WO2002098775A1

WO2002098775A1 - Devices and method for inserting sheet-type products using a stamp

Info

Publication number: WO2002098775A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/006089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Frank; Xaver Thum; August HÄUSLER
Original assignee: Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-06-07
Filing date: 2002-06-03
Publication date: 2002-12-12
Also published as: ATE359979T1; EP1399379B1; DE50209982D1; DE10127631A1; EP1399379A1

Abstract

The invention relates to devices and a method for inserting sheet-type products into a case using a stamp. According to the invention, the surface of a stamp (12) comprises at least one recess and/or through-opening (13), and can have essentially larger dimensions than those of known systems. In this way, insertion by means of a stamp can be reliable and use the inside of the case effectively for stacking sheet-type products.

Description

Devices and methods for stamping sheet material

The invention relates to devices and a method for stamping sheet material into a cassette.

Such devices and such a method are known for example from US 3,655,186. A cassette in which banknotes are placed has an upper housing wall with a through opening in the middle, through which the banknotes are pressed into the cassette housing by means of a stamp against a base plate which is spring-loaded in the cassette. The stamped banknotes are retained in the inside of the cassette by the edge of the upper housing wall surrounding the passage opening, which serves as a hold-down device. The stamp has as a stamp surface which presses on the banknotes, a stamp plate, the dimensions of which are somewhat smaller than the dimensions of the through opening of the upper cassette wall, through which the banknotes are stamped into the cassette.

A disadvantage of the known system is that the through opening of the cassette must always be smaller than the smallest banknote to be stamped, so that it is not pressed out of the cassette again by the spring-mounted base plate.

However, the smaller the through opening, the deeper the stamp has to be pressed into the inside of the cassette in order to be able to insert the larger banknotes completely into the cassette under deformation through the through opening. Therefore, only a limited space inside the cassette can be used for the actual stacking of banknotes.

Furthermore, in this known system it is in principle necessary that the banknotes to be stamped lie freely on the upper cassette wall, so that they pressing up on the stamp on the central area of the uppermost B <knots at the edge areas and pressing through the through opening into the interior of the cassette. If, however, a stack of several banknotes is to be stamped in, this can possibly tip over if the banknotes of different dimensions in the stack are distributed too unevenly and prevent the banknotes from being deposited in the cassette in an orderly manner.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide devices and a method for stamping sheet material into a cassette, with which the above-mentioned disadvantages resulting from the known concept can be avoided.

This object is achieved by the stamp according to claim 1, the stamping device according to claim 4, the hold-down device according to claim 10, the cassette according to claim 12 and the method according to claim 14. The further claims describe advantageous refinements.

The present invention is based on the knowledge that the stamp surface of a stamp, which has one or more recesses and / or through-openings, can have considerably larger dimensions than in the known system and thus allows a secure stamping, which effectively uses the inside of the cassette for stacking sheets.

While the known stamp must always be smaller than the smallest sheet of the sheet to be stamped for the reasons mentioned above, this limitation is lifted in an embodiment according to the invention and the stamp can have larger dimensions, for example, even larger than the largest sheet to be stamped. A further fundamental aspect of the present invention is therefore also that the cassette can have an opening which is larger than the smallest sheet material to be stamped. In order to prevent the sheets stamped with such a stamp according to the invention from swelling out through the cassette opening, a hold-down device is preferably pushed into the cassette after stamping the sheets in order to retain the sheets in the cassette. The hold-down device will particularly preferably have a finger structure.

Because such a hold-down device itself takes up little or no space inside the cassette during the stamping process, and consequently the effective area of the stamp is not reduced by the hold-down device, the stamp can be larger than in the known case in which the stamp size is always part of the Cassette existing hold-down device is restricted.

A retractable and retractable hold-down device also makes it possible for the first time that the sheets, regardless of their size, can be inserted into a cassette without deformation, as a result of which damage to the sheets can be avoided particularly safely. In addition, the stamp therefore also needs to penetrate much less deeply into the cassette for stamping into the cassette, as a result of which the area in the cassette which can effectively be stacked is significantly enlarged.

Furthermore, the shape of the stamp according to the invention with a recess or through-opening creates the prerequisite for being able to hold or clamp the sheets in the stamping position by means of a clamping element for securing an orderly stamping process, from which they are stamped into the cassette by means of a stamp.

For this purpose, the recesses or through-openings of the stamp are advantageously designed such that the stamp can pass the clamping element, or the clamping element in its recesses, on the sheets to be stamped, which are held in place by the clamping element. Particularly preferably, the clamping element, which comprises, for example, one or more rigidly connected clamping fingers which press on the stack of sheets from above, will be part of a stack carrier unit on which the sheets to be stamped are stacked and transported to the stamping position, as described in detail in FIG not yet published application DE 10121835.4 of the applicant is described.

The stamp surface is particularly preferably gimbaled. This means that the stamp surface is not freely supported in the plane perpendicular to the stamp direction, but in relation to this plane around a suspension point or a suspension axis, so that the stamp surface conforms to the shape of the stack of sheets which it stamps or compresses. adjust and thus stamp it more securely and / or compress it. This variant can also be advantageously used regardless of the configuration according to the invention with a recess or through opening.

The invention is explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The show

1 a) to d) a schematic cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention with a stamp and hold-down device according to a first embodiment, the device being shown in four successive operating states;

2 shows a schematic side view of part of the device according to FIG. 1 c); and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a stamp according to another embodiment. 1 and 2 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for stamping banknotes 2 into a cassette 3. The device 1 can be used, for example, in an automated teller machine with a deposit function for banknotes, as described in DE 10121835.4. B <knots 2 are pressed with the aid of a stamp 4 through an opening 5 in the top of the cassette 3 into it and against an underlying spring-mounted base plate 6 and placed in a stack.

The device 1 is distinguished in particular by the structure of the stamp 4 and a hold-down device 9 which serves to hold the stamped banknotes 2 in a predetermined spatial area of the cassette 3.

In particular, the stamp 4 is designed as a scissor stamp 4, which can be moved in height by moving a scissor-like attachment which is attached to its upper side. In particular, the punch 4 has, by way of example, two cutouts 8 in its underside, which run parallel to one another and perpendicular to the sheet plane of FIG. 2. The hold-down 9 has, for example in the form of a fork, two hold-down rods 9 rigidly attached to one end region and can be horizontally inserted and extended in the opening 5 of the cassette 3 by an electromotive drive (not shown). The distance between the two recesses 8 and the hold-down rods 9 from one another is selected such that a hold-down rod 9 can engage in one of the recesses 8 of the punch 4.

By moving the hold-down device in and out, it is possible for the cassette opening 5 to have a cross section which corresponds to that of the stacking area in the cassette, as a result of which the bank notes 2 can be stamped in without bending. Furthermore, the cassette opening 5 can be closed by a cover 7, which has two cutouts 10 in its underside, which are at the same distance from each other as the hold-down rods 9.

The device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is used as follows to carry out the method according to the invention in a first exemplary embodiment.

The starting situation at the beginning of a deposit process, in which banknotes 2 entered in the automated teller machine are to be deposited in the cassette 3, is as follows: the lid 7 of the cassette 3 is opened in order to open the cassette opening 5. In addition, the hold-down bars 9 are moved laterally into the cassette 3 in the region of the cassette opening 5 in order to prevent banknotes 2 already in the cassette 3 from escaping. The banknotes 2 to be stamped are now transported individually or in bundles to the stamping position above the cassette opening 5 and deposited there on the hold-down bars 9 via a transport system (not shown). This state is illustrated in Figure 1 a).

The stamp 4 is then lightly pressed on the bank notes 2 resting on the hold-down rods 9, then the hold-down device 9 is pulled out laterally from the cassette 3 and the bank notes 2 are pressed completely into the cassette 3 by the stamp 4, as shown in FIG. 1 b) is recognizable.

In the next step, the hold-down rods 9 are inserted into the recesses 8 of the stamp surface of the stamp 4 which is now inside the cassette. This state can be seen from FIGS. 1 c) and 2.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 1 d), the stamp 4 is pushed up out of the cassette opening 5 again. Since the hold-down devices 9 are in their active position inside the cassette 3, undesired emergence of the bank notes 2 is prevented. In the same way, further B <nodes 2 can then be stamped in individually or in bundles. If the cassette 3 is finally to be replaced, the cassette 3 is closed again before the cassette 3 is removed by pushing the cover 7 onto the cassette opening 5, the hold-down rods 9 engaging in the cutouts 10 in the cover 7. The hold-down rods 9 are then pulled out of the cassette 3 and the latter is automatically locked.

Preferably, not only a cassette to be subsequently filled, but at least one further reserve cassette will be present in the ATM. For example, two cassettes of the type described above can be detachably mounted on a turntable. By rotating the turntable through 180 °, either the one or the other cassette with its upper opening can be brought into alignment with a transport system for transporting the sheets to be stamped.

A stamp 4 'according to a further exemplary embodiment is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3.

The stamp 4 'includes from a horizontal frame arm 11, on the underside of which six individual stamp elements 12 are fastened at a distance from one another. The frame arm 11 with the stamp elements 12 can be moved along a guide 15 in a motor-driven manner at height H. The stamp elements 12 each have a recess 13, as a result of which they have a cross section in the shape of an inverted U. In this case, the effectively effective stamp surface is given by the entire surface spanned by the individual U-legs of the stamp elements 12.

The stamp 4 'can be used, for example, in a device similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, the device in this case preferably comprising six hold-down rods which are inserted into the cutouts 13 in the stamp elements 12. In order to be able to use it flexibly, the individual stamp elements 12 can advantageously be fixed at different locations on the frame arm 11 in order to be able to vary the distance between adjacent stamp elements 12.

The stamp 4 'according to FIG. 3 has a gap 14 in the middle of the three outer and inner stamp elements 12. This serves to be able to accommodate a clamping element which presses on the stack of banknotes when it is in the stamping position. Due to the gap 14, the stamp 4 'can press the banknotes located in the stamping position into the cassette, and at the same time, at least at the beginning of the stamping process, they are held securely against slipping or tilting by the clamping element.

The clamping element can e.g. comprise one or more rigidly connected clamping fingers and be part of a stack support unit on which the sheets to be stamped are stacked and transported to the stamping position, as described in the not yet published application DE 10121835.4 by the applicant.

Of course, numerous variations and alternatives to the aforementioned exemplary embodiments are also conceivable.

Thus, in the sense of the application, a cassette is not only understood to mean a completely lockable and lockable housing, but also any container which serves to hold sheet material.

In addition, it should be emphasized that the insertion of a hold-down device into a cassette should also be understood to mean the case that the hold-down device functions as part of a cassette wall after it has been inserted, ie the hold-down device represents an outer boundary of the cassette. While the case was described above that the hold-down device can only be moved horizontally into and out of the cassette, the hold-down device will particularly preferably also be displaceable vertically in the cassette. An advantage of this embodiment is that the hold-down device can press the sheets stamped into the cassette slightly downward and thus prevent the uppermost sheets from being jammed or kinked when the cassette cover is closed. In this case, the cutouts 10 in the cover 4 can also be dispensed with.

The solution according to the invention thus enables a secure stamping of sheet material that effectively uses the inside of the cassette for stacking.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r u c h e

1. stamp (4, 4 ') with a stamp surface for stamping sheet material (2), such as Banknotes (2) in a cassette (3), characterized in that the stamp surface has at least one recess (8, 13) and / or a through opening (14).

2. Stamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the stamp (4, 4 ') has a plurality of stamp elements (12) which form the stamp surface and an intermediate space between adjacent stamp elements (12), the recess (13) or the through opening (14) forms.

3. Stamp according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of stamp elements (12) are adjustably mounted in relation to each other.

4. Device (1) for stamping sheet material (2), e.g. Banknotes (2), in a cassette (3), with a transport device for transporting sheets (2) of the sheet material to a stamping position in the region of an opening (5) of the cassette (3) and with a stamp (4, 4 '), which has a stamp surface for stamping the sheets (2) in the stamping position through the opening (5) into the cassette (3), characterized in that the stamp (4, 4 ') is a stamp (4,') with a is at least one recess (8, 13) and / or a through-opening (14) stamp surface according to one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized by a hold-down device (9) which e.g. has a finger structure, the hold-down device (9) being movable into the cassette (3) in order to hold sheets (2) stamped in the cassette (3) in a predeterminable spatial region of the cassette (3).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the hold-down device (9) is shaped so that it in the recess (8, 13) and / or the through opening (14) of the stamp (4, 4 ') can engage when the stamp (4, 4') presses the sheets (2) into the cassette (3).

7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the holding-down device (9) is adjustable in height in order to change the space in which the stamped sheets (2) are in the cassette (3) in a predeterminable manner.

8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by a clamping element to keep the sheets (2) clamped at least in the stamping position.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (8, 13) and / or the through opening (14) of the stamp (4, ') are shaped so that the stamp (4, 4') on the in Stamp position can press through the clamping element clamped sheets (2).

10. hold-down device (9) for a cassette (3) for receiving sheet material (2), such as Banknotes (2), characterized in that the hold-down device (9) is suitable for use in a device according to one of Claims 1 to 7 and can be moved into the cassette (3) in order to store sheets (2) stamped in the cassette (3). to be held in a specifiable area of the cassette (3).

11. Hold-down device according to claim 10, characterized in that the hold-down device (9) is adjustable in height in order to change the space in which the stamped sheets (2) are in the cassette (3) in a predeterminable manner.

12. Cassette (3) for receiving sheet material (2), such as banknotes (2), characterized in that the cassette (3) is suitable for use in a device according to one of claims 1 to 7 and the cassette (3) has an opening (5) which is larger than the smallest sheet material to be stamped.

13. Cassette according to claim 12, characterized in that the cassette (3) comprises a hold-down device (9) according to one of claims 10 or 11.

14. A method for stamping sheet material (2), e.g. Banknotes (2), in a cassette (3), with the following steps:

- Providing a stack of sheets (2) consisting of at least one sheet (2) of the sheet material in a stamping position in the region of an opening (5) of the cassette (3);

- Stamping the sheet material stack (2) in the stamping position through the opening (5) into the cassette (3); characterized in that for stamping the stack of sheets (2) into the cassette (3) a stamp (4, 4 ') according to one of Claims 1 to 3, with a stamp surface which has at least one recess (8, 13) and / or one Has through opening (14) is used.

lδ.Verfahren according to claim 14, characterized in that when the punch (4, 4 ') has pressed the stack of sheets (2) into the cassette (3), a hold-down device (9) is moved into the cassette (3) and thereby engages in the recess (8, 13) and / or the passage opening (14) of the stamp (4, 4 ') in such a way that the sheets (2) stamped in the cassette (3) are in a predetermined spatial area of the cassette (3) be held.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the stamp (4, ') is moved out of the cassette (3) again after the sheets stamped in the cassette (3) by the hold-down device (9) in the predetermined spatial area Cassette (3) are held.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the holding-down device (9), after it holds the stamped in the cassette (3) sheets (2) in the predetermined space of the cassette (3), in the cassette (3) adjusted in height is to change the space in which the stamped sheets (2) are in the cassette (3).

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that for the complete introduction of the sheet material into the cassette (3), the hold-down device (9) is then moved out of the cassette (3) after the sheet material stack (2) on the Hold-down device (9) rests.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the sheet stack (2) is held clamped in the stamping position by a clamping element.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the stamp (4, 4 ') in the stamping position presses on the sheet material stack (2) clamped by the clamping element, the clamping element being stamped in a region of the recess (8, 13) and / or the through opening (14) of the stamp (4, 4 ').