EP1429297A1 - Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1429297A1
EP1429297A1 EP03257806A EP03257806A EP1429297A1 EP 1429297 A1 EP1429297 A1 EP 1429297A1 EP 03257806 A EP03257806 A EP 03257806A EP 03257806 A EP03257806 A EP 03257806A EP 1429297 A1 EP1429297 A1 EP 1429297A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
banknote
transmitter
light
receiver
reflected
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03257806A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Christian Voser
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Crane Payment Innovations Inc
Original Assignee
Mars Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from EP02258599A external-priority patent/EP1429296A1/de
Application filed by Mars Inc filed Critical Mars Inc
Priority to EP03257806A priority Critical patent/EP1429297A1/de
Publication of EP1429297A1 publication Critical patent/EP1429297A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/06—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
    • G07D7/12—Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
    • G07D7/121—Apparatus characterised by sensor details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/06—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
    • G07D7/12—Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
    • G07D7/1205—Testing spectral properties

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for classifying banknotes by sensing their optical characteristics.
  • Such apparatus is commonly used to determine the authenticity and denomination of banknotes. Often, a banknote is moved along a path past optical transmitters and receivers so that the transmission or reflection characteristics in respective areas of the banknote can be determined by scanning.
  • the apparatus may include transmitters which operate in multiple wavelengths, such as red, green, blue and infra-red. (It is noted that the terms “optical”, “colour” and “light” are used herein to refer to any electromagnetic wavelength, and not merely visible wavelengths.)
  • Prior art arrangements are generally designed so that sensors responsive to reflected light receive light which is diffusely reflected by the banknote, because this provides a much more representative measurement of the optical characteristics of the banknote than directly (specularly) reflected light. Spectral measurements based on specularly reflected light can easily be overwhelmed depending on the surface condition of the banknote (e.g. its shininess).
  • a validator is responsive to light which is diffusely reflected from, and/or transmitted through, a banknote and also light specularly reflected from the banknote.
  • the apparatus is arranged to take respective measurements of the same banknote areas using specularly-reflected light as well as diffusely-reflected and/or transmitted light.
  • a common transmitter could be used for generating the light used in both, or all three, measurements.
  • the features which can be detected using specularly-reflected light are, for example, the glossiness of the banknote, or shiny areas caused by metal strips incorporated into the banknote or by adhesive tape on the banknote. Additionally, or alternatively, the paper quality or texture could be sensed.
  • the directly-reflected light could also, or alternatively, be used (possibly in combination with a diffuse-reflection measurement) to distinguish between intaglio-printed ink and ink of uniform thickness.
  • the provision of sensors for detecting reflected light at different angles i.e. a diffuse-reflectivity sensor and a direct-reflectivity sensor
  • Preferred arrangements according to the present invention have a geometrical structure which relies upon light paths for transmissive and diffuse-reflective measurements which avoid the path taken by direct light reflection. Accordingly, it is particularly simple to provide such structures with means for additionally detecting directly-reflected light.
  • a light transmitter and at least two light receivers are arranged on the same side of the path of a banknote, one receiver being arranged to receive light diffusely reflected by the banknote and travelling in a direction which is substantially opposite to that of the light transmitted by the transmitter and the other receiver being arranged to receive light which is directly reflected by the banknote.
  • the banknote is moved in a scanning direction relative to the incident light, and the light is collimated so that it does not diverge when considered in a plane containing both the scanning direction and the normal to the plane of the banknote.
  • the incident light is arranged to diverge when viewed in a plane which contains the normal to the banknote and which is transverse to the scanning direction, so that a single transmitter can be used to illuminate a relatively wide area of the banknote as the banknote is moved in the scanning direction past the transmitter.
  • each transmitter is associated with at least two diffuse-reflection receivers, which could be mounted on opposite sides of the transmitter (displaced in a direction transverse to both the scanning direction and the direction normal to the plane of the banknote) for receiving light from respective areas of the banknote.
  • a banknote 2 lies in a plane P1.
  • drive means are provided for conveying the banknote 2 in a scanning direction S which preferably lies in the plane P1 and more preferably is parallel to the length of the banknote 2.
  • the direction shown at T is transverse, and particularly perpendicular, to the scanning direction S and also lies within the plane P1 of the banknote 2.
  • the direction which is normal to the banknote 2 is shown at N.
  • the apparatus includes a first optical device 3 including a light transmitter 4 which is arranged to transmit light to the banknote 2 along a path which is parallel to a plane P2.
  • the plane P2 contains the transverse direction T and is located at an angle, for example about 20°, to the normal direction N.
  • the device 3 also includes two light receivers 6, 7 positioned in close proximity to, and on respective sides of, the transmitter 4 and displaced from each other in the transverse direction T.
  • any light which is reflected from the banknote back in the direction which is substantially reverse to the direction of the transmitted light will be received by the receivers 6, 7 located near the transmitter 4. This will be diffusely reflected light. Any directly (i.e. specularly) reflected light will travel in a direction 8 away from the transmitter 4 and the receivers 6, 7, and be detected by a further receiver 9.
  • a similar arrangement, involving a device 3' comprising a transmitter 4' and receivers 6', 7', 9' is located diametrically opposite the device 3, on the opposite side of the path of the banknote 2, to measure the reflectance characteristics of the other side (in the drawing the underside) of the banknote.
  • the receivers 6 and 7 are arranged to receive, in addition to light from the transmitter 4 reflected by the banknote, light from the transmitter 4' transmitted through the banknote.
  • the receivers 6', 7' can receive light from the transmitter 4 which has been transmitted through the banknote 2. Accordingly, each of the receivers 6, 6', 7, 7' can be used to detect both the diffuse-reflectance and transmission characteristics of the banknote 2.
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the devices 3, 3', the plane of the drawing corresponding to a plane P3 ( Figure 1) containing both the scanning direction S and the normal N.
  • the light from the transmitter 4 forms a beam which illuminates an area 10 of the banknote.
  • a lens 12 (see also Figure 3) collimates the light so that there is substantially no divergence of the beam when viewed in the plane P3. Accordingly, all the directly reflected light travelling in the direction 8 will avoid the receivers 6, 7.
  • a focussing lens 19 focuses directly-reflected light onto the sensor 9.
  • the plane of the drawing corresponds to a plane P4 ( Figures 1 and 2) containing both the transverse direction T and the normal N. It will be noted that the light beam from the transmitter 4 diverges in order to illuminate the area 10.
  • a lens 14, having a skewed optic axis, focuses approximately half the area 10, indicated at 10', on to the receiver 6.
  • a lens 15, also having a skewed optic axis, focuses the other half of the area 10, indicated at 10", on to the receiver 7.
  • the arrangement is symmetrical about the optic axis 16 of the transmitter 4.
  • a single transmitter 4 is used to illuminate the areas sensed by two separate diffuse-reflection receivers 6, 7, and one direct-reflection receiver 9, thus reducing the number of transmitters required. Furthermore, because the light diverges in the planes P2, P4 containing the transverse direction T, but not in the plane P3 containing the scanning direction S, a relatively large area can be illuminated while still avoiding the sensing of direct reflection by the receivers 6, 7.
  • the light from the transmitter 4 incident on the banknote and the light from the banknote to the receivers 6, 7 travel in opposite directions in substantially the same path, the small path difference being as a result of the fact that the physical sizes of the transmitter and receivers cause a small angle to be subtended between the light paths at the banknote.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a banknote validator 20 in accordance with the invention.
  • the validator has an inlet 22 arranged to receive banknotes which travel along a path 24 to an apparatus 30 which is arranged to test the optical transmission and reflectance characteristics of the banknote.
  • a control means 26 is arranged to send signals to and receive signals from the apparatus 30 and to use the received signals to classify the banknote, and in particular to determine its authenticity, denomination and condition.
  • the banknote travels from the apparatus 30 to a gate 28 which is controlled by the control means 26 in dependence upon the type of banknote received as determined by the classification.
  • the gate can direct the banknote either to a path 32 leading to an outlet 34, or to a path 36 leading to a banknote store 38.
  • the classification process can operate according to standard techniques, e.g. by comparing the measured data to sets of stored acceptance criteria each associated with a known denomination, except that the criteria would relate to additional measurements, particularly directly-reflected light. Accordingly, the apparatus would be sensitive to further factors, such as those mentioned above (e.g. the shininess of areas of the banknote).
  • the classification process can be used to place banknotes into several categories; in addition to determining whether a banknote is authentic, the apparatus can also determine whether the condition of the banknote is such as to render it unsuitable for dispensing.
  • the apparatus 30 for sensing the optical characteristics of banknotes is shown in more detail in the side view of Figure 5.
  • Banknotes are conveyed through the apparatus by means of endless belts 40 and sets of rollers 42 at the inlet side 44 of the apparatus and endless belts 46 and sets of rollers 48 at the outlet side 50 of the apparatus.
  • the belts 40 and rollers 42 at the inlet side 44 of the apparatus are disposed laterally between the belts 46 and rollers 48 at the outlet side 50 of the apparatus.
  • the banknotes are conveyed along a bent scanning path, first in a scanning direction S' in the inlet side 44 and then in a scanning direction S" in the outlet side 50.
  • the optical devices 3 (which are identical to the devices 3') are arranged in modules, or units. One such unit is shown schematically in Figure 6. Each unit comprises four optical devices 3 arranged in a line extending in the transverse direction T, each device comprising a transmitter 4, a pair of diffuse-reflection receivers 6, 7 and a direct-reflection receiver 9 arranged as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to sense the reflectance and transmission characteristics in a pair of adjacent areas 10', 10" ( Figure 7) of the banknotes. Within each of the devices 3, the transmitter 4 and the receivers 6 and 7 are mounted on a common circuit board. If desired, a single circuit board can be used for all the devices 3 within a single module.
  • a first optical unit 52 is disposed at the left of the banknote path at the inlet side 44, and faces a second unit 54 at the right of the banknote path.
  • the units 52 and 54 are arranged for sensing the reflectance and transmittance characteristics of the banknotes in scanned areas which extend between the inlet belts 40.
  • Two further units, 56 and 58 are disposed respectively at the left and right of the banknote path at the outlet side 50. These are of similar structure and orientation to the modules 52 and 54, except that they are arranged to scan the areas between the outlet belts 46. Accordingly, as indicated in the plan view of Figure 7, the units 52, 54, 56 and 58 can scan the entire width of the banknote, each pair of units scanning areas between the areas scanned by the other pair.
  • each transmitter comprises an LED package which includes a plurality of dies each of a respective wavelength, for example red, green, blue and infra-red.
  • a received banknote is delivered to the inlet side 44 of the apparatus 30.
  • the control means 26 continuously checks the light transmitted between the optical units 52, 54 in the inlet section 44 until it detects the significant change caused by the leading edge of the banknote. Further movement of the banknote in the scanning direction is tracked using an encoder so that the subsequent transmission and reflectance measurements can be associated with respective positions on the banknote.
  • the arrangement is such that: (a) dies of different wavelengths are not energised at the same time, (b) reflectance measurements made by each unit take place when the opposed transmitter on the other side of the banknote path is de-energised, and (c) transmission measurements made by each receiver take place when its adjacent transmitter is de-energised.
  • the measurements are initially carried out using the units 52, 54, but similar measurements are also carried out by the units 56, 58 when the leading edge of the banknote has reached these units, as determined by the output of the encoder.
  • the banknote path is bent and the angles formed by the light paths of the transmitters at the input side are opposite to the angles formed by the corresponding light paths at the output side.
  • the transmitters of unit 52 on the left of the path at the inlet side produce light paths L52 which form an obtuse angle with respect to the direction S' of movement of the banknote
  • the transmitters of the left unit 56 at the outlet produce light paths L56 which form an acute angle with respect to the direction S" of movement.
  • the inlet unit 54 uses light paths L54 which are acute with respect to direction S'
  • the outlet unit 58 uses light paths L58 which are obtuse with respect to direction S".
  • the direct-reflection light paths are shown in broken lines, with one of the direct-reflection sensors being shown at 9.
  • the arrangements described above all allow for particularly compact arrangements which scan substantially the entire width of the banknote over substantially its entire length.
  • the scanning direction could be different; in an alternative embodiment, banknotes are scanned in the direction T shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, instead of the direction S. This might be appropriate if the banknote is to be scanned only along discrete tracks extending in the scanning direction, rather than completely across the banknote. In such an arrangement, it is less advantageous to have the light diverge in the plane containing the direction T.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Inspection Of Paper Currency And Valuable Securities (AREA)
EP03257806A 2002-12-13 2003-12-11 Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten Withdrawn EP1429297A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03257806A EP1429297A1 (de) 2002-12-13 2003-12-11 Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02258599A EP1429296A1 (de) 2002-12-13 2002-12-13 Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten
EP02258599 2002-12-13
EP03257806A EP1429297A1 (de) 2002-12-13 2003-12-11 Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1429297A1 true EP1429297A1 (de) 2004-06-16

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EP03257806A Withdrawn EP1429297A1 (de) 2002-12-13 2003-12-11 Vorrichtung zur Klassifizierung von Banknoten

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EP (1) EP1429297A1 (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2437310A (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-24 Int Currency Tech Banknote detector and recognition system
DE102009048002A1 (de) * 2009-10-02 2011-04-07 Beb Industrie-Elektronik Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Überprüfung des Verschmutzungsgrades von Banknoten
EP2359346A2 (de) * 2008-11-25 2011-08-24 De La Rue North America Inc. Sequenzierte beleuchtung
US8682038B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2014-03-25 De La Rue North America Inc. Determining document fitness using illumination
US8749767B2 (en) 2009-09-02 2014-06-10 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for detecting tape on a document
US9053596B2 (en) 2012-07-31 2015-06-09 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for spectral authentication of a feature of a document
WO2015085347A1 (en) * 2013-12-09 2015-06-18 Hatch Pty Ltd Measuring apparatus and method for same

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4723072A (en) * 1984-01-11 1988-02-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Apparatus for discriminating sheets
US5280333A (en) * 1990-07-11 1994-01-18 Gao. Gesellschaft Fuer Automation Und Organization Mbh Apparatus and a method for testing documents
DE19840482A1 (de) * 1998-09-04 2000-03-09 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Prüfen von Wertpapieren
US6101266A (en) * 1996-11-15 2000-08-08 Diebold, Incorporated Apparatus and method of determining conditions of bank notes
WO2001054077A1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2001-07-26 Flex Products, Inc. Automated verification systems and methods for use with optical interference devices
WO2001054076A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2001-07-26 De La Rue International Limited Document monitoring method
US6449041B1 (en) * 1997-07-01 2002-09-10 Lj Laboratories, Llc Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4723072A (en) * 1984-01-11 1988-02-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Apparatus for discriminating sheets
US5280333A (en) * 1990-07-11 1994-01-18 Gao. Gesellschaft Fuer Automation Und Organization Mbh Apparatus and a method for testing documents
US6101266A (en) * 1996-11-15 2000-08-08 Diebold, Incorporated Apparatus and method of determining conditions of bank notes
US6449041B1 (en) * 1997-07-01 2002-09-10 Lj Laboratories, Llc Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
DE19840482A1 (de) * 1998-09-04 2000-03-09 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Prüfen von Wertpapieren
WO2001054077A1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2001-07-26 Flex Products, Inc. Automated verification systems and methods for use with optical interference devices
WO2001054076A1 (en) * 2000-01-24 2001-07-26 De La Rue International Limited Document monitoring method

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2437310A (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-24 Int Currency Tech Banknote detector and recognition system
US8781176B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2014-07-15 De La Rue North America Inc. Determining document fitness using illumination
US8780206B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2014-07-15 De La Rue North America Inc. Sequenced illumination
EP2359346A4 (de) * 2008-11-25 2013-01-02 De Rue North America Inc Sequenzierte beleuchtung
EP2541467A3 (de) * 2008-11-25 2013-03-20 De La Rue North America Inc. Sequenziert Beleuchtung für Dokumente wie Banknoten.
US8682038B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2014-03-25 De La Rue North America Inc. Determining document fitness using illumination
US9210332B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2015-12-08 De La Rue North America, Inc. Determining document fitness using illumination
EP2359346A2 (de) * 2008-11-25 2011-08-24 De La Rue North America Inc. Sequenzierte beleuchtung
US9036136B2 (en) 2009-09-02 2015-05-19 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for detecting tape on a document according to a predetermined sequence using line images
US8749767B2 (en) 2009-09-02 2014-06-10 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for detecting tape on a document
DE102009048002A1 (de) * 2009-10-02 2011-04-07 Beb Industrie-Elektronik Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Überprüfung des Verschmutzungsgrades von Banknoten
US9087424B2 (en) 2009-10-02 2015-07-21 Beb Industrie-Elektronik Ag Method and device for checking the degree of soiling of bank notes
US9053596B2 (en) 2012-07-31 2015-06-09 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for spectral authentication of a feature of a document
US9292990B2 (en) 2012-07-31 2016-03-22 De La Rue North America Inc. Systems and methods for spectral authentication of a feature of a document
WO2015085347A1 (en) * 2013-12-09 2015-06-18 Hatch Pty Ltd Measuring apparatus and method for same
US10288423B2 (en) 2013-12-09 2019-05-14 Hatch Ltd. Measuring apparatus for determining distances to points on a reflective surface coated with metal and method for same

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