IE904539A1

IE904539A1 - Apparatus for classifying banknotes and the like

Info

Publication number: IE904539A1
Application number: IE453990A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Care Tec Gmbh
Priority date: 1989-12-20
Filing date: 1990-12-17
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Also published as: ZA9010211B; PT96260B; SI9012382A; SI9012382B; AU648530B2; EP0506713A1; CS648590A3; ATA289589A; YU238290A; PL288330A1; SK278841B6; CN1052741A; EP0506713B1; PT96260A; CN1028459C; AT395916B; WO1991009380A1; RU2072559C1; AU6918191A; CZ281862B6

Abstract

A device for classifying bank notes and other sheets made of paper, plastic, metal or the like with at least two parallel edges comprises a limit stop for one of the two edges of the sheet to be classified and display and measurement elements fo determining the distance from the opposite parallel edge. To ensure reliable classification, the device comprises at least one foliar body (1) with a bending edge (4) parallel to the limit stop around which the sheet to be checked can be wrapped.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus for classifying banknotes and other sheets of paper, plastic, metal and the like, said apparatus having at least two edges parallel to each other and comprising a stop for one of the two said edges of the sheet to be classified and further having a indicator and measuring means for determining the distance to the other opposite parallel edge.

Banknotes of most currency systems are of slightly differing sizes depending on their respective value. This fact may be used for enabling blind or optically handicapped persons to recognize such banknotes by means of touch.

Template-like calibers are known onto which a banknote is flatly placed, so that the length or the width of said banknote may be determined by means of markings. Such a teaching must, concerning its size, be in accordance with the largest banknote to be determined. Therefore such devices are quite unsuitable for practical purposes.

Furthermore, the Austrian Patent Application 437/89 discloses an apparatus with which, by means of the touch of fingers, the width of banknotes is particularly to be determined. The apparatus consists of a pin comprising a stop and several markings. Unfortunately, the widths of banknotes of various currencies only differ very marginally from each other and it therefore often happens that two different banknotes of one and the same currency have the same width, so that, by means of said pin, a differentiation cannot be made. It would also be possible to manufacture said pin so long that the length would be sufficient to also measure the length of the banknotes. However, this measure would render this apparatus too unwieldy for practical usage, thus limiting its usefulness.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid said disadvantages and to create an apparatus which is small. handy, reliable as well as easy to handle and which may be combined with other important functions.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that the apparatus consists of at least one sheet-like body having a bending edge parallel to the stop, said edge allowing the banknote to be bent around it.

Thus the sheet to be checked may be placed on the stop and bent over the bending comes to lie in the devices, thus allowing edge. The length of the bent section area of the indicator and measuring the distance of the edge of the sheet to be checked to be measured with regard to the edge of the apparatus which is opposite of the bending edge. This facilitates determining the length of the sheet to be checked, which is essential for the classification.

It may be further provided that two bodies are present which are joined to each other by means of a joint extending along one of said bodies parallel to the bending edge, said joint simultaneously forming the stop and that said two bodies delimit a gap in the used position.

The edge disposed at the opening of the gap between the two bodies of the apparatus and opposite of the bending edge is hereinafter referred to as non-bending edge. Principally, also this edge may be used as an additional bending edge, insofar as it extends parallel to the joint which may be arranged as a folding edge. This is the case in some of the provided versions .

The banknote to be determined is inserted lengthwise into the gap between the two sheet-like bodies until the edge of its short side firmly pushes against the inner side of the joint. The part of the banknote projecting from the gap is bent around the bending edge and tightly pressed against the body having the bending edge. The banknote bent around the bending edge thus comes to lie in the area of the indicator and measuring devices which comprises fields of markings. Within the fields of markings there are inscriptions. Both the fields of markings and the inscriptions serve for allowing the determination of the size of the respective banknote both visually and by means of touch.

During the measuring process the user determines, either visually or by means of touch, how far the banknote to be classified reaches into the area of the indicator and measuring devices within which the fields of markings and/or inscriptions are to be found: He determines which first field of marking and/or first inscription is not or just about not covered by the inserted banknote. This process is primarily intended for measuring the length of the banknote, although, in principal, also the width could be measured in such a manner. Measuring the length of the banknote offers, however, the advantage of better recognizability, as in most currency systems the lengths of the banknotes vary more strongly than the widths. The value of the banknote may be ascertained as a result of the determined size of the banknote.

A given apparatus may comprise either only fields of markings, only inscriptions or both items.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention it may be provided that the measuring devices are formed by sensing means connected with an evaluation circuit which controls an acoustic indicator.

In such a manner the size of a banknote, for example, and thus its value, may be indicated by an acoustic signal, whereby different banknotes are indicated by different acoustic signals, e.g. by varying frequencies or varying sequences of frequencies .

It may further be provided in this embodiment that the sensing means comprises light-sensitive sensors which are arranged in an area to be covered by the banknote or the like to be checked.

Thus it is possible in a very simple manner to evaluate the size of a banknote, whereby it is only necessary to turn the area of the indicator and measuring devices partially covered by a banknote towards a source of light.

It may further be provided that said sensing means are pressure-sensitive sensors which preferably react to higher pressures and which are arranged in the form of slender strips in the area to be covered by the banknote and the like to be checked.

In such a manner it is possible to feel the edge of the bent banknote and the like and to firmly move along its edge with a fingernail. Thus the respective forces are exerted on the respective sensing means, so that said means transmits a sufficiently strong signal which may be further processed, and effect and issue an acoustic signal. In this solution, for example, piezoelectric sensors may be provided.

It may further be provided that several stops as well as several bending edges are provided.

This allows differentiating between a large number of various sheets, in particular banknotes of a number of currencies, whereby each bending edge is provided for a specific currency.

It may be further provided that on the outer side of the body on which the corresponding bending edge is to be found for classifying the respective banknote, fields of markings and/or inscriptions are provided, whereby the area of the indicator and measuring devices preferably extend over the joint also to the reverse side of the apparatus.

This allows the recognition of even very large banknotes by means of very small and handy apparatuses.

It is particularly preferable if the indicator and measuring devices extend across the whole width of the body and parallel to the bending edge. As the respective banknote extends across the whole width of the body, whether the long side or the short side makes no difference. it is possible to draw conclusions as to the size of the banknote even if such banknote is, due to wear and tear , partially ripped and torn on the edges and corners .

In accordance with a further feature of the invention it may be provided that said fields of markings may, on the one hand, comprise a (smooth) surface corresponding with the level of the outer side of the body or, on the other hand, comprise a surface deviating from said smooth surface and having elevations and grooves, and that said fields of markings as well as the inscriptions extend parallel to the bending edge and the joint.

If the level of the fields of markings vary, the delimitations of said fields extending parallel to the bending edge and the joint comprise grooves and elevations with the respective edges and gaps which may be sensed particularly well by means of touch.

It may be further provided that on the outer edge of the one or both bodies one or several measuring edges with elevations or grooves are arranged, both within and without of the area of the indicator and measuring devices.

By measuring edges attached to the edges on the side of the bodies, the position of the edge of the banknote to be checked may be particularly easy compared with the given measurement and, therefore, allows sure recognition even by less trained persons. The measuring edges may show parts of variously formed grooves with, for example, the shape of triangles, segments of circles, rectangles or trapezes.

It may further be provided that in said fields of markings inscriptions are arranged in elevated normal or abbreviated braille printing, in symbols either displayed in an elevated or recessed manner and in printed form, whereby both the fields of markings as well as the inscriptions may be provided in various colours.

Thus the value of a banknote may be determined in a form which is easy to be recognized by means of touch.

It is particularly preferable if, in the area of the joint, a recess is provided which allows the tactile or visual control of the proper fit of one of the two parallel edges of the sheet to be classified on the inner side of the joint serving as stop. In such a manner the surety and the precision of the determination of the sheet's size, e.g of a banknote, is considerably increased, as the user may, for example, pull the banknote to the inner side of the joint with his thumb. If several such joints are used as stops, the same number of recesses may be provided.

It may further be provided that in the area of the recess a light-sensitive sensor is attached which is connected with an evaluation circuit and which controls an acoustic indicator indicating the correct position of the sheet in the stop.

A particularly practical embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that either the larger of the two bodies or the apparatus as such comprises, more or less, the size and the shape of a standard cheque card. This size has proved to be very common for small utensils of daily use.

Next to credit cards and various other membership cards, calculators, note pads and the like are often offered in such a size. An apparatus adjusted to such a standard therefore has a high practical value.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the distance between the one joint or one of the joints and the bending edge 4 or the non-bending edge is precisely half the length or width of a specific banknote.

In such a manner the edge of the banknote coincides, after being bent around the bending edge, with the outer side of the joint. In day-to-day use this will be the case with the largest banknote with the highest value. However, it is also possible to adjust the distance of the joint from the bending edge to length of another banknote, whereby the longest banknote is then recognized in that after its bending around the bending edge, it projects most over the outer side of the joint. If a currency system uses several banknotes exceeding the joint, there is a solution in that the size of the apparatus is elongated and the use of the size of a standard cheque card is dropped. Another option would consist of continuing the area of the indicator and measuring devices of the front side to the reverse side, so that the banknote to be classified would be bent around the outer side of the joint, now acting as second bending edge. In order to classify overdimensional banknotes with a cheque card-sized apparatus, it would be possible to provide several joints.

In this event also one of the inner sides of the joints could exclusively serve for allowing the folding of the apparatus to the size of a cheque card, so that it no longer serves as a stop edge. In the remaining joint(s) which may be formed as folding edge(s) and serve(s) as stop edge(s), recesses may be provided which serve for controlling the proper seat of the banknote to be classified. Principally there is the possibility to apply the banknotes, depending on their respective size, to the inner sides of various joints, but nevertheless to bend them around a uniform bending edge. This is particularly preferable when certain lengths of banknotes are very little in circulation and need to be classified only very rarely.

It may further be provided that the distance between the inner side of a joint and the bending edge or the distance between the inner side of a joint and the non-bending edge is precisely the full width of a specific banknote.

This measure enables a higher amount of certainty in recognizing banknotes if the user is insecure in defining the lengths of banknotes. This is particularly advantageous in curriencies whose banknotes differ only very little with regard to their length, but have differences in their widths.

The invention will now be outlined in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a front view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a back view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of some of the possible variations of the apparatus with regard to its longitudinal dimension.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of some variations of the level of the measuring fields of the area of the indicator and measuring devices.

Fig. 5 shows some of the possible variations of the apparatus in its lateral dimensions as viewed from above.

The apparatus in accordance with the invention consists of two bodies 1, 2 made from plastic or other materials. In a simple embodiment it consists of a single body and, in the extended version, of more than two bodies. The outer shape of the body, which consists of two superimposed bodies 1, 2 or others, is usually rectangular, with or without radiused corners. Along 1, 2 are connected be distinguished its outer side 3. longitudinal sides of the this event, the respective being formed by a folding edge, is not radiused but 14' or 14. Body 2 is provided with a recess 10 the short side of the apparatus both bodies by means of a joint 3, whereby it must between the inner side 3' of said joint and The other short side of the body 1 provides bending edge 4, that of body 2 provides the non-bending edge 4'. Bodies 1 and 2 may be connected with each other via one of the two apparatus 13' or 13, whereby, in edge towards joint 3, said joint cornered for the purpose of enabling the inserted banknote to be better checked. In the event that, at the same time, the width of the banknote is to be measured, a further recess 13' or 13 may be (not shown here), said of the banknote to provided which is open towards the edge recess facilitating the straight fit longitudinal edge 13', 13”, whereby the respective other edge serves as bending edge and indicator and measuring devices for determining the width of the banknote are provided on the outer side of said body, said devices being essentially parallel to said bending edge.

On the outer side of body 1 an area 5 having indicator and measuring devices is provided, whereby said area may extend to the reverse side of the apparatus. In the shown embodiment area 5 comprises fields of markings 6 extending parallel to joint 3 and bending edge 4. The outer side comprises with area 5 either a uniform level 5.1 or differing levels 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 or the like. If area 5 or the fields of markings 6 comprise a differing level 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, the fields of markings 6 comprise on their limits extending parallel to joint 3 and bending edge 4 edges or gaps 5.2', 5.2. On one of the two longitudinal outer edges of area 5 the first measuring edge 7 area of which variously formed provided, whereby said measuring edge may also extend across the corresponding outer edge of the second body 2. In the fields of markings 6 inscriptions 8 are provided, said inscriptions possibly consisting of elevated braille dots, of elevated or recessed symbols and printed signs (numbers or letters). For better visual is to be found, in the elevations and grooves are distinction the fields of markings 6, the symbols and the printed signs are provided in different colours. On the outer side of the one or the other body 1, 2 towards bending edge 4 and out of area 5 of fields of markings 6 the second measuring edge 9 is provided, in the area of which also elevations and grooves are arranged, which measuring edge 9 is, in particular, intended for measuring the width of banknotes. The measurement of a banknote's width takes place, in principle, like that of a banknote's length. The distances between the fields of markings 6, wherein inscriptions 8 are to be found, is defined by the length of the banknotes of a specific currency system.

One of the edges of the respective banknote fits close with the inner side 3' of joint 3 and extends in the stretched condition parallel to the longitudinal side of the apparatus up to bending edge 4. On said bending edge 4 the banknote is bent and now extends along the forward outer side of the apparatus into area 5 of fields of markings 6. The field of marking and/or the inscription which is no longer or just about not covered by the inserted banknote inform the user either visually or by means of touch about the size of the banknote or indicate the value of such either visually or by means of touch. If the information provided in fields of markings 6 or inscriptions 8 is not sufficient to unambiguously determine the size of the banknote, elevations and recesses provided in the area of first measuring edge 7 may be used for gaining additional information on the length (or width) of the respective banknote. If there are still doubts as to the size of the banknote, an additional measurment of the banknote's width may be performed by using measuring edge 9.

In the area of recess 10 of the one body, a light-sensitive sensing means 15 may be provided on the inner side of the other body, said means supervising the position of the inserted banknote or the like with regard to close fit to the inner side of joint 3 and being connected to an evaluation circuit (not shown) which controls a source of sound, also not shown here.

Furthermore, sensors 12, of which Fig. 1 shows only one, may be provided in fields of markings 6, said sensors, for example, possibly being of the light-sensitive type. This allows recognition of the size of a banknote by simple bending of said banknote around bending edge 4, whereby the size of a banknote is to be recognized by shadowing off of a specific number of sensors 12.

Said sensors 12 are also connected with an evaluation circuit not shown here, said circuit controlling a source of sound.

A further arrangement is shown in Fig. 1 where pressure buttons 11 are provided in fields of markings 6, which, for example, may be arranged as folio switches, said switches also being connected with an evaluation circuit, not shown here, for controlling a source of sound. In this embodiment the user presses the first pressure button 11 which remains free after the banknote has been bent around bending edge 4.

Principally, it is sufficient to provide the fields of markings either with markings, measuring edges or symbols to be felt by means of touch or the like, or to only provide in said fields sensors 12 or pressure buttons.

Claims

1. Apparatus for classifying banknotes and other sheets of paper, plastic, metal, or the like with at least two edges parallel to each other, further having a stop for one of .the two edges of the sheet to be classified and indicator and measuring devices for determining the distance to the other of the opposite parallel edge, characterized in that the apparatus consists of at least one sheet-like body (1) comprising a bending edge (4) parallel to the stop, around which edge the sheet to be checked may be bent.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two bodies (1, 2) are provided which are connected with each other along a joint (3) extending parallel to the bending edge of one of the two bodies, said joint at the same time stop, and that said two bodies delimit a gap in position. forming a the used

3. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that several stops as well as several bending edges (4) are provided.

4. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the outer side of the body (1, 2) on which a corresponding bending edge (4) is disposed for classifying the respective banknote, fields of markings (6) and/or inscriptions (8) are provided, where preferably the area (5) of the indicator and measuring devices also extends across the joint (3) to the reverse side of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 4 for determining the value of a banknote based on its size, characterized in that the fields of markings (6) both comprise a surface (smoothly) corresponding with the level of the outer side of the body, and such a one deviating from such smooth surface and comprising elevations and grooves, and that said fields of markings (6) as well as said inscriptions extend edge (4) and the joint (3). in one of claims 1 to 5,

6. Apparatus as claimed characterized in that on the outer edge of the one or of the bodies, both within and without the area indicator and measuring devices (5), one or of both of the several measuring edges (7,9) with elevations and grooves are disposed.

7. Apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the fields of markings (6) inscriptions are provided in elevated normal or abbreviated braille printing, in symbols either displayed in an elevated or recessed manner and in printed form, whereby both the fields of markings (6) and the inscriptions (8) may be provided in various colours.

8. Apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that within the area of the joint a recess (10) is arranged which allows the visual or tactile checking of the proper serving as a the sheet to : fit on the inner side of the joint. said joint edges of stop means, of one of be classified. the two parallel 9. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the apparatus in total , or at least the larger of the two bodies (1,2 ), is of a size which is essentially that of cheque cards. 10. Apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the distance between the or one of the joint(s) and the bending edge (4) or, however, the non-bending edge (4') is precisely half the length or the width of a specific banknote.

9. 11. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the measuring devices are arranged as sensing means (12) connected with an evaluation circuit which controls an acoustic indicator.

10. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said sensing means (12) are of the light-sensitive type which are provided in an area to be covered by the banknote or the like to be checked.

11. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said sensing means (12) are of the pressure-sensitive type which preferably react to higher pressures and which are disposed in form of slender strips in the area covered by the banknote or the like to be checked.

12. 14. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 11 to 13, characterized in that within the area of recess (10) a lightsensitive sensing means is provided, said means being connected with an evaluation circuit and controlling an acoustic indicator, thus indicating the proper fit of the sheet on the stop. 15. Apparatus as claimed in one of the claimes 1 to 14, characterized in that the indicator and measuring devices extend across the whole width of the body (1,2) and parallel to the bending edge (4).

13. 16. Apparatus characterized connecting the as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 15, in that several joints are provided for bodies (1,2 ) . -1417. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.