have the same distance Y to each other. An alignment of the notes of value  12  to  18  in the target position is particularly important when the notes of value  12  to  18  are transported along the transport path  10  of an automated teller machine or an automatic cash safe at high speed. For aligning the notes of value  12  to  16 , the position of which laterally deviates from the target position, an apparatus for aligning the notes of value  12  to  18  is provided according to the invention. The structure and the function of the apparatus for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  is described still in more detail in the following in connection with  FIGS.  2  to  6   . The notes of value  12  to  18  run through the apparatus at the same transport speed as during their transport along other transport paths  10  in the automated teller machine or in the automatic cash register system or cash safes, respectively. In the present embodiment, the deviation of the position of the note of value  12  to  18  from its target position is determined by a non-illustrated value note checking unit for checking the authenticity of the notes of value  12  to  18 . The value note checking unit is arranged upstream of the apparatus for aligning the notes of value  12  to  18  in transport direction T 1 . Such a value note checking unit is also referred to as banknote reader. 
     Deviations of the position of the notes of value  12  to  18  from the target position can in particular occur during the removal of notes of value  12  to  18  from value note boxes with poorly stacked notes of value  12  to  18 , in the case of an incorrect input of notes of value  12  to  18  by a customer and/or in the case of a skewed pull of notes of value  12  to  18  during feed or during the transport along the transport path  10 . When such deviations occur, it is necessary that the notes of value  12  to  18  are brought into their target position by the apparatus for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  in order to correct at least a detected lateral offset. 
     Further, by the alignment of the notes of value  12  to  18  in the target position, the alignment of the notes of value  12  to  18  in stacks for the output of the notes of value  12  to  18  as a bundle or for storing the notes of value  12  to  18  as a stack, for example in a value note box, is improved. In this way, the notes of value  12  to  18  can be stored in a space-saving manner Further, the notes of value  12  to  18  can be output to a customer as an orderly bundle in an attractive and comfortable manner. 
     The note of value  14  shown in  FIG.  1    is not in the target position. Its longitudinal sides are indeed perpendicular to the transport direction T 1 , but its short central axis does not lie on the central axis  20  of the transport path  10 . The short central axis of the note of value  14  is offset to the right so that the note of value  14  has no angular offset but a lateral offset. The note of value  14  thus has to be moved to the left so far that the short central axis of the note of value  14  lies on the central axis  20  of the transport plane  10  to bring the note of value  14  in the target position. 
     The note of value  12  has approximately the same lateral offset transversely to the central axis  20  of the transport path  10  as the note of value  14 . However, the note of value  12  is additionally rotated by an angle A with respect to an orthogonal to the central axis  20  of the transport path  10 . Such a deviation by an angle from the target position is also referred to as angular offset. The note of value  12  should be rotated by the angle −A and additionally be moved to the left, as viewed in transport direction T 1 , until the short central axis of the note of value  12  lies on the central axis  20  of the transport path  10  to bring the note of value  12  exactly into the target position. 
     The note of value  16  has an angular offset of −A and a lateral offset transversely to the central axis  20  of the transport path  10  to the left as viewed in transport direction T 1 . To bring this note of value  16  into the target position, it has to be rotated by the angle A and moved to the right until the short central axis of the note of value  16  lies on the central axis  20  of the transport plane  10 . It has been realized that in many cases it is sufficient to correct the lateral offset of a note of value. A correction of the angular offset is not absolutely necessary in many cases. 
     In  FIG.  2   , a perspective illustration of an apparatus  100  for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  according to a first embodiment is shown. The transport path  10  for the transport of the notes of value  12  to  18  is formed in the area of the apparatus  100  by a driven belt  114  that is guided over two rollers  112 ,  118  serving as deflecting elements. 
     The roller  112  is firmly connected to a drive shaft  110  that is driven by a first non-illustrated drive unit. The roller  118  is arranged downstream of the driven roller  112  in transport direction T 1  and is freely rotatable and axially movable via an axial bearing  120  on the shaft  116 . The roller  118  can be axially moved by a second non-illustrated drive unit on the shaft  116  via the axial bearing  120 , as shown by the arrow T 2 . 
     Before or during rotation of the roller  112  by the first drive unit, the roller  118  can be moved along its axis of rotation on the shaft  116  by the second drive unit, so that the roller  118  has a lateral offset as compared to the roller  112  with respect to the central axis of the transport path  10 . As a result, the note of value  12  is moved between the drive roller and the roller  118  obliquely to the transport direction T 1 . 
       FIG.  3    shows a schematic perspective illustration of an apparatus  300  for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  according to a second embodiment. In addition to the apparatus  100  shown in  FIG.  2   , the apparatus  300  comprises a second belt arrangement  200  serving as a counter-pressure element. Elements having the same structure or the same function are identified with the same reference signs. The belt arrangement  200  comprises an endless belt  214  that is guided over rollers  212 ,  218  serving as deflecting elements. 
     The transport path  10  for the transport of the notes of value  12  to  18  runs between the belt  114  and the second belt  214 . By the second belt  214  it is guaranteed that the note of value  12  is pressed against the belt  114  during the transport along the transport path  10  in the area of the belts  114 ,  214  or is safely held between the belts  114 ,  214 . 
     The roller  212  is arranged opposite to the roller  112  with respect to the transport path  10 . The roller  118  is arranged opposite to the roller  218  with respect to the transport path  10 . The roller  212  is firmly connected to a shaft  210  and is driven preferably by the first drive unit at the same rotational speed and opposite rotation direction as the shaft  110  so that the belts  114 ,  214  are driven at the same circumferential speed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the second belt  214  can be driven by friction with the first belt  114  and/or by friction with the rollers  112 ,  212 ;  118 ,  218 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the “second” deflecting element  118  and the “fourth” deflecting element  218  are aligned and overlap one another on the transport path.  FIG.  3    also shows the “first” deflecting element  112  and the “third” deflecting element  212  aligned and overlapping one another on the transport path. 
     The roller  218  is arranged axially movable on a shaft  216  via an axial bearing  220 . The displacement of the roller  218  takes place synchronously to the displacement of the roller  118  by the already mentioned second drive unit in a direction of the double arrow T 2 . 
     In the case of a lateral displacement of the rollers  118 ,  218  in one of the directions of the double arrow T 2 , the note of value  12  is transported obliquely to the central axis of the transport path  10  and in doing so is reliably held between the opposite belts  114 ,  214 . If there is no lateral displacement of the rollers  118 ,  218 , the note of value  12  is transported in transport direction T 1  along the transport path  10 , i.e. without the note of value  12  being moved obliquely or transversely to the transport path. 
       FIG.  4    shows a schematic perspective illustration of an apparatus  400  for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  according to a third embodiment. The apparatus  400  comprises two drive belts  414 ,  434  arranged next to each other, wherein the belt  414  is guided over rollers  412 ,  418  serving as deflecting elements and the drive belt  334  is guided over rollers  432 ,  438  serving as deflecting elements.  FIG.  4    shows the note  12  disposed on outwardly- and upwardly-facing surfaces of the belts  414 ,  434 .  FIGS.  6   a    shows a side view of the note  12 . In  FIG.  6   a   , the arrow referenced by the letter z is the distance between an axis of rotation and the transport plane. Note  12  is shown positioned against the end of the arrow z in  FIG.  6   a   . The rollers  412 ,  432  are firmly arranged on a drive shaft  410  so that they are drivable via the shaft  410  by a schematically-illustrated first drive unit  409 . The rollers  418 ,  438  are arranged downstream of the rollers  412 ,  432  in transport direction T 1  as well as are mounted in a freely rotatable manner on a second shaft  416 . Via one axial bearing  420 ,  440  each, the rollers  418 ,  438  can be axially displaced along a longitudinal axis the second shaft  416  by a schematically-illustrated second drive unit  411 . The axially displaceable rollers  418 ,  438  are coupled such that they are displaced synchronously so that also after a displacement on the shaft  116 , they have the same distance to each other. Thus, an exemplary first transport element is defined by the belt  414  and the rollers  412 ,  418 . An exemplary second transport element is defined by the belt  434  and the rollers  432 ,  438 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , these exemplary first and second transport elements are spaced laterally from one another, on opposite sides of a central axis  20  of the transport path. 
     If during the rotation of the rollers  412 ,  432  by the first drive unit the second drive unit is activated, the rollers  418 ,  438  are displaced along their axis of rotation on the shaft in the same direction, dependent on the drive direction of the second drive unit, so that the rollers  418 ,  438  have a lateral offset as compared to the rollers  412 ,  432  with respect to the central axis of the transport path  10 . As a result, a transport of the notes of value obliquely to the central axis of the transport path  10  takes place. It is thus possible that a note of value  12  fed to the apparatus  400  exits the apparatus  400  laterally offset relative to its feed position. As a result, a previously detected lateral offset of the note of value  12 , i.e. a lateral deviation of the note of value  12  from a target position can be corrected or reduced. When the second drive unit is not activated, the rollers  418 ,  438  remain in their position shown in  FIG.  4    so that the note of value is transported along the central axis of the transport path  10  and not obliquely to the transport path  10  through the apparatus  400 . 
     The two belts  414 ,  434  arranged next to each other in the embodiment according to  FIG.  4    enable a safe support and guidance of the note of value  12  along the transport path  10 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus  400 , the rollers  418 ,  438  can also be arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with the shaft  416  and axially displaceable on the shaft  416  via the axial bearings  420 ,  440  so that the rollers  418 ,  438  perform exactly the same rotary motions. In a further advantageous embodiment of the apparatus  400 , the shaft  416  can additionally be drivable in the same manner as the shaft  410 , preferably by the same drive unit. 
     In a further embodiment, a further belt arrangement  200  can be arranged opposite to the belts  414 ,  434  in the same manner as shown in connection with  FIG.  3    for the belt  114 . As a result, the note of value  12  is reliably held between the opposite belts. Alternatively to the second belt arrangement  200 , also a guide element can be arranged opposite to the belts  414 ,  434 ,  114  that delimits the transport path  10  so that the note of value  12  is reliably guided between the belts  114 ,  414 ,  434  and the guide element. 
       FIG.  5    shows a top view of an apparatus  500  for aligning notes of value  12  to  18  according to a fourth embodiment. The apparatus  500  comprises two vane wheels  510  and  512 , which are mounted between two shafts in transport direction T 1 , wherein the first shaft serves as an inlet shaft  548  and the second shaft serves as an outlet shaft  550 . The inlet shaft  548  and the outlet shaft  550  are driven via a first non-illustrated drive unit. As shown in complementary  FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b   , each exemplary vane wheel  510 ,  512  includes a hub and at least one vane extending from the hub, such as exemplary hub  513  and exemplary vane  515 . As shown in  FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b   , the vane wheel  510  includes a plurality of vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554  extending radially away from the hub  513 . 
     A second, likewise not illustrated drive unit rotates the vane wheels  510  and  512 , wherein the axis of rotation of the vane wheels  510  and  512  runs parallel to the transport direction T 1  and thus parallel to the central axis of the transport plane. 
     Two freely rotatable counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  formed as balls (see  FIG.  6   a   ) are arranged opposite to the vane wheels  510  and  512  so that the transport path  10  of the note of value  12  runs between the vane wheels  510  and  512  and the ball-shaped counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 . Each of the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  is mounted so as to be freely rotatable in a bearing unit  530 ,  532 . For this, the ball-shaped counter-pressure elements  520 ,  522  are mounted in bearing bushes within the bearing units  530  and  532 . The arrangement of the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  in the respective bearing units  530 ,  532  is illustrated in  FIGS.  6   a    and  6   b.    
     The bearing units  530  and  532  are each coupled with an elastically deformable element  540  and  542 , which generate a counter-pressure force of the ball-shaped counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  on a note of value  12  arranged between the vane wheels  510 ,  512  and the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 . The elastically deformable element  540 ,  542  can be a spring, in particular a coil spring designed as a pressure spring, or an elastomer block. 
     When the vane wheels  510  and  512  are rotated in one of the directions of the double arrow T 3 , the note of value  12  is transported transversely to the central axis of the transport path  10  and in doing so is reliably held between the opposite counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  and the vane wheels  510 ,  512 . When there is no rotation of the vane wheels  510  and  512 , the note of value  12  is transported in transport direction T 1  along the transport path  10 , i.e. without the note of value  12  being moved transversely to the transport path. 
       FIG.  6   a    is a sectional view of the apparatus  500  according to  FIG.  5    along the sectional line A-A. The apparatus  500  is illustrated in a first operating state, in which the vane wheels  510  and  512  are not rotated by the second drive unit. 
     The axes of rotation of the vane wheels  510  and  512  are arranged at a distance Z to the transport plane  10 . The distance Z is smaller than the radius R of the enveloping circles  514  and  516  of the vane wheels  510 ,  512 . The outer points of the vane wheels  510  and  512  move along the enveloping circle  514 ,  516  upon a rotation of the vane wheels  510 ,  512 . As shown in  FIG.  6   a   , the enveloping circle  514  has a circumference about an axis  556  of rotation of the vane wheel  510  that is defined by a plurality of arcuate circumferential portions including a first set of arcuate circumferential portions  558 ,  560 ,  562  that is defined by respective distal ends of the plurality of vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554  and a second set of arcuate circumferential portions  564 ,  566 ,  568  that is defined by gaps between the distal ends of the plurality of vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554 .  FIG.  6   a    also shows that the second set of arcuate portions  564 ,  566 ,  568  collectively define a greater portion of the circumference of the enveloping circle  514  than defined collectively by the first set of arcuate circumferential portions  558 ,  560 ,  562 .  FIG.  6   a    also shows each of the vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554  extending from a respective base end at the hub  513  to a respective distal end (defined by arcuate circumferential portions  558 ,  560 ,  562 ) remote from the hub  513 . The respective widths of each of the vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554  can be defined about the axis  556  and the widths increase continuously between the respective base ends and the respective distal ends. 
     In the position shown in  FIG.  6   a   , i.e. in the first operating state, the vanes of the vane wheels  510  and  512  are positioned in such an angular position in which no vane of the vane wheels  510  and  512  projects into the transport plane  10 . 
     The ball-shaped counter-pressure element  520  mounted in the bearing unit  530  is arranged opposite to the vane wheel  510 , the ball-shaped counter-pressure element  522  mounted in the bearing unit  532  is arranged opposite to the vane wheel  512 . 
     The ball-shaped counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  project through an opening of the respective bearing unit  530  and  532  that is dimensioned such that the ball-shaped counter-pressure elements  520 ,  522  cannot be moved completely through the opening. 
     The note of value  12  which is arranged in the transport plane  10  between the vane wheels  510  and  512  and the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 , is not contacted by the vane wheels  510  and  512  in the illustrated operating state. When driving the inlet shaft  548  and the outlet shaft  550  by the first drive unit, the note of value  12  is thus exclusively transported in transport direction T 1  through the device  500 . 
       FIG.  6   b    is a sectional view of the device  500  according to  FIG.  5    along the sectional line A-A. The device  500  is illustrated in a second operating state, in which the vane wheels  510  and  512  are rotated by the second drive unit. 
     Upon rotation, the vane wheels  510  and  512  are moved out of the transport plane  10  by the distance based on the difference between the radius R of the vane wheel  510 ,  512  and the distance Z (R−Z) and in doing so are pressed against the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 .  FIG.  6   a    shows the vanes prior to engaging the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  and  FIG.  6   b   , when compared to  FIG.  6   a   , shows no deformation in the vanes while the vanes engage counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 . The vanes are thus rigid and force the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  to move when the vanes engage the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522 . The note of value  12  is transported in one of the directions of the double arrow T 3  transversely to the central axis of the transport path  10  and are held safely between the counter-pressure elements  520  and  522  and the vane wheels  510  and  512 . 
     By moving the note of value  12  out of the transport plane  10 , the adhesive force between the note of value  12  and the inlet shaft  548  and between the note of value  12  and the outlet shaft  550  is reduced so that the transport of the note of value  12  in the direction T 1  during the alignment of the note of value  12  in one of the directions of the double arrow T 3  is interrupted. Starting from their position shown in  FIG.  6   a   , the vane wheels  510 ,  512  are rotated by a minimum angle or an integer multiple of the minimum angle for moving the note of vale  12  transversely to the transport direction T 1 . 
     The minimum angle is the quotient from  360 ° and the number of vanes. In the present embodiment, the vane wheels  510 ,  512  each have three vanes so that the minimum angle between a leading edge of two adjacent vanes amounts to 120°, as is shown in  FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b   . As shown in  FIG.  6   a   , the vanes  515 ,  552 ,  554  are evenly spaced from one another about the axis  556  of rotation of the at least one vane wheel  510 .  FIG.  6   a    shows that the arcuate circumferential portions  564 ,  566 ,  568  define gaps between adjacent pairs of vanes and that extend a first angle about the axis  556  of rotation of the vane wheel  510 . An exemplary angle of a gap is referenced at  570 . In  FIG.  6   b   , an exemplary angle that the vane  515  extends about the axis  556  is referenced at  572  and an exemplary angle that the vane  554  extends about the axis  556  is referenced at  574 .  FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b    show that the exemplary first angle  570  is greater than both of the angle  572  and the angle  574 . The vane wheels  510 ,  512  are rotated by the second drive unit until the note of value  12  has been moved by a desired distance transversely to the transport direction T 1 . In other embodiments, the drive of the inlet shaft and the outlet shaft can also be stopped during activation of the vane wheels  510 ,  512 . As shown in  FIG.  6   b   , the vanes of the vane wheels  510 ,  512  are synchronized relative to one another whereby a vane of the vane wheel  510  is engaged with the counter-pressure element  520  at the same time that a vane of the vane wheel  512  is engaged with the counter-pressure element  522 . Also, as shown in  FIG.  6   a   , the vanes of the vane wheels  510 ,  512  are synchronized relative to one another whereby the counter-pressure element  520  is not engaged with any of the vanes of the vane wheel  510  at the same time the counter-pressure element  522  is not engaged with any of the vanes of the second vane wheel  512 .