Method for handling sheet material

Abstract

In a method for handling sheet goods, in particular value documents, such as bank notes, in an apparatus for processing sheet goods, such as a bank-note machine, sheet goods are removed from a container for sheet goods that is inserted in the apparatus, through an output opening of the container, checked for further processability, and in the case of a negative check result returned into the container through an input opening of the container that is separate from the output opening. The container has a pressing device for exerting a pressure on the sheet goods in the direction of the output opening, wherein the pressing device is displaceable along the height of the container such that sheet goods are both outputtable from a sheet-goods region of the container through the output opening and inputtable back into the sheet-goods region through the input opening.

Claims

1. A method for handling sheet goods, in particular value documents, in an apparatus for processing sheet goods, in particular a bank-note machine, comprising: removing sheet goods from an output opening of a container in the apparatus, checking the removed sheet goods for further processability, in a case of a negative check result, returning the sheet goods into the container through an input opening of the container that is separate from the output opening, wherein a pressing device displaceable along a height of the container divides the container into first and second sheet goods regions, which are separate from one another, and wherein the removed sheet goods, in the case of a negative check result, are returned into the first or second sheet-goods regions of the container depending on a kind of negative check result, namely: in a case of a first kind, the sheet goods are returned through the input opening into the first sheet-goods region of the container from which the sheet goods were removed, so that the returned sheet goods are removable again through the output opening and, in a case of a second kind, the sheet goods are returned through the input opening or through another input opening into the second sheet-goods region of the container, from which the sheet goods were removed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet goods are removed from a sheet-goods stack received in the container through the output opening from a first side of the sheet-goods stack and are fed through the input opening back to the sheet-goods stack on a second side of the sheet-goods stack opposing the first side when being returned into the container.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet goods are singled when being removed from the container and checking for further processability comprises a check for a multiple pick, authenticity, and/or denomination of the sheet goods.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first kind of negative check result concerns a multiple pick and the second kind of negative check result concerns authenticity, denomination, state, and/or type of the removed sheet goods.

5. A container for sheet goods, in particular for value documents, the container comprising: an input opening for inputting sheet goods into the container and an output opening for outputting sheet goods from the container, wherein the input opening and the output opening are mutually separate and spaced apart along a height of the container; and a pressing device which limits at least a first sheet-goods region in the container and which is displaceable along the height of the container and adapted to urge sheet goods located in the first sheet-goods region in a direction of the output opening, wherein the pressing device is displaceable past the input opening such that sheet goods are both outputtable from the first sheet-goods region through the output opening and inputtable into the first sheet-goods region through the input opening, and wherein the pressing device furthermore limits a second sheet-goods region and divides the container into the first sheet-goods region and the second sheet-goods region and wherein the pressing device is displaceable such that sheet goods are inputtable into the second sheet-goods region through the input opening.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the input opening and the output opening are arranged such that sheet goods are removable through the output opening from a first side of a sheet-goods stack received in the container and are feedable through the input opening to a second side of the sheet-goods stack opposing the first side.

7. The container according to claim 5, the container further comprising at least one electric motor to shift the pressing device along the height of the container.

8. An apparatus for processing sheet goods, in particular value documents, such as bank notes, the apparatus comprising: at least one transport path for transporting sheet goods, and at least one container, wherein the container comprises: an input opening for inputting sheet goods into the container and an output opening for outputting sheet goods from the container, wherein the input opening and the output opening are mutually separate and spaced apart along a height of the container; and a pressing device which limits at least a first sheet-goods region in the container and which is displaceable along the height of the container and adapted to urge sheet goods located in the first sheet-goods region in a direction of the output opening, wherein the pressing device is displaceable past the input opening such that sheet goods are both outputtable from the first sheet-goods region through the output opening and inputtable into the first sheet-goods region through the input opening, and wherein the pressing device furthermore limits a second sheet-goods region and divides the container into the first sheet-goods region and the second sheet-goods region and wherein the pressing device is displaceable such that sheet goods are inputtable into the second sheet-goods region through the input opening, wherein the transport path is adapted to transport sheet goods from the output opening of the container to the input opening of the container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a checking device to check sheet goods removed from the container for further processability during or after the output of sheet goods through the output opening of the container, wherein the apparatus is adapted to feed the removed sheet goods to the input opening of the container via the transport path in a case of a negative check result.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will hereinafter be explained by way of example with reference to the attached schematic drawings. Therein are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: An apparatus for processing sheet goods, in particular a bank-note machine.

(3) FIG. 2: A container for sheet goods, in particular a bank-note cassette, in a first state.

(4) FIG. 3: The container of FIG. 2 in a second state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) In FIG. 1 is represented an apparatus for processing sheet goods in the form of a bank-note machine 1. The drawing is only intended to schematically represent individual components of the bank-note machine 1 and their functional connection with each other. It will be appreciated that the bank-note machine 1 can have further and/or other components. The bank-note machine 1 has an input 3, such as an input pocket for abank-note stack or afeeder for individual bank notes 100, to which a user can input one or more bank notes 100. For paying out, the machine 1 has an output 4 from which the user can remove bank notes 100. The output 4 can be configured like the input 3 as a pocket or slot in the known manner. After a bank note 100 is inputted, it is checked in an input checking device 5 for denomination, authenticity, state and/or further features before being passed to the transport path 2. Via the transport path 2, which can contain in particular rails, transport rollers and gates in the known manner, an inputted bank note can be passed to different stores or containers. To be paid out, bank notes 100 can be outputted from corresponding stores or containers via the transport path 2.

(6) In the schematic exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bank-note machine 1 comprises two bank-note containers 10 according to the invention having a first sheet-goods region 11, e.g., a dispense region, for outputting bank notes 100 and, where applicable, a second sheet-goods region 12, e.g., a deposit region, for receiving bank notes 100. A transport-path portion 6 leads to the container 10, in particular to an input opening 17, as explained further in FIGS. 2 and 3, while a transport-path portion 7 leads away from the container 10, in particular from an output opening 16. In the transport-path portion 7 there is provided an output checking device 20 which checks removed bank notes 100 for further processability, in particular for a multiple pick, but also for other features, where applicable, such as authenticity or denomination. In the case of a negative check result, for example, if a multiple pick is detected, whereby two or more bank notes 100 have been drawn simultaneously, the corresponding bank notes 100 are returned via the respective transport paths 2, 6, 7 to the container 10, namely, to the input opening 17 of the container 10, separate from the output opening 16. The upper one of the two containers 10 is represented in a state in which removed bank notes 100 are being returned into the same region 11 of the container 10 from which they were removed, in order to enable a new outputting (illustrated in FIG. 3). The lower one of the two containers 10, in contrast, is represented in a state in which the bank notes 100 are being returned into a second sheet-goods region 12 of the container 10 and cannot be outputted again (illustrated in FIG. 2).

(7) Furthermore, the bank-note machine 1 of FIG. 1 has an intermediate store 13 and a deposit cassette 14, The deposit cassette 14 serves for finally depositing bank notes 100, whereas the intermediate store 13 serves for temporarily receiving bank notes 100. For example, bank notes 100 inputted by a user are first stored in the intermediate store 13 in order to be outputtable again, for example, in the case of an abort of the operation. This function of the intermediate store 13 is also designated escrow. Further, it may be expedient to keep some bank notes 100 available in the intermediate store 13 for subsequent operations, for example in order to accelerate payouts. This function of the intermediate store 13 is designated recycler. The intermediate store 13 is preferably configured as a film-type store. In this basically known type, which accordingly is not illustrated, bank notes 100 are wound between two films onto a reel in the order of their input and can be outputted again in the reverse order by unwinding the reel.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a container 10 for sheet goods, in particular bank notes 100. The represented container 10 is in particular a bank-note cassette, such as a dispense cassette, which is inserted into a bank-note machine 1 in a filled state. The container 10 thus comprises an output device 26, such as a singler, associated with the output opening 16, for outputting bank notes 100 that are received in stack form in a first sheet-goods region 11 of the container 10. A pressing device 15, in particular in the form of a separating panel, is provided to urge the bank-note stack in the direction of the lower panel of the container 10, in particular in the direction of the output opening 16, to enable or simplify a singling of the bank notes 100. The pressing device 15 separates the container 10 into the first sheet-goods region 11 and a second sheet-goods region 12. The second sheet-goods region 12 serves for depositing bank notes 101 that are introduced into the second sheet-goods region via an input device 27 associated with the input opening 17. The bank notes 101 introduced via the input device 27 are ones that were previously removed from the first sheet-goods region 11 and, upon a check for further processability, recognized as not being further processable. The bank notes 101 are returned into the second sheet-goods region 12 of the container 10 in order to ensure the stock reliability of the container 10. The bank notes 101 located in the second sheet-goods region 12 can no longer be outputted from the container 10. At the same time, the bank notes 100 in the first sheet-goods region 11 still remain capable of being singled via the output device 26. There is thus avoided a standstill for remedying and removing the bank notes 100 that are not further processable. A data storage unit 40 serves for storing data relating to the bank notes 100 received in the container 10.

(9) Instead of the bank notes 100 being returned through the input opening 17, the bank notes 100 can alternatively be stamped into the second sheet-goods region 12 of the container 10 from above, as is common practice with deposit cassettes.

(10) The pressing device 15 is displaceable along the height of the container 10. For example, the pressing device 15 can be moved along the height of the container 10 by one or more electric motors 18. Thus, a continuous and sufficient pressure on the sheet-goods stack in the direction of the output opening 16 can be guaranteed.

(11) As represented in FIG. 3, the pressing device 15 can also be shifted past the input opening 17 in the direction of the upper end of the container 10. Through the input opening 17, bank notes 100 can now also be inputted into the first sheet-goods region 11. In particular, bank notes 100 can be deposited onto the upper end of the stack located in the first sheet-goods region 11, while bank notes 100 can still be drawn from the lower end of the stack by the output device 26. In the case of a detected multiple pick, for example, the corresponding bank notes 100 can be fed back to the first sheet-goods region 11 and be outputted again through the output opening 16 at a later time.

(12) The handling of multiple picks is therefore simplified, since multiple picks need not be removed from the bank-note machine 1 manually, but are simply returned into the container 10. However, since the bank notes 100 are returned into the container 10 through the input opening 17 which is located at a different place from the output opening 16, being in particular separate therefrom and spaced apart along the height of the container 10, the output of bank notes 100 already located in the container is not disturbed.