EP1700276B1 - Bank note processing machine and method for identifying forged bank notes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for the detection of counterfeit notes.

Banknote processing machines are used to check banknotes for their properties, such as authenticity, condition, type of banknote, etc. Depending on the result of the check, the banknotes may be accepted, sorted, stored, destroyed, etc., for example. The recognition of counterfeit notes is of particular importance. For recognizing banknotes and for distinguishing the genuine banknotes from counterfeits, it is customary to derive criteria or comparative data from genuine banknotes which permit recognition of the individual banknotes with regard to currency and denomination and their authenticity. Are for certain banknotes, d. H. a certain denomination of a particular currency, fakes have become known, so these fakes are used for the derivation of comparative data. For this purpose, the genuine banknotes and counterfeits are processed with a bank-note processing machine in order to generate data from the sensors of the bank-note processing machine for the genuine banknotes and counterfeits. From the data of the sensors are then derived, sometimes in very complex processing steps, comparative data for the detection of banknotes and the verification of their authenticity.

However, it has been shown that particular problems can arise in particular when assessing the authenticity of banknotes if, in addition to the counterfeits considered in the generation of the comparison data, new counterfeits occur. In these cases, it may happen that the novel counterfeits are not recognized and thus judged to be genuine banknotes.

Of course, it is possible in the cases described to derive comparative data again, in addition to the genuine banknotes and previously known counterfeits and the novel counterfeits are taken into account. However, such a procedure has the disadvantage that the entire comparison data at least for the type of banknotes concerned, d. H. the affected denomination of a given currency must be derived. In addition, at least the comparison data for the particular type of banknotes in the banknote processing machines must be exchanged. This can lead to incompatibility problems with the comparative data of other types of banknotes. In order to be able to reliably avoid this, the entire comparison data is therefore usually recreated in order to replace the previously used comparison data in the banknote processing machines. However, this creates considerable effort, since large volumes of data have to be managed. Because of the described considerable expense, the known approach also results in the problem that novel counterfeits can not already be taken into account shortly after their occurrence, since already the derivation and generation of the comparative data takes a considerable period of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting counterfeit banknotes, in which novel counterfeits can be detected with little effort safely and already relatively short time after the occurrence of the novel counterfeits.

This object is achieved by a method for detecting counterfeit notes, having the features of claim 1.

From the US 2003/0132281 A1 a device for the processing of documents is known. This device has a device for generating a full image of the documents to be processed, for. B. banknotes on. In addition, facilities are provided which serve to identify the type of banknotes and their authenticity. If it is determined by the additional device that a processed banknote is a forgery, it is provided in this device to read the serial number of the banknote from the full image of the banknote and to store this in a memory of the device. Subsequent banknotes can then be checked to see if they have the serial number recognized as counterfeit, which is why they should be considered counterfeit.

From US 2003/0132281 A1 known device thus also has the disadvantage that only counterfeits can be detected, which can be recognized as counterfeits due to the already existing comparative data by means of the additional device for the detection of authenticity. Novel counterfeits, which are not recognizable as counterfeits with the already existing comparison data, are therefore still accepted by the known device as genuine.

From the EP 1255 232 A1 In addition, an apparatus for processing banknotes is known, which can process banknotes regardless of their location.

In the article " Signature Verification: Increasing Performance by a Multi-Stage System "by C. Sansone and M. Vento, published in Pattern Analysis & Applications, vol. 3, 2000, pages 169-181 , London, is also aware that the recognition of signatures can be carried out by means of a multi-stage process.

The method according to the invention for recognizing counterfeit banknotes is based on comparing the banknotes to be checked with comparison data derived from genuine banknotes and known counterfeits, with additional comparison data for novel counterfeits being identical to those for the genuine banknotes and known ones Counterfeit derived comparative data can not be recognized as counterfeits, are used, and the banknotes to be compared with both the comparison data, and with the additional comparison data for novel counterfeits are compared to determine whether a counterfeit bill exists.

By using additional comparative data for novel forgeries it can be achieved that counterfeits can be reliably detected even if they could not be taken into account in the original generation of the comparative data used, since the features by means of which the novel counterfeits can be detected are included in the additional comparative data are included. Due to the separation of the comparison data and the additional comparison data, it is also possible to react in the short term and to provide additional comparative data for each novel counterfeit immediately, so that it can be reacted to novel counterfeits at short notice.

Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of an embodiment with reference to a figure.

The figure shows a schematic representation of a basic structure of a banknote processing machine for the detection of counterfeit banknotes.

The bank-note processing machine 10 has an input pocket 20 for the input of banknotes 21 to be processed, in which a separator 22 engages. The separator 22 detects one of the banknotes 21 to be processed and transfers the individual banknotes to a transport system 23 which transports the individual banknotes through a sensor device 30. In the sensor device 30 features of each banknote are detected, which are relevant, for example, for the assessment of authenticity, the type (currency, denomination), the state, etc. of the bill. Such features can be detected, for example, mechanically, acoustically, optically, electrically and / or magnetically. Known authenticity features include, for example, inks with special optical and / or magnetic properties, metallic or magnetic security threads, the use of brightener banknote paper, information contained in an electrical circuit, etc. The type of banknote is z. B. determined by their size, print patterns, colors, etc., whereas the state of the bill, for example, from the visual appearance (pollution) can be derived. The features are detected by the sensor device 30 and pass corresponding data of the sensor device 30 to a control device 40.

The control device 40 compares the data of the detected features with comparison data which enable the detection of genuine or counterfeit and / or counterfeit banknotes, the type of banknotes, the state of the banknotes, etc. The comparison data and programs required for the operation of the banknote processing machine 10 exist as software and are stored in the control device 40 or a nonvolatile memory 41 assigned to the control device 40. The non-volatile memory 41 may, for. B. are formed by an EEPROM or a flash memory. Furthermore, an unillustrated Memory to be connected to the controller 40, which is used by the controller 40 for the execution of the software.

The comparison data stored in the nonvolatile memory 41 are generated for each type of banknote, that is to say in particular for each denomination of the currencies which are to be processed with the banknote processing machine 10. The comparison data is generated by scanning a number of genuine banknotes of each denomination and currency by means of the sensor device 30 or a similarly constructed other sensor device, thereby detecting the features described above and generating corresponding data. In addition - if known - falsifications of the respective denomination and currency are processed in the same way and thereby particularly marked as counterfeits. From the data of the genuine banknotes as well as of the counterfeits, for each denomination of each currency comparison data are generated which are suitable to recognize the respective denomination and currency and to verify their authenticity. It is also possible to generate separately comparison data for the recognition, ie determination of denomination and currency, and verification of authenticity, so that comparison data for recognition and separately comparison data for authentication purposes are available. In order to be independent of the respective position of the individual banknotes in the subsequent processing of banknotes, the comparison data are usually generated for all four possible positions of the banknotes. The corresponding comparison data are generated in the same way for all denominations of all currencies that are to be checked.

On the basis of monitoring or checking of the respective banknote carried out by the control device 40, switches 24, 26 arranged in the transport system 23 are actuated, for example to store counterfeit and / or counterfeit banknotes in an output compartment 25, whereas banknotes classified as genuine are stored in another output compartment 27 can be. The transport system 23 may be continued beyond, so that the banknotes can be fed to another processing 28, for. B. other output trays, a safe or a cassette, a shredder, etc.

For controlling the bank-note processing machine 10 by an operator, an input / output device 45 is connected to the control device 40 in order, for example, to be able to select specific processing modes or to inform the operator about the processing of the banknotes 21.

The banknote processing machine 10 described by way of example can be used to count, check, sort, etc., banknotes. It is also conceivable that the banknote processing machine 10 forms an automatic counter that can be used, for example, for depositing banknotes. The banknote processing machine 10 can also be part of a vending machine.

In the manufacture or configuration of the banknote processing machine 10, it may be provided that the required software, in particular the comparison data, is already stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 41. In addition, an interface 42 is provided which allows the software or the comparison data stored in the nonvolatile memory 41 to be replaced in whole or in part and / or by additional components to complete. For this purpose, the interface 42 z. As a modem, network connection, Internet connection, as a parallel, serial or USB interface, or as a reading device for an optical or magnetic memory, etc. be configured.

If novel counterfeits are discovered, the novel counterfeits are processed in the manner described above with the bank-note processing machine 10 or a sensor device corresponding to the sensor device 30 and the data of the features of the novel counterfeit are generated. From the data additional comparative data for the novel forgery are derived. For this purpose, deviations of the novel forgery of genuine banknotes are particularly suitable. The deviations can be detected and selected by an operator, for example because the deviations of the novel counterfeiting are visible. However, it is also possible to use the above-described data or comparative data of the genuine banknotes. In this case, the data of the novel forgery originating from the sensor device 30 are compared with the data or comparison data of the genuine banknotes, wherein the comparison is made by the operator or automatically, e.g. B. by the controller 40, can be made. From the deviations thus obtained, comparative data for the novel forgery are derived and generated. As described above, it can be provided that comparison data for each of the four possible positions of the banknote, d. H. novel counterfeiting, derived and generated, so that the detection of the novel counterfeiting can later be independent of the respective situation.

The comparative data of the novel counterfeits can then be distributed to any number of banknote processing machines 10, loaded via the interface 42 and stored in the non-volatile memory 41.

When processing banknotes 21 with the bank-note processing machine 10, the banknotes 21 to be processed are then compared both with the comparison data already present in the non-volatile memory 41 and with the additional comparison data of the novel counterfeits subsequently loaded via the interface 42. If, on the basis of the comparative data for the novel counterfeits, banknotes are recognized as counterfeits, they are identified according to the usual procedure as forgeries and treated accordingly, eg. B. stored in the output tray 25.

It will be apparent from the above description that for each novel counterfeit comparison data must be derived from the respective counterfeit, generated and made available to the bank note processing machines. But it is also possible to consider several novel counterfeits at the same time and to generate common additional comparative data for them. It is particularly advantageous to summarize novel counterfeits to common additional comparative data that concern notes of a certain kind, d. H. novel counterfeits of banknotes of a given currency and denomination, e.g. B. 50 € banknotes.

The checking of the banknotes can be carried out more effectively if, in the banknote processing machine 10, the controller 40 first determines which type of banknote it is, ie, which currency the banknote belongs to and which denomination it has. If it has already been established during the verification of the authenticity of the banknote with the comparative data originally present in the nonvolatile memory 41 that it is a forgery, then a further check can be dispensed with. Otherwise, it is then checked specifically whether the type of banknote (currency, denomination) additional comparative data for novel counterfeits are available. If no comparison data are available, the check can be ended. In the case of the presence of comparative data for one or more novel counterfeits, the corresponding comparison data can be compared with the data of the sensor device 30 for the respective banknote in order to determine whether the respective banknote is forged.

But it is also possible that first a check of the data of the sensor device 30 of the respective banknote with or additional comparative data for novel counterfeits is carried out and then the review with the original existing comparison data.

In addition to the described embodiment, a variety of modifications is possible.

For example, the banknotes can be transported by the transport system 23 along their long or short edges when they are processed in the bank-note processing machine 10. It is obvious that, depending on the design of the transport system 23, corresponding comparison data must be provided, since the comparison data depend on the transport direction of the banknotes.

In another variation of the described embodiment, it may be provided that the controller 40, the nonvolatile memory 41, the sensor device 30, etc., are not directly interconnected as shown, but via one or more data buses.

A further modification may be that a separate control device and / or a separate nonvolatile memory is provided for the sensor device 30, which carries out the checking of the banknotes and forwards the result of checking the banknotes to the control device 40, so that these in the manner described above can perform the control of the banknote processing machine 10. In this case, provision may be made for software to be made available and loaded separately for the control device 40 and the separate control device. Likewise, the software for both control devices can be made available and loaded together.

Claims (3)

1. A method for recognizing forged bank notes, in which the bank notes to be checked are compared with comparative data that are derived from authentic bank notes and known forgeries, wherein additional comparative data for new types of forgeries, which are not recognized as forgeries with the comparative data derived for the authentic bank notes and known forgeries, are provided, and the bank notes to be checked are compared both with the comparative data and with the additional comparative data for new types of forgeries so as to determine whether a forged bank note is present, characterized in that bank notes to be checked are compared with the comparative data so as to determine their type according to currency and denomination as well as their authenticity, and that a comparison with the additional comparative data for new types of forgeries is only effected, if comparative data for new types of forgeries are present for the determined type of bank notes according to currency and denomination, and if upon the check with the comparative data the authenticity of the bank notes to be checked was determined.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that comparative data and additional comparative data for new types of forgeries are present for each possible position of the bank notes.
3. The method according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional comparative data for new types of forgeries are derived and produced from the new type of forgery after the first occurrence of the new type of forgery.

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