WO2012150029A1

WO2012150029A1 - Device and method for sorting sheet-type material

Info

Publication number: WO2012150029A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/001883
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Sperl; Dieter Stein; Tilo FRITZHANNS
Original assignee: Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-05-02
Filing date: 2012-05-02
Publication date: 2012-11-08
Also published as: EP2705505B1; DE102011100162A1; EP2705505A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, preferably configured in a modular fashion, for sorting sheet-type material, in particular banknotes, and to a corresponding method. The invention is based on the idea of designing the transport path of the sheet-type material between the individual modules of the device in a sawtooth-like pattern. The device comprises a base module (200) having an input compartment on the front side thereof, and an extension module (300) which preferably is connected to the base module (200) and can be separated therefrom and which has an output compartment (304a-d) on the front side thereof. The base module (200) and the extension module (300) are configured and are laterally arranged directly side-by-side during operation such that the input compartment and the output compartment face a user, and that during operation, the sheet-type material is conveyed from the input compartment to an upper diverting section of the base module, from there to a lower diverting section of the extension module (300) further below using a horizontal and a vertical motion component, and from there to the output compartment (304a-d) of the extension module (300). In an alternative embodiment, the sheet-type material is conveyed from an input compartment to a lower diverting section of the base module, from there, using a horizontal and a vertical motion component, to an upper diverting section of the extension module (300) located higher up, and from there to the output compartment (304a-d) of the extension module (300).

Description

Device and method for sorting sheet material

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for sorting sheet material and in particular banknotes.

The present invention is fully applicable to any kind of sheet material. However, a particular focus of the present invention is on banknotes or instead of banknotes on other value documents such as shares, checks and the like. Hereinafter, instead of the general terms "sheet material" and "value documents", the term "banknotes" is generally used for the sake of simplicity, without this being to be understood in a restrictive manner.

In US 2005/0029168 AI a modular apparatus for sorting banknotes is described. In this case, the banknote sorting device is modular in such a way that additional expansion modules or sorting modules which have a large number of output compartments can be connected to a base module which has an input pocket, a touch screen for operating the device and possibly a reject pocket for sorted banknotes. In this case, the input tray and the reject tray in the base module and the output trays in the expansion module or modules are arranged such that a user standing or sitting in front of the device comfortably inserts bank notes transversely into the input tray or out of the output trays and the reject -Fach can remove. When the banknotes are fed from the input compartment of the base module to the output compartments of an expansion module, the banknotes are rotated by means of a banknote rotation mechanism about their transport axis pointing in the direction of movement. In this case, a banknote is guided in each case by twisted conveyor belts. Such an embodiment hung should be technically complex and error-prone. Furthermore, the maximum speed of a bill is limited with which it can pass such a banknote rotation mechanism, since aerodynamic effects play a role at high speeds, which in turn limits the throughput rate of the nodular banknote sorter described in US 2005/0029168 A1.

The invention has for its object to provide an ergonomically compact device for sorting banknotes, which allows a modular structure and allows easy transport of banknotes between the individual modules of the sorting device, in which the banknotes are guided along the entire transport path.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent device claims. A corresponding method for sorting sheet material and in particular banknotes is the subject of the independent method claim. Advantageous developments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the basic idea to design the transport path of the sheet material between the individual modules of the device according to a sawtooth pattern, which makes it possible to actively guide the sheet material along the entire transport path. Accordingly, the subject-matter of claim 1 is a modular sheet material sorting apparatus, in particular banknotes, comprising a base module having an input tray at the front thereof and an extension module preferably connectable to and detachable from the base module, with an output tray also at the front Front side of it includes. In this case, the base module and the expansion module are configured and in operation arranged side by side so that the input tray and the output tray facing a user or standing in front of the device user and that in operation the sheet material from the input tray to an upper deflection of the base module, from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical Movement component is transported to a lower lower deflection portion of the expansion module and from there to the output tray. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet material is transported from the input tray to a lower deflection portion of the base module, from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher upper deflection portion of the expansion module and from there to the output tray. For both embodiments, as already mentioned above, the sawtooth-shaped transport path of the sheet material is essential, which enables guidance or clamping of the sheet material substantially along the entire transport path. For this purpose, both the base module and the expansion module must have a corresponding interface that allow the connection of these two modules and the transport of banknotes from the base module to the expansion module along the designed according to a sawtooth transport path.

In preferred embodiments, the base module and the extension module are designed such that the angle formed between the motion vector of the sheet material immediately downstream of the upper or lower deflection section of the base module and its vertical component, between 5 and 80 degrees, more preferably between 10 and 50 degrees, more preferably between 15 and 30 degrees, and most preferably about 20 degrees. Preferably, the expansion module comprises a cantilever element on which an inclined conveyor belt arrangement is designed, which is designed, sheet material from the upper and lower Umlenkab- section of the base module with a horizontal and a vertical movement movement component to the lower and upper deflection portion of the expansion module to transport.

A deflecting section is preferably formed in each case by an upper or lower end of the rear wall of the base module or of the expansion module and a deflection element arranged thereon and configured accordingly.

In this preferred embodiment, the rear wall of the base module and the rear wall of the expansion module preferably define a common transport plane in which transported the sheet material from the upper and lower deflection portion of the base module with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to the lower and upper deflection portion of the expansion module becomes. Further preferably, joint portions are formed on the rear wall of the base module and the rear wall of the expansion module, which merge into each other and are adapted to receive the straps of the inclined conveyor belt assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter element has a first set of recesses into which the belts of a vertically extending conveyor belt assembly extend, and / or a second set of recesses into which the belts of the inclined conveyor belt assembly extend. Preferably, the base module and the expansion module each comprise a separate drive unit, power supply unit and / or control device. In preferred embodiments, a fan-like opening concept is provided in the device according to the invention, in that the base module and the extension module are each formed from essentially three components which can be pivoted relative to one another such that the transport path extending within the base module and the extension module of the sheet material can be accessed from the outside.

In particular, in the base module, a base plate of the base module with a lower portion of a test device on the first component te, the rear wall with the deflector te the second component and in particular the input tray, an upper portion of the tester, the conveyor belt assembly, the drive unit, a switch device and an output tray forming the third component. In this case, a rotary bearing is formed at the front end of the bottom plate of the base module, in which the second component and the third component of the base module are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the base module relative to the bottom plate independently of each other in the direction of a Let the device sitting or standing user pivot.

In the expansion module, a base plate with the boom element, the drive unit and the transport belt arrangement, the first component, the rear wall with a lower and upper deflection element, the second component and in particular a transport belt assembly, Turnout devices and output compartments form the third component, wherein at the front end of the bottom plate of the expansion module, a pivot bearing is formed in which the second component and the third component of the expansion module are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the expansion module relative to Floor plate independently pivot in the direction of sitting in front of the device or standing user. The preferred modular design of the device according to the invention allows the connection of at least one additional expansion module with an output tray on the front side thereof. In operation, the additional extension module is arranged laterally next to the extension module and the additional expansion module and the extension module are configured such that in operation the sheet material from the lower deflection section of the expansion module to an upper deflection section thereof, from there with a horizontal and a vertical Movement component is transported to a lower lower deflection portion of the additional expansion module and from there to the output tray of the additional expansion module. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet material is transported from the upper deflection section of the expansion module to a lower deflection section thereof, from there with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher upper deflection section of the additional extension module and from there to the output compartment of the additional expansion module.

Preferably, the at least one additional expansion module is identical to the expansion module. A method according to the invention for sorting sheet material, in particular banknotes, in the sorting apparatus described above comprises the step of transporting the sheet material from the input tray to an upper deflection section of the base module, from there with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflection section of the expansion module and from there to the output tray. Alternatively, the method comprises the step of transporting the sheet material from the input tray to a lower deflecting portion of the base module, from there with a horizontal and a vertical component of motion to a higher upper deflecting portion of the expansion module and from there to the output tray.

One significant advantage of the invention over known modular banknote sorting devices is, inter alia, that the bank notes are actively guided or clamped substantially along the entire transport in the transverse transport, which leads to a lower susceptibility to errors.

Other features, advantages and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments and alternative embodiments. Reference is made to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred modular

Banknote sorting device with a base module and an extension module, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred modular banknote sorting apparatus having a base module and two expansion modules; FIG.

3 shows a front view and a side view of the banknote sorting devices of FIGS. 1 and 2,

4a shows a perspective view of a preferably designed base module according to a further embodiment;

4b is a perspective view of a preferred designed base module according to yet another embodiment;

5 is a perspective view of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting apparatus of Figure 1, each without a housing, wherein the base module and the expansion module are separated from each other,

6 is a perspective view of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting apparatus of FIG. 1, each without a housing, the base module and the expansion module being put together for operation, FIG.

7 shows a perspective view of an expansion module according to the invention of the banknote sorting devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 without a housing, another perspective view of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting device of FIG. FIG. 9 shows a further perspective view of the rear side of the base module and of the expansion module of the banknote sorting device of FIG. 1, each without a housing, FIG. 9, without housing, with the base module and the expansion module for operation being set together; wherein the base module and the expansion module are put together for operation and the further bank note transport path is indicated schematically,

10 is a perspective detail view of a deflecting element,

11 is another perspective view of the back side of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting apparatus of FIG. 1, each without a housing, with the base module and expansion module assembled for operation, and portions of the expansion module have been omitted for illustrative purposes in the drawing 12 shows a side view of the base module without housing in the operating state (closed state) and in a partially opened state,

13 shows a perspective view of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting device of FIG. 1, each without a housing, wherein the base module is in an opened state, FIG. 14 shows another perspective view of the base module and the expansion module of the banknote sorting device of FIG. 1, each without a housing, wherein the expansion module is in an opened state, FIG.

15 shows a perspective view of the base module of the banknote sorting devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 without a housing, wherein the base module is in an opened state; FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the expansion module of the banknote sorting devices of FIGS. wherein the expansion module is in an open state.

Similar components shown in the figures are as far as possible identified by the same reference numerals.

The invention will be explained below using the example of banknote sorting devices. As is known to the person skilled in the art, a banknote generally has the form of a rectangular sheet with two long sides or long sides and with two short or narrow sides or transverse sides. In the following description, both the orientation and the movement of a banknote will be discussed. As is also known to the person skilled in the art, the orientation of a banknote in space can be defined by a normal vector that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the banknote, which is also referred to here as the transport plane of the banknote. The movement of a banknote through a sorting device can be described by means of a motion vector which is generally located in the transport plane and whose magnitude depends on the speed of the movement and its direction of the direction of movement of the banknote. corresponds to note. This motion vector can be decomposed into components, such as a horizontal and a vertical component. It is said that banknotes are conveyed in the transverse transport if, during transport, the movement vector of a respective banknote runs parallel to its transverse sides and thus perpendicular to its longitudinal sides.

1 shows a perspective view of a desktop machine 100 for sorting banknotes (in short sorting apparatus 100) according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, which consists of a base module 200 and an add-on module 300, which preferably separate from and reconnect to the base module 200 to jointly provide a modular sorting apparatus 100. The base module 200 comprises at its front or front side an input pocket 202 into which a stack of banknotes for sorting can be inserted. With respect to a user standing in front of the sorter 100, the inclination of the front of the sorter 100 in this preferred embodiment is selected such that the top of the front of the base module 200 is farther from the user than the bottom of it. The banknotes are preferably placed with their long side or longitudinal side facing the user in the input tray 202. From the input compartment 202, the banknotes are separated by means of a suitable separating device 208 (see eg FIG. 4) known to the person skilled in the art, preferably in the direction of their transverse side, ie in the direction defined by the transverse side of the banknote, and introduced into a subsequent first section of a transport system. along the isolated banknotes preferably in the transverse transport or in transverse orientation of a test device 212 (see, for example, Figure 4) are supplied, as will be described in detail below.

Above the input compartment 202 of the base module 200 is in the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, a first output tray 204, in the banknotes by means of a Spiralfachstaplers 210 (see, for example, also Figure 9) can be stored, and about a display and / or operating unit 206th The display and / or operating unit 206 is preferably a touch screen which is used to control the sorting device 100 (eg to select desired sorting possibilities), to display operating parameters and / or to change these operating parameters by a user suitable is. The output tray 204 may be a reject tray for banknotes to be discarded. The expansion module 300 arranged laterally next to the base module 200 comprises four further output compartments 304a-d, which are preferably stepped in a stepped manner due to the likewise inclined front side of the expansion module 300 and are therefore particularly easy to operate for a user sitting or standing in front of the sorting device 100. In each of the four output compartments 304a-d of the expansion module 300, a spiral compartment stacker 310a-d (see, for example, also FIG. 5) is provided for depositing banknotes in the respective output compartments 304a-d of the expansion module 300. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a device 100 'for sorting banknotes (in short sorting device 100') designed as a desktop machine, in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention with a base module 200 and two extension modules 300, 300 '. The device shown in FIG. The sorting device 100 'for sorting banknotes differs from the sorting device 100 shown in FIG. 1 only in that the device 100' for sorting banknotes has a further expansion module 300 ', which is arranged laterally next to the expansion module 300. In this case, the further expansion module 300 'is preferably configured identically to the expansion module 300 shown in FIG. 1, so that the banknote sorting device 100' shown in FIG. 2 has a total of nine output compartments, namely the output compartment 204 of the base module 200, the four output compartments 304a-d of the expansion module 300 and the four output compartments 304a-d 'of the additional expansion module 300'. The apparatus 100 'for sorting banknotes shown in FIG. 2 thus merely represents an extension of the sorting apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 by an additional expansion module 300'. However, the person skilled in the art will recognize that due to their preferably modular construction, a device according to the invention also more than two expansion modules 300, 300 'may have, which may be identical or different, for example, in terms of the number of output compartments.

FIG. 3 shows a front view and a side view of the sorting device 100 of FIG. 1 and the sorting device 100 'of FIG. 2 extended by an additional extension module 300', wherein the additional extension module 300 'of the sorting device 100' shown in FIG of Figure 3 is shown. FIG. 3 shows preferred dimensions of the base module 200 and of the extension modules 300 and 300 ', namely in each case a height of approximately 60 cm, a width of approximately 32 cm and a maximum depth at the lower end of the base module 200 or Expansion modules 300 and 300 'of approx. 50 cm. The person skilled in the art will recognize that such dimensions ensure particularly good operability of the sorting device designed as a desktop machine. Of course, however, the present invention is not limited to these preferred dimensions. FIGS. 4a and 4b each show a base module according to further preferred embodiments. The base module 200 'shown in FIG. 4a encompasses, at its front or front side next to the input pocket 202', three output pockets 204a'-c 'arranged above it, in which banknotes can each be deposited by means of a spiral pocket stacker. The basic module 200 "shown in FIG. 4b comprises on its front or front side next to the input compartment 202" two output compartments 204a ", 204b" arranged above it, in which banknotes can each be deposited by means of a spiral compartment stacker. In this case, the size of the lower output compartment 204b "can be adapted to the quantity of banknotes to be sorted by means of a moveable shelf element 16. One of the output compartments of the basic modules 200 ', 200" can be a reject compartment for banknotes to be sorted out ,

Figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of the base module 200 and the expansion module 300 (which, as described above, is preferably substantially identical to the expansion module 300 'such that the following description of the expansion module 300 also applies to the extension module 300'), respectively without housing. In the illustration of FIG. 5, the base module 200 is separated from the expansion module 300, ie not connected to the expansion module 300, and in the illustration of FIG. 6 the base module 200 is connected to the expansion module 300. A detailed view of the extension module 300 without housing is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 7 and as will be described in detail below, the base module 200 and the extension module 300 are designed such that they preferably join or assemble with one another to form a sorting device 100 or 100 'according to the invention allow banknotes to be transported from the input tray 202 of the base module 200 to the output bins 304a-d of the expansion module 300. For the connection of the base module 200 to the expansion module 300, for example, holes may be provided in the bottom plate 320 of the expansion module, into which corresponding pins can be inserted, which are provided at corresponding locations of the bottom plate 220 of the base module 200, around the base module 200 by means of a plug-in connection with the expansion module 300 suitable to connect. Of course, however, the connection between the base module 200 and the extension module 300 may also be implemented differently, for example, only by means of a jib element 312, which is preferably part of the extension module 300 and defines a bill transport section between the base module 200 and the extension module 300, and / or thereby that the back walls of the base module 200 and the expansion module 300 abut each other in a form-fitting manner, as will be described in detail below. Likewise, a firm connection between the base module 200 and the expansion module 300 is conceivable.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show two further perspective views of the base module 200 and of the expansion module 300 in the assembled or set state, in each case without a housing. 8 and 9, the further transport path of banknotes defined by the transport system is schematically indicated for the case where the sorting device 100 consisting of the base module 200 and the extension module 300 is extended by an additional extension module 300 '(not shown), which is preferably connected to the expansion module 300 via a cantilever element, which is preferably part of the expansion module 300', as in the connection between the base module 200 and the expansion module 300.

As already mentioned above, the sorting devices 100, 100 'according to the invention each form a transport system which defines a transport path which the banknotes to be sorted take during operation through the sorting devices 100, 100'. With particular reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, this transport system as well as the essential components of the base module 200 and of the extension module 300, which are part of this transport system or along which the transport path of the bank notes defined by the transport system will be described, will now be described.

As already described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, banknotes to be processed are preferably inserted with their long side or longitudinal side facing the user sitting in front of the sorting device into the input compartment 202 of the base module 200. From the input tray 202, the inserted banknotes by means of

Separation means 208 preferably in the direction of its transverse side, ie in the direction defined by the transverse side of the banknote, isolated and introduced into a subsequent first section of the transport system. As is known to the person skilled in the art, the transport system can be realized, for example, by means of a multiplicity of guide elements and transport belts, which are driven by suitable drive units, for example drive motors and / or drive rollers. The first section of the transport system extends from the singulator 208, preferably towards the rear end of the base module 200, substantially horizontally through a tester 212, which preferably has an upper portion 212a and a lower portion 212b (see, eg, FIG. 12) is configured to determine at least one physical (eg optical) property of a bill passing through the checking device 212. The characteristic of the banknote determined in this way is used by a control device (not shown in the figures) of the sorting device 100, 100 'according to the invention to assign the banknote to a specific class and corresponding to this classification to the output compartment, preferably reject compartment. 204 of the base module 200 or one of the output compartments 304a-d of the expansion module 300 (or in the sorter 100 'one of the output compartments 304a-d' of the further expansion module 300 ') supply. The possible classes from which one can be selected are, for example, the denominations of the various banknotes. Possible classes can then be provided for example for 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euro bills. In general, however, the determination of a class can also take place with regard to authenticity and / or fitness, ie the suitability of the banknote for reuse. The individual possible classes then reflect, for example, different authenticity or fitness levels of the banknotes, such as "genuine", "marketable", "to be destroyed" and the like. The test device 212 is preferably a device with suitable light sources and optical sensors for measuring optical properties, for example the absorption and / or reflection behavior, of a banknote in one or more selected wavelength ranges. At the substantially horizontally extending portion of the transport system, which leads through the test device 212, connects via a deflection of the transport direction by a right angle to a substantially vertical portion of the transport system, which from one side through the front of the rear wall 214 (see, for example, Figures 9 and 11) of the base module 200 is defined. Along this substantially vertically extending portion of the transport system, the banknotes are thus guided through the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 and by means of a parallel to the rear wall 214 extending conveyor belt assembly 213 (of which an upper part, for example, in Figure 6 is visible) upwards of a switch means 216 of the base module 200 supplied. This switching device 216 makes it possible, by means of a suitable control based on the results of the test device 212, to discharge from the transport system and deliver it to the spiral tray stacker 210 and thus to the output tray 204 of the base module 200, such as unidentifiable multiple copies and counterfeit banknotes, from the transport system already mentioned above, preferably has the function of a reject tray. The spiral slot stacker 210 preferably has substantially the shape of a drum with fan-shaped receiving capabilities and is driven in rotation. The incoming banknotes in the spiral slot stacker 210 are braked therein and then stored in the output tray 204 of the base module 200, where they are available to the user for post-processing. Banknotes that are not ejected from the routing device 216 to the exit bin 204 of the base module 200 continue to move from an upper, eg, visible portion of the transport belt assembly 213 in an upward movement along the front side of the rear wall 214 to the upper end the back wall 214 of the base sismoduls 200 supplied. As can be seen for example in FIGS. 6, 9 and 11, the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200, which is part of an upper deflection section of the base module 200, does not run horizontally but with an inclination, the upper end the back wall 214 of the base module 200, as viewed from the front, rises rectilinearly from the left side to the right side. As will be described in more detail below, this configuration of the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 for forming the upper deflection section is related to the fact that in the sorting devices 100, 100 'illustrated in the figures, the expansion module 300 (and possibly the additional Expansion module 300 '), viewed from the front, is arranged to the right of the base module 200. Of course, in an embodiment where an extension module is located to the left of a base module when viewed from the front, the upper end of the backplane of the base module may be viewed from the front to increase to the left side to form an upper deflection portion from the right side.

At the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200, a deflecting element 218 is attached in such a way that the upper deflecting section of the base module 200 is defined by the deflecting element 218 and the inclined upper end of the rear wall 214. Banknotes, which are fed between the front of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 and the parallel transport belt assembly 213 the deflector 218, enter this upper deflection portion of the base module 200, ie in the space between the deflector 218 and the inclined upper end of the rear wall 214, and due to the configuration and arrangement of the deflector 218 and the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 undergo a change in its direction of movement. As described above, the banknotes are flowing upwardly of the diverter element 218 and the upper diverting section of the base module 200, respectively, from the conveyor belt assembly 213 in an upward movement along the front side of the rear wall 214 to the sloping upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200. Downstream of the deflecting element 218 or of the upper deflecting section of the base module 200, the bank notes move along a section of the transport system defined by the cantilever element 312 and a transport belt arrangement 311 extending parallel thereto, with a horizontal and a vertical component of movement from the upper deflecting section of the base module 200, which is defined by the deflection element 218 and the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200, to a lower lower deflection portion of the expansion module 300, which is preferably formed at the lower end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300. The movement of the banknotes upstream and downstream of a top diverting element is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 with respect to an upper diverting section of the extension module 300 corresponding to the upper diverting section of the base module 200, which will be described in more detail below.

10 shows a perspective detailed view of a preferred embodiment of the deflecting element 218 of the base module 200, which is preferably identical to the upper deflecting element 318 of the expansion module 300, ie, like the deflecting element 218 of the base module 200 for forming an upper deflecting section of the base module 200 and to the following 10, the upper deflecting element 318 of the expansion module 300 may be used to form an upper arch trunk section of the extension module 300. Subscription module 300 and for receiving a boom element of an additional expansion module 300 'serve.

The inside of the deflecting element 218 preferably has substantially a semi-cylindrical shape, which preferably corresponds to a corresponding rounded shape of the upper end of the inclined rear wall 214 of the base module 200.

In each case on the front side and on the rear side of the deflecting element 218 (relative to a user sitting or standing in front of the base module 200 or the sorting device 100, 100 '), a set of elongate recesses is provided. The recesses of the first set of elongated recesses on the front of the deflector 218 (the "lower" recesses in FIG. 11) are substantially vertical and are configured to carry a plurality of transport belts (in this case five transport belts, of which the transport belts 213a and 213e exemplified in FIG. 6) as part of the conveyor belt assembly 213 that extends vertically along the front of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200. On the rear side of the deflecting element 218 (the "upper" recesses in FIG. 11), a set of recesses with five recesses is likewise provided. In contrast to the recesses on the front side of the deflecting element 218, the recesses on the rear side thereof do not run vertically but obliquely, essentially along a transport belt arrangement 311 defined by the cantilever element 312 of the expansion module 300 (or by the transport belt arrangement 311 formed on the cantilever element 312) longitudinal direction. The recesses on the rear side of the deflecting element 218 are configured and arranged in this way (see also the structurally identical upper deflecting element 318 of the expansion module 300 in FIG. 9), in that a plurality of transport belts (in this case five transport belts, of which the transport belts 311a and 311e are illustrated by way of example in FIG. 7) can engage the transport belt arrangement 311 formed on the delivery element 312 of the extension module 300, such that one along the semi-cylindrical inside of the deflection element 218 transported note is engaged by the conveyor belts of the conveyor belt assembly 311 formed on the jib member 312 of the extension module 300 and obliquely downwardly along the transport section defined by the jib member 312 to the lower end of the rear wall 314 of the extension module 300, ie with a horizontal and a vertical movement component , is transported.

As described above, due to the inclination of the upper end of the rear wall 214 and a corresponding inclination of the deflecting element 218, a deflection of the direction of movement of the banknotes on the upper deflecting portion of the base module 200, namely an upward movement along the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 in an obliquely downward movement, ie a movement with a horizontal and a vertical component, along the transport section defined by the cantilever element 312 of the expansion module 300. The basic principle of the deflection in a Umlenkabschnirt means of a suitably formed deflecting edge, which is formed in this case by the appropriately configured rounded and inclined upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200, is from the

WO2007 / 080100, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The person skilled in the art will recognize that in addition to the deflection of the direction of movement or transport of a banknote, which is determined by the deflecting element 218 and the inclined upper end of the rear wall 214 of the banknote Base module 200 defined upper deflection portion of the base module 200 passes through, a thickness of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 corresponding parallel offset of the transport plane of the bill takes place. As described above, the upper deflecting portion of the base member 200 defined by the deflecting member 218 and the inclined upper end of the rear wall 214 causes the direction of movement of the banknotes to be deflected from a substantially vertically upward movement to a movement with a horizontal component pointing towards the expansion module 300 and a vertical component facing down. The deflection angle formed between the motion vector of the banknotes immediately downstream of the upper deflecting portion of the base module 200 and its vertical component may be between 5 and 80 degrees, preferably between 10 and 50 degrees, more preferably between 15 and 30 degrees, and most preferably approx 20 degrees. One skilled in the art will recognize that this deflection angle is related to the lateral spacing of the expansion module 300 from the base module 200 and the height difference between the upper deflection section of the base module 200 and the lower deflection section of the expansion module 300. Preferably, also in the lower and upper deflection sections of the expansion module 300 described in more detail below, a deflection occurs around this deflection angle. In the case of the deflection of the bank notes effected by the upper deflection section of the base module 200, the transport plane of the bank notes in front of the upper deflection section of the base module 200 (or upstream thereof) and the transport plane of the bank notes thereafter (or downstream thereof) are preferably substantially parallel to one another. Preferably, the transport belt arrangement 311, of which the transport belts 311a and 311e are identified by way of example in FIG. 7, is driven by a drive unit 315 (see eg FIG. 9 or FIG. 12). Preferably, both the base module 200 and the extension module 300 have their own drive unit 215, 315 for driving the respective transport belt arrangements. These drive units 215, 315 can be suitably controlled by the control device of the sorting device 100, 100 ', each controlled by a separate control device and / or are in a dependency relationship as a master drive unit and slave drive unit. The person skilled in the art will recognize that for the smooth transport of banknotes from the base module 200 to the expansion module 300, in particular the speeds of the transport belt assemblies 213 and 311 and thus the drive units 215, 315 of the base module 200 and the expansion module 300 must be coordinated. It is conceivable that the expansion module 300 in addition to the drive unit 315 for the transport belt assembly 311 still another drive unit for the transport belt assembly 313, which will be described in detail below. These can be controlled by a common or separate control devices. Likewise, the base module 200 and the extension module (s) 300, 300 'may each have their own power supply unit. This permits any expandability of the sorting devices 100, 100 'by further modules, since it is not necessary to provide in advance only a central drive unit, control device and / or power supply unit which is / are designed to supply all future modules.

As already described above, the banknotes deflected from the upper deflecting section of the base module 200 are replaced by those on the Outrigger element 312 formed transport belt assembly 311 in the direction of a lower deflection portion of the expansion module 300 at the lower end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 transports. FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the rear side of the base module 200 and the extension module 300, with the jib element 312, the transport belt arrangement 311 formed thereon and the drive unit 315 (shown for example in FIG. 9) being omitted for explanatory purposes, in particular. As can be seen from FIG. 11, an upper joint section 217 consisting of five joints is formed on the rear side of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200. This formed on the back of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 upper joint portion 217 so passes into a lower joint portion 317 a, which is formed on the back of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 that from the upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 to the lower end The rear wall 314 of the extension module 300 extending belt of the transport belt assembly 311 formed on the boom member 312 at least partially fill or engage in the joints of the joint portions 217 and 317a. This embodiment leads to a better entrainment of a banknote emerging from the upper deflection section or the deflecting element 218 of the base module 200 in the transverse transport, since the banknote lies between the belts of the transport belt arrangement 311 and the rear side of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200 (in an upper section ) and the rear side of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 (in a lower portion) is clamped and carried.

At the lower end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 is a lower deflecting element 319 of the expansion module 300. This lower deflecting element 319 of the expansion module 300 is similar to FIG Deflection element 218 of the base module 200 configured and works in conjunction with the lower end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 in principle as well as the deflection element 218 of the base module 200 in conjunction with the upper end of the rear wall 214 thereof. Because the lower deflecting element 319 and the lower end of the rear wall 314 define a lower deflecting section of the expansion module 300, along which banknotes are deflected so that the banknotes move substantially vertically upward along the front side of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300, namely, as in the case of the base module 200 by means of the transport belt arrangement 213, by means of a transport belt arrangement 313 running parallel to the rear wall 314 of the extension module 300.

Along the front side of the rear wall 314 of the extension module 300 and the transport belt arrangement 313 running parallel thereto, a switch device 316a-d is respectively arranged at four points of different heights in the embodiments shown in the figures. These four diverter devices 316a-d of the expansion module 300 are configured substantially like the diverter device 216 of the base module 200 and allow selective feeding of banknotes transported along the front of the rear wall 314 of the extension module 300 upwardly by means of the parallel transport belt assembly 313 In this case, the control of the switch means 316a-d is in turn carried out by a control device on the basis of the results of the test device 212 and the classification determined on the basis of these results.

Banknotes that are not supplied to a corresponding output bin 304a-d of the expansion module 300 by one of the switches 316a-d be supplied by means of parallel to the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 extending conveyor belt assembly 313 an upper deflection of the expansion module 300. As already described above, the upper deflecting element 318 and the upper end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 are preferably configured analogously to the deflecting element 218 or to the inclined upper end of the rear wall 214 of the base module 200. In other words, the upper deflection element 318, together with the inclined upper end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300, defines the upper deflection section of the expansion module 300, along which the direction of movement of a banknote passing through the upper deflection section of the extension module 300 is deflected, as shown schematically is shown in FIG. Because upstream of the upper deflection portion of the expansion module 300, the bills are fed from the transport belt assembly 313 in an upward movement along the front side of the rear wall 314 to the inclined upper end of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300. In the event that an additional expansion module 300 'is connected to the expansion module 300 as the expansion module 300 is connected to the base module 200, the bank notes move downstream of the upper deflection section of the expansion module 300 along a path defined by a jib element of the further extension module 300'. and a parallel conveyor belt assembly defined portion of the transport system, from the upper deflection portion of the expansion module 300 at the upper end of the rear wall 314 thereof to a lower deflection portion of the additional expansion module 300 '(which is like the lower deflection portion of the expansion module) at the lower end of the Rear wall of the additional expansion module 300 '. On the back of the rear wall 314 of the expansion module 300 is for this purpose an upper joint portion 317 b 11 (see FIG. 11) which, in the case of an additional expansion module 300 ', merges into a lower joint section formed on the rear side of the rear wall of the additional expansion module 300' and is adapted to receive the belts of a transport belt arrangement formed on the extension element 300 ' , As the person skilled in the art realizes, the transport path configured in this way can, in principle, be continued as desired by means of further expansion modules. In this case, the movement pattern of the banknotes viewed from the front or from behind resembles a sawtooth pattern with movement sections extending vertically upwards within the base module or the expansion modules and between an upper deflection section and a lower lower deflection section extending obliquely downward movement sections. According to an alternative embodiment to the embodiments described above, the base module and one or more expansion modules can also be configured such that the bank notes within the base module and the one or more extension modules each to a lower deflection portion thereof and from there with a horizontal and a vertical movement component are transported to a higher upper deflection portion of the adjacent expansion module.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that in the event that no additional expansion module 300 'is part of the sorting device in addition to the expansion module 300, the control device should, in particular, control the routing devices 316a-d of the expansion module 300 such that no banknotes last in the direction of flow Direction switch 316d and move in the direction of the upper Urnlenkabschnitts the expansion move module. This can be ensured, for example, by the fact that all banknotes which reach the last switch device 316d in the direction of flow are fed to the corresponding output compartment 304d independently of their classification. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the jib element of a disposal module is connected to the upper deflection element 318 of the expansion module 300, in which all bank notes that have not been fed to any of the output compartments 204, 304a-d are discarded. In order to be able to detect and correct errors in banknote transport, for example banknote jams, sensors, for example light barriers, which are arranged along the transport system are preferably used in the sorting devices 100, 100 'according to the invention. Suitable locations for such sensors are located in particular before or after the points of the sorting devices 100, 100 '. If an incorrect transport or bank note jam is detected by means of the sensors, it can be displayed, for example on the display and / or operating unit 206, at which point of the sorting device 100, 100 'an error has occurred and which of the removable, outer housing parts of the sorber device 100, 100 'is open to eliminate the error. As a result, unnecessary opening of unaffected housing parts can be avoided. It is likewise possible to provide an indicator, for example a light-emitting diode, on the outer housing parts which indicate the housing part to be opened. The sensors for detecting a false transport are evaluated by the control device, which controls the display and / or operating unit 206 accordingly.

Other optical displays may be provided for the output bins 204 and 304a-d, which indicate when a predetermined maximum number Bank notes has been stored in the respective output tray, as this output tray is then no longer available for further processing. The displays can be located directly on the output compartments or the display can be made on the display and / or operating unit 206. The full display is activated by the control device when a sensor in the respective output compartment signals that the maximum number of banknotes has been filed. The maximum number of banknotes to be deposited can also be determined by the control device by counting the banknotes deposited in each case in an output bin during the processing until a predefinable size, for example a banknote is reached. B. 100 banknotes was reached. After the removal of the banknotes by the user, which can be determined by evaluating a respective sensor in the respective output tray by the control device, the respective output tray is again for the delivery of other banknotes by the Transport- system available, making a total of a faster processing of processing banknotes is made possible.

FIGS. 12 to 16 show a preferred fan-like opening concept of the sorting devices 100, 100 'according to the invention which, in the event of incorrect transport and / or banknote jamming, rapidly open the basic module 200 and / or the expansion module 300, 300' and thus quickly eliminate errors allows. The preferred fan-like opening concept of the sorting devices 100, 100 'according to the invention is essentially realized in that the base module 200 and the extension module 300, 300' are formed from essentially three components that can be pivoted relative to each other. are.

In the base module 200 (see in particular FIGS. 12, 13 and 15), the bottom plate 220 of the base module 200 forms the bottom section 212b of FIG Thereon the first component, the rear wall 214 with the deflecting element 218, the second component and in particular the input pocket 202, the upper section 212a of the checking device 212, the transport belt arrangement 213, the drive unit 215, the diverter device 216 as well as the output compartment 204 the third component, wherein the individual elements of the third component are preferably rigidly connected to each other. At the front end of the bottom plate 220 of the base module 200, a pivot bearing 222 is preferably formed, in which the second component and the third component of the base module 200 are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the base module 200 relative to the bottom plate 220 independently from each other in the direction of a front of the base module 200 and the device 100, 100 'sitting or standing user swing. For this purpose, the second component of the base module 200, in addition to the rear wall 214 and the deflecting element 218, preferably has a rigid, elongate pivoting element (or else a pivoting element).

Swivel arm) 224, at one end of the rear wall 214 is fixed and the other end is hinged to the pivot bearing 222. The elements of the third component of the base module 200 are preferably rigidly connected to at least one support plate hinged at a suitable location thereof on the pivot bearing 222.

Analogous to the base module 200 forms in the expansion module 300, 300 '(see in particular Figures 14 and 16), the bottom plate 320 with the boom member 312, the drive unit 315 and the transport belt assembly 311 at a rear end thereof, the first component, the rear wall 314 with the upper deflector 318 and the lower deflecting element 319, the second component and in particular the transport belt arrangement 313, the points means 316a-d and the output compartments 304a-d the third component, wherein the individual elements of the third component preferably rigidly connected together. At the front end of the bottom plate 320 of the expansion module 300, a pivot bearing 322 is preferably formed, in which the second component and the third component of the expansion module 300 are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the expansion module 300 relative to the bottom plate 320 independently from each other in the direction of a front of the expansion module 300 and the device 100, 100 'sitting or standing user swing. For this purpose, the second component of the expansion module 300 in addition to the rear wall 314 and the deflecting element 318 preferably a rigid L-shaped pivot member (or pivot arm) 324, at one end of the rear wall 314 is fixed and the other end is hinged to the pivot bearing 322. The elements of the third component of the expansion module 300 are preferably rigidly connected to at least one support plate hinged at a suitable location thereof on the pivot 322.

With reference to the preferred embodiments described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible to realize further advantageous embodiments encompassed by the invention. For example, it is conceivable that the base module 200 and the extension module 300 are formed in one piece, ie are firmly connected to one another, whereby a new base module with more output compartments would be obtained. In such a case, the expansion module 300 'described above as an additional expansion module would be the "first" expansion module. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that the terms used herein, such as "top" and "bottom", "front", "left", "right", "upstream" and "downstream" and the like , are not intended to limit in any way the orientation of the elements of the sorting devices according to the invention characterized in more detail. but merely to distinguish these elements from each other.

Claims

Patent claims

A device (100, 100 ') for sorting sheet material, in particular banknotes, wherein the device (100, 100') comprises:

a base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") having an input tray (202; 202'; 202") at the front thereof; and

an expansion module (300), preferably modularly connectable to and detachable from the base module (200), having an output tray (304a-d) at the front thereof;

wherein the base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") and the expansion module (300) are configured in such a way and arranged laterally in immediate side-by-side operation,

that the input tray (202; 202 '; 202 ") and the output tray (304a-d) face a user sitting or standing in front of the device (100,100'), and

in operation, the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 '; 202 ") to an upper deflection portion of the base module (200; 200'; 200"), therefrom with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflection section the expansion module (300) and from there to the output tray (304a-d) of the expansion module (300) is transported or

that in operation the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 '; 202 ") to a lower Umlenkabschnirt the base module (200; 200';200"), from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical component of motion to a higher upper deflection portion of the expansion module (300) and from there to the output tray (304a-d) of the expansion module (300) is transported.

The apparatus (100, 100 ') according to claim 1, wherein the base module (200, 200', 200 ") and the extension module (300) are configured such that the angle between the motion vector of the sheet material immediately downstream of the upper or lower side between 5 and 80 degrees, more preferably between 10 and 50 degrees, even more preferably between 15 and 30 degrees, and most preferably about 20 Degree is.

Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension module comprises a cantilever element (312) on which a transport belt arrangement (311) is arranged, which is adapted to the sheet material from the upper and lower deflection portion of the Base module (200, 200 ', 200 ") with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to the lower and upper Umlenkabschnirt the expansion module (300) to transport.

4. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 3, wherein a deflecting section through an upper or lower end of the rear wall (214, 314) of the base module (200) or the expansion module (300) and arranged thereon, a correspondingly configured deflecting element (218, 318) is defined.

The apparatus (100, 100 ') of claim 4, wherein the rear wall (214) of the base module (200) and the rear wall (314) of the expansion module (300) define a common transport plane in which the sheet material is from the upper and lower respectively Urnlenkabschnitt the base module (200) is transported with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to the lower and upper deflection portion of the expansion module (300).

6. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 5, wherein on the rear wall (214) of the base module (200) and the rear wall of the expansion module (300) each joint portions (217, 317a) are formed, which merge into one another and are designed to receive the belts (311a, 311e) of the transport belt assembly (311).

7. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 4, wherein the deflection element (218, 318) has a first set of recesses into which the vertically extending belt of a transport belt assembly (213, 313) extend, and / or a second A set of recesses into which the inclined belts of the transport belt assembly (311) extend.

8. Device (100, 00 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base module (200) and the expansion module (300) each comprise a separate drive unit (215, 315), control device and / or power supply unit.

9. Device (100, 100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base module (200) and the expansion module (300) are each formed of substantially three components, which can be pivoted relative to each other in such a way that on within the Base module (200) and the extension module (300) extending transport path of the sheet material can be accessed from the outside.

10. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 9, wherein the base module (200)

a bottom plate (220) of the base module (200) having a lower portion (212b) of a tester (212) thereon the first component, the rear wall (214) with the deflecting element (218) the second component and

in particular the input compartment (202), an upper section (212a) of the checking device (212), the transport belt arrangement (213), the drive unit (215), a diverter device (216) and an output compartment (204) form the third component,

wherein at the front end of the bottom plate (220) of the base module (200) a pivot bearing (222) is formed, in which the second component and the third component of the base module (200) are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the base module (200) relative to the bottom plate (220) independently in the direction of a front of the device (100, 100 ') sitting or standing user pivot.

11. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 9, wherein the extension module (300)

a bottom plate (320) with the boom element (312), the drive unit (315) and the transport belt assembly (311) the first component,

the rear wall (314) with a lower and upper deflecting element (318, 319) the second component and

in particular a transport belt arrangement (313), points devices (316a-d) and output compartments (304a-d) form the third component,

wherein at the front end of the bottom plate (320) of the expansion module (300) a pivot bearing (322) is formed, in which the second component and the third component of the expansion module (300) are pivotally mounted such that the second component and the third component of the expansion module (300) relative to the bottom plate (320) independently gig from one another in the direction of a front of the device (100, 100 ') sitting or standing user pivot.

The apparatus (100, 100 ') of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus (100, 100') further includes at least one additional expansion module (300 ¹ ) connectable to and detachable from the expansion module (300) an output tray (304a-d ') at the front thereof, wherein in operation the additional expansion module (300 ¹ ) is disposed laterally adjacent to the expansion module (300) and configures the additional expansion module (300 ¹ ) and the expansion module (300) are,

in operation, the sheet material from the lower deflection portion of the expansion module (300) to an upper deflection portion thereof, from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflection portion of the additional expansion module (300 ¹ ) and from there to Or in operation, the sheet material from the upper deflection portion of the expansion module (300) to a lower Unilenkabschnitt thereof, from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher located upper deflection portion of the additional expansion module (300 ') and from there to the output tray (304a-d') of the additional expansion module (300 ') is transported.

13. Device (100, 100 ') according to claim 12, wherein the at least one additional expansion module (300') is identical to the expansion module (300).

14. Apparatus (100, 100 ') for sorting sheet material, in particular banknotes, wherein the apparatus (100, 100') comprises:

a base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") having an input tray (202; 202'; 202") at the front thereof;

wherein the base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") forms an upper or lower diverting portion so as to be connected to an extension module (300) having an output tray (304a-d) at the front side thereof;

the input tray (202; 202 "; 202") and the output tray (304a-d) face a user sitting or standing in front of the device (100,100 '), and

in operation, the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 ', 202 ") to the upper deflecting portion of the base module (200; 200'; 200") and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflecting section of the expansion module (300) is transported or

in operation, the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 '; 202 ") to the lower deflecting portion of the base module (200; 200'; 200") and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher upper deflecting section of the expansion module (300) is transported.

15. Apparatus (100, 100 ') for sorting sheet material, in particular banknotes, wherein the apparatus (100, 100') comprises:

a base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") having an input tray (202; 202';

202 ") at the front thereof;

an expansion module (300) having an output tray (304a-d) at the front thereof; wherein the expansion module (300) comprises a cantilever element (312) so as to be connected to a base module (200; 200 '; 200 ") with an input tray (202; 202';202") at the front thereof;

in operation, the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 '; 202 ") to an upper deflection portion of the base module (200; 200'; 200") and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical moving component to a lower lower deflecting section of the expansion module (300) is transported or

that in operation the sheet material from the input tray (202; 202 ', 202 ") to a lower deflection section of the base module (200; 200', 200") and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical motion component to a higher upper deflecting section of the expansion module (300) is transported.

The apparatus (100, 100 ') of claim 15, wherein the expansion module (300) forms another upper or lower diverting portion so as to include an extension module (300 ¹ ) having an output tray (304a'-d') at the front thereof to be connected

that the output tray (304a-d) and the output tray (304a'-d ') face a user sitting or standing in front of the apparatus (100, 100'), and

in operation, the sheet material from the base module (200, 200 ', 200 ") to the further upper deflection portion of the expansion module (300) and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflection portion of the expansion module (300 ¹ ) is transported or in operation, the sheet material from the base module (200, 200 ', 200 ") to the further lower deflection section of the base module (300) and from there with a movement with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher upper deflection portion of the extension module ( 300 ¹ ) is transported.

17. Method for sorting sheet material, in particular banknotes, in a modular sorting device (100, 100 ') comprising a base module (200) with an input compartment (202) on its front side and an extension module (300) arranged laterally next thereto, which can be connected to and disconnected from the base module (200), having an output tray (304a-d) at the front thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting the sheet material from the input compartment (202) to an upper deflection section of the base module (200), from there moving with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a lower lower deflection section of the expansion module (300) and from there to the output compartment (FIG. 304a-d) of the expansion module (300); or

transporting the sheet material from the input compartment (202) to a lower deflection section of the base module (200), from there moving with a horizontal and a vertical movement component to a higher upper deflection section of the expansion module (300) and from there to the output compartment (304a). d) of the expansion module (300).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the transport of the sheet material immediately before the upper or the lower deflection section of the base module (200) and immediately after the lower or upper deflection section of the expansion module (300) takes place with a movement that has essentially only one vertical component.