JPH0814859B2 - Paper discrimination device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention discriminates banknotes inserted into an automatic depositing / dispensing machine, an automatic vending machine, or the like, or discriminates paper sheets similar to banknotes. The present invention relates to a paper sheet discrimination device.

[Prior Art] For example, in an automatic depositing / dispensing machine, an automatic vending machine, and the like, when a bill is inserted into these bill insertion units, the denomination of this bill (thousand-yen bill, 5,000-yen bill, 10,000-yen bill, 10,000 A type of bill such as a yen bill) or a process for determining the authenticity of the bill is performed.

A bill discriminating device is used as a device for determining the denomination and authenticity of the bill.

This bill discriminating device detects an optical pattern such as reflected light or transmitted light generated in response to the pattern or figure of the bill when the inserted bill is irradiated with light, or is used for bill printing. Detects a magnetic pattern due to magnetism remaining in ink, etc., and compares this with a preset reference pattern to determine its similarity, or to combine this similarity with the detection result of the outer diameter of the bill. I was making a distinction.

In this case, an LED, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or the like is used as the pattern detecting means for detecting the optical pattern, and a magnetic head or the like is used for detecting the magnetic pattern.

By the way, the output of the photoelectric conversion element such as the LED, the photodiode or the phototransistor, or the magnetoelectric conversion element such as the magnetic head changes depending on the temperature.
Therefore, in order to prevent this, a temperature correction circuit has conventionally been used to perform these temperature corrections.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional bill discriminating apparatus in which an LED is used as a photoelectric conversion element and temperature correction is performed on the LED.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 5a, ..., 5a are LEDs for irradiating the bills with light, and are driven by the drive circuit 7. In this case, the drive circuit 7 drives each of the LEDs after the temperature is corrected by the correction circuit 7. The correction circuit 7 sends an output corresponding to the temperature inside the bill validator detected by the temperature sensor 6 to the drive circuit 7 to perform temperature correction.

Reference numerals 5b, ..., 5b are photodiodes for detecting the reflected light from the bill of the light from the LEDs 5a ,. The photodiodes 5b, ..., 5b and the LEDs 5a,
, 5a constitute a reflected light detector 5 which is a pattern detecting means for detecting the optical pattern of the bill. The output parts of the photodiodes 5b, ..., 5b are connected to the input parts of the amplifier circuits 9 ,. The amplifying circuits 9, ..., 9 output a photocurrent (a signal corresponding to the bill pattern) of the photodiodes 5b, ..., 5b corresponding to the shade of a figure or pattern on the surface of the bill to a predetermined voltage. And the output is sent to the multiplexer 10.

The multiplexer 10 inputs signals output from the amplifier circuits 9, ..., 9 and selects one of the signals.
It is sent to the analog input section of the A / D converter 11.

The A / D converter 11 inputs the analog signal sent from the multiplexer 10, converts it into a digital signal, and sends it to the data bus DB.

A CPU 12, a read / write memory 13 and a reference value memory 14 are connected to the data bus DB.

The CPU 12 reads the digital signal (pattern signal) sent from the A / D converter 11 and stores it in the read / write memory 13, and stores the read digital signal in the reference value memory 14. The reference value (reference pattern signal) is compared to determine the degree of similarity with the reference value, and the bills are identified based on the result.

Fig. 3 shows LED5 used in the above bill validator.
It is a graph which shows the temperature characteristic of a (characteristic when temperature is not corrected).

In the figure, the vertical axis is the light output of LED5a (I _o , the horizontal axis is LED5a
It is the ambient temperature (temperature inside the bill validator) (T).

As is clear from this graph, the light output value at temperature T _{1 and} the light output value at temperature T ₂ are significantly different.

Further, FIG. 4 shows an example of reading the reflected light in which the LED 5a having the temperature characteristics shown in FIG. 3 is used to illuminate the bill and observe the intensity of the reflected light (when the temperature is not corrected). It is a graph which shows. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the reflected light intensity (I _R ) and the horizontal axis represents the position (X) in the banknote scanning direction.

Further, in the figure, a curve a shows an example of reading at the temperature T _1, and a curve b shows an example of reading at the temperature T ₂ .

As is clear from the above graph, even if the same LED 5a is used, the readings will be significantly different due to different temperatures.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The temperature correction is applied to the drive circuit 7 for driving the LED 5a by the correction circuit 8 to thereby compensate the temperature characteristic of the LED 5a.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the method of temperature compensation adopted in the conventional device is as follows:
It is premised that a photoelectric conversion element such as a phototransistor or a magnetoelectric conversion element such as a magnetic head has little variation in temperature characteristics. Therefore, if there is a large variation in the temperature characteristics among these elements, the temperature compensation by this method will not be effective.

 Hereinafter, this situation will be described.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of temperature characteristics of LEDs used at the same location in three banknote validators of different models. The vertical axis and the horizontal axis in this figure are the same as those in FIG. Further, in the figure, curves A, B and C are curves showing the temperature characteristics of the LED used at the same location of each device, and the light output at the temperature T ₁ is set to 1 and shown as a relative value.

When showing such characteristics, for example, a curve B is shown.
When the correction circuit is set so as to compensate the temperature characteristic of this LED with reference to the LED, the temperature characteristic of this LED and the LEDs showing other curves A and C are significantly different from each other. Other LEDs with curves A and C cannot be temperature compensated. That is, FIG. 6 is a graph showing this state. When the temperature correction is applied to the LED showing the temperature characteristic showing the curve B to show the temperature characteristic shown by the curve B ₁ in this figure, The LED inevitably exhibits the temperature characteristics shown by the curves A ₁ and C ₁ in the figure.

In each bill validator with such temperature compensation
When the same bill is irradiated with light by the LED and the reflected light that changes according to the shading of the figure or pattern is read, the intensity distribution of the reflected light shows the curves A ₂ , B ₂ , It will be represented by C ₂ .

That is, as is clear from the above graph, the distribution curve of the reflected light intensity for the same figure or pattern of the same banknote may be different for each device, and the discrimination result may be different for each device. come.

The above description is the case where the LED 5a is temperature-compensated, but other sensors used in this type of bill discriminating apparatus, for example, photoelectric elements such as photo diodes, photo transistors, or magnetic heads such as magnetic heads. The situation is the same when the same temperature compensation as above is applied to the conversion element and the like, and is not limited to the bill discriminating device, and is the same in other paper sheet discriminating devices similar to the bill discriminating device. .

As described above, in the temperature compensation method used in the conventional paper sheet discrimination apparatus, if the photoelectric elements such as the LEDs used or the magnetic elements such as the magnetic head have variations, the stable discrimination of the paper sheets can be performed. There was still anxiety from the perspective of doing.

In addition, this type of paper sheet discriminating apparatus uses the LED as described above.
In addition to the error factors due to the temperature characteristics of the elements constituting the pattern detecting means, error factors due to the secular change of these elements or dust adhering to these elements may be considered. No consideration was given to error factors other than the characteristics.

The object of the present invention is to make a correct correction even if an element having a large variation in temperature characteristics is used as an element constituting the above-mentioned pattern detecting means, and at the same time,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet discriminating apparatus capable of correcting characteristic changes due to error factors other than temperature characteristics.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In short, the paper sheet discriminating apparatus according to the present invention is, in short, a pattern signal obtained by a pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern such as a pattern or a figure of a paper sheet, and a preset reference. Based on the pattern signal, a pattern correction value for each predetermined temperature width is obtained for each of the pattern detecting means, and then the pattern signal of the paper sheet to be discriminated by the pattern detecting means is obtained. The corrected pattern signal is corrected using the pattern correction value to obtain a corrected pattern signal, and then the corrected pattern signal and the reference pattern signal are compared, and the paper sheet as the discrimination target is discriminated from the comparison result. With this configuration, the pattern detection error due to the temperature characteristics of the pattern detection means and other factors is detected. It is possible to perform correction for each means, and as a result, it is possible to perform appropriate correction even when there is a large variation in characteristics of the pattern detection means. Specifically, it has the following respective configurations. .

(1) In a paper sheet discriminating apparatus for discriminating a denomination and a direction of a paper sheet by detecting a characteristic of the paper sheet, pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern signal representing the characteristic of the paper sheet, Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the paper sheet discriminating apparatus, reference pattern signal storage means for storing a reference pattern signal representing the characteristics of the denomination and direction of the paper sheet for each denomination and direction, the pattern A pattern correction value storage means for storing a pattern correction value for correcting a detection error due to a temperature characteristic of a pattern signal detected by the detection means for each temperature; and a pattern correction value stored in the pattern correction value storage means. A pattern correction value corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is selected from the inside, and the pattern signal detected by the pattern detecting means is corrected using the selected pattern correction value. The calculation means for performing the calculation to obtain the correction data, the correction data obtained by the calculation means, and the reference pattern signal stored in the reference pattern signal storage means for each denomination and direction are sequentially compared. A configuration that includes a determination unit that determines the denomination and direction of the paper sheet based on the difference.

(2) In addition to the configuration (1), at the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means,
A counter that counts the cumulative number of paper sheets that have been discriminated so far, and an integral value of the pattern signal detected by the pattern detection means after the discrimination of the denomination and the direction of the paper sheets by the discrimination means, and the The integrated value of the reference pattern signal and the ratio value of these integrated values are calculated, and the pattern is calculated using the ratio value, the count number of the counter, and the pattern correction value stored in the pattern correction value storage means. A configuration provided with an arithmetic means for taking a cumulative average of the correction values and performing a correction operation of the pattern correction values using the cumulative average as a new pattern correction value.

[Operation] In the configuration (1), the pattern signal detected by the pattern detecting means includes an error factor due to the temperature characteristic of the pattern detecting means and other factors. The correction data is obtained by the correction calculation using the. Then, this correction data is compared with the reference pattern signal stored in the reference pattern signal storage means to correctly determine the denomination and direction of the paper sheet.

In this case, the pattern correction value is set for each individual pattern detection means for detecting the optical or magnetic characteristics with reference to the reference pattern signal, therefore,
The correction data obtained by using this pattern correction value is a value corrected correctly according to the characteristics of each pattern detecting means. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of pattern detecting means and their characteristics are significantly different from each other, an appropriate correction is performed for each of them, so that the error is large even in such a case. There is no such thing.

Further, although the pattern correction value is a correction value divided for each temperature, it is not a correction value only for the temperature characteristic, but not only the temperature characteristic but also a characteristic change due to other factors, for example,
Since it is a correction value that includes all changes in the sensitivity of the pattern detection means with time and changes in sensitivity due to foreign matter adhering to the surface of the pattern detection means, etc., it is more accurate than when only temperature correction is performed. It is possible to make a correction.

Further, according to the configuration (2), the pattern correction value is calculated as a cumulative average in consideration of the characteristics of the pattern detection unit at the time of discrimination and the correction value used at the time of discrimination. As a result, the correction value itself is corrected for each discrimination, and the corrected new value is used in the next discrimination. Therefore, there is no fear that the correction value itself becomes inappropriate with time.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a bill discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sensor arrangement of the bill discriminating apparatus shown in FIG. The bill discriminating apparatus shown in these figures has most of the configuration in common with the conventional example shown in FIG. Therefore, common parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the following description, the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be mainly described in detail.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 is a bill conveying device, and the bill conveying device 1 conveys the inserted bill 2 in the conveying direction indicated by an arrow in the figure.

A banknote detector 3 for detecting whether or not a banknote has been inserted is provided in the banknote insertion portion on the front side of the banknote transport device 1 in the figure. The bill detector 3 includes a light source 3a such as an LED and a light receiving sensor 3b such as a photodiode that detects the light from the light source 3a by sandwiching the carrier device 1.
It is detected that the light from is blocked by the bill and the amount of light reaching the optical sensor 3b is weakened, the bill is inserted, and the detection signal is sent to the data bus DB.

A pair of magnetic sensors 4, 4 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the banknote transport direction is provided at a position slightly away from the banknote detector 3 in the banknote transport direction. These magnetic sensors 4, 4 are composed of elements, for example, magnetic heads, which detect the magnetic shade of the bill 2 to detect the magnetic pattern of the bill.

Further, four reflected light detectors 5, ..., 5 arranged substantially in a line in a direction orthogonal to the bill transport direction are provided at positions further away from the magnetic sensors 4, 4 in the transport direction. There is.

These reflected light detectors 5, ..., 5 constitute pattern detection means for detecting an optical pattern corresponding to a pattern or a figure of a bill, and each of them is a light source for irradiating the conveying device 1 with light. A photodiode serving as a light-receiving sensor provided at a predetermined interval so as to detect the constituent LED 5a and the reflected light generated by the light emitted from the LED 5a being reflected by the bill conveyed by the conveying device 1. It is composed of a pair with 5b.

Further, in the vicinity of any of the reflected light detectors 5, ..., 5 (pattern detection means), a temperature detector 6 (for detecting the temperature in the bill validator) for detecting the ambient temperature of these reflected light detectors 5 is detected. Temperature detecting means) is provided.

In the present embodiment, an example in which correction is performed only on the reflected light detector 5 is described in order to simplify the description. However, it goes without saying that the magnetic sensor 4 may be corrected in the same manner as in the present embodiment.

The main differences between this embodiment and the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 are as follows.

First, in the conventional example, the correction circuit 8 is connected to the drive circuit 7 that drives the LEDs 5a, ..., 5a, whereas in the present embodiment, the temperature detector 6 is used instead of the correction circuit 8. The temperature detection circuit 16 that converts the temperature signal detected by the analog signal into a predetermined analog signal is used.
This is connected to the input part of the converter 17 and
This is that the output section of the A / D converter 17 is connected to the data bus DB.

FIG. 2 shows that the data bus DB is newly connected with a non-volatile memory 15 which constitutes a pattern correction value storage means. The nonvolatile memory 15 has a predetermined temperature range (that is, t _j <t ≦ t _{j +)} for each pair of the LEDs 5a, ..., 5a and the photodiodes 5b ,. Temperature range represented by _1, where t _j and t
_{j + 1} is a preset temperature, j = 1,2,3, ...
The pattern correction value C _j set for each of these is stored.

Thirdly, in the CPU 12, as will be described in detail below, the data sent from the temperature detection circuit 16 which is digitized by the A / D converter 17 and stored in the non-volatile memory 15. A procedure for incorporating data and correcting each data (pattern signal) of the reflected light intensity of the bill sent from each amplification circuit 9 through the multiplexer 10 and the A / D converter 11 and other necessary procedures are incorporated. Is.

Fourthly, the data bus DB is connected to a counter 30 that counts the number of passed bills detected by the bill detector 3 based on a command from the CPU 12.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail including its operation. In addition, in the following description, each operation is performed based on a command from the CPU 12.

In the bill validator of this embodiment, when a bill is inserted,
First, the denomination of the banknotes (1,000-yen bills, 5,000-yen bills, 10,000-yen bills, etc.) and its insertion direction (the front-back direction of the bills inserted in the bill validator, or the bills determined by the front and back, etc. (Insertion direction.) (Hereinafter, abbreviated as denomination / direction) is performed, and then the operation of correcting the pattern correction value C _j is performed to complete one cycle of operation, and a bill is inserted. This cycle is repeated every time.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of discriminating the denomination and direction of the bill of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the operation of discriminating the denomination and direction of a bill will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9 and FIGS. 1 and 8.

First, when the bill discriminating apparatus is set to the state for performing the bill discriminating operation, the CPU 12 enters the state at the beginning of step 301 in FIG. 3 and immediately proceeds to the next step 302.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, when the bill 2 is conveyed by the conveying device 1 in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, the bill detector 3 detects the bill, and the detection signal is
It is sent to the CPU 12. In step 302, the presence or absence of this detection signal is determined, and when the detection signal is received, the next step
If no detection signal is detected, the process returns to step 301.

In step 303, the digital value (t) of the temperature at that time sent from the A / D converter 17 is stored in the read / write memory 13. When this step is completed, the process proceeds to the next step 304.

During this time, the bill 2 is further conveyed, and the reflected light detector 5,
..., 5 (pattern detection means). These reflected light detectors 5, ..., 5 detect the reflected light corresponding to the shades of the figures and patterns of the banknote 2 and output the output thereof to the amplifier circuit.
Send to 9, ..., 9. These amplifying circuits 9, ..., 9 amplify the input signals of the reflected light detectors 5, ..., 5 to a predetermined voltage,
Send to the multiplexer 10. The multiplexer 10 cyclically selects the signals sent from the amplifiers 9, ..., 9 and multiplexes them in time series and sends them to the A / D converter 11. This A / D converter 11 forms a digital value D _i (a pattern signal) with an input analog signal at a predetermined cycle. Note that i = 1, 2, 3, ..., N indicates sample timing. , N is the number of samples.). The selection cycle and the conversion cycle to the digital value are set to appropriate values depending on the transportation speed of the bill 2 and the subsequent calculation capability.

In step 304, this digital value D _i (pattern signal) is read and sent to the read / write memory 13 (which constitutes pattern signal storage means) via the data bus DB and stored therein.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the data D _i stored in the read / write memory 13 in this way, and the curve indicated by the solid line a in the drawing shows the data D _i .
In the figure, the vertical axis d is the data size (relative value), and the horizontal axis i is the sample timing.

Upon completion of step 304, the process proceeds to step 304. In this step 305, the pattern correction value C _j previously stored in the non-volatile memory 13 is selected and read. Next, in step 306, the correction data is obtained by multiplying the pattern correction value C _j read in step 305 by the data D _i corresponding to the C _j , as shown in the following equation (1). E _i is calculated, and the calculation result is stored in the read / write memory 13.

E _i = D _i × C _j (1) An example of the correction data E _i thus stored is shown as a dotted curve b in FIG.

Upon completion of step 306, the process proceeds to step 307. In this step 307, the reference value R _{i (k, d)} (reference pattern signal is stored in the reference value memory 14 (reference pattern signal storage means) which is preset and stored for each denomination and direction. However, k is a denomination, and d is a direction), and the square error ε _{(k, d)} of the correction data E _{i corresponding} thereto is calculated by the equation (2) below to perform the denomination / direction. Ask for each.

Upon completion of step 307, the process proceeds to step 308. In this step 308, ε _{(k, d)} having the smallest value among the _obtained ε _{(k, d)} (this is _defined as _min ε _{(k, d)} ) is obtained.

Upon completion of step 308, the process proceeds to step 309. In this step 309, the obtained _min ε _{(k, d)} and
Compared with the preset limit value ε _l , _min ε
_{If (k, d)} <ε _l , the process proceeds to step 311, and if not, the process proceeds to step 310.

In step 310, in step 309, _min ε _{(k, d)} ≧ ε
This is the case when it is judged as _l , and in this case, the squared error ε
_{The combination of k and d for which (k, d)} is less than the limit value ε _l is 1
Since it is insignificant, the result is output to a higher-level device (not shown) (for example, a device that sorts banknotes according to their denominations, etc.) as unidentifiable, and outputs the result.
Proceed to 313 to end the series of operations.

On the other hand, in step 311, in step 309, _min ε
This is the case when _{(k, d)} <ε _l is determined. In this case, ε
_{(k, d)} takes a value less than or equal to the preset limit value ε _l
When there is only one combination of k and d, it is determined that the combination of k and d is the denomination and direction of the banknote 2, and ε
_{(k, d)} takes a value less than or equal to the preset limit value ε _l
When there are a plurality of combinations of k and d, the square error ε
The combination of k and d having the smallest value of _{(k, d)} is determined to be the denomination and direction of the bill 2, and the result is output to the upper device (not shown).

When step 311 is completed, the procedure goes to step 312. In this step 312, as represented by the following equation (3), 1 is added to the count number P _j counted in the passing number counter provided for each temperature range stored in the nonvolatile memory 15. The calculation is performed, the result is stored in the non-volatile memory 15 again, and then the process proceeds to step 313 to end the series of operations.

P _j = P _j +1 (3) When the denomination / direction discriminating operation is completed in this way, next, the correction calculation operation of the pattern correction value C _j is performed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the correction calculation operation of C _j .

In FIG. 11, when the denomination / direction discriminating operation is completed, the state moves to the beginning of step 501 and immediately proceeds to the next step 502.

In step 502, an integral value I of the data D _{i at} the temperature t is obtained as represented by the following equation (4).

Upon completion of step 502, the process proceeds to step 503. In this step 503, the reference value R stored in advance in the reference value memory 14 for each denomination and direction.
_The integral reference value J _{(k, d),} which is the integral value of _{i (k, d)} , is read from the reference value memory 14 and this J _{(k, d)} is calculated by the following equation (5 _).
And the ratio K of I obtained in step 502 is obtained K = J _{(k, d)} / I (5) Note that the J _{(k, d)} is calculated in advance by the following equation (6). It is stored in the reference value memory 14.

Upon completion of step 503, the process proceeds to step 504. In this step 504, K obtained in step 503, the count number P _j of the bill passing number counter, and the determination operation immediately before this determination operation are determined.
By using the value of C _j , the cumulative average of K is calculated by the following equation (7), and the modified value C ′ _j of C _j is calculated, and the result is stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 as a new C _j value. Remember.

C ′ _j = {C _j × (P _j −1) + K} / P _j (7) When this step 504 ends, the process proceeds to the next step 505 to end the correction operation of C _j .

Then, when the next bill is inserted, the denomination / direction discriminating operation is started again, the same operation as described above is performed, and this is repeated every time a bill is inserted.

In this case, the value of C _j used when the bill is first inserted is stored in advance in the non-volatile memory 15 as an initial value. This initial value is, for example, the integral value I of the data D _i at each temperature t for a banknote whose denomination and direction are known.
And an integral reference value J _{(k, d)} obtained by integrating the reference value R _{i (k, d)} in the denomination and direction, and taking these ratios as represented by the following equation (8). , The value of this ratio may be used as the initial value of C _j , or may be experimentally obtained.

C _j (initial value) = J _{(k, d)} / I (8) This initial value is corrected by the correction operation each time a bill is inserted from the next time, and becomes a more appropriate value. It will be corrected.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the reflected light detector
Since the characteristics of 5, ..., 5 are individually corrected with reference to the reference value J _{(k, d)} , if the characteristics of the reflected light detectors 5 ,. However, an appropriate correction is performed for each of them, so that the error does not increase even in such a case.

Further, although the pattern correction value C _j is a correction value _divided for each temperature, it is not a correction value only for the temperature characteristic but a characteristic change due to other factors such as the temperature characteristic, for example, reflected light detection. This is a correction value that includes all changes in the sensitivity of the device 5 over time and changes in sensitivity due to foreign substances adhering to the surfaces of the LEDs 5a and photodiodes 5b that compose the reflected light detector 5, so that only when temperature correction is performed In comparison,
It is possible to make accurate corrections.

Furthermore, the correction value C _j is not fixed, and the characteristics at the time of discrimination and the correction value used at the time of discrimination are taken into consideration, and the cumulative average is taken for each discrimination. Since the corrected value is used, the correction value is always correct, and therefore the correction value itself is not likely to become inappropriate over time.

In the embodiment, the operation of determining the denomination / direction and the correction operation of the pattern correction value are all performed by the procedure incorporated in the CPU 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a part of each operation may be processed by these circuits by using a multiplication D / A converter, a digital multiplication circuit, or the like.
According to this, it becomes possible to further speed up the bill discriminating process as compared with the case where all the operations are performed by the CPU 12.

In addition, in the above-mentioned one embodiment, an example of performing correction on the pattern detection means in the case of detecting the optical pattern of the banknote by irradiating the banknote with light and detecting the reflected light thereof, the present invention is However, the present invention is not limited to the above, but can be applied to other optical pattern detecting means, for example, one using transmitted light, or pattern detecting means other than the optical pattern detecting means, such as magnetic pattern detecting means.

Further, in the one embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a bill discriminating apparatus is provided, but paper sheets other than bills, for example,
It can also be applied to a device for discriminating securities and the like.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described in detail above, the paper sheet discriminating apparatus according to the present invention, in short, includes a pattern signal detected by a pattern detection unit that detects a pattern such as a pattern or a figure of a paper sheet, A reference pattern signal representing the characteristics of the denomination and direction of the paper sheet set for each denomination and direction of the paper sheet,
A device that uses a pattern correction value for correcting a detection error due to a temperature characteristic of a pattern signal detected by a pattern detection unit that is determined in advance corresponding to a predetermined temperature width, and first, a paper is detected by the temperature detection unit. The temperature in the leaf discriminating apparatus is detected, and then the pattern signal of the paper sheet to be discriminated is detected by the pattern detecting means, and the pattern corresponding to the detected pattern signal and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. Obtain the correction data from the correction value, and then sequentially compare this correction data with the reference pattern signal for each denomination and direction of the paper sheet, and based on the difference, the denomination and direction of the paper sheet to be distinguished. It has a configuration adapted to perform the discrimination of.

As a result, it is possible to correctly determine the denomination and the direction of the paper sheet. Further, it is possible to correct the pattern detection error due to the temperature characteristics of the pattern detection means and other factors for each pattern detection means, and as a result, it is appropriate even when there are a plurality of pattern detection means and these have large characteristic variations. Corrections can be made.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a bill validator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional bill validator, and FIG. 3 is a conventional bill validator shown in FIG. A graph showing the temperature characteristics (characteristics when temperature correction is not performed) of the LED 5a used, FIG. 4 shows the reflected light obtained by irradiating a bill with light using the LED 5a having the temperature characteristics shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of reading the reflected light observing the intensity of (in the case where temperature is not corrected), and FIG. 5 is used in the same location of three different bill validators of the same model in the conventional bill validator. Graph showing an example of LED temperature characteristics, FIG. 6 is LE showing curve B in FIG.
Fig. 7 is a graph showing a state where temperature compensation is performed with D as a reference, and Fig. 7 shows that the same bill is irradiated with light by the LED in each bill discriminating device that has been subjected to temperature compensation as shown in Fig. 6. The graph which shows the intensity distribution curve of the reflected light when reading the reflected light which changes corresponding to the shade of the figure or pattern, FIG. 8 is a perspective view which shows the sensor arrangement of the banknote discrimination apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation for discriminating the denomination and direction of the bill of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is the read / write memory 13 in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the data D _i stored in FIG. 11, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the correction calculation operation of the pattern correction value C _J. 5 ... Reflected light detector constituting pattern detection means, 6, 16
...... Temperature sensor and temperature detection circuit constituting temperature detection means, 12 ...... Computation device for obtaining correction pattern signal, discrimination means for discriminating paper sheets, and CPU constituting computation means for correcting calculation of pattern correction value , 14: reference value memory constituting reference pattern signal storage means, 15: non-volatile memory constituting pattern correction value storage means, 30: counter for counting the cumulative number of discriminated sheets.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A paper sheet discriminating apparatus for discriminating the denomination and direction of a paper sheet by detecting the characteristic of the paper sheet, and pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern signal representing the characteristic of the paper sheet. A temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the paper sheet discriminating apparatus, and a reference pattern signal storage means for storing a reference pattern signal representing characteristics of the denomination and direction of the paper sheet for each denomination and direction, Pattern correction value storage means for storing a pattern correction value for correcting the detection error due to the temperature characteristic of the pattern signal detected by the pattern detection means for each temperature; and pattern correction stored in the pattern correction value storage means. A pattern correction value corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is selected from the values, and the pattern signal detected by the pattern detection means using the selected pattern correction value. Computation means for performing correction computation to obtain correction data, correction data obtained by the computation means, and the reference pattern signal stored in the reference pattern signal storage means for each denomination and direction are sequentially compared. And a discriminating means for discriminating the denomination and the direction of the sheet based on the difference. 2. A paper sheet discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a counter for counting the cumulative number of paper sheets discriminated so far at the temperature detected by said temperature detecting means, and said discriminating means. After determining the denomination and the direction of the paper sheet, the integrated value of the pattern signal detected by the pattern detection means and the integrated value of the reference pattern signal are obtained, and the value of the ratio of these integrated values is obtained. Pattern correction using the value of this ratio, the number of counts of the counter, and the pattern correction value stored in the pattern correction value storage means to obtain a cumulative average of the pattern correction values and use it as a new pattern correction value. A paper sheet discriminating apparatus comprising a calculation means for correcting a value.