DEVICE FOR HANDLING NOTES OF VALUE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DEVICE FOR HANDLING NOTES OF VALUE

Abstract

The device comprises an input compartment for inputting notes of value, a pull-off and separating unit for separating the notes, a value note identification unit for identifying the separated notes. The device comprises a cash box for storing notes. A control unit determines whether a filling level of the cash box has reached or exceeded a predetermined value. The control unit determines a remaining capacity of the cash box. The control unit deducts the number of notes transported to the cash box from the remaining capacity after a predetermined fill level of the cash box has been reached.

Claims

1. A device for handling notes of value comprising: an input compartment for inputting notes of value; a value note identification unit for identifying respective values of each of the inputted notes of value; an intermediate storage unit for intermediately storing the identified and inputted notes of value; a first cash box for storing a first one or more of the identified and inputted notes of value, after the first one of more of the identified and inputted notes of value were intermediately stored in the intermediate storage unit; a second cash box for storing a second one or more of the identified and inputted notes of value after the second one of more of the identified and inputted notes of value were intermediately stored in the intermediate storage unit; a transport unit for transporting the identified and inputted notes of value among the intermediate storage unit, the first cash box, and the second cash box; and a control unit configured to: assign one of the first cash box and the second cash box as a target cash box to each of the identified and inputted notes of value for transport by the transport unit, determine whether a filling level of the second cash box has reached or exceeded a predetermined value, control the transport unit such that the first one or more of the identified and inputted notes of value that are to be stored in the first cash box are removed from the intermediate storage unit, and fed to the first cash box, determine a remaining capacity of the second cash box in that the control unit deducts a number of the second one or more of the identified and inputted notes of value that have been stored in the second cash box after the filling level of the second cash box has reached or exceeded the predetermined value from an initial remaining capacity value, and control the transport unit, when a number of the second one or more identified and inputted notes of value that are presently stored in the intermediate storage unit and that are to be transported to the second cash box does not exceed the remaining capacity, such that the transport unit removes the second one or more identified and inputter notes of value from the intermediate storage unit and feeds them to the second cash box.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: a display unit wherein the control unit is configured to: output an error message on the display unit when the number of the second one or more identified and inputted notes of value that are presently stored in the intermediate storage unit and that are to be transported to the second cash box exceeds the remaining capacity, and control the transport unit such that all of the identified and inputted notes of value presently stored in the intermediate storage unit are removed from the intermediate storage unit and are transported to the input compartment.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to control the transport unit, when the number of the second one or more identified and inputted notes of value that are presently stored in the intermediate storage unit and that are to be transported to the second cash box is greater than the remaining capacity, to transport all of the identified and inputted notes of value presently stored in the intermediate storage unit to the input compartment.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to control the transport unit such that only after receipt of a confirmation information from a customer the transport unit removes the identified and inputted notes of value from the intermediate storage unit, transports them to at least one of the first and second cash boxes.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second cash box comprises: a detector element configured to determine whether the filling level of the second cash box has reached the predetermined value.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the detector element comprises a light barrier arrangement or a detection lever.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the notes of value (13) are storable in the first cash box (12a to 12d) such that they stand on one of their edges and in the second cash box (12e) such that they lie on their front or back.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the initial remaining capacity value is greater than or equal to a number of notes of value which are storable in the intermediate storage unit.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: a pull-off and separating unit for separating notes of value inputted to the input compartment, wherein the transport unit feeds the separated notes of value to the value note identification unit individually one after the other.

10. The device according to claim 5 wherein the second cash box further comprises: a carriage, wherein the second one or more identified and inputted notes of value stored in the second cash box form a value note stack, a lowest one of the second one or more identified and inputted notes of the value note stack lies on the carriage; and a drive unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the drive unit for displacing the carriage dependent on a height of the value note stack, wherein the detector element determines that the filling level of the second cash box has reached the predetermined value when the carriage is detected by the detector element.

11. A method for operating a device for handling notes of value comprising: receiving, in an input compartment of the device, notes of value from a user; identifying, with a value note identification unit of the device, the notes of value after said receiving; intermediately storing, in an intermediate storage unit of the device, the notes of value after said identifying; assigning, with a control unit of the device, in which of a first cash box and a second cash box to transport the notes of value after said intermediately storing; determining, with the control unit, whether a filling level of the second cash box has reached a predetermined value; feeding, with a transport unit of the device, a first one or more of the notes of value from the intermediate storage unit to the first cash box; determining, with the control unit, a remaining capacity of the second cash box by deducting a number of the notes of value that were transported to the second cash box after the filling level of the second cash box has exceeded the predetermined value from an initial remaining capacity value stored in by the control unit; and feeding, with the transport unit, after the filling level of the second cash box has reached or exceeded the predetermined value, a second one or more of the notes of value from the intermediate storage unit only when a number of the second one or more of the notes of value does not exceed the remaining capacity.

12. The method according to claim 11 in which said determining occurs after said intermediately storing and the method further comprises: determining, with the control unit, before said feeding the second one or more notes of value from the intermediate storage unit, whether the number of the second one or more notes of value is greater than the remaining capacity.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: outputting, with a display of the device, an error message when the filling level of the second cash box has reached or exceeded the predetermined value and when the number of the second one or more of the notes of value stored in the intermediate storage unit is greater than the remaining capacity.

14. (canceled)

15. The method according to one of the claim 13 further comprising: receiving, with an input unit of the device, a confirmation information, wherein said feeding the first one or more of the notes of value and said second one or more of the notes of value are only executed after said receiving the confirmation information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] 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 embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an automated teller machine.

[0026] FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2 shows a flow chart of a deposit operation.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a detailed flow chart of step S36 according to FIG. 2.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an input compartment, an intermediate storage and a cash box when using a method according to the prior art; and

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the schematic illustration of the input compartment, the intermediate storage and the cash box according to FIG. 4 when using a new method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In FIG. 1, a schematic illustration of an automated teller machine 10 is shown. The automated teller machine 10 serves both for the deposit of banknotes by a user and for the withdrawal of banknotes by a user. Such an automated teller machine 10 which serves both for the deposit and for the withdrawal of banknotes is also referred to as recycling automated teller machine. Alternatively, the automated teller machine 10 may also exclusively serve for the deposit of banknotes. Further, the specified method and the specified device may also be used in other banknote handling devices, in particular in automatic cash register systems and so-called automatic cash safes.

[0031] The automated teller machine 10 comprises a safe 18 in which altogether five cash boxes 12a to 12e are arranged and which protects the cash boxes 12a to 12e against unauthorized access, in particular against theft and manipulation attempts. The cash boxes 12a to 12e serve to store and transport banknotes. The banknotes are stored in the cash boxes 12a to 12e in the form of a stack, wherein the banknotes are arranged such that they stand on one of their edges, in particular one of their longitudinal edges. One of these stacks is exemplarily indicated in the first cash box 12a. One of these banknotes of this banknote stack is exemplarily identified with the reference sign 13.

[0032] In the cash boxes 12a to 12d, the banknotes 13 are preferably type-specific or mixed with two denominations. The banknotes 13 of the cash boxes 12a to 12d in particular serve for the withdrawal by a user. In particular, at least one of the cash boxes 12a to 12d, preferably all four cash boxes 12a to 12d, serves as a recycling box in which deposited banknotes are stored and are subsequently removed from the cash box 12a to 12d for withdrawals.

[0033] Each cash box 12a to 12d has one respective opening for feeding banknotes 13 and for removing banknotes 13. In front of the opening of a cash box 12a to 12d, a respective separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d is arranged, with the aid of which, on the one hand, banknotes 13 can be fed to the cash boxes 12a to 12d and, on the other hand, banknotes 13 stored in the cash boxes 12a to 12d can each time be separated from the banknote stacks respectively received in the cash boxes 12a to 12d and can be removed from the cash boxes 12a to 12d.

[0034] In front of each separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d, one respective switch 16a to 16d is arranged, with the aid of which a banknote 13 transported along a transport path 19 and to be fed to one of the cash boxes 12a to 12d is branched off the transport path 19 and fed to that separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d that is arranged in front of the respective cash box 12a to 12d into which the banknote 13 is to be transported. Likewise, the switches 16a to 16d serve for the transport of banknotes 13 removed from the cash boxes 12a to 12d with the aid of the separating and stacking unit 14a to 14d on the transport path 19. The safe 18 has an opening 20 through which the banknotes 13 transported along the transport path 19 are feedable to the safe 18 or are transportable out of the safe 18.

[0035] Further, the automated teller machine 10 comprises an input and output compartment 22 via which banknotes 13, 40 to be deposited are input into the automated teller machine 10 by a user, and banknotes 13 to be dispensed can be output to a user. In a withdrawal-only automated teller machine, only the withdrawal of banknotes 13 takes place via the input and output compartment 22, in a deposit-only automated teller machine only the deposit of banknotes 13, 40 takes place via the input and output compartment 22. The banknotes 13, 40 are transportable with the aid of a first transport unit 24 between the input and output compartment 22 and a value note identification unit 26. The first transport unit 24 preferably comprises at least one roll, at least one roller and/or at least one transport belt. Preferably, the rolls, the rollers and the transport belts are arranged in pairs, so that the banknotes 13 to be transported are each time transported between the rolls of a pair of rolls or the rollers of a pair of rollers or the belts of a pair of belts. The transport of banknotes 13 along the transport path 19 from the value note identification unit 26 to the cash boxes 12a to 12e or from the cash boxes 12a to 12e to the value note identification unit 26 takes place with the aid of a second transport unit. The second transport unit 23 likewise preferably comprises at least one roll, at least one roller and/or at least one transport belt.

[0036] The banknotes 13 deposited via the input and output compartment 22 are separated and with the aid of the first transport unit 24 individually fed to the value note identification unit 26, with the aid of which the authenticity of the deposited banknotes 13 and the denomination of each deposited banknote 13 are determined. Dependent at least on the determined authenticity and the determined denomination of the banknote 13, this banknote 13 is assigned to one of the cash boxes 12a to 12e by the control unit 28. In the cash box 12e, at least banknotes 13 suspected to be counterfeit and banknotes 13 which due to their denomination are not intended for withdrawal again are stored. In the Eurozone, only banknotes having a denomination of £ EUR 100 are dispensed by automated teller machines 10. Deposited EUR 200 and EUR 500 banknotes are not dispensed again and thus stored in the cash box 12e. The cash box 12e is also referred to as deposit cash box or all-in box. Since the banknotes 13 received in the cash box 12e are not dispensed again, the cash box 12e is only configured such that it can accept banknotes 13.

[0037] The cash boxes 12a to 12d are preferably so-called recycling boxes, to which both banknotes 13 may be fed and from which banknotes 24 may be removed. In the first recycling box 12a only banknotes 13 with a first denomination are stored. Such a storage of banknotes 13 of only one denomination in a cash box 12a to 12d is referred to as type-specific storage. In the second recycling box 12b, banknotes with a second denomination and banknotes with a third denomination are stored. In the third recycling box 12c, banknotes with a third denomination and banknotes with a fourth denomination are stored and in the fourth recycling box 12d only banknotes with the fourth denomination are stored. For example, the automated teller machine 10 handles Euro banknotes. In this case, in particular in the first recycling box 12a EUR 5 banknotes, in the second recycling box 12b EUR 10 and EUR 20 banknotes, and in the third recycling box 12c EUR 20 and EUR 50 banknotes as well as in the fourth cash box 12d only EUR 50 banknotes are stored. EUR 100 banknotes are not dispensed in the embodiment according to FIG. 1. Deposited EUR 100 banknotes are fed to the all-in box 12e. The storage of banknotes 13 of different denominations in one cash box 12b, 12c and 12e is also referred to as mixed-storage. Alternatively, also another allocation of the denominations of the banknotes 13 to the individual cash boxes 12a to 12e is conceivable.

[0038] When banknotes 13 are dispensed, a user inputs with the aid of an input and output unit 36, in particular with the aid of a touch screen, which amount of money the user wishes to withdraw. With the aid of a control unit 28, which is connected to the input and output unit 36 via a data line 34, it is determined which banknotes 13 are required in order to output the desired amount of money via the input and output compartment 22 to the user. The banknotes 13 to be dispensed are removed from the recycling boxes 12a to 12d and are transported with the aid of the first transport unit 24 and the second transport unit 23 into the input and output compartment 19.

[0039] The cash box 12e serves, as already mentioned, as a so-called all-in box in which deposited banknotes are stored that either for reasons of capacity cannot be stored in the cash boxes 12a to 12d, namely in particular when the cash boxes 12a to 12d in which a deposited note of value is to be stored due to its denomination and currency is full, or when a deposited note of value is not to be stored in one of the cash boxes 12a to 12d due to its denomination and/or currency. Further, in the cash box 12e other notes of value, such as checks or vouchers, may be stored. Also deposited notes of value which due to their quality properties in particular due to contamination and/or damage shall not be dispensed again, may be stored in the cash box 12e.

[0040] The banknotes and other notes of value are stored in the cash box 12e in the form of a stack, the banknotes being placed on a carriage 38 in a lying position. In FIG. 1, a banknote of the banknote stack placed on the carriage 38 is identified with the reference sign 40. With the aid of a non-illustrated drive unit, the carriage 38 can be displaced from an upper position downward such that in the upper area of the cash box 12e a feed gap for feeding further notes of value remains. The cash box 12e has a detector 42 which detects the carriage 38 as soon as it arrives in the area of the detector 42.

[0041] The detector 42 is in particular a sensor, which preferably comprises a light barrier arrangement which, upon arrival of the carriage 38, experiences a change of state, in particular the light beam is interrupted or enabled when the carriage 38 arrives at the area of the sensor 42. After the carriage 38 has been detected by the detection unit 42, the cash box 12e has a remaining capacity of, for example, 400 banknotes. The total capacity of the cash box 12e may, for example, be 4000 banknotes in such a case. It is particularly advantageous when the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e, after detection of the carriage 38 by the detector 42, corresponds to the maximum storage capacity of the intermediate storage 30.

[0042] Deposited banknotes and notes of value which are fed to the automated teller machine 10 via the input and output compartment 22, are individually fed to the intermediate storage 30 after separation and passing by the value note identification unit 26. After storage of all deposited banknotes in the intermediate storage 30, a user is provided with information on all deposited banknotes via the input and output unit 36. In particular, the total amount and/or the number and the denominations of all deposited banknotes is output to the user. Subsequently, the user may cancel the deposit operation, whereupon all banknotes are removed from the intermediate storage and are deposited in the input and output compartment 22 so that the user may again remove all deposited banknotes.

[0043] If, on the other hand, the user confirms via the input and output unit 36 that the user wishes to continue the deposit operation, the banknotes stored in the intermediate storage 30 are actually fed to a cash box 12a to 12e previously determined by the control unit 28. This procedure guarantees that even when all deposited banknotes would have to be transported into the cash box serving as all-in box 12e, there is enough capacity in the all-in box for storing the banknotes present in the intermediate storage 30. Since, for example, the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e after detecting the carriage 38 by the detector 42 is 400 banknotes, the maximum capacity of the intermediate storage may also be 400 banknotes. In other automated teller machines 10 intermediate storages 30 with other capacities and cash boxes 12e with other remaining capacities may be used. It is however particularly advantageous when the maximum storage capacity of the intermediate storage 30 is equal to or up to 10% less than the initial remaining capacity of the cash box 12e after detection of the carriage 38 by the detector 42.

[0044] This initial remaining capacity is also referred to as initial value. If, after detection of the carriage 38 with the aid of the detector 42, at least still one further deposited note of value is assigned to the cash box 12e and transported thereinto, the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e is less by this note of value than the maximum capacity of the intermediate storage 30 so that in the prior art no further deposit operations are possible at the automated teller machine 10 since it is not guaranteed that all deposited banknotes can actually be accepted in the cash boxes 12a to 12e. This is in particular the case when, for example, the maximum number of banknotes accepted in the intermediate storage is deposited and all deposited banknotes then have to be stored in the cash box 12e due to their properties. As a result, the storage area provided in the cash box 12e for storing banknotes 40 cannot be utilized completely in the prior art.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a deposit operation at the automated teller machine 10 according to FIG. 1 according to a new method. In the following, deposited notes of value and checks and other depositable notes are referred to as notes of value. The same elements and elements having the same function are identified with the same reference signs.

[0046] The sequence is started in step S10. Subsequently, it is checked in step S12 whether notes of value 13, 40 are present in the input compartment 22. If this is not the case, then step S12 is repeated until notes of value 13, 40 are detected in the input compartment 22.

[0047] In other embodiments, the sequence may also be terminated when no notes of value 13, 40 are detected in the input compartment 22.

[0048] If notes of value had been detected in the input compartment 22, the sequence is continued in step S14 with the separation of the notes of value 13, 40 detected in the input compartment 22. Subsequently, the notes of value 13, 40 are fed to the banknote identification unit for identifying each one of the separated notes of value. Thereafter, in step S18, the control unit 28 assigns a target box 12a to 12e to each identified note of value. Subsequently, in step S20, the identified notes of value are stored in the intermediate storage 30. In other embodiments, the order of steps S18 and S20 may also be reversed.

[0049] After assigning the separated notes of value 13, 40 to a target box and intermediately storing the notes of value 13, 40 in the intermediate storage 30, it is checked in step S22 whether a predetermined filling level of the cash box 12e has already been reached. In the automated teller machine 10 according to FIG. 1, this is the case when the carriage 38 is detected by the detector 42. If this is the case, then subsequently it is checked in step S24 whether the number of notes of value 40 which the control unit 28 has assigned for storage in the cash box 12e is greater than the remaining capacity present in the cash box 12e, wherein the remaining capacity indicates the number of banknotes which may still be stored in the cash box 12e. If it is determined in step S24 that the number of notes of value assigned to box 12e is greater than the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e, an error message is output in step S26 via the input and output unit 36 and subsequently, in step S28, all notes of value 13, 40 stored in the intermediate storage 30 are again output into the input and output compartment 22. Subsequently, the sequence is terminated in step S30.

[0050] If it is, however, determined in step S24 that the number of notes of value assigned to box 12e is less than or equal to the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e, then it is checked in step S32 whether a user after display of the total sum of the deposited notes of value or a listing of the deposited notes of value or merely a request whether the deposit operation shall actually take place, inputs a confirmation information. If no confirmation information has been input or if a negative confirmation information has been input, then the sequence is continued in step S28 with the output of all notes of value intermediately stored in the intermediate storage 30 into the input and output compartment 22, and then terminated in step S30.

[0051] If it is, however, determined in step S32 that a confirmation information has been input, then the sequence is continued in step S34 and all notes of value present in the intermediate storage 30 are transported to the respective target box 12a to 12e and stored therein. Subsequently, in step S36 the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e is reduced by the number of notes of value transported into the cash box 12e, and the sequence is terminated in step S30.

[0052] In other embodiments, steps S34 and S36 may also be reversed or it may be checked for every note of value removed from the intermediate storage 30 whether this one is fed to the cash box 12e and the remaining capacity is step-wise reduced for each individual note of value.

[0053] If it is determined in step S22 that the predetermined filling level of the cash box 12e has not been reached yet, i.e. there is still enough remaining capacity in the cash box 12e that the entire number of notes of value intermediately stored in the intermediate storage 30 could be stored in the cash box 12e, the sequence is continued in step S32 by bypassing step S24. Here, in step S36 the remaining capacity is not necessarily reduced by the number of notes of value transported to the cash box 12e but it is checked upon feeding of each note of value whether the predetermined filling level of the cash box 12e has already been reached and only then the remaining capacity is reduced by the count value 1 for each further fed note of value. This is explained in the following in detail in the sequence of FIG. 3.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a detailed flow chart of step S36 according to FIG. 2. The sequence is started in step S100. In step S102, for each note of value 13, 40 removed from the intermediate storage 30 it is checked whether the control unit 28 has assigned the note of value 13, 40 to the cash box 12e. If this is the case, then it is subsequently checked in step S104 whether the predetermined filling level detectable with the aid of the detector 42 has already been reached or exceeded. If this is the case, then subsequently in step S106 a stored initial remaining capacity of the cash box 12e is reduced by the value 1. From this, there results a remaining capacity that indicates the number of banknotes which may still be accepted in the cash box 12e. Subsequently, the note of value 40 is transported into the cash box 12e in step S108. Subsequently, in step S110 it is checked whether further intermediately stored notes of value 40 are present in the intermediate storage 30. If this is the case, then the sequence is continued in step S102 and the check is performed once again with the next note of value 40 to be removed from the intermediate storage 30. If it is, however, determined in step S110, that no further notes of value are stored in the intermediate storage, then the sequence is terminated in step S112.

[0055] If it is however determined in step S104 that the predetermined filling level value of the cash box 12e has not been reached yet, the sequence is continued in step S108, as described, by bypassing step S106.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the input compartment 22, the intermediate storage 30 and the cash box 12e, when using a method for depositing notes of value according to the prior art. After so many notes of value 40 have been stored in the cash box 12e that the detector 42 detects that the predetermined filling level has been reached, the automated teller machine 10 is blocked for further deposit operations. Thus, no further notes of value may be placed in the input compartment and be deposited as described above, since it can no longer be guaranteed that the further deposited notes of value can be stored in the cash box 12e. As already explained in connection with FIG. 1, the remaining capacity in the cash box 12e is so high after the detector 42 has been triggered that the cash box 12e may accept the maximum number of notes of value that can intermediately be stored in the intermediate storage 30. This is no longer the case when already a further note of value in a further deposit operation is transported into the cash box 12e and stored therein. In the worst case, the entire remaining capacity of, for example, 399 banknotes remains unused. When reaching the predetermined filling level or when exceeding the same, the actual deposit operation is still terminated in the prior art and then the automated teller machine 10 is blocked for further deposit operations or is taken out of service.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the input compartment 22, the intermediate storage 30 and the cash box 12e according to FIG. 4 when using the method described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. Even after detecting the reaching of the predetermined filling level by the detector 42, further deposit operations are allowed. For this, further notes of value may be placed in the input and output compartment 22, separated, checked with the aid of the value note identification unit 26, and stored in the intermediate storage 30. The control unit 28 determines the current remaining capacity based on the initial remaining capacity after reaching the predetermined filling level by detection with the aid of the detector 42, as this has already been explained in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, in that after reaching the predetermined filling level the remaining capacity of the cash box 12e indicated by a number of notes of value is reduced by 1 with the feeding of a note of value into the cash box 12e. Dependent on the result of the value note identification unit 26, the control unit 28 assigns a target box 12a to 12e to each identified note of value 13, 40. After reaching the predetermined filling level, the control unit 28 further checks whether the number of all notes of value 13, 40 checked by the value note identification unit 26 and intermediately stored in the intermediate storage 30, and to which the cash box 12e is assigned as a target box, exceeds the remaining capacity. Only in this case, the deposit operation is aborted, and the notes of value 13, 40 are again output from the intermediate storage 30 to the user via the input and output compartment 22. Alternatively, it can be indicated to the user that only those notes of value 13, 40 no longer acceptable in the cash box 12e are again output and the other notes of value 13, 40 may be kept as deposit. When the user confirms this, the notes of value 40 not acceptable by the cash box 12e can again be output via the input and output compartment 22, and the other notes of value 40 can be transported to the boxes 12a to 12e and stored therein.