METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPENING A RECEPTACLE

Abstract

An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects includes a suction device for suctioning the receptacle and a severing device for severing the receptacle in a suctioned region of the receptacle. The receptacle can be present in the form of a plastic bag in particular. A method for opening the receptacle then includes the steps of suctioning the receptacle by means of the suction device and of severing the receptacle in a suctioned region of the receptacle by means of the severing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects, comprising: a support forming a first side of the apparatus facing the receptacle, a suction device including a suction head provided in an opening defined by the support, and a surface of the suction head facing the receptacle further comprising a severing device; wherein one or more suction openings are defined by the suction head for generating a negative pressure therethrough; and wherein the suction head is configured to remain substantially stationary when the receptacle is guided across the suction head.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction device and the severing device are arranged such that when a wall of the receptacle is suctioned by the negative pressure of the one or more suction openings the severing device severs the wall which is suctioned by the suction device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device is arranged in a fixed position relative to the suction head of the suction device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device is arranged in an opening defined by the suction head.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device includes a cutting apparatus projecting from the surface of the suction head facing the receptacle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device is mounted rotatably about a rotational axis arranged perpendicular to the surface of the suction head that faces the receptacle; wherein the severing device is arranged outside said rotational axis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the severing device comprises a thermal severing device or a laser cutter.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is planar.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support includes a plurality of planar, oblique and/or curved surfaces.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a plate-shaped support.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is arranged on a table.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading device configured to read out a coding arranged on the receptacle to be opened.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reading device comprises a barcode reader or a reader for reading out a transponder in a contactless fashion.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between each of the one or more suction openings and the severing device is no more than 2 cm.

15. A method for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects, comprising the steps of: generating a negative pressure in one or more suction openings of a suction head of a suction device for suctioning a wall of the receptacle, a surface of the suction head facing the receptacle comprising a severing device; moving the receptacle along a support across the suction device including the suction head and severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle with the severing device as the receptacle moves across the suction device; wherein the suction head is configured to remain substantially stationary when the receptacle is guided across the suction head.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein in the step of severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle, the suctioned wall of the receptacle is not in contact with the value objects transported within the receptacle.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the suction device and the severing device are arranged such that when a wall of the receptacle is suctioned by the negative pressure of the one or more suction openings the severing device severs the wall which is suctioned by the suction device.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the receptacle is cut open in the step of severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein in the step of severing the suctioned wall of the receptacle, the receptacle is guided along a freely selectable severing line over the surface of the suction head facing the receptacle.

20. An apparatus for opening a receptacle for transporting value objects, comprising: a support forming a first side of the apparatus facing the receptacle, a suction device including a suction head provided in an opening defined by the support, and a severing device provided in or on a surface of the suction head facing the receptacle; wherein one or more suction openings are defined by the suction head for generating a negative pressure therethrough; and wherein the suction head is configured to remain substantially stationary relative to the support surface when the receptacle is guided across the suction head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will be described hereinafter by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. The figures are described as follows:

[0031] FIGS. 1 A and 1B a preferred embodiment of a suction severing head in a perspective view and in a sectioned view;

[0032] FIG. 2 an alternative preferred embodiment of an apparatus for opening a receptacle;

[0033] FIG. 3 a further preferred embodiment of an apparatus for opening a receptacle, and

[0034] FIG. 4 steps of a preferred embodiment of a method for opening a receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0035] In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a suction severing head 100 is shown in a perspective view and in a sectional view. The suction severing head 100 can be utilized as an independent apparatus 100 for opening a receptacle of the type described below or as part of such an apparatus 100″ as indicated in FIG. 3.

[0036] Receptacles which can be opened by means of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are receptacles that are provided for transporting value objects. Transported value objects herein are in particular sheet-shaped value documents such as banknotes. However, by means of the receptacles frequently also coins or the like are transported.

[0037] The receptacles, which are called “safebags” are usually present in the form of flat, bag-shaped receptacles. In a plan view of one of the two main surfaces, the receptacles are generally rectangular. Preferably, these receptacles are made of a plastic foil. The receptacles are completely sealed and have, for example, about the size of a large envelope, i.e. have side lengths of approximately 20 to 30 cm. Typically, instructions for cutting open the receptacle manually are printed on the receptacle. The receptacles can have one or several codings for unique identification, which can be read out by machine. Suitable codings are, for example, bar codes, transponders readable in contactless fashion or the like.

[0038] The suction severing head 100 of FIG. 1 includes a suction head 10 and is connected to a suction unit 70 (cf. FIG. 3) via an indicated suction hose 20. By such a suction unit 70 air can be suctioned through the suction openings 40 (as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1B). In this way, the suction severing head 100, when it is brought close enough to a receptacle to be opened or when a bag to be opened is brought close enough to the suction severing head 100 (cf. FIG. 3), can suction a surface of the receptacle to be opened, in particular a bag wall of a plastic bag.

[0039] The severing device 30 integrally arranged with the suction head 10 includes a severing means 50 in the form of a blade. This severing means 50 serves to sever the receptacle in the suctioned region, i.e. cut it open in the example shown. For this purpose, on the one hand the suction severing head 100 can be displaced along the bag, for example when the suction severing head 100 is adapted as an independent, manually operable apparatus to open the receptacle. Alternatively, to open the receptacle, the receptacle can be guided along a stationary severing device 30, for example when the suction severing head 100 is integrated in an apparatus 100′ according to FIG. 3.

[0040] The severing device 30 is mounted rotatably about a rotational axis in the suction severing head 100, as indicated in FIG. 1B. The severing means 50, in particular the section of the severing means 50 effective for severing the receptacle (thus the tip of the cutting edge), is preferably arranged outside the rotational axis of the severing device 30 (in FIG. 1A offset backward from the center of the severing device 30). It is thus achieved that, upon severing the receptacle, due to the friction force between the severing means 50 and the receptacle, the severing means 50 will rotate on its own to that side of the rotational axis in the direction of which the receptacle is moved relative to the severing device 30. In this way, the severing means (the blade) 50 will automatically orient itself with its longitudinal direction into the cutting direction, without an operator having to pay attention to this.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus 100′ for opening a receptacle as described above. The apparatus 100′ includes a frame-shaped suction head 110 with a plurality of suction openings 40. The suction openings 40 are distributed over a large portion of the frame, so that a receptacle can be suctioned in this portion. The frame shape can have substantially the dimensions of a surface of a receptacle to be opened. The suction head 110 can include a handle 115 to arrange the suction head 110 for opening the receptacle on the receptacle to be opened. The receptacle can lie flatly on a support herein, for example a table.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 100′ in a top view of the side which rests on a surface of the receptacle upon opening the receptacle.

[0043] The frame-shaped suction head 110 can have a slot-shaped through opening 118 along which a severing means 50, for example in the form of a blade, can be guided by means of a knob-shaped severing device 30. Thereby, the suctioned receptacle can be opened along an L-shaped cutting line. It is understood that the shape of the frame of the suction head 110 can be configured as desired to define respectively suitable cutting lines. The severing device 30 can be connected to the suction head 110, but can also be present as a separate device.

[0044] Alternatively, the suction head 110 can be configured without the through opening 118. In this case, a suitable separate severing means, for example a knife, can be guided along the frame for opening the receptacle, while the receptacle is suctioned on a surface by the suction head 110.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a further preferred embodiment of an apparatus 100″ for opening a receptacle for transporting value documents. The apparatus 100″ includes a plate-shaped support 200, in which a suction severing head 100 in accordance with FIG. 1 is integrated such that the suction openings 40 and the severing means 50 are arranged on the surface. For opening a receptacle, said receptacle now can be guided along the stationary suction severing head 100 in a fashion corresponding to the desired cutting lines.

[0046] The suction severing head 100 is connected via the suction hose 20 shown schematically to an also schematically indicated suction unit 70. The suction severing head 100 is integrated in a support of the apparatus, for example. The (for example plate-shaped) support 200 in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 rests on a rectangular cube 300 which includes the suction unit 70. The cube 300 can additionally be equipped for example with rollers or the like, so that the apparatus 100″ can serve as a mobile unit.

[0047] According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the support 200 can be present separately, i.e. without the cube 300. The support can then be arranged on a table or the like, for example. The support 200 does not need to be plate-shaped, but can also include several planar, oblique and/or curved surfaces.

[0048] The apparatus 100″ in FIG. 3 (or the corresponding embodiment without the cube 300) can include additional devices which support a processing of the value documents removed from an opened receptacle.

[0049] An example of such a device is a reading device 210 adapted to read out a coding arranged on a receptacle to be opened. The reading means 210 can for example be configured as a bar code reader or the reader for reading out a transponder in contactless fashion.

[0050] Usually, the opening of such a receptacle is monitored for surveillance purposes by means of a camera (for example, the camera is integrated in the support 200 analogously to the reading device 210). A corresponding video recording can be started, for example, when the reading device 210 has read out a coding of a receptacle to be opened. When the emptying of a receptacle is completed, the video recording associated with this emptying process can be ended, for example as soon as the coding of the next receptacle is scanned. The value documents removed from the receptacle can then be processed by means of a suitable processing apparatus (not shown), for example checked for authenticity and counted.

[0051] The apparatus 100″ can further include appropriate communication connectors (not shown), for example a USB or WLAN connector. This permits a data communication of the apparatus 100″ with a control terminal (not shown) and/or the processing apparatus.

[0052] Optionally, the apparatus 100″ can include a metal detector (for example integrated in the support 200 analogously to the reading device 210). The operator brings the receptacle, after its emptying, in the vicinity of the metal detector, to check for coins or the like. The metal detector can quickly and easily detect coins still present in an already opened receptacle. When coins are still disposed in a not yet inverted corner of the receptacle, this circumstance is pointed out to the operator by the metal detector, for example by an acoustic or optical signal. The receptacle does not need to be inverted at each of its corners by the operator then. By the metal detector the secure emptying of the receptacle is thus simplified and accelerated.

[0053] In FIG. 4 the substantial steps of a method for opening a receptacle are shown

[0054] In step S1, the receptacle is suctioned with the suction head 10, 110. In step S2, the receptacle is severed in the suctioned region by means of the severing device 30. Here, either the receptacle can be guided along a stationary severing device 30 (step S2.1). Alternatively, the severing device can be displaced along the receptacle, wherein the receptacle does not need to be moved (step S2.2). Embodiments are conceivable in which both the receptacle and the severing device are displaced, i.e. moved, during the opening of the receptacle.

[0055] According to conventional opening methods, a rectangular, flat, bag-shaped receptacle is usually cut open along one or several side edges manually by means of a pair of scissors or a knife, and is then completely inverted. These methods are time-consuming and always involve the risk that value documents arranged in the receptacle are damaged upon opening.

[0056] An opening of the receptacle in the described manner of the invention offers numerous advantages in contrast.

[0057] On the one hand, a receptacle can be opened significantly faster and easier. According to a first variant, for example, the suction severing head 10 according to FIG. 1 can be guided as an independent apparatus over a surface of a receptacle to be opened along a freely selectable cutting line. The cutting line can be guided for example diagonally across one side or across both sides of the receptacle. Alternatively, the receptacle can be opened along an L-shaped cut along two side edges of the receptacle. Also a U-shaped cut is possible. All these ways of severing the receptacle can be performed without much effort. An inversion of the receptacle for removing the value documents disposed therein is facilitated considerably in contrast to the conventional methods.

[0058] A second and important advantage of the described method is that, upon opening the receptacle, the risk of damaging value documents disposed therein can be practically eliminated. This is because the receptacle wall is suctioned by the suction head 10, 110 and is thus kept away from value documents present in the receptacle while the receptacle is opened in the suctioned region.