GB2170939A

GB2170939A - Bank note counterfeit detection device

Info

Publication number: GB2170939A
Application number: GB08601427A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher William Yeomans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-01-21
Filing date: 1986-01-21
Publication date: 1986-08-13
Also published as: GB8601427D0

Abstract

A banknote counterfeit detection device comprises a housing section 2 containing a lamp 17, on mount 18a, a base 3 and a lid 1 spring- mounted by springs 23 and associated lugs 4 to the section 2. A switch 13 is actuated on depression of plate 1 to complete an electrical circuit to lamp 17. The lid can be depressed repeatedly in this fashion to enable inspection of a banknote disposed thereon, pressure on plate 1 being ceased after inspection to release the plate 1 which resiliently returns to the relaxed position of springs 23 to disrupt the circuit to lamp 17 to deprive it of power. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bank note counterfeit detection device The invention relates to bank note counterfeit detection and is particularly concerned with light-emitting apparatus for detecting quickly the absence of visible marks of authenticity such as a metallic strip.

According to the invention, a counterfeit bank note detecting device comprises a housing, electrically energizable illuminable means disposed within the housing, a light-transmissive plate for receiving a banknote flattened thereon, said plate being disposed to be illuminated by said illuminable means when said means is energized and said plate being mounted so as to be repeatedly displaceable by manual pressure thereon to a first position in which an electrical circuit of the device including the illuminable means is complete and said illuminable means in energized by current in said circuit so as to illuminate said plate and a banknote when disposed thereon as aforesaid from a second position in which the circuit is incomplete and said plate is not illuminated.

The plate will generally be mounted so that on removal of said manual pressure, the plate returns to its second position by resilient recovery of, for example, spring(s) which resist said manual pressure.

In an embodiment of the invention, the plate is horizontally disposed to close the open top of an open-topped housing defining a cavity containing an electrical light source, a microswitch in the electrical circuit switching power to said source on depression of the plate and denying the source power when the plate is not depressed.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the device; Figure 2 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow II of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow Ill of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow IV of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is an end view, partially broken away to reveal detail, of an alternative form of the device; and Figure 6 is a simplified cross-section taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, the wall of the device being largely shown in diagramatic form only.

The device shown in the drawings comprises a rectangular cross-sectioned main housing section 2 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a plate 1 serving as a closure for its open top and a base 3. Each of these components is made of injection moulded plastics material, the lid plate 1 being clear or transluscent and the other components being pigmented black to prevent light transmission.

Housing section 2 comprises four upstanding wall members integral with each other at rounded corners (Fig. 3). Webs 19 near the base serve for securement of section 2 to base panel 3 at each corner by screws (not shown) threaded into webs 19 through the base 3. Members 8, 9, 10, 11 integral with the upper wall members are apertured to serve as a guide and retainer for lugs 4, 5, 6, 7 of lid' plate 1, each of which lugs comprise a pair of diametrically sectioned members, as illustrated by 4a and 4b in Fig. 4, compressible together to admit the lugs to the members 8, 9, 10, 11, Coil springs (not shown) are received one over each of lugs 4, 5, 6, 7 to provide spring mounting of plate 1 on the housing section 2.Manual depression of plate 1 against the resilience of the springs actuates switch 13 supported on block 12 to complete an electrical circuit to light bulb 1 7 (eg a 100W tungsten bulb) from current source 1 5 via lines 14 and 16. Bulb 17 is mounted to block 18 on base panel 3 (Fig. 2), which is received in abutting relationship with the extremities of the wall members of housing section 2, ridges 20 locating within the cavity of housing section 2. Studs 21 serve as legs on which the device as a whole is supported in use.

Alternative means of mounting the bulb 17, plate 1 and switch 13 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown therein, plate 1 is provided with lugs 4 (one only shown), typically four lugs, one at each of the corners of the plate, which penetrate openings in an in-turned flange 26 of housing section 2. A retaining washer 25, having four alternative positions of location upon lugs 4, prevents withdrawal of lugs 4 and removal of lid 1, springs 23 providing resistance to downward pressure upon plate 1 in order to ensure it returns to the off' position of the electrical circuit to bulb 17. Tubular formation 18b is of non-uniform cross-section and serves to receive switch 13 whilst lampholder 1 7a is of conventional form for holding an incandescent bulb. Cable clamp 22 clamps line 14 (typically 2-core flexible cable conductor) which enters the cavity of housing section 2 through cable entry/exit 24.

Lamp mount 18a is a plastics material plate which has a U-shaped channel therein, margi nal portions thereof being gripped between the two parts of holder 17a by threading the part most remote from bulb 1 7 axially away from the other, locating mount 1 8a in the resulting annular gap and threading the two holder parts to grip the mount 18a.

As shown best in Fig. 5, base 3 is of hollow cross-section and secured to section 2 by four threaded screws 3a (two only shown) which are received in moulded enlargements 2a formed internally in section 2.

Claims

1. A counterfeit banknote detecting device which comprises a housing, electrically energizable illuminable means disposed within the housing, a light-transmissive plate for receiving a banknote flattened thereon, said plate being disposed to be illuminated by said illuminable means when said means is energized and said plate being mounted so as to be repeatedly displaceable by manual pressure thereon to a first position in which an electrical circuit of the device including the illuminabie means is complete and said illuminable means is energized by current in said circuit so as to illuminate said plate and a banknote when disposed thereon as aforesaid from a second position in which the circuit is incomplete and said plate is not illuminated.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the plate is mounted so that on removal of said manual pressure, the plate returns to its second position by resiiient recovery of means which resist said manual pressure.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the plate is horizontally disposed to close the open top of an open-topped housing defining a cavity containing an electrical light source, a microswitch in the electrical circuit switching power to said source on depression of the plate and denying the source power when the plate is not depressed.