GB2049246A - Apparatus for detecting abnormal feeding of sheets for use with a sheet counting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for detecting abnormal feeding of sheets for use with a sheet counting machine. The apparatus includes light emitting devices for projecting light to end portions of the sheet in the course of turning-over thereof, and optoelectro transducing elements for receiving light resulting from the light incident on the end portions of the sheet and for issuing outputs in response to the amount of light received therein. The apparatus has a function of detecting abnormal feeding of the sheet from the outputs of the optoelectro transducing elements and of separating sheets which have been turned over in response to abnormal feeding of the sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for detecting abnormal feeding of sheets for use with a sheet counting machine BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper counter provided with means for discriminating and detecting disorders. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paper counter with means for discriminating and detecting disorders, in which disorders such as incorporation of different kinds of notes and double feeding are detected and predetermined counter measures for eliminating the detected disorders, such as removal of notes, discriminated as being different, are performed.

Description of the Prior Art: In connection with paper counters provided with means for discriminating and detecting disorders, we previously proposed an apparatus for discriminating different kinds of notes in a paper counter (Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/78) and an apparatus for detecting double feeding in a paper counter provided with means for discriminating different kinds of notes (Japanese Patent Application No. 22126/79).

In the paper counter of the former proposal (Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/78), which is used for counting, for example, notes, rays of light are projected on the upper and lower ends of individual notes turned over in succession by a suction head and these light rays I are received by optoelectro transducing elements disposed for respective kinds of notes, so that when a different kind of note having a different size (hereinafter referred to as a "different note") is included in a bundle of notes to be counted, this different note is automatically discriminated.Although different notes cannot be discriminated in a bundle of notes according to the conventional note counter, employing the paper counter of the former disclosure enables different notes to be detected and discriminated in a bundle of notes assuredly, and a predetermined treatment, such as cancellation, can be performed for the discriminated different notes. Moreover, a precise count of normal notes can be obtained. This paper counter therefore offers various advantages.

In a paper counter, for example, a note counter, according to the latter disclosure (Japanese Patent Application No. 22126/79), a double feeding caused by damage to a note such as a pinhole, an irregularity such as folding or wrinkling or erroneous operation of a suction head is detected by a double feeding detecting device. Namely, on occurrence of double feeding, this is immediately detected and an alarm or the like is issued. Accordingly, an erroneous count owing to double feeding can be prevented and the paper counter of this type is advantageous for practical use.

Procedures for detection of different notes (inclusive of detection of double feeding) in the conventional device for detecting and discriminating different notes will now be described.

A note is drawn and turned over by a suction head, and at a predetermined point during this turnover operation, the position of the lower end of the note is detected and stored. Following this the peak point of a detection signal indicative of the upper end of the note is stored. Then, a subsequent note is similarly turned over and at the above-mentioned predetermined point during the turn-over operation it is judged whether or not the prece.dent note is a normal note at the same time that the position of the lower end of the note being turned over is detected and stored.

The reason why the timing for detection of different note or double feeding is retarded to the point just before turn-over of the subsequent note as pointed out above is that the suction head is not provided with a member for holding a note in the raised state with the result that the upper end of the note kept free; hence the turn-over state is influenced by the stiffness of the note. More specifically, if a note has been much-used, the note gets folded and creased and loses stiffness, it can therefore not be turned over with the upper end thereof raised or erected and is apt to fall, and only the upper end of such note arrives at the detecting position after a delay. This causes the timing of the detection signal to become irregular. Therefore, the detection timing is delayed so that the peak point can be stored assuredly.

As will be apparent from the foregoing illustration, in the conventional detecting device, although it is possible to electrically interrupt supply of input signals to the counter upon detection of a different note or double feeding, the detection timing is too long delayed and it is impossible to actuate a batch device (device for taking out an optional number of notes) just after turn-over of a different note to separate this different note from notes to be counted, by means of a separator, while stopping the counting operation.In actual operation, after turn-over of a note subsequent to the detected different note, the counting operation is interrupted for the first time, but this arrangement is not preferred from the viewpoint of design. (Incidentally, the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 103284/76 teaches that the counting operation may be electrically interrupted, but it is not specifically disclosed that the counting operation is interrupted by the batch device.) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention has been completed as the result of research conducted with a view to eliminating the above disadvantage involved in the conventional technique.It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a paper counter provided with means for discriminating and detecting disorders, in which just after occurrence of a disorder, the paper turn-over operation is interrupted and notes which have been turned over before occurrence of the disorder can be separated from notes which have not been turned over.

In accordance with the fundamental aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper counter provided with means for discriminating and detecting disorders, which comprises suction heads disposed on a rotary cylinder to turn over, one at a time, paper sheets packed in a paper bundle holder for effecting the counting operation and means for discriminating a different kind of paper sheet and for detecting a disorder such as abnormal feeding, wherein just after discrimination of the different kind of paper or detection of the disorder, the paper turnover operation is interrupted at the same time that papers which have been turned over are separated from papers which have not been turned over.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bank-note counter to which an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention is applied; Figure 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the arrangement of optoelectro transducing elements provided in the apparatus; Figure 3 is a side view showing relation between a holder arm and a separator arm; Figure 4 is a side view showing relation between upper end portions of various kinds of banknotes and optoelectro transducing elements; Figure 5 is a front view showing monitor regions in the upper end portions of the bank-notes shown in Fig. 4;; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing relation between the lower end portions of various kinds of bank-notes and the optoelectro transducing elements; Figure 7 is a block diagram a circuit of the apparatus; Figure 8 shows a circuit for discriminating kinds of bank notes; Figure 9 shows circuits for controlling normal note signals, discriminating different signals, controlling timing signals and driving a batch device; and Figure 10 is a time chart showing wave forms of signals at respective points in Fig. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: The present invention will now be described with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the present invention is applied to a note counter. The mechanical structure and circuit structure of this note counter will first be described and the operations will be then described.

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the principal portion of the mechanical system of the note counter and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the optical system of the note counter.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality (5 in this embodiment) of suction heads are rotatably supported concentrically on a rotary cylinder 2 on the top face of the note counter, and on one side of the rotary cylinder 2 there are disposed a note bundle holder 3 having the rear end thereof rotatably pivoted and a note bundle pressing rod 4 in close proximity to the center of the inner face of the holder 3. An attachment plate 1 a and a rod-like holding member 1 b are fixed to the upper end of each suction head 1. As described in detail hereinafter, this holding member 1 b is disposed to prevent a note being turned over from folding and to perform detection of different notes in a reliable manner. In the upper portion of the holder 3, an arcuate note stopper 5 is vertically disposed in close proximity with the free end of the holder 3. A known contactless switch 7 is disposed in close proximity to the side wall face of the rotary cylinder 2 and magnetic pieces 8 such as iron pieces, the same number as that of the suction heads 1, that is, five magnetic pieces 8 in this embodiment, are equidistantly arranged on the peripheral side wall face of the rotary cylinder 2. When the rotary cylinder 2 is rotated as described hereinafter, the contactless switch 7 detects the magnetic piece 8 passing in front of the contactless switch 7 and issues a signal as shown in (a) of Fig. 10. A batch device 90 is disposed around the rotary.cylinder 2 in close proximity to a note bundle 8 at the counting position. This batch device 90 is arranged so that when a predetermined number of notes are turned over and counted, the turn-over counting operation is stopped, allowing a predetermined number of notes to be taken out.In this embodiment, this batch device 90 is utilized to interrupt the turn-over counting operation when a different note is discriminated or when abnormal feeding is detected. This feature will be described in detail hereinafter.

Batch device 90 comprises a solenoid 91, a plunger 92, a return spring 93, a separator arm 95 and a pin 94. Normally, the plunger 92 is projected by the return force of the return spring 93 to locate the separator arm 95 at a position indicated by a broken line. When the solenoid 91 is energized by a batch device driving circuit 44 described hereinafter, the plunger 92 is drawn back to locate the separator arm 95 at a position indicated by a solid line.

Although the holding member 1 b is moved with rotation of the rotary cylinder 4, it is arranged so that it will not fall in contact with the separator arm 95. Furthermore, the separator arm 95 and holding member 1 b are arranged so that, as shown in Fig. 3, they do not interfere with a zone for inspecting the upper ends of notes, described hereinafter (the hatched area in Fig. 3).

The optical system of the note counter comprises a projector for detecting the lower ends of notes, a projector 1 6 for detecting the upper ends of notes, a light receiver 1 5 for detecting the lower ends of notes and a light receiver 22 for detecting the upper ends of notes. These projectors 9 and 1 6 and light receivers 1 5 and 22 are arranged around the rotary cylinder 2 in the order of the light receivers 22 and 1 5 and the projectors 9 and 1 6 in the clockwise direction.The projector 9 includes a lamp 10 and a convex lens 11 and the projector 1 6 includes a lamp 1 7 and a convex lens 1 8. The light receiver 1 5 includes optoelectro transducing elements 1 5A to 1 SD and a convex lens 14. The optoelectro transducing elements 1 SA to 1 SD are disposed at positions different with respect to the vertical direction (the frontback direction on the sheet of Fig. 1) and as described hereinafter, the elements 1 SA to 1 SD are arranged so that the lower ends of notes can be detected (see Fig. 6).Similarly, the light receiver 22 includes optoelectro transducing elements 22A and 22and a convex lens 21, and the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D detect the upper ends of notes (see Fig. 4).

The circuit structure of this embodiment will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.

Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the entire circuit structure, Fig. 8 illustrates in detail one embodiment of a circuit 37 for discriminating kinds of notes, and Fig. 9 illustrates in detail one embodiment of the layout of a circuit 38 for controlling normal note signals, a circuit 39 for discriminating different notes, a circuit 40 for controlling timing signals and a batch device driving circuit 44. Referring to Figs. 7 to 9, output signals from the optoelectro transducing elements 1 SA to 1 SD are appropriately amplified by corresponding amplifiers 28A to 28D, applied to comparator circuits 29A to 29D where they are compared with preset standard levels.

Perspective signals indicative of the result of the comparison are sent from the comparator circuits 29A to 29D to latch circuit 30 which also receives a timing pulse TP1, described hereinafter, as a write driving signal. Accordingly, every time a timing pulse TP1 is applied to the latch circuit 30, it writes and stores a new signal from the comparator, the latch circuit 30 being adapted to repeat this operation. The signals stored in latch circuit 30 are applied as 4-bit data to a circuit 31 for detecting the position of the lower end of a note. If this circuit 31 is constructed as a circuit 37 for discriminating the kinds of note shown in Fig. 8, which will be described hereinafter, the lower end of the note is detected and a detection block correcting signal DB is delivered from one of four output terminals of this circuit 31.In this case, if normal notes are detected, the output from one of the comparator circuits 29A to 29D is a signal at logic "1". However, if foreign matter or the like is present at the note-detecting position to produce a state where reflection is likely to result, signals at logic "1" may issue from two or more of the comparator circuits 29A to 29D. Accordingly, the output (logic "1") of one normally acting comparator circuit among the circuits 29A to 29D is selected by the circuit 31 for detecting the position of the lower end of the note. For example, when the comparator circuit 29A acts normally and issues a signal at logic "1", a detection block correcting signal DB u is provided solely from the output terminal A of the detecting circuit 31 is applied to a control input terminal SC of an analog switch 33A.Similarly, when the comparing circuit 29B, 29C or 29D acts normally and issues a signal at logic "1", a detection block correcting signal DB is delivered from the corresponding output terminal B C or D and is applied to a control input terminal SC of a corresponding analog switch 33B, 33C or 3D.

Output signals from the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D are applied though corresponding amplifiers 32A to 32D to input terminals 1A to 1 D of analog switches 33A to 33D, one of which is actuated by the above-mentioned detection block correcting signal DB.

Analog signals A, B, C and D from output terminals A, B, C and D of the analog switches 33A to 33D, respectively, are stored in peak retaining circuits 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D. These analog signals A, B, C and D correspond to 500-yen, thousand-yen, five-thousand-yen and tenthousand-yen notes respectively. This relation will be described in detail hereinafter. Timing signals TP2 from a timing signal generating circuit 25 are applied as control signals to these peak point retaining circuits 34A to 34D, so that the content of each of the peak point retaining circuits 34A to 34D is renewed every time one timing signal TP2 is delivered. The outputs of the peak point obtaining circuits 34A to 34D are fed to first comparator input terminals of corresponding comparator circuits 36A to 36D, respectively.Preset standard level signals from a level converting switch 35 are applied to second comparator input terminals of the comparator circuits 36A to 36D, so that input signals from the peak point holding circuits 34A to 34D are compared with the standard level signals in the comparator circuits 36A to 36D.

The standard level signal is ordinarily set according to circulated notes or new notes. When a bundle of old and soiled notes is counted, there is a drop in the output levels of the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D for detecting the upper ends, whereby there is a drop in the levels of the peak stored and retained by the peak point holding circuits 34A to 34D.

Accordingly, there is a possibility that the comparator circuits 36A to 36D will operate erroneously. In order to eliminate this danger, in the above-mentioned case, the standard levels are lowered by the level shifting switch 35, whereby-the comparing and discriminating operation can be performed precisely. Signals of comparison results from the comparator circuits 36A to 36D are applied to the circuit 37 for discriminating the kinds of notes.

As shown in detail in Fig. 8, the circuit 37 for discriminating the kinds of notes comprises inverters 371 to 378, NAND circuits 379 to 381, NOR circuits 382 to 385, AND circuits 386 to 389 and an OR circuit 390. The discriminating circuit 37 is arranged so that a kind discriminating signal KA, KB, KC or KD or an abnormal feeding signal KZ is delivered acording to the output of the comparator circuit 36A, 36B, 36C or 36D or a comparator circuit 36Z.

These signals KA to KD are supplied to the different note discriminating circuit 39 and the normal note signal control circuit 38 and also to an arithmetic circuit 36 through a gate 80.

The contactless switch 7 detects the magnetic piece 8 every time it passes in front of the contactless switch 7 with rotation of the rotary cylinder 2 and delivers synchronous pulses as shown in (a) of Fig. 10 to the timing signal generating circuit 25. In the conventional note counter provided with means for discriminating different notes, two contactless switches are provided to generate two kinds of synchronous pulses, whidh are shown in (j) and (k) of Fig. 10.

One kind of synchronous pulse (shown in (j) of Fig. 10) is used for generation of timing pulses for discriminating the kinds of notes, and the other (shown in (k) of Fig. 10) is used for counting (see Japanese Patent Application No. 22126/79).

In the present embodiment, one contactless switch is disposed and synchronous pulses (shown in (a) of Fig. 10) from the switch 7 are used not only for counting but also for generation of timing pulses. More specifically, the contactless switch 7 and the magnetic pieces 8 are arranged so that the synchronous pulses (a) of the present embodiment as shown in Fig.

10 are caused to rise at the fall of one kind of synchronous pulses in the conventional counter (shown in (j) of Fig. 10) and form timing pulses TP1 and TP2 according to the rise of the synchronous pulses (a) and so that the synchronous pulses (a) are caused to fall at the rise of another kind of synchronous pulses in the conventional counter (shown in (k) of Fig. 10) and form timing pulses TP3. At the fall of the synchronous pulse (a), counting is made.

The timing signal generating circuit 25 generates timing pulses TP1, TP2 and TP3 shown in (b), (e) and (f) from the above-mentioned synchronous pulses. The timing pulse TP1 is delivered to the latch circuit 30 as the write signal and it is generated after the lapse of time t1 from the rise of the synchronous pulse. This time tl is adjusted so that the timing pulse TP1 is in agreement with the outputs of the amplifiers 28A to 28D (shown in (c) of Fig. 10).

The timing pulse TP2 is applied as a reset signal to the peak point holding circuits 34A to 34D and also to the timing signal control circuit 40. According to this timing pulse TP2, the timing signal control circuit 40 sends a timing signal P2 to the different note discriminating circuit. As shown in (e) of Fig. 10, the timing pulse TP2 is generated after the lapse of a time t2 from the rise of the above-mentioned synchronous pulse. This time t2 is determined so that the timing pulse TP2 is generated just before the inputs of the peak point retaining circuits 34A to 34D (shown in (g) of Fig. 10) arrive at their respective peaks.

The timing pulse TP3 is sent to the gate 80 and timing signal control circuit 40. According to this timing pulse TP3, the timing signal control circuit 40 sends timing pulses P1 and TP3' to the different note discriminating circuit 39 and normal note signal control circuit 38 respectively. This timing pulse TP3 is generated at the fall of the above-mentioned synchronous pulse (when a time t3 corresponding to the pulse width of the synchronous pulse has passed from the rise of the synchronous pulse). This pulse width t3 is determjned so that after the comparator outputs are delivered from the comparator circuits 36A to 36D and the note kind discriminating signals 37A to 37D are delivered from the note kind discriminating circuit 37 according to these comparator outputs, the timing pulse TP3 is generated.Accordingly, the different notes can be discriminated assuredly by comparing the note kind discriminating signals 37A to 37D with the normal note signal CRD according to the timing of the timing pulse TP3 (P1).

The reason why the discrimination treatment can be performed at a relatively early stage as described hereinbefore is that since the holding member I b is disposed so that the upper end of the note is not bent when the note is turned over, no deviation is caused in the points when the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D peak (correspondingly, the inputs of the peak point retaining circuits 34A to 34D arrive at their respective peaks). Furthermore, since the timing pulse TP2 is generated just before the input signal peaks, it becomes possible to prevent the peak retaining circuits 34A to 34D from erroneously retaining noise.

As shown in detail in Fig. 9, the timing signal control circuit 40 comprises an R-S flip-flop 410. D flip-flop 411 and 412 and AND circuits 41 3 to 41 5. This timing signal control circuit 40 is arranged so that according to the timing pulses TP2 and TP3, the timing for setting the normal note signal for detection of the fifferent note and the timing for enabling detection of the different note or abnormal feeding can be determined. Furthermore, this circuit 40 performs functions of rendering effective only timing pulses generated after the start of the counting operation and preventing the different note detecting operation after completion of the counting operation.For this purpose, a start signal ST and a signal CO, which indicative of completion of the counting operation and emitted when a vacuum switch not shown in the drawings is opened, are applied to the timing signal control circuit 40.

As shown in detail in Fig. 9, the normal note signal control circuit 38 comprises a latch 361, an inverter 362 and an AND circuit 363. The note kind discriminating signals KA to KD and KZ and the timing pulses TP3' from the timing signal control circuit 40 are applied to this normal note signal control circuit 38 so that at the timing controlled by the timing signal control circuit 40, that is, when the timing pulse TP3 (the first timing pulse TP3 after the start) is generated after the turn-over and discrimination of the first note in the present embodiment, one of the note kind discriminating signals KA to KD that is delivered from the note kind discriminating circuit 37 according to the kind of the first note is stored as a normal note signal CRD, and so that this stored signal, indicative of discrimination of the kind of the first note (the normal note signal CRD), is fed to the different note discriminating circuit 39 described hereinafter, whereby the circuit 39 compares the note kind discriminating signals KA to KD, produced according to the kinds of second and subsequent notes, with the stored signal CRD, thereby to discriminate different notes.

When a different note is present on the starting side face of the note bundle, an operator removes this note. Furthermore, if the first note is fed abnormally this abnormal feeding is treated as an error.

As shown in detail in Fig. 9, the different note discriminating circuit 39 comprises exclusive OR circuits 391 to 394, OR circuits 395 to 398, an inverter 399, AND circuits 400 to 403 and R-S flip-flops 404 and 405. The above-mention normal note signal CRD, the note kind discriminating signals KA to KD and KZ and the timing pulses P1, P2 and P3 from the timing signal control circuit 40 are applied to this different note discriminating circuit 39, so that afterthe normal note signal CRD is entered and stored in the circuit 39, the note kind discriminating signals KA to KD and KZ applied to the circuit 39 according to the kinds of the second and subsequent notes are compared with the normal note signal CRD when the second and subsequent timing pulses TP3 generated after the start of the counting operation are applied to the circuit 39.When disagreement is detected during this comparing operation, a different note detecting signal DIF is delivered from the output terminal- 43 of the circuit 39 and is applied to one input terminal of an OR circuit 444 of the batch device driving circuit 44. Furthermore, the abnormal feeding signal KZ is fed to the different note discriminating circuit 39 so that the operation of controlling abnormal feeding is initiated at the point when the discriminating operation is conducted on the first note, and when abnormal feeding takes place, an abnormal feeding detecting signal ET is sent from the output terminal 42 to the other input terminal of the above-mentioned OR circuit 444.

As shown in detail in Fig. 9, the batch device driving circuit 44 comprises a solenoid 441, a protective diode 442, a driving transistor 443, an OR circuit 444, a condenser 445, a resistor 446 and a rectifying circuit 447. The circuit 44 is arranged so that when the different note detecting signal DIF or abnormal feeding detecting signal ET is sent to the OR circuit 444 from the different note discriminating circuit 39, the transistor 443 is enabled to drive the solenoid 441.

In the present embodiment, a gate 80, and arithmetic circuit 36, a display circuit 27 and a printing circuit 41 are arranged so that the number of discriminated notes, the number of the counted notes and the sum of the notes can be displayed.

The operation of the present embodiment will now be described with reference to the case where ten-thousand-yen notes are counted. The case where a bundle of ten-thousand-yen notes not containing any different notes (five-hundred-yen, one-thousand-yen and five-thousand-yen notes) are counted without abnormal feeding will first be described. Then, discrimination of kinds of notes and detection of abnormal feeding will be described in detail. Finally, the operations to be performed when different notes are turned over or abnormal feeding takes place will be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7, in the stationary state where the note counting operation is not being conducted, the not bundle holder 3 is stably held at a position farthest from the rotary cylinder 2 as indicated by an imaginary line in Fig. 1.

When the counting operation is conducted, a bundle 6 of notes to be counted is placed in a predetermined state on the holder3. If the holder 3 is turned in the clockwise direction by a predetermined angle, the note bundle 6 is gripped between the press rod 4 and the holder 3 and is located at a position closest to the rotary cylinder 2 as indicated by a solid line in Fig. 1.

When the first note is attracted in this state and the vacuum switch not shown in the drawings is closed (see (1) of Fig. 10), the rotary cylinder 2 is rotated in a predetermined direction (in the counter-clockwise direction in the present embodiment) at a predetermined speed. Simultaneously, the respective suction heads 1 are rotated at a predetermined speed in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotary cylinder 2, that is, in the clockwise direction in the present embodiment, synchronously with rotation of the rotary cylinder 2, with the result that the attracting face of the suction head 1 located in closest proximity to the inner side face portion of the note bundle 6 in the portion above the press rod 4 confronts the innermost note and attracts the innermost note to turn it over.Then, the attracting face of the suction head 1 is released and the note that has been thus turned over is further delivered backward. Thus, notes in the note bundle 6 gripped in the predetermined state between the note bundle holder 3 and the press rod 4 are turned over one at a time from the innermost note by the suction heads 1 and are delivered backward, and every time one note is turned over, the contactless switch 7 is closed. Accordingly, one counting pulse is generated every time the contactless switch 7 is closed. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the number of notes contained in the note bundle 6 can easily be counted by counting these pulses.

Respective ten-thousand-yen notes are turned over by suction heads 1 and are counted in the above-mentioned manner. When each not is thus turned over, the lower end portion thereof is detected by the projecting portion 1 5 and the light receiving portion 1 6 and the upper end portion is detected by the projector 1 7 and the light receiver 18. Based on detection of the lower end and upper end portions, note kind discriminating signals KD (ten-thousand-yen note discriminating signals) are produced by the note kind discriminating circuit 37, as described in detail hereinafter.

When the counting operation is made on the first note, the timing pulse TP3' is sent to the normal note signal control circuit 38 from the timing signal control circuit 40. As the result, the ten-thousand-yen discriminating signal KD is read in the latch 361 (see Fig. 9) according to the first ten-thousand-yen note. Outputs subsequently emitted by the note kind discriminating circuit 37 are discriminated by the different note discriminating circuit 39 to determine whether or not they are ten-thousand-yen discriminating signals KD. In this case, since all the notes in the note bundle are ten-thousand-yen notes, no different note detecting signal DIF is generated, and the operation of counting the number of notes can be performed without interruption.

Discrimination of the kinds of notes and detection of abnormal feeding will now be described.

Said discrimination and detection are conducted according to procedures outlined below, In notes which are now circulated in Japan, the width differs according to the denomination of the note. Therefore, rays of light are applied to the upper end and lower end portions of notes and these rays are received by the upper and lower optoelectro transducing elements disposed for the respective note kinds which are discriminated based on outputs produced according to the received light rays. When double feeding takes place, the resulting change in the beam receiving output is detected and abnormal feeding is thus detected. Since both the upper and lower end portions of each note are detected, even if a different note is in the rising state, it can be discriminated without error. The discrimination of the note kinds and detection of abnormal feeding will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7, while notes contained in the note bundle 6 gripped by the note bundle holder 3 are turned over one at a time by the suction heads 1 on the rotary cylinder 1 and are delivered, for example, at the moment when each note is attracted to the suction head 1, a light ray 1 2 projected from the lamp 10 is applied to the lower end portion of the note through the projecting lens 11, and the resulting reflected light 1 3 is received through the focussing lens 14 by one of the optoelectro transducing elements 1 5A to 15D disposed in the light receiver 1 5 for the respective note kinds, whereby the position of the lower end portion of the note is detected.After a slight time lag, a light ray 1 9 projected from the lamp 1 7 is applied to the upper end portion of the note through the projecting lens 18, and the resulting transmitted light 20 is received through the focussing lens 21 by one of the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D disposed in the light receiver 22 for the respective note kinds, whereby the position of the upper end portion of the note is detected. The inspecting zones 24A to 24D for the optoelectro transducing elements 1 5A to 15D are shown in Fig. 6, and those of the optoelectro transducing elements 22A to 22D are shown in Fig. 5.

Discrimination of notes by the detecting operation of the optical system will now be described.

Supposing if a stack of ten-thousand-yen or 100QO-yen bank-notes 6 is loaded on the holder 3 and these bank-notes are turned over by the suction heads 1 while being irradiated by the lights 1 2 and 1 9 projected from the lamps 10 and 17, the optoelectro transducing elements 15D and 22A receive the most amount of light, and accordingly the peak point holding circuit 34D is actuated without fail through the output terminal D of the- analog switch 33D thereby to store and hold the peak point thereof for operation of the comparator 36D.At this time, the remaining optoelectro transducing elements 22B - 22D and 1 5A - 15C may receive some amount of light. with the 10000-yen bank-notes having normal appearance, however, levels of peak points held in the peak point holding circuits 34A - 34C do not make sure to permit the comparators 36A - 36C to operate. Although these comparators 36A - 36C may often be permitted to operate only when the 10000-yen bank-notes have been partially wasted to a great degree.However, since the note-kind discrimination circuit 37 has such arrangement as shown in Fig. 8, in the absence of double/multiple transfer detection signal (at the time of presence of "0" signal), outputs from the comparators 36A - 36D are in a state of being given priority, and note-kind discrimination signal KD of "1" level-(10000-yen not discrimination signal, in case of 10000-yen note) is put out only from the output terminal 37D, as seen in Table 1 listed below.

Table 1

Outputs from circuit 37 Terminals Note- 37A 37B 37C 37D 37Z 10000-yen note 0 0 0 1 0 5000-yen note 0 0 1 0 0 1000-yen note 0 1 0 0 0 500-yen 1 0 0 0 0 Irregular transfer 0 0 0 0 1 In case where five-thousand-yen or 5000-yen bank-notes are irradiated by the lights 1 2 and 1 9 projected from the lamps 10 and 17, combination of the optoelectro transducing elements which receives the most amount of light is the combination of the elements 15D and 22B or the combination of the elements 15C and 22A, and accordingly the peak point holding circuit 34C stores and holds therein peak point through the output terminal C of one of the analog switches 33D, 33C, thereby to permit the comparator 36C to operate without fail. At this time, the combination of the optoelectro transducing elements 15D and 22A can offer no output, and accordingly the comparator 36D is not permitted to operate. The remaining optoelectro transducing elements 1 5A, 15B, 22C, 22D may receive some amount of light. With the 5000yen bank-notes having normal appearance, however, level of peak points held in the peak point holding circuits 34A, 34B does not always permit the comparators 36A, 36B to operate and these comparators 36A, 36B may often be permitted to operate when the 5000-yen bank-notes have been partially wasted.However, in the absence of double-multiple transfer detection signal, note kind discrimination signal KC of "1" level (5000-yen note discrimination signal) is put out only from an output terminal 37C by the note-kinddiscrimination circuit 37, as seen in Table 1.

In case where thousand-yen or 1000-yen bank-notes are irradiated, combination of the optoelectro transducing elements which receives the most amount of light is the combination of the elements 15D and 22C, the combination of the elements 15C and 22B, or the combination of the elements 15D and 22A, and accordingly the peak point holding circuit 34B stores and holds therein peak point through the output terminal B of one of the analog switches 33D, 33C, 33B, thereby to permit the comparator 368 to operate without fail. At thus time, the combination of the optoelectro transducing elements 15D and 22B, the combination of the elements 15C and 22A, and the combination of the elements 15D and 22A can offer no output, and accordingly the comparators 36C, 36D are not permitted to operate.The remaining optoelectro transducing elements 15A, 15B, 22D may receive some amount of light. With the 1000-yen bank-notes having normal appearance, however, level of peak point held in the peak point holding circuit 34A does not always permit the comparator 36A to operate, and this comparator 36A may often be permitted to operate when the 1000-yen bank-notes have been partially wasted. However, in the absence of double/multiple transfer detection signal, note kind discrimination signal KB of "1" level (1000-yen note discrimination signal) is put only from an output terminal 37B by the note-kind discrimination circuit 37, as seen in Table 1.

In case where five-hundred-yen or 500-yen bank-notes are irradiated, combination of the optoelectro transducing elements which receives the most amount of light is the combination of the elements 15D and 22D, the combination of the elements 15C and 22C, the combination of the elements 15B and 22B, or the combination of the elements 15A and 22A, and accordingly the peak point holding circuit 34A stores and holds therein peak point through the output terminal A of one of the analog switches 33D, 33C, 33B, 33A, thereby to permit only the comparator 36A to operate. At this time, other combinations of the optoelectro transducing elements than the above-mentioned combinations can offer no output, and accordingly the comparators 36B, 36C 36D are not permitted to operate.Accordingly, in the absence of double/multiple transfer detection signal, note-kind discrimination signal KA of "1" level (500yen note discrimination signal) is put out only from an output terminal 37A of the note-kind discrimination circuit 37.

On the other hand, in case where two or more bank-notes of any sort, which are irradiated by the lights 12, 1 9 projected from the lamps 10, 17, are turned over at the same time by reason of erroneous action of the suction head 1 or by reason of defect, such as damage, self-folding tendency or wrinkles, of the bank-notes, or where such bank-notes have been greatly stained, the comparator 36Z operates to put out double/multiple transfer detection signal. As a result, there is no output from the output terminals 37A - 37D of the note-kind discrimination circuit 37 which correspond respectively to the kinds of bank-notes, while only abnormal transfer signal KZ of "1" '' level is put out from an output terminal 37Z which corresponds to abnormal transfer, as seen in Table 1.

As described hereinbefore, discrimination of the kinds of notes is performed according to the kinds of notes to be turned over, respectively, and corresponding note kind discriminating signals KA to KD are issued. Abnormal feeding is detected and an abnormal feeding signal KZ is emitted.

For example, when a five-hundred-yen note is incorporated as a different note in a bundle of ten-thousand-yen notes, the discriminating operation is performed as follows.

If the five-hundred-yen note is assumed to be turned over in the n-th place, the first to (n-l)-th notes are ten-thousand-yen notes and they are counted in the same manner as described above with respect to the case where no different note is contained and no abnormal feeding takes place. In this stage, the ten-thousand-yen note discriminating signal KD is read in the latch 381 of the normal note signal control circuit 38.

After counting of (n-l) of notes, the n-th note , that is, the five-hundred-yen note, is turned over. The note kind discriminating circuit 37 discriminates this note to send a five-hundred-yen discriminating signal KA to the different note discriminating circuit 39. This circuit 39 detects that this five-hundred-yen note discriminating signal KA is different from the ten-thousand-yen discriminating signal KD read in the latch 381 of the normal note signal control circuit 38 and the-circuit 39 sends a different note discriminating signal DIF to one input terminal of the OR circuit 444 of the batch device driving circuit 44, whereby the base potential of the transistor 443 is elevated and the transistor 443 is enabled. As a result, the condenser 445 discharges instantaneously, and the solenoid 441 is actuated by the resulting discharge current.Accordingly, the separator arm 95 which has been set at the position indicated by the broken line in Fig. I is shifted to the position indicated by the solid line and the first to n-th notes which, have already been turned over are separated from the (n + I)-th and subsequent notes. Since this operation is performed by the discharge of the condenser, it is completed instantaneously.

Accordingly, the counting operation can be interrupted assuredly before the subsequent note is turned over. After this discharge, a retention current is supplied from the rectifying circuit 447 (see Fig. 9) and the batch device 90 remains operative.

This batch device 90 is released by emitting a clear signal (not shown) to reset the detection signals DIF and ET. Thus, the solenoid 91 is de-energized and the separator arm 95 is returned to the original position indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1.

Incidentally, as is seen from (a), (f) and (k) of Fig. 10, the timings of the counting operation (the plus-one operation not shown), discrimination of the different note and detection of abnormal feeding in the present embodiment are the same as those of a counting operation (a plus-one incrementing operation) in the conventional counter, Accordingly, as is apparent to those skilled in the art, also in the present embodiment, if a batch mode is appropriately set, the counting and turn-over operation may be stopped after a predetermined number of notes have been turned over. Furthermore, it is apparent that in the present embodiment, after detection of abnormal feeding or turn-over of the different note, the counting operation may be stopped without turning over the subsequent note.

In the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is applied to the paper counter of the type where a different paper is detected by applying light rays to the upper end and lower end portions of papers. The present invention may be applied to the previously proposed paper counter of the different type where a different paper is detected by applying light rays only on one end portion of papers (see Japanese Patent Applications No. 103428/76 and No.

143628/78).

As will be aparent from the foregoing illustration, according to the present invention, just after occurrence of a disorder, the operation of turning over papers is interrupted and papers which have been turned over before occurrence of the disorder are separated from papers which have not yet been turned over. Accordingly, the operation to cope with the disorder, for example, the operation of removing a different kinds of paper, can be performed just after occurrence of the disorder.

Claims (2)

1. A paper counter provided with means for discriminating and detecting disorders, which comprises suction heads disposed on a rotary cylinder to turn over, one at a time papers packed in a paper bundle holder for effecting the counting operation, and means for discriminating a different kind of paper and for detecting a disorder such as abnormal feeding, characterized in that just after discrimination of the different kind of paper or detection of the disorder, the paper turn-over operation is interrupted and simultaneously, papers which have been turned over are separated from papers which have not been turned over.

2. An apparatus for detecting abnormal feeding of sheets for use with a machine for counting paper sheets having a holder in place a stack of sheets to be counted which includes a plurality of suction heads arranged on a rotary cylinder for turning over the sheets held by the holder, comprising: optical means for projecting light to end portions of the sheet in the course of turning-over thereof, optoelectro transducing elements for receiving light resulting from the light incident on said end portions of the sheet and for issuing outputs in response to the amount of the light received therein, means for detecting abnormal feeding of the sheet from said outputs of the optoelectro transducing elements, and means for separating sheets which have been turned over from sheets which have not been turned over in response to abnormal feeding of the sheet.