GB2075230A - Sheet counters - Google Patents

Abstract

In a machine for counting sheets, which are held in the form of a stack, by transferring the sheets in turn, the machine having a faculty for discrimnating foreign sheets mingled in the stack of sheets of a correct sort to be counted, an apparatus for detecting double/multiple transfer of sheets. In the apparatus, light is projected to a predetermined end portion of the sheet in the course of transfer thereof. Opto-electro transducer receive light resultant from the light incident on the end portion of sheet and offer electric output corresponding to the amount of light received therein. The output is compared with a reference level for detection of double/multiple transfer of sheets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for detecting double/multiple transfer of sheets in sheet counting machine having faculty for discriminating different sheet Background of the Invention: This invention relates generally to improvements in a machine for counting paper sheets and the like, such as bank-notes, of a particular kind, which machine has a faculty for discriminating, during counting operation, different kind of sheet which might be accidentally mingled in a stack of sheets of a particular kind to be counted, and particularly to an apparatus for detecting "double/multiple" or abnormal turning over of sheets.

Disclosed in the assignee's Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/1978 has been a machine for counting paper sheets and the like. In this sheet counting machine, e.g. bank-note counter, light is projected on the upper and lower portions of each of bank-notes which are turned over one after another by means of suction heads. This projected light is then received by optoelectro transducers which correspond to the kinds of bank notes issued in a country, respectively, so that any different kind of bank-note, which might accidentally mingle in a stack of correct bank-notes and which has a different size from the correct bank-note, can be automatically discriminated during counting operation.Thus, the bank-note counter of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/1978 has an advantage over the prior art bank-note counters in that the former bank-note counter has made it possible to discriminate without fail different kind of bank-notes which mingle in a stack of correct bank-notes and accordingly the discriminated different kind of bank-notes can be suitably removed while the number of the correct bank-notes can be counted correctly.

In the sheet counting machine of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/1978, however, when there is some defects such as pin holes in the suction region of a paper sheet, against which suction region the suction hole formed in the suction head is to abut for attraction and turning-over of this particular sheet, the next paper sheet, which lies on the opposite side of this particular paper sheet, may often, together with this particular sheet, be undesirably suckedly attracted to and turned over by the suction head.

In the conventional sheet counting machines including the machine of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/1978, the suction region of a sheet is selected to be in an end portion adjacent to the periphery of the sheet in order to reduce the resistance of the sheet against turning-over effected by the suction head, thereby to prevent the sheet from being separated away from the suction head. There are bank-notes of 10000-yen, 5000-yen, 1000-yen and 500-yen now issued in Japan which are different both in width and in length with respect to one another, and become smaller in size in the above-mentioned order.

Accordingly, when, for example, there is a 500-yen bank-note mingled in a stack of 10000-yen bank-notes, which are of larger size than the 500-yen note, and especially when this 500-yen note has a tendency of self-folding or wrinkles, the suction head may not reach the 500-yen note and, therefore, cannot turn the same over. As a result, the next 10000-yen note will be attracted by the suction head and be turned over accompanied by the 500-yen note.

Such "double/multiple" turning over of sheets, wherein two or more sheets are turned over at the same time, results in an error in count. Such an error must be prevented without fail. However, check for existance of pin holes of every sheet, e.g. bank-note, is time-consuming and impracticable. On the other hand, displacement of the suction head opposite to the middle portion of the bank-note is undesirable because this displacement results in an increased resistance in turning-over bank-note, which causes the bank-note to be separated away from the suction head, resulting in an error in count.

In the bank-note counter of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 157076/1978, when two or more bank-notes of the same kind are turned over at the same time, amount of light received in the optoelectro transducers correspondong to this particular kind of bank-note, i.e. amount of light being transmitted through the bank-notes to the optoelectro transducers is decreased, and accordingly such double/multiple turning over of bank-notes of the same kind can be detected. In this bank-note counter, however, double/multiple turning over of bank-notes of different kinds, that is, of different sizes, cannot be detected.

Summary ofthe Invention: The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above-described problems in the conventional sheet counting machines.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a detection apparatus used in a sheet counting machine of the above-described type having a faculty for discriminating different kind of sheet, which can detect without fail any double/multiple turning over of sheets both of the same kind and of different kinds.

In a machine for counting paper sheets and the like having a holder for holding in place a stack of sheets to be counted, a plurality of suction heads arranged on a rotating cylinder for turning over the sheets one after another held by the holder, and means for discriminating in the course of turning over the sheets different kind of sheets mingled in the stack of sheets, according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting double/multiple turning over of sheets which includes optical means for projecting light to a predetermined end portion of the sheet in the course of turning-over thereof, optoelectro transducer means for receiving light resultant from the light incident on the end portion of sheet and issuing electric output corresponding to the amount of light received therein, and means for detecting the output from the optoelectric transducer means.With such apparatus of the invention being provided in the sheet counting machine, double/multiple turning over of sheets, which may take place due to, for example, some defects in the sheet such as pin holes, self-folding tendency and/or wrinkles or due to erroneous action of the suction head, can be detected without fail. Further, alarm is given at the time of double/multiple turning over, and accordingly erroneous counting due to double/multiple turning over of sheets can be avoided.

Description ofthe Drawings: The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure I 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 transducer means provided in the apparatus; Figure 3 schematically shows the relationship in arrangement between the upper end portions of various kinds of bank-notes and the corresponding optoelectro transducing elements; Figure 4 shows a monitor regions in the upper end portions of the bank-notes shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 schematically shows the relationship in arrangement between the lower end portions of various kinds of bank-notes and the corresponding optoelectro transducing elements; Figures 6 and 7 schematically show the circuit diagram of the apparatus; Figure 8 shows in detail the note-kind discrimination circuit in the diagram shown in Figure 6;; Figure 9 shows in detail the correct-note signal control circuit in the diagram shown in Figure 6; and Figure 10 shows various waveforms appearing in the circuit of the apparatus.

Detailed description of the Invention: The invention will now be described in relation to an embodiment of the detection apparatus of the invention for detecting double/multiple turning over of sheets, which is used in a bank-note counting machine having a faculty for discriminating different kinds of bank-notes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view schematically illustrating the arrangement of the main portion of a bank-note counting machine incorporating therein the apparatus of the invention, and Figure 2 schematically shows the arrangement of an optical system in the machine.

Referring to Figure 1, a plurality of (five, in this embodiment) suction heads 1, each being rotatable about its rotating axis, are arranged in a circle and at equal angular intervals on the top of cylinder 2 which is mounted for rotation about its center axis on the frame of machine. Provided at one side (left-hand side, in Figure 1) of the cylinder 2 is an elongated bank-note holder 3 comprising an upright side wall and a horizontal plate which is pivotably supported on the frame of machine, so that the holder 3 may swing with its free end moving toward and away from the cylinder 2.In front of the middle portion of the right-hand surface of the holder 3, there is mounted on the frame of machine a supporting rod 4 which is adapted to support a stack of bank-notes 6 in an upright state on the holder 3 by sandwiching the bank-note of the stack 6 between the supporting rod 4 and the holder 3. Along the path of the free end of the holder 3, there is mounted on the frame of machine an arc-shaped supporting plate 5 which is adapted to support an end portion of the stack of bank-notes 6 carried on the holder 3. A plurality of magnetic pieces 8, such as iron pieces, of the same number (five, in this embodiment) as the suction heads 1 are provided on the peripheral wall of the cylinder 2 at equal angular intervals. A conventional contactless switch 7' is provided at a position close to the peripheral wall of the rotating cylinder 2.Also provided close to the peripheral wall of the cylinder 2 is a contactless switch 7 for offering various timing signals t1, t2 and t3 (Fig. 10) for timing detection operation for the lower end portion of bank-note and discrimination and sensing operations for different kinds of bank-notes, which will be described hereinbelow.

Operation of the bank-note counting machine having the above-described construction will now be described. In the non-operation state of the machine where no counting operation is effected, the holder 3 is located in the position shown by the phantom line in Figure 1 which is the farthest position of the holder 3 away from the cylinder 2.

In order to count bank-notes, first a stack of bank-notes 6to be counted is placed on the holder 3. The holder 3 is then rotated clockwisely by a predetermined angle to the position shown by the solid line in Figure 1, which is the closest position of the holder 3 to the cylinder 2, where the stack of bank-notes 6 is held between the upright wall of the holder 3 and the supporting rod 4. Upon coming to this closest position, the nearmost bank-note (the rightmost bank-note in Figure 1) in the stack 6 is sucked by and attracted onto the nearest one of the suction heads 1, causing a vacuum switch (not shown) to be turned on as illustrated at (k) in Figure 10, thereby to rotate the cylinder 2 in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise, in this embodiment) at a predetermined speed. The cylinder 2, the holder 3 and the rod 4 are arranged in such a relationship with respect to each other that the suction head 1 in the cylinder 2, when brought by rotation of the cylinder 2 close to the stack of bank-notes 6 held on the holder 3, will abut against the surface of the fore end portion of the bank-note, which end portion projects forward beyond the supporting rod 4 and thus is permitted to bend outwardly (rightward in Figure 1). in synchronism with this rotation of the cylinder 2, each of the suction heads 1 begins to rotate about its rotating axis in the direction opposite to that of the cylinder 2, that is, in the clockwise direction in this embodiment. Accordingly, the 1 sot bank-note, i.e. the above-mentioned nearmost bank-note, is pulled and turned over by the above-mentioned 1st suction head 1 as it rotates.With further rotation of this 1st suction head 1,this 1st bank-note departs away from the suction hole of the 1 st suction head 1 and thus is released from attraction. At this time, however, the next or 2nd suction head 1 comes into abutment with the next or 2nd bank-note, and accordingly the 1st bank-note which has been turned over is separated by this 2nd suction head 1 from the remaining bank-notes. The 2nd bank-note is then turned over by the 2nd suction head 1 and is separated by the 3rd suction head 1 from the remaining bank-notes, in the similar manner as described above. In such manner, the bank-notes held on the holder 3 are sequentially turned over one at a time. The contactless switch 7' is adapted to be closed once for every turning-over of the bank-note thereby to generate one counting pulse as illustrated at (j) in Figure 10.

The generated pulses are counted to provide the counted number of the bank-notes, as is well known by those skilled in the art. The contactless switch 7 is adapted to be closed in a similar manner thereby to generate timing pulses as illustrated at (a) in Figure 10.

As described above, in Japan four kinds of bank-notes, that is, a 10000-yen note, a 5000-yen note, a 1000-yen note and a 500-yen note are now issued. The height thereof become smaller in this order as shown in Figure 3. For counting the number of bank-notes, normally, bank-notes of the same kind are regularly arranged into the form of stack 6 which is loaded on the holder 3, the lower edges of all of the notes resting on the surface of the holder 3.

If a stack of bank-notes 6 contains therein one or more different kinds of bank-notes, there are then differences in height between these bank-notes. When such stack of bank-notes 6 is loaded on the holder 3, with the upper edges, rather than the lower edges, of the bank-notes being aligned at the same level, that is, the small sized note being floatingly suspended between the large sized notes, difference of height appears in the lower end portion of the stack 6. The maximum of such difference of height appears in the lower end portion of the stack 6 when the upper edge of the 10000-yen note, which is the largest in size, is aligned at the same level with the upper edge of the note of 5000-yen, 1000-yen or 500-yen, as shown in Figure 5.

According to the invention, any different bank-note mingled in a stack of specific kind of bank-notes can be detected by projecting light to the upper and lower end portions of the stack of bank-notes 6 held on the holder 3, and by provision of optoelectro transducer means which is adapted to receive the above-described projected light. This optoelectro transducer means comprises upper optoelectro transducing elements and lower optoelectro transducing elements, which are adapted to receive the above-described light. The upper optoelectro transducing elements are so arranged that they correspond to the upper end portions of the four kinds of bank-notes respectively which may be held on the holder 3 with their lower edtes resting on the surface of the holder 3.The lower optoelectro transducing elements are so arranged that they correspond to the lower end portions of the four kinds of bank-notes respectively which may be held on the holder 3 with their upper edges being aligned at the same level. Further, according to the invention, signals obtained from this optoelectro transducer means may be sent to discrimination means thereby to find or ascertain the kind of bank-note and to discriminate a different kind of bank-note from the correct bank-notes. Further, according to the invention, by utilizing the results obtained from the above-mentioned discrimination means, the number of each kind of bank-notes and/or money amount thereof can be obtained.

For these purposes, in the embodiment of the invention, in the course of turning over the bank-notes by means of the suction heads 1 on the rotating cylinder 2, a synchronizing signal which is generated in synchronism with the rotating cylinder 2 causes a light 12 from a lamp 10 to be projected through a projection lens 11 to the lower end portion of the stack of bank-notes 6. The resultant reflected light 13 passes through a condencer lens 14 and is received by optoelectro transducing elements 14A, 15B, 1 5C and 15D which are disposed in a light receiver 15 for detecting the positions of the lower end portions of the four kinds of bank-notes respectively which may exist in the stack 6. Slightly later after this, a light 19 is projected from a lamp 17 through a projection lens 18 to the upper end portion of the stack of bank-notes 6.The resultant transmitted light 20 passes through a condenser lens 21 and is received by optoelectro transducing elements 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D which are disposed in a light receiver 22 for detecting respectively the positions of the upper end portions of the four kinds of bank-notes which may exist in the stack 6. Shaded portions 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D exemplarily shown in Figure 4 are monitor regions which are selected in the 10000-yen, 5000-yen, 1000-yen and 500-yen bank-notes to be under monitor for detection through the light 20 by the optoelectric transducing elements 22A to 22D, respectively.

Figure 5 shows the state where there are mingled in a stack of 10000-yen bank-notes, which are the largest sized bank-notes, other sorts of bank-notes as different bank-notes and where maximum differences of height appear in the lower end portion of the stack, as described above, and also shows the arrangement of the optoelectro transducing elements 15A - 1 5D which are adapted to detect the positions of the lower end portions of the respective kinds of notes. Shaded portions 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D are monitor regions which are selected in the 500-yen, 1000-yen, 5000-yen and 10000-yen bank-notes to be under monitor made by the optoelectro transducing elements 15A to 15D, respectively.

The circuit arrangement in this embodiment will now be described in connection with Figures 6 to 10.

Output signals from the optoelectro transducing elements 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D are sent to corresponding amplifiers 28A, 28B, 28C and 28D to be suitably amplified therein, and then are applied to corresponding comparators 29A, 29B, 29C and 29D to be compared therein with predetermined reference levels. The resultant signals from the comparators 29A - 29D are applied to a latch circuit 30, to which circuit 30 timing pulse t3 is applied as write driving signal, which will be described hereinbelow. Accordingly, every time one timing pulse t3 is applied, the latch circuit 30 writes and stores new resultant signals which are put out from the comparators 29A - 29D. The signals stored in the latch circuit 30 are applied, as 4-bit data, to a lower position decision circuit 31.This circuit 31, which may have the similar construction as a note-kind discrimination circuit 37 shown in Figure 8, puts out from one of its four output terminals, detection block correction signal DB (see (f) in Figure 10) which results from detection of the lower end portion of a bank-note. When the bank-note has the normal or defectless appearance, output from only one of the comparators 29A - 29D is put out as "1" signal. In case the detection or monitor region of the bank-note is in a more reflective condition due to, for example, some foreign material attaching thereto, however, there is a possibility that "1" signals are put out from two or more of the comparators 29A - 29D.Accordingly, in order to avoid trouble, the lower position decision circuit 31 is adapted to select the output ( "1 " signal ) from only one of the comparators 29A - 29D which operates in the normal condition. When the comparator 29A operates in the normal condition and puts out "1" signal, detection block correction signals DB is put out only from an output terminal A of the lower position decision circuit 31 and is applied to an input control terminal SC of an analog switch 33A.Similarly, when one of the comparators 29B, 29C, 29D operates in the normal condition and puts out "1" signal, detection block correction signal DB is put out from the corresponding one of output B, C, D of the lower position decision circuit 31 and is applied to an input control terminal SC of the corresponding one of analog switches 33B, 33C, 33D.

Out put signals from the optoelectro transducing elements 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D are applied, through corresponding amplifiers 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, to input terminals 1A IBI IC, ID of the analog switches 33A - 33D only one of which can be actuated by the above-metioned detection block correction signal DB, as shown in Figure 6. Output terminals D, C, B, A of analog switches 33A- 33D are arranged in a manner that they correspond to 10000-yen note, 5000-yen note, 1000-yen note and 500-yen note, respectively.Accordingly, when the bank-notes are held on the holder in the normal state, that is, when their lower edges rest on the surface of the holder, although the optoelectro transducing elements 15A - 15D operate the detection block correction signal DB actuates only the analog switch 33D. In this case, for example, if only the optoelectro transducing element 22D receives light, light reception input signal (analog signal) is put out only from the output terminal A of the analog switch 33D and is applied to an input terminal of a peak point holding circuit 34A which will be described hereinbelow. Alternatively, for example, if the optoelectro transducing elements 22D and 22C receives light, light reception input signals (analog signals) are put out only from the output terminals A and B of the analog switch 33D and are applied to input terminals of peak point holding circuits 34A and 34B.On the contrary, when the lower edge or edges of some of the bank-notes are at a different level or levels and, for example, the optoelectro transducing elements 15A and 15B operates, only the analog switch 33B is actuated. In this case, the light reception signals (analog signals) of the optoelectro transducing elements 22A and 22B are put out from the output terminals A and B of the analog switch 33B. The light reception input signals (analog signals) of the optoelectro transducing elements 22C and 22D cannot be put in the analog switch 33B and, therefore, are not put out from either one of the analog switches 33A - 33D.

As will be apparent from the above description, if a different bank-note is accidentally mingled in a stack of correct bank-notes 6 and even if the lower edge of this different note is at a different level from that of the lower edges of the correct notes, at least one peak point holding circuit which corresponds to this different note can be selected from among peak point holding circuits 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D thereby to receive analog signal, by combination of the optoelectro transducing elements 22A- 22D (which are adapted to detect the upper end portions of bank-notes), the optoelectro transducing elements 15A - 15D (which are adapted to detect the lower end portions of bank-notes) and the analog switches 33A - 33D.Table 1 listed below shows relationship between combination of detection signals put out from the optoelectro transducing elements 22A - 22D for detection of upper end portions of bank-notes and detection signals put out from the optoelectro transducing elements 15A - 15D for detection of lower end portions of bank-notes, and the kinds of bank-notes.

TABLE 1

a, Elements for for upper lower end Down > Up a,ai; O o o C o C C > > ^ > o? rcua oa o o o O O N Ln O 0 0 rLnr 6 O note 5000-yen note 10000-yen note C C C a a) O m O o O N o o o N ID . S nJ o? O N o o N LD o n o o G) B Q E o X au / / < m O a ' Q O E D r Q < a B From Table 1, it will be understood that, for example, when the lower edge and upper edge of the bank-note are detected from the optoelectro transducing elements 15C and 22B, analog signal is put out to at least input terminal of the peak point holding circuit 34B which corresponds to 1000-yen bank-notes.Further, although the analog signal put out from the optoelectro transducing element 22C is put in the peak point holding circuit 34A, the signal does not affect the discrimination of the bank-note as apparent from a note kind discrimination circuit 37 which is described hereinafter. The peak point holding circuits 34A, 34B, 34C, 34D are arranged in a manner that they correspond to 500-yen, 1000-yen, 5000-yen and 10000-yen bank-notes, respectively.

Output signals from the output terminals A, B, C and D of the analog switches 33A - 33D which correspond to 500-yen, 1000-yen, 5000-yen and 10000-yen notes, respectively are put in and stored in the peak point holding circuits 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D which correspond to the above-mentioned kinds of bank-notes respectively. In the meanwhile, timing signal t3 is applied, as control signal, to these peak point holding circuit 34A - 34D from a timing signal generating circuit 25. Accordingly, at every time when a timing signal t3 is put out, contents of the peak point holding circuits 34A - 34D are renewed. Each output from the peak point holding circuits 34A - 34D is sent to first comparison input terminal of corresponding comparator 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D respectively.Predetermined reference level signal is put in second comparison input terminals of the comparators 36A - 36D from a level shifting switch 35. Accordingly, in the comparators 36A - 36D, input signals from the peak point holding circuits 34A - 34D are compared with the abovementioned reference level signal. Normally, this level signal is set for clean or undirty bank-notes and fresh bank-notes.

In case of discriminating and counting greatly dirty bank-notes, however, output levels of the optoselectro transducing elements 22A - 22D for detecting upper end portions of bank-notes are decreased, resulting in decreased levels of peak points stored in the peak point holding circuits 34A - 34D, and, therefore, there is a possibility of erroneous operation of the comparators 36A - 36D. Accordingly, in such case, the reference level is previously shifted down by means of the level shifting switch 35, thereby to allow correct discriminating operation. Signals resultant from comparison in the comparators 36A - 36D are applied to the note-kind discrimination circuit 37.

Further, according to the invention, output from the peak point holding circuit 34A, which corresponds to the 500-yen note, is put in to a first comparison input terminal of a comparator 36Z in order to avoid the double/multiple turning over of bank-notes which may be caused by the existance of a bank-note which has a self-folding tendency or wrinkles and accordingly cannot be grasped by the suction hole formed in the suction head 1. This is because the peak point holding circuit 34A which corresponds to the 500-yen note always receives the signal for transmitted light in the presence of any kind of bank-note. Put in to a second comparison inputterminal of the comparator36Z is the above-mentioned reference level signal which is put out from the level shifting switch 35.The comparator 36Z is arranged in a manner that it puts out "1" signal (double/multiple transfer detection signal) only when the level of input signal at the first comparison input terminal thereof is lower than a predetemined level. Signal put in to the first comparison input terminal of the comparator 36Z is at the maximum level in case where bank-notes are regularly turned over one at a time and the light is projected to the marginal region of bank-note which region has no pattern printed thereon, and is at a middle level in case where bank-notes are regularly turned over and the light is projected to the center region of bank-note which region has pattern printed thereon, and is at the minimum level in case where bank-notes are turned over in the double/multiple transfer fashion.The level of the above-mentioned reference level signal put in to the second comparison input terminal of the comparator 36Z is selected by taking in consideration the above-described matter about the level of the signal put in to the first comparison input terminal. That is, the level is selected to be less than the above-mentioned middle level and is greater than the above-mentioned minimum level. Signal resultant from comparison made in the comparator 36Z is put in to the note-kind discrimination circuit 37 thereby to be utilized for control of gate.

In place of providing the comparator 36Z, provision of a peak point holding circuit 34Z and a comparator 36Z' as shown by the dotted line in Figure 6 also can offer double-multiple transfer detection signal. Output signal from the optoelectro transducing element 22D is put in through the amplifier 32D to the peak point holding circuit 34Z, which is actuated by timing pulse ts. Output of analog signal from this peak point holding circuit 34Z is then put in to the comparator 36Z' for comparison therein with a predetermined reference level.

This is because the optoelectro transducing element 22D always can receive transmitted light in the presence of any kind of bank-note.

The note-kind discrimination circuit 37 has, for example, an arrangement as shown in Figure 8 thereby to put out note-kind discrimination signal KA, KB, KC or KD, or erroneous transfer signal KZ. Supposing if a stack of 10000-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 12 and 19 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 34D. At this time, the remaining optoelectro transducing elements 22B - 22D and 15A - 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 comparator 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 Figure 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 "l"leve1(10000-yen note discrimination signal, in case of 10000-yen note) is put out only from the output terminal 37D, as seen in Table 2 listed below.

TABLE 2

Outputs Terminals from circuit Not 37' 37A 378 37C 37D 372 kinds 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 note 1 0 0 0 0 Irregular transfer 0 0 0 0 1 In case where 5000-yen bank-notes are irradiatied by the lights 12 and 19 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 34D is not permitted to operate. The remaining optoelectric transducing elements 15A, 15B, 22C, 22D may receive some amount of light.With the 5000-yen 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, not-kind discrimination signal KC of "1" level (5000-yen note discrimination signal) is put out only from an output terminal 37C by the note-kind discrimination circuit 37, as seen in Table 2.

In case where 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 36B to operate without fail. At this 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 not 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 out only from an output terminal 37B by the note-kind discrimination circuit 37, as seen in Table 2.

In case where 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 (500-yen 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, 19 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 not 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 2.

In order to obtain such timing as detecting the lower end portion of the bank-note and such timing as detecting a different bank-note, synchronous pulse (as indicated at (a) in Figure 10) generated by the contactless switch 7 is put in to the timing signal generating circuit 25. Three kinds of timing pulses t1, t2,t3 as indicated at (b), (c), (d), in Figure 10 are then generated from the timing signal generating circuit 25, and are put in to a timing signal control circuit 40.

This timing signal control circuit 40 is adapted to control timing pulses t1, t2, t3 from the timing signal generating circuit 25 in order to make another timing pulses for capable of setting correct-note signal so as to detect different bank-notes, and for capable of detecting different bank-notes and abnormal transfer. Further, the timing signal control circuit 40 is adapted to make effective timing pulses which are generated after the start of counting operation, and to prohibit needless action of detecting different notes after completion of counting operation. For this purpose, start signal ST and count completion signal CO which is put out at the time when a vacuum switch (not shown) is turned off are put in the circuit 40.

Description still now be made about a correct-note signal control circuit 38. This circuit 38 is arranged in a manner that, by means of the timing signal control circuit 40, at a controlled time, that is, in this embodiment, at the time when timing pulse t2 is generated after the first bank-note in a stack of bank-notes has been turned over and discriminated (i.e. the second timing pulse t2 after start), the circuit 38 stores, as correct-note discrimination signal CRD against different bank-notes, one of note-kind discrimination signal KA - KD put out from the note-kind discrimination circuit 37 indicating the first bank-note, and sends this stored note-kind discrimination signal (correct-note discrimination signal CRD) to a different note discrimination circuit 39, which will be described hereinbelow, thereby to cause this circuit 39 to perform comparison of the 2nd and the succeeding bank-notes with note-kind discrimination signal KA - KD for discriminating different bank-notes. For this purpose, note-kind discrimination signals KA- KD, abnormal transfer signal KZ, and timing pulse t'2 from the timing signal control circuit 40 are put in to the correct-note signal control circuit 38.When different bank-notes exist on both sides of a stack of bank-notes, these different notes should be removed by the machine operator before starting count operation. When the first bank-note in a stack of bank-notes is turned over or transferred in an abnormal fashion, this transfer should be disposed of as an abnormal transfer.

Put in to the different note discrimination circuit 39 are note-kind discrimination signals KA - KZ, abnormal transfer signal KZ, and also timing pulses p,, p2, p3 outputted from the timing signal control circuit 40, as well as the above-mentioned correct-note discrimination signal CRD. Thus, after the circuit 39 received and stored the above-mentioned correct-note discrimination signal CRD, the circuit 39 receives note-kind discrimination signals KA - KD and abnormal transfer signal KZ during transfer of the 2nd and the succeeding bank-notes thereby to compare these signals KA - KD with the correct-note discrimination signal CRD at every time when each of the 3rd and the succeeding timing pulses t1 is generated.When a discordance is detected during such comparison operation, the circuit 39 puts out through an output terminal 43 thereof a different-note detection signal DIF thereby to turn on an alarm lamp or actuate other suitable alarm device to indicate that there is a different bank-note mingled in a stack of bank-notes 6 which is now under counting. -Further, the circuit 39 receives abnormal transfer signal KZ, as described above, thereby to perform abnormal transfer controlling operation together with the above-described different note discriminating operation, and, when an abnormal transfer occurs, the circuit 39 puts out through an output terminal 42 thereof an abnormal transfer detection signal ET thereby to give an alarm in a similar manner as above.

It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described foreign-note detecting operation can be realized by arranging the correct-note signal control circuit 38, the different note discrimination circuit 39 and the timing signal control circuit 40 with respect to each other in a manner as shown in Figure 9, and accordingly description about details of this arrangement and operation thereof is omitted.

According to the embodiment, the above-described abnormal transfer detection signal ET and different-note detecting signal DIF can be reset by means of clear signal CLR, which is manually given, or start signal ST which is given at the time of start ofthe next counting operation.

Description will now be made in connection with Figure 7 about arrangement of an operation circuit 26, a display circuit 27 and a printing circuit 41, which is adapted to receive therein note-kind discrimination signals KA - KD and abnormal transfer signal KZ thereby to compute the number of sheets of each kind of bank-notes and the money-amount thereof, and to display and print such computed results. Respective note-kind discrimination signals KA - KD are gate-controlled by timing pulse t1, and are put in through a gate circuit 90 comprising AND gates 90A, 90B, 90C, 90D to the corresponding counting circuits 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D for counting the number of each kind of bank-notes, and are also put in through an OR gate OR1 to a counting circuit 33T for counting the total number of all kinds of bank-notes. Respective counted values obtained in the counting circuits 60A - 60D are sent to a number display section 62C provided in a display circuit 27 for display of the number of each kind of bank-notes, and are also sent to conversion circuits 61 A, 61 B, 61 C, 61 D, which are provided corresponding to the respective kinds of bank-notes, for conversion into money-amounts. Counted value obtained in the counting circuit 33T is sent to a total-number display section 62D provided in the circuit 27 for display of the total number. Respective money-amount data obtained in and put out from the conversion circuit 61A - 61 D are sent to a money-amount display section 62B provided in the circuit 27 for display of money amount of each kind of bank-notes.Further, such money-amount data from the conversion circits 61A - 61 D are sent to money-amount totaling circuit 61T for computing the total amount of money. The totaled money-amount data put out from the circuit 61T is sent to a total-amount display section 621A provided in the circuit 27 for display of the total amount of money.

The above-described various counted values and data are sent to a printer control section 63 provided in the printing circuit 41 thereby to be printed buy a printer 64through print command signal PC which is given automatically at the time of completion of discriminating/counting operation or is given by manually handling a button.

After the above-described various computed results have been displayed, manual reset signal MR, which is given by manually handling a reset button orthe like, is sent through an OR gate OR2 to the counting circuits 60A - 60D and 33T thereby to reset these circuits and accordingly reset the contents displayed in the respective sections 62A - 62D in the display circuit 27 to "O". Alternatively, an automatic reset signal AR may be put out with the closing action of the holder 3, for example, at every time when counting operation is performed, and be sent through a gate 65 and the OR gate OR2 thereby to perform the above reset action.In case of accumulating, one by one, date (money amounts and/or numbers of sheets) of stacks of bank-notes 6, which stacks are counted one after another, the gate 65 is closed by means of summing mode signal SM thereby to prevent automatic reset signal AR from causing the above-described reset action.

Abnormal transfer signal KZ is sent, through an AND gate 90Z provided in the gate circuit 90, to a setting input terminal S of a flip-flop FF2 thereby to set this flip-flop FF2 and send its setting output signal to an alarm driving circuit 66 for making alarm indication such as alarm sound or alarm display. Reset signal (MR or AR, or output signal X from the OR gate OR2) is put in to a reset input terminal R of the flip-flop FF2 thereby to reset the flip-flop FF2 to stop alarm indication.With an arrangement being made where setting output signal from the flip-flop FF2 is sent to a counting circuit 67, reset signals AR, MR and timing pulse t3 are put in through an OR gate OR3 to the reset input terminal R of the flip-flop FF2, and counted value obtained in the counting circuit 67 is sent to a display device, 68, it is possible to count and/or display the number of abnormal transfer signals KZ which have been generated. With a selection switch 69 being provided for the display circuit 27, it is possible to select a desired one from among the display section 62A 62D to make a display only in the selected one section.

While, in the above, the invention has been described in connection with the embodiment which has been applied to the machine for counting paper sheets or the like, such as the bank-note counter, of the type wherein light is projected to both of the upper and lower end portions of sheet thereby to detect different sheets, the invention can also be applied to a sheet counting machine of another type, such as the sheet counting machines disclosed in the assignee's Japanese Patent Application Nos. 103284/1976 and 143628/1978, wherein light is projected only to one end portion of sheet.

Further, while, in the above embodiment, output from the optoelectro transducing elements for discriminating note-kinds is utilized and is electrically treated to detect double/multiple transfer of different bank-notes which are different from a correct kind of bank-note, the invention is not limited to this. For example, a separate optoelectro transducing element, which is used exclusively for detecting doublel multiple transfer, may be provided in a manner that it is corresponds substantially to the center portion of bank-note so that it may detect the amount of transmitted light which has passed through the center portion of bank-note.

It should be understood that various changes and modification can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

1. In a machine for counting paper sheets and the like having a holder for holding in place a stack of sheets to be counted, a plurality of suction heads arranged on a rotating cylinder for transferring the sheets by turning over the sheets held by the holder, and means for discriminating in the course of transferring the sheets a different sheet mingled in the stack of sheets, an apparatus for detecting double/multiple transfer of sheets comprising: optical means for projecting light ot a predetermined end portion of the sheet in the course of turning-over thereof; optoelectro transducing means for receiving light resultant from the light incident on said end portion of the sheet and putting out electric output corresponding to the amount of the light received therein; and means for detecting said output from said electro transducing means, thereby to detect double/multiple transfer of the sheets when such double/multiple transfer takes place.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a note kind discrimination circuit for descriminating kinds of bank-notes.