JP2002032816A - Paper sheets thickness inspection apparatus and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately judge whether or not a paper sheet inserted into an automatic machine should be accepted by preventing overlapping of paper sheets and counterfeiting of paper sheets when books or documents for public money, checks, bills and the like are handled by the automatic machine and to permit correction of sensitivity for detection of thickness and renewal of paper sheet reference thickness data. SOLUTION: This apparatus is provided with a reference thickness storage means 30 for storing the thickness of each of plural kinds of paper sheets which differ in reference thickness, such as books or documents for public money, checks and bills, a correction value renewal means 50 for the sensitivity for detection of thickness, and a reference thickness renewal means 60, so that the thickness of the paper sheet measured by a thickness detecting means 10 is determined by a thickness determining means 40 so as to detect the overlap of paper sheets and any abnormal thickness of the paper sheet, for each kind of paper sheet, to determine whether or not the paper sheet inserted should be accepted. Also, a correction value for the sensitivity for detection of thickness is automatically renewed for renewal of paper sheet reference thickness data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a case where a user directly pays a utility bill, pays a check or a bill using an automatic teller machine (ATM) placed at a financial institution such as a bank, Prior to discriminating the type of transfer paper and securities such as checks and bills inserted into an ATM, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for inspecting the thickness of these thin paper sheets, and particularly to the prevention of double feeding of paper sheets. Inspection apparatus and inspection method for preventing forgery and counterfeiting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art ATMs installed in financial institutions and the like include:
It has been proposed to mount a device capable of paying utility bills and paying with securities such as checks and bills. In order to determine the types of these transfer papers and securities, usually, image data for each type is stored,
By comparing and collating the image data of the inserted sheet with the stored image data of each type, it is determined whether or not the type matches, and the type is determined. In addition, when financial institutions, etc. handle securities such as checks and bills, and payment forms for utility charges (hereinafter abbreviated as public money forms) with automatic machines,
The thickness of the inserted paper sheet is inspected inside the automatic machine, and it is determined whether or not the paper sheet is overlapped or should be accepted.

[0003] A conventional paper sheet thickness inspection apparatus is, for example, as shown in a banknote thickness inspection apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 2908086, a thickness detection means, a thickness determination means,
Reference thickness storage means, and the sheet thickness detected by the thickness detection means and the thickness stored in the reference thickness storage means are determined by the thickness determination means whether there is no overlap of the paper sheets. He had judged if there were any abnormal deposits on the leaves. One or several types of paper sheets are handled, and the thickness of the paper sheet is almost uniform according to the standard. Therefore, the thickness of the paper sheet to be allowed only needs to be set in one range as the thickness determining means, and the allowable values of the paper sheets having different thicknesses have not been considered. Further, since the thickness detecting means needs a sensitivity on the order of μm, it is difficult to finely adjust the thickness. Further, even when a sheet having the same thickness is detected due to aging, the output of the thickness detection may change. For this reason, fine adjustment is considered by updating the data of the reference thickness with the data measured by the thickness detecting means. However, when handling public money forms, there is no standard for the thickness of the public money form.Thus, the thickness of the paper itself may be changed, and fine adjustment of the sensitivity of the thickness detection means is simply performed by updating the reference thickness data. I can't do that.

[0004]

As described above, in an automatic machine that handles securities such as public money forms and checks, which have been conventionally proposed, forms having different thicknesses are handled by one apparatus. Since the allowable value of the reference thickness storage means is limited to only one range by the means, there is a problem that it is impossible to determine the thickness such as the overlap of the paper sheets and the adhesion of the foreign matter.
In addition, when it is necessary to handle utility bills and securities such as checks and bills with one device, the forms and bills that are currently circulating without any standards and have various thicknesses. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to discriminate a counterfeit form, and it is impossible to cope with a thickness inspection. In addition, fine adjustment of the thickness detection means and automatic adjustment to compensate for the change in sensitivity due to aging were performed by updating the data in the reference thickness storage means, but such as the public money form and securities. It is necessary to handle multiple types of media with different thicknesses, and it is necessary to appropriately respond to the occasion where a company or a public organization issues paper whose thickness is often changed. The method also has a problem that it is inappropriate as an apparatus.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems, and to handle multiple types of public money slips and securities by an automatic machine, in which multi-feeding of paper sheets and adhesion of foreign matters are performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet thickness inspection apparatus and an inspection method capable of determining a thickness. Further, a second object of the present invention is to store a reference thickness for each medium even when various types of public money forms and securities are handled by an automatic machine, even if the thicknesses of the public money forms and securities are various. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet thickness inspection apparatus and an inspection method capable of preventing forgery and accurately determining whether to accept a sheet inserted into an automatic machine. Further, a third object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the thickness detecting means by updating the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity, and by updating the data of the reference thickness of the paper sheet. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet thickness inspection apparatus and an inspection method that can appropriately cope with a change in the thickness of a public money form or securities.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a sheet thickness inspection apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a reference thickness storage means for storing a reference thickness for each type of sheet; Paper sheet discriminating means for discriminating the type of the detected paper sheet, thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the paper sheet, and comparing the detected thickness with a reference thickness to determine whether or not the permissible value. And a thickness determining means. That is, the thickness of the sheet fed to the sheet thickness inspection apparatus is measured by the thickness detecting means. In addition, the type of a sheet to be inserted is specified in advance by a sheet discriminating unit such as a touch panel, or the type of the sheet input by the sheet discriminating unit such as an image processing system in the apparatus after the insertion. Is determined, and the reference thickness corresponding to the determined paper sheet is extracted from the reference thickness storage means. Then, the measured thickness of the sheet and the extracted reference thickness are determined by the thickness determining means to determine whether the sheet is an acceptable sheet. This makes it possible to make a thickness determination for each sheet type for specifications having different reference thicknesses.

Further, a change in the sensitivity of the thickness detecting means is determined from an average of a difference between the reference thickness and the thickness measured by the thickness detecting means over a plurality of past times, and a correction value of the thickness detecting sensitivity is updated. Also features. Furthermore, when the difference between the reference thickness and the measured thickness of only a certain type of form is larger than the average of the difference between the reference thickness and the thickness measured by the thickness detecting means in the past multiple times, It is also characterized in that it is determined that the sheet thickness of a specific type of form has been changed, and the data in the reference thickness storage means is updated. In this way, for a plurality of paper sheets with different reference thicknesses, such as public financial statements, checks, bills, etc., for each type of paper sheet, overlapping paper sheets and abnormal paper sheet thickness are detected and inserted. It is determined whether or not the accepted sheet is accepted, the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity is updated, and the data of the reference thickness of the sheet is updated.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet thickness inspection apparatus of an automatic machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this apparatus, a public money report is input to make a transfer, or securities such as checks are input for payment. In the illustrated portion, the types of public money papers and securities are mainly determined. The apparatus has an input port 70 for inputting a public money form, a bill, a check, and the like, a thickness detecting lever 12 attached to the back of the input port 70 for slidingly contacting the form, and an angle sensor 11 for analogly detecting a change in angle, A thickness detecting means 10 including an opposing guide 13 facing the thickness detecting lever 12 is arranged.
That is, the form is composed of the thickness detecting lever 12 and the facing guide 13.
, The displacement due to the thickness of the form is converted into the rotation angle of the detection lever 12, an analog output proportional to the angle is taken out, and transferred to the thickness determination means 40 in the control device 80. . When the angle sensor 11 and the detection lever 12 make one rotation, the converted rotation angle becomes a sine waveform, and a linear portion near the zero point of the sine waveform is used, so that an output proportional to the angle is obtained.

Behind the thickness detecting means 10 is an image identification device 21 which is one of the paper sheet discriminating means 20. A printing section, a stamping section, a public money form cutting section, a check / bill collection section, There is a post-processing unit 71 including a public money form collection unit and the like. The form passes under the thickness detecting means 10 and at the same time reaches the image identification device 21 to extract an image on the form. The extracted image data and the image data stored in the form data storage device 30 described later 31 are compared and collated to determine the coincidence or non-coincidence, the image is identified, and the type of the form is determined. After the type of the form is determined, the form is sent to the post-processing unit 71, whereby the transfer end is stamped, the storage confirmation is stamped, and a print to that effect is printed. Then, the stub of the public money form is cut out, one is returned to the user, and the other bill and public money form are stored in the collection box.

A paper sheet discriminating means for inputting a form type in advance by an end user is provided outside the slot 70.
One is a touch panel 22. At the same time as the user inputs, the type of the public money form and the type of check, bill, etc. displayed on the touch panel 22 are pointed to the corresponding one, so that the type of the form is transferred to the control device 80, and the type of the form to be processed is Is determined. On the other hand, the thickness detecting means 10
Measures the thickness of the entered report regardless of whether the type is determined. This is to prevent double feeding and forgery. Thickness detecting means 10,
The image recognition device 21 and the post-processing unit 71, which are the paper sheet discrimination means, are all controlled by the control device 80. Inside the control device 80, a thickness determining means 40 described later,
A thickness detection sensitivity updating unit 50 and a reference thickness data updating unit 60 are included. In a host computer outside the apparatus, there is a form data storage device 30 for storing form image data 31, form thickness data 32, and the like.
These form data are exchanged by the control device 80. It should be noted that the form data storage device 30 stores in advance the data of the reference thickness of each form to be handled.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a sheet thickness inspection method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of a form thickness measurement waveform by a thickness detecting means. The form to be inserted may be specified in advance by the touch panel, but here, it is assumed that the user has not specified the form by the touch panel. First, when a form is inserted from the insertion slot (step 101), the form is transported to a position short of the image identification device 21. At the same time, thickness detection means 1
The thickness from the front end to the rear end of the form is continuously measured according to 0 (step 102), and corrected by the thickness detection means sensitivity correction value 14, thereby obtaining a waveform as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). Get. FIG. 3A shows a case where a form is normally detected, and FIG. 3B shows a case where another form or another object is multi-fed over a normal form.
FIG. 3 (c) shows a case where dust, folds and foreign matter are attached to a normal form, and FIG. 3 (d) shows whether there are many wrinkles, bends, etc. This shows a case where a pulse is superimposed. Next, an image is fetched by the image identification device 21 as the sheet identification means 20, and the type of the form is determined by comparing and collating with the image data 31 and the like in the form data storage device 30 (step 103).

Next, the thickness determining means 40 in the control device 80
It is determined whether or not the thickness is within the tolerance (step 104). At this time, if the measured thickness is an impossible thickness, for example, a thickness of 50% of the thinnest form is detected, or a thickness five times that of the thickest form is detected. In this case, it is returned to the slot 70 as an abnormal medium. The range in which the thickness is set to the allowable value is determined in advance and the form data storage device 30 is determined.
Shall be stored. Based on the determined form type, the thickness data 32 corresponding to the corresponding type of form stored in the form data storage device 30 is compared and collated with the detected thickness data. Pull out the thickness.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a difference between the measured thickness waveform data of FIG. 3 and a reference thickness. When the difference between the value obtained by measuring and correcting the thickness of the form and the data of the extracted reference thickness is obtained, waveforms as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C are obtained. In FIG. 4, a dotted line and a range between the dotted lines indicate an allowable range. As shown in FIG. 4A, if the values are all within the allowable value (within the dotted line and the range between the dotted lines), it is determined that the inserted form is acceptable. However, when several blocks exceeding the allowable value are continuous for several blocks as shown in FIG. 4B, it is determined that another sheet overlaps or is pasted on the input form. It is determined that it cannot be accepted and returned to the slot 70. In addition, when there is a portion exceeding the allowable value in a pulse shape as shown in FIG. 4C, it is determined that the measurement noise, the form is broken, and the minute dirt is attached, and it is accepted. However, even if there is a portion exceeding the allowable value in a pulse shape as shown in FIG. 4D, if the sum of the portions exceeding the allowable value exceeds a certain value, it is not accepted as an abnormal form. As described above, it is possible to inspect the thickness of forms having different thicknesses.

Next, the means 50 for updating the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity averages the difference between the thickness measurement data of the form that is acceptable and the reference thickness from the front end to the rear end of the form, and obtains the reference thickness for each form. And give an error. Here, FIG.
When there is pulse-like data in the measurement data as shown in (3), the part is cut to obtain an average value. As shown in FIG. 5, the error in the measured value increases as the thickness of the form increases, so a value obtained by dividing the error by the reference thickness and making it dimensionless is used. Means 50 for updating correction value of thickness detection sensitivity
Averages the values obtained by dimensionlessly calculating the error between each data measured in the past several times, for example, ten transactions, and the reference thickness, and when the average value exceeds a certain value, the thickness detection means It is determined that the sensitivity has changed, and the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity is updated (step 105). Thus, fine adjustment of the thickness detecting means can be performed by processing several sheets, and automatic adjustment is performed even if the sensitivity of the thickness detecting means changes due to aging or the like.

Next, similarly to the means 50 for updating the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity, the reference thickness updating means 60 calculates the difference between the thickness measurement data of the acceptable form and the reference thickness from the front end of the form to the rear. To the end, but if there is pulse-like data in the measurement data, cut out that part and average it to give an error with the reference thickness for each report. If this error is protruding only in this type of form, for example, if the error is prominent compared to the form measured before and after this measured form, or even in other devices sharing the same host computer In the case where only the error of the same form is prominent or the like, it is determined that the thickness of the sheet of the form has been changed, and only the thickness data 32 of the corresponding form in the form data storage device 30 of the host computer is updated. (Step 10
6). As a result, in a form having no standard in thickness, even if the thickness of the sheet of the form is changed, it is possible to automatically change only the data of the corresponding reference thickness. As described above, for a plurality of paper sheets with different reference thicknesses such as public money forms, checks, and bills, for each paper sheet type,
Detects abnormal sheet thickness, judges whether or not to accept the inserted sheet, updates the thickness detection sensitivity correction value, and updates the sheet thickness reference data. it can.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For multiple types of paper sheets with different reference thicknesses, such as public financial statements, checks, and bills, for each type of paper sheet, the overlapping or abnormal thickness of the paper sheet is detected, and the inserted paper sheet is detected. It is possible to determine whether or not to accept the data, update the correction value of the thickness detection sensitivity, and update the data of the reference thickness of the sheet,
Prevention of double feeds and counterfeiting is possible, and it is possible to appropriately respond to changes in the thickness of public money forms and securities, transfer processing of public money forms by automatic machines, and payment of securities such as checks and bills. It can be done smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet thickness inspection apparatus in an automatic machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a sheet thickness inspection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of data of a thickness measurement waveform of a form measured by the thickness detection means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a difference between measured thickness waveform data of a form and a reference thickness.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an error output with respect to a thickness measured by the thickness detecting means in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10: thickness detection means, 11: angle sensor, 12: thickness detection lever, 13: facing guide, 14: thickness detection means sensitivity correction value, 21: image identification device, 22: touch panel,
30 ... form data storage device, 31 ... image data, 32 ...
Thickness data, 40: thickness determination means, 50: thickness detection sensitivity updating means, 60: reference thickness data updating means, 70: input port, 71: post-processing section, 72: transport path, 80: control device.

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reference thickness storage means for storing a reference thickness for each of a plurality of types of paper sheets, and comparing and collating with image data storing image data of input sheets. A sheet discriminating means for discriminating the type of the sheet, a thickness detecting means for detecting a thickness of the inserted sheet, and a thickness detected for the discriminated type of the sheet. A sheet thickness inspection apparatus comprising: a thickness determining unit that compares the stored reference thickness with the reference thickness to determine whether the reference thickness is an allowable value. 2. A method for storing a reference thickness and image data for each type of sheet, comparing and collating the image data with the stored image data to discriminate the type of sheet. A sheet thickness inspection method in which the thickness of the inserted sheets is detected by a thickness detecting means to determine whether or not the detected thickness is within an allowable value. When it is determined that the thickness is within the allowable value compared to the reference thickness, the sensitivity correction value of the thickness detecting means is updated from the difference between the detected thickness and the reference thickness. Thickness inspection method. 3. The sheet thickness inspection method according to claim 2, wherein a thickness of the input sheets is determined to be within an allowable value compared to a reference thickness. When the difference between the detected thickness of only a specific sheet and the reference thickness is large, the data in the corresponding reference thickness storage unit is updated. .