EP3242276A1

EP3242276A1 - Speaking document validator

Info

Publication number: EP3242276A1
Application number: EP16168004.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marcus Schmitz
Original assignee: Japan Cash Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Japan Cash Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-03
Filing date: 2016-05-03
Publication date: 2017-11-08

Abstract

A speaking document validator that comprises: a document information memory 7 for storing authentic pattern information of physical characteristics of documents 1 on their different denominations, a voice information memory 8 for storing voice data on different denominations of the documents 1, a comparator 9 for receiving electric signals from a discrimination sensor 5 to generate drive signals to control drive of a conveyor 4, and a speaker 14 electrically connected to comparator 9 or to voice information memory 8 for verbally announcing outside the document validator an audio alert of the voice data from voice information memory 8.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a speaking document validator that can automatically and phonetically announce to a user a denomination of a document inserted into and considered genuine by the document validator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2004-133735 discloses a compact checker for printed documents wherein a bill can be inserted into the checker from either of consumer's and store's sides of the checker to give only a genuine bill to the other end and the checker can make a voice announcement on the authenticity and denomination of the inserted bill to a person even with impaired vision.
Japanese Patent Disclosure No. 2001-273545 exhibits a bill dispenser that comprises a bill acceptor for receiving bills to discriminate the denomination of received bills, a denomination processor for coding the denomination of the bills and notifying an application section of the same, a voice guidance processor for producing electronic messages of the denomination of the bills at the application section for audio verification, and an output generator for receiving electronic messages from voice guidance processor to convert electronic messages into audio signals and give an audio warning of the electronic messages to users through a receiver.
Japanese Patent No. 2,610,725 demonstrates an automated teller machine that comprises a voice synthesizer for synthesizing audio signals to phonetically guide customer's operations addressing each of the predetermined steps in a series of transaction processes a customer will select, and a speaker for converting the synthesized audio signals into real voice.
Japanese Patent No. 3,258,186 teaches a ticket dispenser that comprises an inlet for receiving bills, a bill processor for deciding the denomination of bills inserted from the inlet, a speaker for voice-guiding the denomination of bills decided in the bill processor, and a main controller for dispensing a ticket of the designated money amount.
There have been a number of propositions and suggestions on the print-impaired friendly equipment like Brielle books, talking books and pavements with guide blocks fixed on them, however, unfortunately they cannot visually confirm whether they insert a bill of the correct denomination into a bill validator of a vending machine. There are some cases that even sighted people must or wish to phonetically confirm the denomination of a bill that has already been put in a bill validator.
The present invention is to provide a speaking document validator that can automatically and phonetically announce to a user a denomination of the document put in and considered genuine by the document validator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The document validator according to the present invention comprising: a conveyor (4) for transporting documents (1) inserted into an inlet (2) along a passageway (3), a discrimination sensor (5) for converting physical features of documents (1) transported along passageway (3) into electric signals, a document information memory (7) for storing authentic pattern information of physical characteristics of documents (1) on their different denominations, a voice information memory (8) for storing voice data on different denominations of documents (1), a comparator (9) for receiving electric signals from discrimination sensor (5) to generate drive signals to control drive of conveyor (4), and a speaker (14) electrically connected to comparator (9) or to voice information memory (8) for verbally announcing outside the document validator an audio alert of voice data from voice information memory (8). Comparator (9) compares electric signals from discrimination sensor (5) with authentic pattern information stored in physical characteristics memory (7), examines authenticity and denomination of documents (1), produces a denomination signal of the document (1) when comparator (9) decides the document (1) is authentic, and retrieves related voice data to the denomination signal in voice information memory (8) to forward retrieved voice data to speaker (14) directly from voice information memory (8) or through comparator (9). Listening to the audio alert from speaker (14), a user can make sure that the document put in the document validator has the correct denomination.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1:: is a sectional view of the speaking document validator according to the present invention applied to a bill validator;
Figure 2:: is an electric circuit diagram used in a first embodiment of the bill validator shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3:: is an electric circuit diagram used in another embodiment of the bill validator;
Figure 4:: is a flow chart indicating an operational sequence of the bill validator.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, first to twelfth embodiments are hereinafter described regarding the speaking document validator according to the present invention applied to a speaking bill validator. A term "a document" or its plural form herein means all and any valuable paper or valuable card that contains bills, currencies, securities, tickets, credit cards while the description herein typically specifies bills for documents in the embodiments below. However, it would be apparent that the present invention is applicable to any kinds of valuable documents and cards other than bills. The typical first to twelfth embodiments indicate technologies not independent from each other, but the invention may contain combination of two or more embodiments or combination of one or more of the embodiments and prior or customary arts.
As shown in Figure 1, the speaking bill validator of the invention comprises a casing 15, a passageway 3 formed within casing 15, an inlet 2 formed at an end of passageway 3, an inlet sensor 11 arranged at inlet 2 for detecting a bill 1 inserted into inlet 2 to produce a bill detection signal, a conveyor 4 for transporting bill 1 inserted into inlet 2 along passageway 3, a discrimination sensor 5 arranged in the vicinity of passageway 3 for detecting physical features of bill 1 passing through passageway 3 and converting them into electric signals. The validator also comprises an approval switch 12, a denomination switch 30, a return switch 31, a mode switch 32 and a code switch 33 all mounted on casing 15 and a stop sensor 13 arranged along passageway 3 in back of discrimination sensor 5. Conveyor 4 comprises a pair of rollers 21, 22, a conveyor belt 23 wound around rollers 21, 22, and a pair of idle rollers 24 arranged opposite to related rollers 21, 22 in contact to conveyor belt 23.
As shown in Figure 2, the validator also comprises a conveyance controller 6 that has input terminals electrically connected to validation sensor 5, inlet sensor 11, approval switch 12, stop sensor 13, denomination switch 30, return switch 31, mode switch 32 and code switch 33. Conveyance controller 6 also has output terminals electrically connected to conveyor 4 provided with a drive motor 38 and a speaker 14, and an interactive terminal connected to a host computer 20. Stop sensor 13 optically or mechanically detects a leading edge of bill 1 transported along passageway 3 back of idle rollers 24 to produce a stop signal to conveyance controller 6 to cease drive of conveyor 4. After restart of conveyor 4, stop sensor 13 also optically or mechanically detects a tail edge of bill 1 to again produce a stop signal to conveyance controller 6 to cease drive of conveyor 4.
Discrimination sensor 5 detects physical characteristics such as optical and magnetic features of bills 1, and may comprise an optical sensor 5a for detecting optical characteristics in lights transmitted through and/or reflected on bills 1 and/or a magnetic sensor 5b for detecting magnetic characteristics of bills 1. Additionally, it may comprise an acoustic sensor. Optical sensor 5a is used not only to turn optical features of a bill 1 into electric signals when it passes through optical sensor 5a along passageway 3 but also to convert code images of numerals, alphabets and letters printed on bills 1 into electronic signals.
Stop sensor 13 is used to detect leading edge of a bill 1 transmitted along passageway 3 to produce a stop signal to conveyance controller 6 that temporarily stops drive of conveyor 4, and after authenticity decision of bill 1, conveyance controller 6 again drives conveyor 4 to transport bill 1 and ceases drive of restarted conveyor 4 when conveyance controller 6 receives a stop signal produced by stop sensor 13 detecting a tail edge of moving bill 1.
Casing 15 contains conveyor 4, characteristics memory 7, voice information memory 8, comparator 9 and speaker 14 in it. Instead, speaker 14 may be attached on outside or outer surface of casing 15. For example, inlet sensor 11 may comprise a photo-coupler that emits a light beam interrupted by bill 1 inserted into inlet 2 to detect it. Mounted within casing 15 is speaker 14 that may verbally announce or emit an audio alert of voice data outside the validator through passageway 3 and inlet 2.

First Embodiment: Basic Construction of Speaking Bill Validator

A first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 shows a basic electric construction of the speaking bill validator that comprises conveyance controller 6 assembled by a programmable microcomputer or central processing unit. Instead, it may be made by a plurality of discrete circuits. In the first embodiment, conveyance controller 6 comprises a characteristics memory 7 for previously storing authentic pattern information of physical features of bills 1, a voice information or phonetic memory 8 for previously storing voice information of different denominations of bills 1, a comparator 9 for comparing output signals from discrimination sensor 5 with authentic pattern information in characteristics memory 7 for authenticity decision of bill 1 to produce drive and denomination signals when decides bill 1 is authentic or genuine, and a timer 10 triggered by denomination signal from comparator 9 for counting elapsed time. Conveyance controller 6 may receive and convert electronic data of code images from optical sensor 5a into electronically editable code signals that may be held in conveyance controller 6.
Conveyance controller 6 is interactively connected to a host computer 20 that systematically or organically controls a plurality of other bill validators (not shown in the drawings). Characteristic memory 7 may include ROM, RAM or integrated circuits that may retain authentic pattern information of physical features on bills 1 related to their different denominations. Phonetic memory 8 may include ROM, RAM or integrated circuits that may retain voice information on different denominations of bills 1. Host computer 20 may examine authenticity of bill's physical features in accordance with different acceptable criteria from the examination in comparator 9 on whether bills are authentic or genuine, and produces an acceptance signal to comparator 9 when host computer 20 decides the bill is genuine. For instance, characteristics memory 7 may retain optical or magnetic features like dimensions, shapes for identifying bills for authenticity decision of them in comparator 9 from one or more of these perspectives. Unlike these criteria, host computer 20 may retain other criteria like optical pattern characteristics of bills to further compare actually detected bill's optical pattern with the other criteria in host computer 20 for additional or different strict examination of bill's authenticity. Adversely, characteristics memory 7 may retain optical pattern characteristics of bills 1 for the authenticity decision in comparator 9 and besides, host computer 20 may compare optical or magnetic features like dimensions, shapes of bills with those stored in it to further examine bill's format authenticity.
Figure 4 shows an exemplified flow chart of the operational sequence operated by the invention's speaking bill validator in the embodiments. When a user puts a bill 1 in inlet 2 (Step 50), a tip of bill 1 interrupts a light beam in inlet sensor 11 that raises bill detection signal to conveyance controller 6 (Step 51) that drives conveyor motor 38 in conveyor 4 in the forward direction (Step 52). So, bill 1 is moved along and in back of passageway 3 while discrimination sensor 5 converts physical features or characteristics of bill 1 into electric signals to comparator 9 in conveyance controller 6 (Step 53). Simultaneously, optical sensor 5b of discrimination sensor 5 turns code images printed on bill 1 into electric code signals to conveyance controller 6 that transforms received electric code signals into electronically editable code signals and retains therein.
Then, processing moves on to Step 54 where conveyance controller 6 questions whether stop sensor 13 detects a leading edge of bill 1. When leading edge of bill 1 comes at stop sensor 13, it emits a detection signal to conveyance controller 6 that stops operation of conveyor 4 (Step 55) to keep leading edge of bill 1 at the position of stop sensor 13 for a given period of time during which comparator 9 prepares for authenticity decision of bill 1 (Step 56).
Comparator 9 compares physical feature signals of bill 1 sent from discrimination sensor 5 with authentic pattern information stored in characteristic memory 7 to check authenticity of bill 1 at Step 56. When physical feature signals of bill 1 agree with authentic pattern information in characteristic memory 7, comparator 9 decides that bill 1 is genuine, and interacts with voice information memory 8 while comparator 9 produces a denomination signal of the genuine bill to phonetic memory 8 to retrieve related voice data to the denomination signal of the genuine bill by means of the denomination signal as memory address in voice information memory 8. Then, comparator 9 sends retrieved voice data to speaker 14 or conveyance controller 6 directly forwards retrieved voice data from voice information memory 8 to speaker 14 that gives an audio alert of the received voice data outside of the document validator (Step 57). For example, speaker 14 may call "Received a banknote €10!" of Euro banknote denominations €5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 so that a user listening to the audio alert from speaker 14 can aurally make sure the bill put in the validator was of the correct denomination.

Second Embodiment: Double Examination of Bill

In a second embodiment of the invention, comparator 9 may suspend to retrieve related voice data in voice information memory 8 immediately after the authenticity decision of bill 1 by comparator 9. During the suspension, comparator 9 may forward physical features signals of bill 1 to host computer 20 for double examination of bill's authenticity in host computer 20 that may reaffirm genuineness of bill 1. Specifically, host computer 20 may examine genuineness of bill 1 on criteria different from the norm or way in comparator 9 with characteristics memory 7. When again decides bill 1 is genuine, host computer 20 gives an acceptance signal to comparator 9 that then may read out voice data related to denomination of bill 1 in voice information memory 8 by means of the denomination used as memory address, and retrieved voice data may be forwarded to speaker 14. In this way, when both of comparator 9 and host computer 20 decide the bill is genuine, denomination voice data derived from voice information memory 8 can be sent to speaker 14 that announces language voice of the denomination at Step 57. When decides bill 1 is inauthentic at Step 56, host computer 20 gives a reject signal to comparator 9 that retrieves related voice data to the reject signal in voice information memory 8 to forward retrieved voice data to speaker 14 through comparator 9 or from voice information memory 8 to verbally announce from speaker 14 at Step 56: "This banknote is unaccepted!" Then, conveyance controller 6 drives conveyor 4 in the adverse direction to return bill 1 to inlet 2 at Step 66.

Third Embodiment: Bill Acceptance by Approval Signal

At the same time speaker 14 starts announcing of audio alert at Step 57, timer 10 begins counting time course at Step 58 because denomination signals as trigger signal are applied to timer 10, so conveyance controller 6 decides whether a certain period of time is over since the beginning of counting. When the certain period of time has elapsed at Step 58, timer 10 produces a time signal to go to Step 62. Before the certain period of time is elapsed, conveyance controller 6 decides whether denomination switch 30 is operated at subsequent Step 59. When it is operated, the sequence is returned from Step 59 to 57 where conveyance controller 6 makes speaker 14 again release voice announcement. If denomination switch 30 is not operated at Step 59, processing moves on to Step 60 where conveyance controller 6 questions whether approval switch 12 is operated. When approval switch 12 is operated to emit an approval signal to conveyance controller 6, it drives conveyor 4 in the forward direction at Step 62 to transport bill 1 in back of passageway 3 toward a stacker not shown in the drawings. Conveyance controller 6 may be designed to drive speaker 14 to announce the same audio alert with voice data retained in conveyance controller 6 whenever approval switch 12 is operated.
Conveyance controller 6 drives conveyor 4 in the forward direction to transport bill 1 further into the back of passageway 3, and raises a question whether tail edge of resent bill 1 has passed through stop sensor 13 at Step 63. When tail edge of bill 1 has passed through stop sensor 13 that detects no interruption of light beam by bill 1 to again produce a stop signal, conveyance controller 6 stops drive of conveyor 4 at Step 64, and processing goes to Step 65.

Fourth Embodiment: Bill Return by Operation of Return Switch

When comparator 9 finds at Step 56 that physical characteristics signals of bill 1 received from discrimination sensor 5 do not agree with bill information stored in characteristics memory 7, it decides bill 1 is inauthentic and produces a reject signal that is used as memory address to retrieve related voice data in voice information memory 8 so that speaker 14 receives voice data through comparator 9 or from voice information memory 8 and announces an audio alert of reject voice data at Step 66, calling "This banknote is unaccepted!" This makes the user realize that the inserted bill is inauthentic. At the same time reject audio alert occurs, conveyance controller 6 drives conveyor 4 in the adverse direction at Step 67 and returns bill 1 to inlet 2. Conveyance controller 6 decides at Step 68 whether inlet sensor 11 detects returned bill 1, and upon receipt of detection signal from inlet sensor 11, conveyance controller 6 stops operation of conveyor 4 at Step 63 to the sequence end at Step 64.

Fifth Embodiment: Bill Return by Operation of Return Switch

When a user hears the audio alert from speaker 14 and notice a wrong bill inserted into the validator, he or she may operate return switch 31 on casing 15 to produce a return signal to conveyance controller 6 that drives conveyor 4 in the adverse direction to return the bill 1 to inlet 2. However, regardless of the decision by comparator 9 that bill 1 is genuine or inauthentic, or regardless of announcement of audio alert of bill's denomination voice or reject voice from speaker 14 for user's acoustic confirmation, return switch 31 may be operated to return the inserted bill 1 to inlet 2.
When approval switch 12 is not operated at Step 60, the step goes on to Step 61 where conveyance controller 6 questions whether return switch 31 is operated, and without operation of return switch 31, algorithm automatically returns to Step 58, and when return switch 31 is operated at Step 61, processing jumps to Step 67.

Sixth Embodiment: Acceptance by Host Computer

Figure 3 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the invention where arranged off conveyance controller 6 is host computer 20 that contains characteristics memory 7 and comparator 9, but this embodiment may provide the structure shown in Figure 1 and operational sequence depicted in Figure 4. Unlike the preceding embodiment, this embodiment contemplates that conveyance controller 6 receives and forwards electric signals from discrimination sensor 5 to comparator 9 in host computer 20 and that comparator 9 within host computer 20 compares electric signals from discrimination sensor 5 with authentic pattern information in characteristics memory 7 to decide authenticity of bill 1.
When electric signals from discrimination sensor 5 agree with authentic pattern information in characteristics memory 7 in Figure 3, comparator 9 produces and forwards denomination signals of bill 1 and acceptance signals to conveyance controller 6 through host computer 20. Conveyance controller 6 receives denomination and acceptance signals from host computer 20; retrieves voice data related to and by means of denomination in voice information memory 8; and forwards retrieved voice data from voice information memory 8 or through conveyance controller 6 to speaker 14 that may announce an audio alert of the received voice data outside of the bill validator. A the same time, in accordance with acceptance signal received from host computer 20 conveyance controller 6 controls drive of conveyor 4.

Seventh Embodiment: Audio Alert of Different Denominations

A seventh embodiment of the invention utilizes an approval switch 12 connected to conveyance controller 6. For the bill examination, comparator 9 forms and retains document or bill information including different denominations of validated bills, and voice information memory 8 previously stores voice information including different denomination signals. When mode switch 32 is operated to generate a trigger signal to conveyor controller 6, it makes comparator 9 retrieve voice data related to bill information in voice information memory 8 to forward voice data to speaker 14 that announces outside the validator an audio alert of voice data regarding the denominations.

Eighth Embodiment: Audio Alert of Denominations & Numbers

An eighth embodiment of the invention utilizes an approval switch 12 connected to conveyance controller 6. For the bill examination, comparator 9 forms and retains document information or bill information including different denominations and also their numbers of validated bills, and voice information memory 8 previously stores voice information including different denomination signals and their number signals. When approval switch 12 is operated to generate a trigger signal to comparator 9, it retrieves voice data related to bill information in voice information memory 8 to forward voice data to speaker 14 that announces outside of the validator an audio alert of voice data regarding the denominations and their numbers.

Ninth Embodiment: Voice Control by Mode Switch

A ninth embodiment of the invention has casing 15 that supports a mode switch 32 operable to produce a control signal to conveyance controller 6 that allows comparator 9 to retrieve voice data in voice information memory 8. Conveyance controller 6 may be designed to do this only when it receives control signal from mode switch 32 and trigger signal from denomination switch 30. In this case, conveyance controller 6 may bring out all or at least part of voice data of voice information memory 8 with denomination signals of validated bills. The term "at least part of voice data" means that comparator 9 can retrieve voice data in voice information memory 8 selecting all or part of denominations, validation term or time, kinds and returned documents to inlet 2 of validated bills in retrieval. For this purpose, attached to casing 15 are various switches for allowing selective retrieval options. When mode switch 32 is turned off, comparator 9 is prevented from retrieving voice data in voice information memory 8 even when approval switch 12 is turned.
When both of approval switch 12 and mode switch 32 are turned on, voice data is sent from voice information memory 8 to speaker 14 that may announce an audio alert outside the validator. With mode switch 32 in the off condition, conveyance controller 6 inhibits retrieval of voice data in voice information memory 8 even if approval switch 12 is turned on. The ninth embodiment is convenient that a bill collector who collects banknotes or bills from the validator, may make an audio confirmation of denominations and their numbers when mode switch 32 is turned on after collection of bills put in the validator.

Tenth Embodiment: Arrangement of Speaker

A tenth embodiment of the invention provides casing 15 that accommodates conveyor 4, characteristic memory 7, voice information memory 8 and comparator 9, whereas speaker 14 may be arranged at any position so far as a user can hear voice alert from speaker 14, and it may be set inside, outside or on the surface of casing 15. An additional speaker may be attached to host computer 20 that receives characteristics memory 7 and comparator 9.

Eleventh Embodiment: Bills and Coupons

An eleventh embodiment of the invention validates documents 1 that may contain at least bills, coupons and other valuable papers, scrips or tenders. Voice information memory 8 retains voice information for verbally announcing kinds, denominations and their numbers of bills, coupons, etc. in advance. For the authenticity decision, comparator 9 may save kinds, denominations and their numbers of validated bills, coupons and etc. and apply the validated information as memory address to voice information memory 8 to retrieve related voice data in voice information memory 8. Retrieved voice data is applied to speaker 14 that may verbally announce the audio alert.

Twelfth Embodiment: Announcement of Bill Code

A twelfth embodiment also contemplates that the validator may take in numerals, alphabets, letters or the like printed on bills or documents as image information, decrypt the image information into editable letter information that is then converted into voice data for aural announcement of the voice data from speaker 14. To this end, this embodiment comprises a code switch 33 operable to produce a drive signal to conveyance controller 6 that receives and converts electric image signals printed on documents or bills 1 from optical sensor 5a into electrically editable code signals that are saved in conveyance controller 6. Voice information memory 8 previously stores voice data or information on all the code signals that may be detected from bills 1. When code switch 33 produces drive signal, conveyance controller 6 retrieves voice data of the code signals in voice information memory 8 and forwards retrieved voice data to speaker 14 to verbally announce audio alert of received voice data outside the validator.

Claims

A speaking document validator comprising:
a conveyor (4) for transporting documents (1) inserted into an inlet (2) along a passageway (3),

a discrimination sensor (5) for converting physical features of the documents (1) transported along the passageway (3) into electric signals,

a document information memory (7) for storing authentic pattern information of physical characteristics of the documents (1) on their different denominations,

a voice information memory (8) for storing voice data on different denominations of the documents (1),

a comparator (9) for receiving the electric signals from the discrimination sensor (5) to generate drive signals to control the drive of the conveyor (4), and

a speaker (14) electrically connected to the comparator (9) or to the voice information memory (8) for verbally announcing outside the document validator an audio alert of the voice data from the voice information memory (8),

wherein the comparator (9) compares the electric signals from the discrimination sensor (5) with the authentic pattern information stored in the physical characteristics memory (7), examines authenticity and denomination of the document (1), produces a denomination signal of the document (1) when the comparator (9) decides the document (1) is authentic, and retrieves related voice data to the denomination signal in the voice information memory (8) to forward the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14) directly from the voice information memory (8) or through the comparator (9).
The speaking document validator of claim 1, wherein the comparator (9) produces a reject signal of the document (1) when the comparator (9) decides the document (1) is inauthentic, and retrieves related voice data to the reject signal in the voice information memory (8) to forward the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14) through the comparator (9) or from the voice information memory (8).
The speaking document validator of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
a conveyance controller (6) for receiving the electric signals from the discrimination sensor (5) and forwarding the electric signals to the comparator (9) to drive the conveyor (4) through the conveyance controller (6), and

a stop sensor (13) disposed back of the discrimination sensor (5) on the passageway (3) for detecting a leading edge of the document (1) passing along the passageway (3) to produce a stop signal to the conveyance controller (6),

wherein the conveyance controller (6) receives the stop signal from the stop sensor (13) to temporarily cease driving of the conveyor (4) to provisionally retain the document (1) on the passageway (3), and

when deciding that the document (1) is authentic, the comparator (9) gives the denomination signal of the document (1) to the conveyance controller (6) that further drives the conveyor (4) in the forward direction to transport the document (1) back along the passageway (3).
The speaking document validator of claim 3, wherein, when deciding that the document (1) is inauthentic, the comparator (9) gives the reject signal of the document (1) to the conveyance controller (6) that drives the conveyor (4) in the adverse direction to return the document (1) to the inlet (2).
The speaking document validator of claim 4, further comprising an approval switch (12) operated to produce a transport instruction signal to the conveyance controller (6),
wherein when receiving the transport instruction signal from the approval switch (12), the conveyance controller (6) further drives the conveyor (4) in the forward direction to transport the document (1) back along the passageway (3).
The speaking document validator of claim 4 or 5, wherein the conveyance controller (6) further comprises a timer (10) triggered by the denomination signal from the comparator (9) for counting elapsed time since the triggering,
after the certain period of time, the timer (10) produces a time signal to the conveyance controller (6) that further drives the conveyor (4) in the forward direction to transport the document (1) back along the passageway (3).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising: a return switch (31) operated to produce a return instruction signal to the conveyance controller (6),
wherein when receiving the return instruction from the the return switch (31), the conveyance controller (6) drives the conveyor (4) in the adverse direction to return the document (1) to the inlet (2).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 3 to 7, further comprising: a denomination switch (30) operated to produce a trigger signal to the conveyor controller (6),
wherein the comparator (9) stores document information signals including different denominations of the validated documents (1),
the voice information memory (8) stores voice data on denomination signals indicative of the different denominations of the documents (1),
in accordance with the trigger signal received from the denomination switch (30), the conveyor controller (6) makes the comparator (9) retrieve the voice data of the document information including the denomination signals in the voice information memory (8) with the document information signals as memory address, and
the conveyance controller (6) forwards the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14) through the comparator (9) or from the voice information memory (8).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 3 to 7, further comprising: a denomination switch (30) operated to produce a trigger signal to the conveyance controller (6),
wherein the comparator (9) stores document information signals including different denominations and numbers for respective denomination of the validated documents (1),
the voice information memory (8) stores voice data signals on the different denominations and denomination numbers for the documents (1),
in accordance with the trigger signal received from the denomination switch (30), the conveyor controller (6) makes the comparator (9) retrieve the voice data of the document information including the denomination signals and denomination numbers in the voice information memory (8) with the document information signals as memory address, and
the conveyance controller (6) forwards the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14) through the comparator (9) or from the voice information memory (8).
The speaking document validator of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: a mode switch (32) operated to produce a control signal to the conveyance controller (6) that makes the comparator (9) retrieve the voice data in the voice information memory (8) only when the conveyance controller (6) receives the control signal from the mode switch (32) and the trigger signal from the denomination switch (30).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: a casing (15) for accommodating the conveyor (4), characteristic memory (7), voice information memory (8) and comparator (9) to mount the speaker (14) inside, outside or on the surface of the casing (15).
The speaking document validator of claim 11, further comprising: a host computer (20) arranged off the casing (15),
wherein the comparator (9) compares the electric signals from the discrimination sensor (5) with the authentic pattern information stored in the physical characteristics memory (7), and decides the document (1) is authentic and transmits the physical feature signals of the document (1) to the host computer (20),
the host computer (20) further examines the authenticity of the document (1) in accordance with different acceptable criteria from the examination in the comparator (9), and
the host computer (20) decides again the document (1) is authentic, and produces an acceptance signal to the comparator (9) that may retrieve the voice data in the voice information memory (8).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 3 to 11, further comprising: a casing (15) for accommodating the conveyance controller (6) and the voice information memory (8) to mount the speaker (14) inside, outside or on a surface of the casing (15), and
a host computer (20) connected to the conveyance controller (6) but off the casing (15) for accommodating the characteristic memory (7) and comparator (9),
wherein when receiving electric signals from the discrimination sensor (5), the conveyance controller (6) forwards the electric signals to the comparator (9) within the host computer (20),
the comparator (9) receives and compares the electric signals with the authentic pattern information within the characteristic memory (7), and decides the document (1) is authentic when the electric signals agree with the authentic pattern information within the characteristic memory (7) to forward an acceptance signal and denomination signal of the document (1) to the conveyance controller (6),
the conveyance controller (6) receives the acceptance signal, retrieves the voice data in the voice information memory (8), forwards the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14).
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the documents (1) contain currencies and coupons,
the document information memory (7) stores authentic pattern information of physical characteristics of the documents (1) including currencies and coupons on their different denominations, and
the voice information memory (8) stores the voice data on different kinds, different denominations and number of the currencies and coupons.
The speaking document validator of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: a code switch (33) operated to produce a drive signal to the conveyance controller (6),
wherein the discrimination sensor (5) has an optical sensor (5a) for converting code images printed on the documents (1) moving along the passageway (3) into electric image signals,
the conveyance controller (6) receives and converts the electric image signals from the optical sensor (5a) into electrically editable code signals that are saved in the conveyance controller (6),
the voice information memory (8) stores the voice data of code signals of the documents (1),
in accordance with the drive signal received from the code switch (33), the conveyance controller (6) retrieves the voice data of the code signals in the voice information memory (8) with the code signals from the optical sensor (5a) as memory address, and
the conveyance controller (6) forwards the retrieved voice data to the speaker (14) to verbally announce the audio alert of the received voice data outside the document validator.