FR2859806A1 - Fiduciary document e.g. bank note such as Euro, analyzing apparatus e.g. scanner for e.g. merchant, has two sensing units for sensing images of respective sides of whole document and another unit to sense image by seeing through document - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a base (1) and a cover (2) defining a rectilinear passage (3) for documents. Two sensing units (6, 7) sense images of whole of the respective sides of the documents. Another sensing unit (8) senses an image of the whole document that is subjected to traversing light, by seeing through the document. A motorized driving unit forces the document to move flat in the passage from an inlet to an outlet of the passage.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING DOCUMENTS, ESPECIALLY TICKETS

BANK

  The present invention relates to improvements in the field of document parser apparatus, particularly, though not exclusively, for the control of fiduciary documents such as in particular bank notes.

  It is known to manufacture fiduciary documents, and in particular bank notes, by printing on them and / or including in them specific marks, visible or invisible to the naked eye, the difficulty of reproduction of which must, in principle, to foil fraudulent manufacture. These specific marks are generally in predetermined locations of the documents.

  There are currently various types of control devices such documents, including control of bank notes.

  Very simple and inexpensive devices are arranged to illuminate the document with ultraviolet radiation and the operator visually observes the appearance of the document thus illuminated. Generally the operator verifies that the blank parts of the document remain white under the ultraviolet radiation, instead of taking a very bright purple hue as would ordinary paper. It is also possible to observe the presence of small white threads ("vermicelli") in the thickness of the paper.

  Such devices can only detect reproductions (including counterfeit notes) the poorest, made on plain paper. In addition, the documents are processed one by one, manually, and the control procedure is slow, long and ultimately expensive because it requires a large staff if you want to control many documents, as is the case for central bank.

  There are also devices intended for commercial use (merchants, automatic vending machines, automatic payment counters, ...), which are based on the implementation of photodiodes and / or phototransistors operating in reflection and / or or in transmission.

  These known apparatuses scan one or more precise locations of the document, using radiation having a predetermined fixed wavelength.

  In general, the documents and in particular the banknotes contain specific security marks which are in limited number and arranged in discrete isolated locations of the document, and the control apparatuses are arranged only to detect said marks at said locations of the documents. documents.

  Despite the renewal of specific brands and / or locations as the series of banknotes and / or ticket changes are renewed, counterfeiters end up being able to produce counterfeit and more and more loyal notes.

  It should be noted that in the case of banknotes, each country uses specific brands of its own. During the creation of the European Euro currency, many European countries wanted to find their own specific brands in the European notes, so that they include a large number of specific brands of very different types. However, with regard to specific marks of known types, these marks and their mode of reproduction are not unknown to counterfeiters. In addition, in each country, the control of the European banknotes continues to be carried out only on the basis of specific marks specific to that country, so that the detection of counterfeit notes is not completely reliable. In these circumstances, the issue of the European notes has not changed significantly the previous situation.

  For the future, it is planned to replace the discrete marking of the banknotes by a global marking, that is to say that it is the whole image of a face of the banknote which is composed in a variable manner. (by ticket, by group of notes, by series, ...) respecting the diagram of a basic image, the validity of the ticket resulting from the combination of all the specific marks distributed throughout the image, possibly with a particular combination of the images of the two faces and / or other characteristics (variable nature of the printing inks, variable thicknesses of the printed signs, etc.).

  However, the production of documents, including banknotes, as elaborate and complex, only makes sense if it is possible to control them. Or the currently available devices are not suitable for this function.

  The invention therefore aims to provide a document reading device, including bank notes, which is able to read all the marks contained in the entire document, such a device to be able to read the documents so fast so that, at least in high-performance versions, you can read large quantities of documents in quick scrolling, without manual intervention, for control within the banks and must be simple and inexpensive, at least in simplified versions , so that it can be installed in the places of transaction (traders, vending machines, automatic cash registers, ...). It should be noted here that reading the document generates a multiplicity of electronic data that are processed by processors according to predetermined algorithms to compile the information collected and finally validate or invalidate the document. The present invention aims at providing the read-only apparatus, without attaching itself to the processing of the signals delivered by this reading apparatus.

  For these purposes, the invention provides an analyzer apparatus ((or "scanner") of documents, including bank notes, characterized in that it comprises: - a substantially rectilinear passage through which a document is forced to scroll substantially flat, - first means for capturing an image of the whole of one face of said document, - second means for capturing an image of the entire other side of said document, - third capture means an image by transvision of all of said document subjected to a through illumination, and - motorized drive means for forcing said document to scroll substantially flat in said passage from an input thereof to an output of this one.

  Preferably, said first and second image capturing means are located respectively on either side of said passage and are offset relative to each other in the document scrolling direction.

  Advantageously in this case, said third transvision image-capturing means are functionally associated with said second image-capturing means, said third image-capturing means comprising transvision lighting means situated opposite said second means. image capture, on the other side of said passage.

  Thanks to these provisions, it constitutes an apparatus that is able to read the document by successive lines of analysis over its entire width, as it passes in front of the read heads, the reading being done simultaneously on both faces with further transvision analysis (by "transparency"). The combination of the information gathered by this triple reading, together with an appropriate choice of the wavelengths of the radiations employed, should make it possible to read all the marks present on the faces of the document or in the thickness thereof. Especially the device is able to read the entire document so that, through the subsequent computer processing of the information read, it finally becomes possible to analyze combinations of specific brands scattered throughout the document.

  In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises: a first base having a first surface and a second base having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being mutually opposite and substantially parallel and defining between them said substantially rectilinear path for traversing a flat document, - a first contact image sensor array supported by said first base and extending over the entire width of said first surface transversely to the scrolling direction of the document, first support means operatively associated with said first sensor array to maintain the document in contact therewith as it travels; a second contact image sensor array supported by said second base downstream of said sensor array; first bar (in the scrolling direction of the document) and extending over the entire width of the said second surface transversely to the scrolling direction of the document; second support means operatively associated with said second sensor strip to hold the document in contact with the latter during its movement; a bar of lighting means supported by said first base and extending the full width of said first surface facing said second sensor array, and - motorized drive means for forcing the document to scroll substantially flat in said passageway from said input of it is located upstream of said first sensor array and to said output thereof thereof downstream of said second sensor array and light source array.

  Advantageously, the first support means comprise: - a motorized roller supported by said second base opposite said first sensor array, said motorized roller extending across said passageway perpendicular to the direction of travel of the document, and - means resilient support interposed between said first base and said first sensor array and adapted to resiliently push said sensor array towards said motorized roller.

  Thus it is ensured that the document scrolls in front of the first sensor bar in contact with it so as to collect reliable information, at the same time as it causes the drive of the document so that it scrolls flat.

  With regard to the scrolling of the document in front of the second sensor strip located downstream, it is not possible to reproduce the same arrangement because of the presence of the bar of lighting means facing the second sensor array for the transvision of the document. Therefore, it is expected that the second support means comprise at least one elastically deformable flap, transparent material, supported by one of its sides by the first base extending over the entire width of said passage across it. and transversely to the running direction of the document, its other side being in elastic support against the second sensor array.

  In an exemplary practical embodiment of the apparatus, the first sensor array operates in red light.

  In an exemplary practical embodiment of the apparatus, the second sensor array operates in infrared light.

  In an exemplary practical embodiment of the apparatus, the bar of lighting means emits a red light or an infrared light depending on the zones to be detected and the radiation used upstream.

  Advantageously, the motorized drive means comprise a rolling mill driver located downstream of said second sensor bar for extracting the document from the apparatus, said rolling mill comprising a motorized roller supported by the second base and a counter led roll supported by the first base via elastic support means adapted to push it elastically towards the motorized roller.

  The motorized roller disposed opposite the first sensor array may certainly be sufficient to drive the document. However, it may be useful to provide a specific drive immediately below the entrance of the passage so as to ensure a reliable introduction of the document in front of the first sensor array. To this end, it is provided that the motorized drive means comprise a rolling mill driver located upstream of said first sensor bar for introducing the document into the apparatus, said rolling mill comprising a motorized roller supported by the second base and a driven against roller supported by the first base by means of resilient support means adapted to repel elastically towards the motorized roller.

  In a concrete embodiment of the apparatus described above, said second base is fixed and belongs to the base of the apparatus which includes motor means of said motorized drive means for driving the document and said first base is supported by articulated in rotation by said second base in the manner of a cover so that said first base 9 2859806 can be spaced from said second base. In this case, it is advantageous that the articulation in rotation of the first base on the second base is located in the vicinity of the output of the aforesaid flow passage of the document. In order to leave sufficient room in the base for the motor and the drives of the motorized rollers, it is desirable for said document feed passage to be inclined by about 40 to 60, preferably about 50, with respect to horizontal, the entrance of said passage being located at the top. In addition, this arrangement with the collection of documents, in particular banknotes, at the bottom of the apparatus facilitates the formation of stacks of documents, for example for making bundles of notes.

  The embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention described above offers the possibility of adding on demand additional reading / detecting means, for example reading means in ultraviolet light, and / or reading means for reading. at least one magnetic track provided on and / or in the document, and / or a modem interface for connecting the apparatus to a central database and allowing on-line processing of information and / or for enabling control and / or updating the algorithms for processing information read from the document, etc.

  To make the operation of the apparatus less expensive in terms of energy consumption, in particular for devices installed in shops or places of transaction and used in a discontinuous manner, it is desirable to make it include a presence sensor. document disposed in the vicinity of the entrance of said scroll passage of the document and adapted to control the operation of the device during the introduction of a document.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment given purely by way of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a very diagrammatic view in cross section.

  In a concrete embodiment shown in the drawing, the apparatus according to the invention is in the general form of a generally parallelepipedal housing comprising a fixed base 1, covered, and a movable part or cover 2, also covered, which define between them a passage 3 through which the documents to be analyzed are driven flat.

  To leave sufficient room in the base 1 to house equipment, particularly the engine and transmissions that will be discussed later, the passage 3 is inclined from 40 to 60, preferably about 50, relative to the horizontal. The documents are entered at the top in E and their output at the bottom in S, which also facilitates the collection of documents (for example to form bundles of banknotes checked).

  In a simple manner, the cover 2 is secured to the base 1 rotatably at 4, at the base of the base 1 and in the vicinity of the outlet S of the passage 3. The tilting of the cover 2 (arrow 5) thus allows "to open "Pass 3, to make it possible to clean and maintain components and to clear stuck documents.

  The base 1 and the cover 2 are arranged to define a passage 3 which is substantially rectilinear through which the documents are moved substantially flat and in an approximately rectilinear path T.

  The apparatus comprises first means 6 for capturing an image of the whole of a face of a document moved flat in the passage 3, second means 7 for capturing an image of the whole of the image. the other side of said document, third means 8 for capturing an image by transvision of the whole of said document subjected to a through illumination, and motorized drive means for forcing said document to scroll substantially flat in the passage 3 since the entry E to the exit S of this one.

  As is clear from the drawing, the first and second image capturing means 6 and 7 respectively are located on either side of the passage 3 and are offset relative to each other in the direction of the scrolling of the document.

  The third transvision image capture means 8 are functionally associated with said image capture means 7: these third image capture means 8 comprise transvision illumination means 9 situated opposite the second means 7 of the image capture system. image capture, on the other side of pass 3.

  It should therefore be understood that the first image capture means 6 of a document face can be arranged to illuminate said document face with a suitable radiation (for example in red light) and to capture the fraction of said radiation reflected by said face of the document. Similarly, the second image capturing means 7 of the other side of the document can be similarly arranged using appropriate radiation (eg infrared light).

  As for the third transvision image-capturing means 8, they consist of the functional cooperation of said second image-capturing means 7 suitable for using radiation (for example red light) and also suitable for receiving another radiation. (For example infrared light) emitted by the transvision lighting means 9 located opposite the other side of the passage 3.

  A practical and technologically simple embodiment of the above arrangement will now be described.

  The passage 3 is defined by a first substantially flat surface 10 belonging to a first base 11 which preferably constitutes the cover 2 or forms part thereof, and by a second substantially flat surface 12 belonging to a second base 13 which form part of the base 1; the reasons for this provision will appear later.

  The first image capture means 7 comprise a first contact image sensor (CIS) strip 14 supported by the first base 11. This first CIS strip 14 extends over the entire width of the first surface 10 and transversely , preferably perpendicular to the scrolling direction of the document. The active face of the CIS strip 14 is substantially flush with the first surface 10, so that the document can scroll while being applied against it.

  The CIS strip 14 is constituted by an alignment of a multiplicity of micro-emitters / radiation receivers and can be of a type commonly used in document reading devices ("scanner").

  In order to keep the scroll document pressing against the CIS strip 14, first support means 15 are provided which can advantageously be constituted as drive means suitable for scrolling the document, for example in the form of a motorized roller 16 supported by the second base 13 belonging to the base 1. The roller 16 extends across the passage 3 and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the document.

  The roller 16 being supported with simple rotation, without the possibility of transverse movement, to simplify the design of its drive, is interposed between the CIS bar 14 and the first base 11, elastic support means 17 adapted to elastically push said bar 14 towards the roll 16.

  The second image capture means 8 are constituted analogously, in an inverted situation. However, the presence of the transvision illumination means 9 prevents the support means from being made in the form of a roll, so that the following modified arrangement is used.

  A second contact image sensor (CIS) array 18 is fixedly supported by the second base 13 downstream (in the direction of travel of the document) of the first CIS array 14 and as close as possible thereto. . The second CIS strip 18 extends over the entire width of the second surface 12 of the second base 13 and transversely (preferably perpendicularly) to the direction of travel of the document.

  Second support means 19 are operatively associated with the second CIS array 18 to keep the document being scrolled in contact therewith. These second support means 19 comprise one (or possibly more) elastically deformable flap 20, made of a transparent material, supported along one of its sides at 21 by the first base 11 over the entire width of the surface 10. flap 20, having a height higher than that of the passage 3, extends transversely thereto (preferably perpendicularly) to the direction of travel of the document, its opposite side being in elastic support against the second CIS bar 18 .

  The lighting means 9 of the third image capture means 8 by transvision are in the form of a bar of lighting means (for example a strip formed of an alignment of a multiplicity of microdiodes) supported by the first base 11 and extending over the entire width of the first surface 10 facing the second CIS array 18 arranged to also capture the radiation emitted by the light bar 9 through the document.

  Downstream of the bars 18, 9, the document driving means may advantageously comprise a document extractor towards the outlet S, constituted for example in the form of a rolling mill trainer 22 formed of two tangent rollers extending over the entire width of passage 3; a roller 23 which is motorized is supported by the second base 13 while the other roller 24, mad, is supported by the first base 11, being pushed elastically towards the motorized roller 23.

  In the apparatus just described, the initial training of the document is provided by the roll 16. To avoid the problems posed by a drive generated by a single roll, arranged unilaterally, and to ensure regular initial training of the document it is advantageously provided, as drawn in broken lines, a document aspirator to the inlet E, constituted for example in the form of a roller former 26 formed of two tangential rollers 2859806 extending over the entire width of the passage 3; a roller 27 which is motorized is supported by the second base 13 while the other roller 28, crazy, is supported by the first base 11, being pushed elastically at 29 in the direction of the motorized roller.

  As follows from the preceding explanations, all the motorized rollers 16, 23 and possibly 27 are grouped in the second base 13. It then becomes easy to ensure that their motorization is obtained from a single motor 30 housed in the base 1, through transmissions 31 of any suitable type (gears, belts, ...). The base 1 can also house all the elements, including mechanical and / or electrical (eg power supply, ...), which are necessary for the operation of the device.

  To minimize the power consumption of the apparatus and to ensure that it operates only in the presence of document (s) to be treated, it is advantageous to provide a document presence sensor 32 which is arranged in the vicinity of the inlet E of the passage 3, upstream of the first drive roller 16 or possibly, if present, of the rolling mill driver 26 and which is able to control the start-up of the apparatus, and particular of the engine 30.

  In an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, the first CIS strip 14 operates in red light.

  In an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, the second CIS array 18 operates in red light, but it can be envisaged alternatively that it operates in infrared light.

  In an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus, the bar 9 of transvision lighting means emits infrared light, but it can alternatively be envisaged that it operates in red light.

  The connection of the first direct-read CIS card 14 and the two links of the second CIS 18 operating in direct reading and transvision with the collected electronic signal processing devices, as well as these electronic devices have not been illustrated. because not falling within the scope of the present invention.

  The device according to the invention which has just been described is of great universality of use because its design for an analytical reading of the front, back and by transvision of the entire document allows it to issue signals representative of all the markings of the document, regardless of their locations on the document. In particular, the modification of the configuration of the markings (documents of different origins, documents modified over time) does not affect the operation of the analyzer apparatus according to the invention, the correct processing of the collected signals falling within a suitable adaptation. of the processing electronics (update of the algorithms).

  In addition, and this is a considerable advantage, the analyzer apparatus, because it covers the entire surface of the document, makes no selection of information a priori and remains neutral vis-à-vis of the document. This allows to multiply as much as desired the marks on and / or in the document, the decoding of these marks and especially the decoding of their combination (s) remaining from the field of processing electronics and appropriate algorithms.

  The arrangement of the apparatus thus constituted is very flexible to adapt to the needs of the users, and it is easy, to the basic structure explained above, to add auxiliary organs extending the functions provided. For example, it is possible to add, on the trajectory followed by the document, one (or more) magnetic head for reading additional coded information present in at least one magnetic strip or metal insert provided on and / or in the document . It is also possible to add illumination means in ultraviolet light to analyze the paper quality of the document. It would also be possible to provide in the apparatus a modem interface (wired or radiofrequency) for directly connecting the device to a central database and / or allowing a remote update of the parameters of analysis and signal processing (update algorithms), as well as the use of changing keys (dynamic keys).

  The use of miniature sensors makes it possible to produce an analysis zone of very short length (for example typically a distance of the order of 80 mm between the axes of the rollers 16 and 23), so that it becomes possible to design a device with a very small footprint for use at the place of transaction.

  Finally, the design of the apparatus in the form of two elements 1 and 2 defining the passage 3 of scrolling documents and deviate from each other to give free access to the particular drive members greatly facilitates maintenance operations and especially easy troubleshooting (document jamming, jamming) for unspecified users.

  It will also be emphasized that the technology implemented in the apparatus according to the invention - 2859806 that is to say the recording of a complete image of the front and / or back of a document - provides a character recognition function or Optical Character Reading (OCR) function that can be exploited independently of a document authentication function (reading bank notes or other fiduciary documents) - for example, a function of additional office scanner - or in parallel with it - for example authentication of a lotto game ticket and registration of that ticket.

Claims (19)

  A document analysis apparatus, characterized in that it comprises: a substantially rectilinear passage (3) through which a document is forced to scroll substantially flat; first means (6) for capturing an image of the whole of one face of said document, second means (7) for capturing an image of the whole of the other side of said document, third means (8) for capturing an image by transvision of the whole said document subjected to a through illumination, and - motorized drive means for forcing said document to scroll substantially flat in said passage (3) from an input (E) thereof to an output (S) of this one.   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second image capturing means (6, 7) are located respectively on either side of said passage (3) and are offset relative to one another. to another in the scrolling direction of the document.   An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said third transvision image capturing means (8) are operatively associated with said second image capturing means (7), said third image capturing means comprising transvision lighting means located opposite said second image capturing means on the other side of said passage.   4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises: - a first base (11) having a first surface (10) and a second base (13) having a second surface (12) said first and second surfaces being mutually opposite and substantially parallel and defining between them said substantially rectilinear passage (3) for tracking a flat document, - a first contact image sensor array (14) supported by said first base (11) and 10 extending over the entire width of said first surface (10) transversely to the running direction of the document, - first support means (15) operatively associated with said first sensor array (14) to maintain the document in contact with the latter during its scrolling, - a second strip of contact image sensors (18) supported by said second base (13) downstream of said first strip (in FIG. e direction of travel of the document) and extending over the entire width of said second surface (12) transversely to the running direction of the document, - second support means (19) operatively associated with said second sensor array (18). ) to keep the document in contact with the latter during its scrolling, - a strip of lighting means (9) supported by said first base (11) and extending over the entire width of said first surface (10). ) facing said second sensor array (14), and - motorized drive means (16, 23, 27, 30, 31) for forcing the document to scroll substantially flat in said passage (3) from said input (E) 2859806 21 thereof upstream of said first sensor array (14) and up to said output (S) thereof downstream of said second sensor array (18) and array of sensors lighting (9). 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the first support means (15) comprise: - a motorized roller (16) supported by said second base (11) facing said first sensor array (14), said motorized roller (16) extending across said passage (3) perpendicular to the running direction of the document, and - elastic support means (17) interposed between said first base (11) and said first sensor bar (14). ) and adapted to elastically push said sensor strip (14) towards said motorized roller (16).   6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the second support means (19) comprise at least one flap (20) elastically deformable, transparent material, supported by one of its sides (in 21) by the first base (11) extending over the entire width of said passage (3) across it and transversely to the direction of travel of the document, its other side being in elastic support against the second sensor array (18).   7. Apparatus according to cations 4 to 6, characterized 30 sensors (14) operates 8. Apparatus according to cations 4 to 7, characterized by sensors (18) operating any of the resellers than the first bar in red light.   any one of the resists that the second bar in infrared light.   9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the bar of lighting means (9) emits a red light.   10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the bar of lighting means (9) emits infrared light.   11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the motorized drive means comprises a rolling mill (22) located downstream of said second sensor array (18) for extracting the document out of the apparatus, said rolling mill (22) having a motorized roller (23) supported by the second base (13) and a driven counter roller (24) supported by the first base (11) via elastic support means (25) adapted to elastically push it towards the motorized roller (23).   12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the motorized drive means comprises a roller drive (26) located upstream of said first sensor array (14) for the introduction of the document in the apparatus, said rolling mill (26) having a motorized roller (23) supported by the second base (13) and a driven backing roller (24) supported by the first base (11) via means resilient support means (25) capable of elastically pushing it towards the motorized roller (23).   13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that said second base (13) is fixed and belongs to the base (1) of the apparatus which includes motor means (30, 31) of said motorized drive means for driving the document and in that said first base (11) is rotatably supported (at 4) by said second base (13) in the manner of a cover (2) of way that said first base can be spaced from said second base.   14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the articulation in rotation (at 4) of the first base (11) on the second base (13) is located near the outlet (S) of the aforesaid passage (3). ) document flow.   15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 14, characterized in that said passage (3) of document flow is inclined from about 40 to 60, preferably about 50, relative to the horizontal, the inlet (E) of said passage (3) being located at the top.   16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it further comprises means for reading the document in ultraviolet light.   17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises means for reading a magnetic track provided on and / or in the document.   18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises a document presence sensor (32) disposed in the vicinity of the entrance (E) of said passage (3) for scrolling the document and to control the start of operation of the device when introducing a document.   19. Analyzer apparatus for bank notes, characterized in that it is constituted according to any one of claims 1 to 18.