JP2011246239A - Discriminating device for discriminating conveying condition of paper sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a plurality of branched light beams by using a single light source to enhance the detection accuracy of a conveying condition of paper sheets.SOLUTION: In a discrimination device 10, a beam splitter 110 and a total reflection mirror 120 are arranged on the optical path of a single light source 100. Thus, the light emitted from the single light source 100 can be branched into the plurality of detection light beams by the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120. The plurality of branched multiple detection light beams are received by a plurality of detection sensors 130a and 130b, and in accordance with the light receiving patterns, the conveying condition of paper sheets P is discriminated.

Description

  The present invention relates to a discriminating apparatus that discriminates a transport state of paper sheets transported on a transport path.

  In order to determine the transport state of a paper sheet transported on a transport path, an apparatus for identifying a paper sheet by arranging a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light receiving elements facing each other has been proposed. For example, by detecting the length of the paper sheet from the ratio of the light receiving element shielded by the paper sheet and the light receiving element receiving the light, and by detecting the pattern data based on the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element There is known an apparatus for discriminating paper sheets by comparing detected pattern data with standard pattern data. (For example, patent document 1). Also known is a technique for detecting paper sheets using a retroreflective photosensor that guides light emitted from a light source to a light receiving element via a prism.

  Furthermore, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the light source are irradiated onto the paper sheet, and the fluorescence emitted from the paper sheet is branched into the three primary colors of light by the two dichroic mirrors and received by the light receiving element. A technique for performing authenticity determination is known (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-6-243234 JP 2005-122392 A

  However, in a configuration in which a plurality of light sources and light receiving elements are arranged in pairs, a plurality of optical elements (light source circuits) are required to realize a plurality of light sources, and it is difficult to secure the position of each light source circuit. There is a problem that wiring for each light source circuit becomes complicated. Further, in the technique using the retroreflective photosensor, only one light source and one light receiving element are provided, and therefore, the case where the light source side is shielded from light and the case where the light receiving element side is shielded are distinguished. There is a problem that the skew of the paper sheet cannot be detected.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to generate a plurality of branched lights using a single light source and improve the detection accuracy of the conveyance state of paper sheets. And

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the present invention adopts the following various aspects.

  A 1st aspect provides the discrimination | determination apparatus which discriminate | determines the conveyance state of paper sheets. The discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect includes a single light source, a total reflection unit disposed on an optical path of light emitted from the single light source, and the light source and the total reflection unit. And at least one partial reflection part disposed on the optical path and reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light source toward a conveyance path on which the paper sheet is conveyed, and the at least one partial reflection part And a discriminating unit that discriminates the transport state of the paper sheet in the transport path based on the light reflected by the total reflection unit.

  The discriminating apparatus according to the first aspect includes a total reflection unit disposed on an optical path of light emitted from a single light source, and is disposed on the optical path between the light source and the total reflection unit. And at least one partial reflection unit that reflects a part of the light emitted from the sheet toward a conveyance path through which the paper sheet is conveyed, and based on the light reflected by the at least one partial reflection unit and the total reflection unit Since the conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path is determined, a plurality of branched lights can be generated using a single light source, and the detection accuracy of the conveyance state of the paper sheet can be improved.

  The discriminating device according to the first aspect is further arranged with the conveyance path in correspondence with the at least one partial reflection portion and the total reflection portion, and is reflected by the at least one partial reflection portion and the total reflection portion. A plurality of light receiving units that receive the received light and output a detection signal, and the determination unit determines a conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path based on the detection signal output from the light reception unit Also good. In this case, the conveyance state of the paper sheet can be determined based on the detection signal output from the light receiving unit.

  In the determination device according to the first aspect, the transmittance or reflectance of the at least one partial reflection portion is determined by the at least one partial reflection portion and the total reflection portion of each light reflected toward the conveyance path. The amount of light may be set to a value in a predetermined range. In this case, the amount of light reflected from each of the partial reflection units and the total reflection unit can be set within a predetermined range, so that it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of the conveyance state of the paper sheet.

  In the determination device according to the first aspect, the paper sheet has a long side and a short side, and is transported so that the transport path and the long side intersect with each other. The reflection unit is disposed so as to reflect light perpendicular to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the paper sheet conveyed along the conveyance path, and the determination unit is configured to receive the light from the plurality of light receiving units. The conveyance state of the paper sheet may be determined based on the detection signal. In this case, the distance between each partial reflection part and the total reflection part and the paper sheet P can be made the shortest distance, and the most efficient detection light can be emitted to the light receiving part. .

  A 2nd aspect provides the discrimination | determination apparatus which discriminate | determines the conveyance state of paper sheets. The discriminating apparatus according to the second aspect is arranged on a single light source and an optical path of light emitted from the single light source, and the paper sheet carries a part of the light emitted from the light source. A plurality of partial reflection portions that are reflected toward the conveyance path, and a determination unit that determines a conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path based on light reflected by the plurality of partial reflection portions.

  The discriminating device according to the second aspect is arranged on the optical path between the total reflection part arranged on the optical path of the light emitted from the single light source and between the light source and the total reflection part. A plurality of partial reflection portions that reflect a part of the light emitted from the plurality of partial reflection portions toward the conveyance path where the paper sheets are conveyed, and the paper sheets in the conveyance path based on the light reflected by the plurality of partial reflection portions Therefore, it is possible to generate a plurality of branched lights by using a single light source and improve the detection accuracy of the conveyance state of the paper sheet.

  The discriminating device according to the second aspect is further disposed with the conveyance path corresponding to each of the partial reflection units, and receives a plurality of light reflected by the partial reflection units and outputs a detection signal. A light receiving unit may be provided, and the determining unit may determine a transport state of the paper sheet in the transport path based on a detection signal output from the light receiving unit. In this case, the conveyance state of the paper sheet can be determined based on the detection signal output from the light receiving unit.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the discrimination | determination apparatus which discriminate | determines the conveyance state of paper sheets in a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which paper sheets are conveyed correctly in the discrimination device of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which paper sheets are inclined and conveyed in the discrimination device of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing for showing the calculation concept of the skew angle in the discrimination | determination apparatus of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the paper sheet in which one part was missing in the discrimination device of a present Example is conveyed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the folded paper sheets are conveyed in the discrimination device of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the process routine in the discrimination | determination process performed by the discrimination device of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal schematic structure of the paper sheet transaction apparatus containing the discrimination | determination apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st other aspect of the discrimination device which concerns on a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd other aspect of the discrimination | determination apparatus based on a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd other aspect of the discrimination | determination apparatus based on a present Example.

Configuration of the discriminating device for discriminating the conveyance state of paper sheets:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a discrimination device that discriminates a conveyance state of paper sheets. A discriminating device 10 (hereinafter referred to as “discriminating device”) for discriminating the conveyance state of paper sheets according to the present embodiment is a light source 100, a beam splitter 110, a total reflection mirror 120, light receiving sensors 130a and 130b, and a control unit 20. It has.

  The light source 100 is a single light source that emits detection light used to determine the conveyance state. As the light source 100, for example, various light sources such as a light emitting diode, a halogen bulb, a krypton bulb, and a laser oscillator (laser light) can be used. As the light emitting diode, a white light emitting diode or an infrared light emitting diode can be used. In general, when infrared light is used, it is known that a decrease in detection accuracy due to the influence of dust or the like existing on the optical path can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the beam splitter 110 is used as a partial reflection unit having a characteristic of transmitting a part of incident light and radiating it as outgoing light and reflecting a part thereof. The partial reflection portion can also be called an optical branching device or an optical separator, and may have a plate shape or a rectangular (cubic) shape. The beam splitter 110 is arranged so that incident light is incident at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the incident surface, and the optical axis of the incident light and the optical axis of the outgoing light (reflected light) intersect at about 90 degrees. To do. The beam splitter 110 according to this embodiment can be obtained, for example, by coating a dielectric multilayer film or a metal thin film on one joint surface of a pair of transparent glass plates or resin plates, and is also called a half mirror. it can. Alternatively, the beam splitter can also be obtained by bonding two prisms that have been subjected to thin film processing on the bonding surface. Further, by adjusting the characteristics of the thin film, the ratio of the transmittance and reflectance of the beam splitter 110 can be changed to an arbitrary ratio. Note that the transmittance and the reflectance can be defined independently. In the present embodiment, in order to improve the detection accuracy, the light quantity of the reflected light R1 from the beam splitter 110 and the light quantity of the reflected light R2 from the total reflection mirror 120 based on the transmitted light T1 transmitted through the beam splitter 110 are made equal. The reflectivity / transmittance of the beam splitter 110 with respect to the incident light E1 is adjusted. Further, in an aspect in which a plurality of beam splitters 110 are provided, which will be described later, the reflectance of each beam splitter 110 is set so that the reflected light from each beam splitter 110 and the amount of reflected light from total reflection mirror 120 are equal to each other. -The transmittance is adjusted.

  In this embodiment, the total reflection mirror 120 is used as a total reflection portion that reflects the entire amount of incident light and can be emitted as emitted light. The total reflection mirror is a mirror capable of reflecting the entire amount of incident light and emitting it as outgoing light, and can be obtained by bonding and vapor-depositing a metal thin film to a glass plate or a resin plate. That is, the total reflection mirror can be said to be a mirror having a transmittance of 0% and a reflectance of 100% when loss is not considered. Total reflection mirror 120 is arranged so that incident light is incident at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the incident surface, and the optical axis of incident light and the optical axis of outgoing light (reflected light) intersect at approximately 90 degrees. To do. In addition, as the total reflection portion, a mirror-finished metal plate can be used.

  In this embodiment, the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 are disposed on the optical path (optical axis) of the light source 100 that is a single light source. The beam splitter 110 is disposed between the light source 100 and the total reflection mirror 120. That is, light emitted from the light source 100 that is a single light source can be branched into a plurality of lights (detection lights) by the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120. In the present embodiment, the optical path formed by the light source 100 (the line connecting the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120) intersects, more specifically, is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the detected object, that is, the paper sheet. Are arranged as follows. Further, the distance between the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 is set to be smaller than the size of the paper sheet that intersects the transport direction.

  The light receiving sensors 130a and 130b are arranged directly below the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 so that the reflected light emitted from the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 is incident at an angle of 90 degrees. . The light receiving sensors 130a and 130b are photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes and phototransistors, for example, and output a current value corresponding to the intensity (light quantity) of incident light. In the present embodiment, since the paper sheet P is transported so that the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the transport direction D, the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b respectively detect the passage of both ends of the paper sheet P in the longitudinal direction. . The light receiving sensors 130a and 130b may be referred to as a first light receiving sensor 130a and a second light receiving sensor 130b for convenience.

  The control unit 20 controls lighting of the light source 100, determination of the conveyance state of paper sheets based on detection signals from the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b, and other operations of the determination device. The control unit 20 includes an A / D converter 21 and a determination unit 22.

  The A / D converter 21 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. That is, in the present embodiment, the detection signal input from the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b to the control unit 20 is an analog signal, while the determination unit 22 is a digital circuit that handles discrete values. It must be converted to a digital signal having a discrete value of bits (0-255). The digital detection signal converted by the A / D converter 21 is input to the determination unit 22.

  The determination unit 22 includes a CPU (arithmetic unit) and a memory for storing a conveyance state determination program executed by the CPU, an A / D converter 21 and an input / output interface for exchanging signals with other circuits. . For example, when the detection signal is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 22 determines that the paper sheets have passed through (covered) the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b and blocked the reflected lights R1 and R2. If the detection signal is a value equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the sheet does not pass through (not cover) the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b, and does not block the reflected lights R1 and R2. Judge. Hereinafter, when the detection signal is larger than the predetermined threshold value, the detection signal is called a dark state, and when the detection signal is a value equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the detection signal is called a light state. . Here, the determination unit 22 may be configured by a hardware logic circuit.

  The determination result of the conveyance state output from the determination unit 22 is used, for example, to display the determination result on a display device (not illustrated) provided in the determination device 10 and is stored in a log storage unit (not illustrated) included in the determination device 10. Or it is used in order to operate the correction means for correcting conveyance abnormality with which discriminating device 10 is provided.

Paper transport status:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which paper sheets are correctly conveyed in the discrimination device of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the paper sheet is conveyed while being tilted in the determination device of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating the concept of calculating the skew angle in the discrimination apparatus of the present embodiment.
The paper sheet P in the present embodiment has a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side, and as shown in FIG. 2, the paper sheet P is transported through the transport path 30 in a direction in which the long side intersects the transport direction. The More specifically, the conveyance path 30 includes, for example, parallel belts 31a and 31b suspended on a pair of drive wheels (not shown). The drive wheels are driven directly or indirectly by a motor, for example. The paper sheet P is placed on the belts 31a and 31b and conveyed. The light receiving sensors 130 a and 130 b are disposed below the conveyance path 30 and can detect conveyance of the paper sheet P in the conveyance path 30. In the present embodiment, as described above, the presence or absence of passage of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the paper sheet P is detected by the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b. In addition, the longitudinal direction both ends of the paper sheet P do not mean only the outermost ends of the paper sheet P, but mean any part from the end rather than the center of the paper sheet P. Needless to say.

  As understood from FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the beam splitter 110, the total reflection mirror 120, and the corresponding light receiving sensors 130 a and 130 b are arranged in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the paper sheet P. Alternatively, the paper sheet P is conveyed such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 and the corresponding light receiving sensors 130a and 130b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the paper sheet P may not be parallel to the beam splitter 110, the total reflection mirror 120, and the corresponding light receiving sensors 130 a and 130 b in the middle of conveyance. P ′). That is, the paper sheet P may take a conveyance state P ′ generally called skew.

  When skew occurs during conveyance, a time difference is generated in the passage detection timing of the paper sheet P by the respective light receiving sensors 130a and 130b. That is, in the example of FIG. 3, since the end portion P1 blocks the detection light incident on the light receiving sensor 130b first, the control unit 20 receives a dark detection signal as a detection signal from the light receiving sensor 130b. The control unit 20 receives a dark detection signal as a detection signal from the light receiving sensor 130a because the end P2 blocks the detection light incident on the light receiving sensor 130a earlier. Further, since the end portion P1 finishes passing through the light receiving sensor 130b first, the control unit 20 receives a light detection signal as a detection signal from the light receiving sensor 130b. Since the end portion P2 passes through the light receiving sensor 130a first after a delay, the control unit 20 receives a light detection signal as a detection signal from the light receiving sensor 130a. Accordingly, it is possible to determine that a skew has occurred, that is, a skew state has occurred as the transport state of the paper sheet P, based on the time difference in the change of the detection signal from light to dark in the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b. it can.

  Furthermore, the skew angle θ shown in FIG. 4 can be calculated by using the time required for the change of the detection signal from dark to light in at least one of the light receiving sensor 130a and the light receiving sensor 130b. Specifically, in a state where there is no skew (normal conveyance state), the length L1 of the paper sheet P crossing the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b corresponds to the short side length of the paper sheet P. On the other hand, in the conveyance state in which the skew is generated, the length L2 of the paper sheet P that crosses the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b becomes long. Therefore, the reference length L1 in the normal state is prepared in advance, and the length L2 calculated from the time required for the detection signals in the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b to change from dark to light and the conveyance speed is used. Thus, the cosine angle, that is, the skew angle θ is obtained. It should be noted that the accuracy of detecting the skew angle θ can be further improved by obtaining the skew angle θ using both the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b and taking the average.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which paper sheets partially missing are conveyed in the determination apparatus of the present embodiment. In the detection pattern of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b for the partially damaged paper sheet Pa, that is, the damaged paper sheet Pa, the passage of the paper sheet Pa is detected in one light receiving sensor 130a (the damaged paper sheet The detection light is blocked by the leading end of the paper Pa: change of the detection signal from light to dark, and the detection light is blocked by the trailing edge of the damaged paper sheet Pa: change of the control signal from dark to light) Regardless, the pattern is such that the passage of the paper sheet Pa cannot be detected (the detection signal remains light) exceeding the time delay expected in the skew state in the other light receiving sensor 130b. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 5, if the passage of the paper sheet Pa is detected by the other light receiving sensor 130 b even though the passage of the paper sheet Pa is detected by the one light receiving sensor 130 a, the damaged state It can be determined that the paper sheets in the are being transported.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a folded paper sheet is conveyed in the determination device of the present embodiment. When the paper sheet Pb is conveyed in a bent state, the detection patterns of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b with respect to the bent paper sheet Pb are blocking the detection light by the paper sheet Pa in one light receiving sensor 130b, The detection light is blocked by the paper sheet Pb in the light receiving sensor 130a, and the detection light is blocked by the paper sheet Pb at the same timing in both the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 6, when the passage of the leading edge of the paper sheet Pb by the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b is detected with a time difference, and the completion of the passage of the trailing edge of the paper sheet Pb is detected at the same time, it is bent. It can be determined that the sheet in the state is being conveyed.

  In the case of skew, the time required from the detection of the change from the light to the dark state by the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b until the detection of the change from the dark to the light state is the same, whereas in the case of bending, The time required for detecting the change from the light to the dark state after the change from the light to the dark state by the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b is different. Therefore, it can be determined whether the conveyance state is a skew state or a bent state.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing routine in the discrimination processing executed by the discrimination device of this embodiment. This flowchart is executed by the determination unit 22 of the control unit 20 after waiting for an input of a paper sheet conveyance start signal, for example. The paper sheet conveyance start signal is detected by, for example, detecting the input of the paper sheet to the paper sheet input unit, or by inputting an instruction from the operation panel for instructing the input of the paper sheet. Input to the controller 20.

  The determination unit 22 waits for input of detection signals from the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b (step S100: No). When the detection signals are input from the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b (step S100: Yes), the determination of the conveyance state is performed. Is executed (step S110). The presence / absence of the detection signal input is realized, for example, by determining whether the detection signal input from one of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b to the determination unit 22 has changed from a light to a dark state. That is, it can be said that it is detected whether or not the paper sheet P is conveyed (is present).

  The determination of the conveyance state by the determination unit 22 is performed by detecting signals input from the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b to the determination unit 22 after the detection signal input from one of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b changes from light to dark. It is executed based on the pattern indicated by In order to acquire and determine the pattern indicated by the detection signal, the determination unit 22 measures the time until the detection signal indicating the light state is input again from at least the light receiving sensor that outputs the detection signal changed from light to dark. To do. When the detection signal that changes from light to dark is input from the other light receiving sensor, the determination unit 22 also measures the time until the detection signal indicating the light state is input again for the light receiving sensor. To do.

  A specific determination process by the determination unit 22 will be described. An example of the pattern indicated by the detection signal is as described above. When the detection signal input from each of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b changes to light-dark-light at the same timing, the determination unit 22 It is determined that the conveyance state of the paper sheet P is normal. When the detection signals input from the respective light receiving sensors 130a and 130b change from light-dark-light at different timings, the determination unit 22 determines that the transport state of the paper sheet P is in a skew state. At the same time, the skew angle θ is calculated.

  When a detection signal is input from only one of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b and the input detection signal changes to light-dark-light, the determination unit 22 determines that the transport state of the paper sheet P is damaged paper. It is determined that the leaf is in a conveying state. When the detection signal input from each of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b changes to light-dark at different timings and changes to dark-light at the same timings, the determination unit 22 It is determined that the conveyance state is a state in which folded paper sheets are conveyed.

  When the determination unit 22 completes the determination of the conveyance state of the paper sheet, the determination unit 22 outputs a determination result. The control unit 20 executes processing according to the output determination result (step S120), and ends this processing routine. As processing according to the output discrimination result, it is used for displaying the discrimination result on a display device (not shown) provided in the discrimination device 10, stored in a log storage unit (not shown) provided in the discrimination device 10, and the paper sheet P Is used to determine whether or not to stop the conveyance, or to operate a correction means for correcting a conveyance abnormality included in the determination device 10. When displayed on the display device or stored as a log, the maintenance person adjusts, cleans, etc. the conveyance path 30 to prevent jamming. For example, when the calculated skew angle θ is larger than the reference angle, there is a possibility that the conveyance of the paper sheet P may not be continued. It is executed by stopping. When the correcting means included in the determination device 10 is operated, for example, when the skew angle θ of the paper sheet P is larger than the reference value, the conveyance speed of one of the belts 31a and 31b constituting the conveyance path 30 is increased. Processing for correcting the skew of the paper sheet by executing adjustment or the like is executed.

  In addition to this, a process of conveying the paper sheet in the reverse direction by operating the conveyance path 30 in the reverse direction to the input light of the paper sheet may be executed. Further, when the transport state of the paper sheet is the transport state of the damaged paper sheet, the paper sheet may be transported to a place (container) different from the normal paper sheet. Furthermore, when the conveyance state of the paper sheet is bent and is in the conveyance state of the paper sheet, the conveyance path 30 may be stopped and the conveyance of the paper sheet may be stopped assuming that the conveyance state is abnormal. Note that when a plurality of abnormal conveyance states occur as the conveyance state of the paper sheet, a necessary process may be selected from the above processes and executed. In addition, when the transport state of the paper sheet P is a small skew angle state or a slight bend, the transport of the paper sheet P may be continued as a normal paper sheet without stopping the transport of the banknotes P. .

Application examples of the discrimination device according to the present embodiment:
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal schematic configuration of the paper sheet transaction apparatus including the discrimination device according to the present embodiment. The discrimination device 10 according to the present embodiment can be applied to, for example, a paper sheet transaction device. A paper sheet transaction apparatus 60 illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a paper sheet input unit 61, a determination device 10, and a paper sheet storage unit 62 that are connected by the conveyance path 30. The paper sheets that are input to the input port included in the paper sheet input unit 61 are guided to the transport path 30 by the delivery mechanism. The paper sheet guided to the transport path 30 passes through the determination device 10 while being transported on the transport path, and is stored in the paper sheet storage unit 62.

  In addition, when the paper sheet transaction apparatus 60 is an automatic teller machine, the paper sheet transaction apparatus 60 may include a paper sheet P, that is, a bill discrimination device 63. In this case, the paper sheet input unit 61 is a banknote depositing / dispensing unit that executes bill insertion (depositing) and banknote dispensing.

  According to the determination apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to generate a plurality of detection lights using a single light source 100 and detect the conveyance state of the paper sheet P. Therefore, it is possible to determine the conveyance state of the paper sheet P according to the pattern of the detection signal detected using a plurality of detection lights, and the detection accuracy can be improved.

  Further, since a single light source 100 is used, wiring and arrangement members for each light source required when using a plurality of light sources are reduced, and a control circuit for controlling each light source is reduced, so that compactness is achieved. Thus, it is possible to realize the discriminating apparatus 10 having a simple configuration and high detection accuracy. Therefore, when mounting the discriminating apparatus 10, it is possible to mount the discriminating apparatus without being restricted by a mounting space, and the mounting opportunity of the discriminating apparatus 10 can be increased. As a result, it is possible to reduce the trouble of transporting the paper sheet P in the paper sheet handling apparatus that could not be mounted with the discrimination device 10 conventionally.

Other examples:
(1) FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a first other aspect of the discrimination device according to the present embodiment. Since it has the same configuration as the discriminating apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 except that it includes a beam splitter 110b and a corresponding light receiving sensor 130c, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are used for the same configurations. The description is omitted by attaching. Although the case where one beam splitter 110 is used has been described in the above embodiment, a plurality of beam splitters 110a and 110b may be used as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, two beam splitters are used to simplify the explanation, but it goes without saying that three or more beam splitters may be used. Increasing the number of beam splitters also increases the number of light receiving sensors. As a result, the number of detection points is increased, and the determination result regarding the conveyance state can be improved. In this embodiment, incident light E1 emitted from the light source 100 is separated into reflected light R1 and transmitted light T1 by the beam splitter 110a. The transmitted light T1 incident on the beam splitter 110b from the beam splitter 110a is separated into reflected light R3 and transmitted light T2 by the beam splitter 110b. The transmitted light T2 incident on the total reflection mirror 120 from the beam splitter 110b is reflected by the total reflection mirror 120 as reflected light R1. When this mode is adopted, the reflectance and transmittance are adjusted (set) so that the amount of each detection light obtained by being reflected by the beam splitters 110a and 110b and the total reflection mirror 120 is the same. Beam splitters 110a and 110b are used. By providing the plurality of beam splitters 110, the number of detection points is increased, and the conveyance state of the paper sheets can be determined with higher accuracy. The beam splitters 110a and 110b may be referred to as a first beam splitter 110a and a second beam splitter 110b for convenience.

(2) FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a second other aspect of the discrimination device according to the present embodiment. The same configuration as that of the discriminating apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided except that the beam splitter 110b and the corresponding light receiving sensor 130c are provided, and the beam splitter 110c is provided instead of the total reflection mirror 120. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. In the above embodiment, the light beam emitted from the single light source 100 is finally totally reflected by the total reflection mirror 120 disposed at the farthest end. However, instead of the total reflection mirror 120, a beam splitter is used. 110c may be used. In FIG. 10, three beam splitters are used for simplicity of explanation, but it goes without saying that four or more beam splitters may be used. Increasing the number of beam splitters also increases the number of light receiving sensors. As a result, the number of detection points is increased, and the determination result regarding the conveyance state can be improved. In this embodiment, incident light E1 emitted from the light source 100 is separated into reflected light R1 and transmitted light T1 by the beam splitter 110a. The transmitted light T1 incident on the beam splitter 110b from the beam splitter 110a is separated into reflected light R3 and transmitted light T2 by the beam splitter 110b. The transmitted light T2 incident on the beam splitter 110c from the beam splitter 110b is separated into reflected light R4 and transmitted light T3 by the beam splitter 110c. For example, when the light source 100 is used in common among various discriminating devices, the amount of reflected light from the total reflection mirror, which is the final stage, is large due to the relationship between the light amount output from the light source 100 and the light amount allowed by the light receiving sensor. It may be too much. In such a case, by applying the beam splitter 110c to the final stage, a part of the light (transmitted light T3) input to the beam splitter 110c is transmitted (emitted to the external system), and a necessary amount of light is obtained. Reflected light can be obtained. In this case, the light source 100 can be used as a common module for various discriminating devices, and there is an advantage that it is not necessary to adjust the light source circuit in order to realize a light quantity suitable for each discriminating device. The beam splitters 110a to 110c may be referred to as a first beam splitter 110a, a second beam splitter 110b, and a third beam splitter 110c for convenience.

(3) FIG. 11 is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd other aspect of the discrimination | determination apparatus based on a present Example. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the paper sheet P is transported in the direction in which the longitudinal direction intersects the transport direction has been described as an example. However, in the paper sheet P, the longitudinal direction and the transport direction are parallel (match). May be conveyed. In this case, the presence / absence of passage of the paper sheet P and the length of the paper sheet P can be detected. Also, the type of the paper sheet P can be determined according to the length of the paper sheet P.

(4) In the above embodiment, the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 have been described. However, an optical member that can adjust the reflectance and transmittance, and an optical member that can output the entire amount of incident light as reflected light. Other members may be used. That is, the amount of incident light as detection light with respect to each light receiving sensor 130 may be the same or equivalent.

(5) In the above embodiment, the case where the longitudinal direction of the paper sheet P and the optical path (light flux, optical axis) of the light source 100 intersect at right angles has been described as an example. The beam splitter 110, the total reflection mirror 120, and the conveyance path 30 may be arranged so that 100 optical paths (light beams, optical axes) intersect at an angle other than a right angle. In this case, it is possible to cope with each of the above-described discrimination patterns by obtaining in advance a response delay of the detection signal corresponding to the offset amount of each light receiving sensor 130. Accordingly, the determination device 10 can be arranged according to the mounting space.

(6) In the above embodiment, the light receiving sensors 130 a and 130 b are arranged below the transport path 30, that is, at a position where the detection light is blocked by the paper sheet P, and incident light from the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120. Is directly received. However, each of the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b may be disposed on the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 side, that is, above the conveyance path 30 so as to receive the reflected light reflected from the paper sheet P. In this case, the beam splitter 110 and the total reflection mirror 120 that output the detection light and the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b to which the detection light is input can be integrated into an integrated module. It is possible to facilitate the incorporation of the discriminating device 10 according to the mounting space, such as that there is not enough space for arranging the light receiving sensors 130a and 130b. In order to make a sufficient difference between the amount of reflected light from the paper sheet P and the amount of reflected light from the surface below the conveyance path 30, an antireflection treatment (light absorption) is applied to the surface below the conveyance path 30. Processing) or a member with low reflectivity is preferably used.

  When this configuration is adopted, a total reflection mirror is disposed below the conveyance path 30 so that the reflected light from the total reflection mirror when the paper sheet P is not present and the paper when the paper sheet P is present are present. The discrimination process may be executed using the reflected light from the leaves P. By adopting this configuration, the difference between the amount of reflected light when the paper sheet P is not present and the amount of reflected light when the paper sheet is present can be sufficiently different, so that the detection accuracy is improved. In addition, a determination flow similar to that in the above-described embodiment can be employed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example and the modification, Embodiment mentioned above is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and does not limit this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Discriminating device 20 ... Control part 21 ... A / D converter 22 ... Discriminating part 30 ... Conveyance path 31a, 31b ... Belt 60 ... Paper sheet transaction apparatus 61 ... Paper sheet input part 62 ... Paper sheet storage part 63 Discrimination device 100 ... Light source 110 ... Beam splitter 110a ... Beam splitter 110c ... Beam splitter 120 ... Total reflection mirrors 130a, 130b, 130c ... Light receiving sensor D ... Transport direction P, P ', Pa, Pb ... Bills P1 ... End P2 ... end E1 ... incident light R1 ... reflected light R2 ... reflected light T1 ... transmitted light θ ... skew angle

Claims (6)

A discriminating device for discriminating the conveyance state of paper sheets,
A single light source,
A total reflection part disposed on the optical path of light emitted from the single light source and emitting all incident light as reflected light;
At least one portion that is disposed between the light source and the total reflection portion on the optical path and reflects part of the light emitted from the light source toward the transport path on which the paper sheets are transported A reflection part;
A determination apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine a conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path based on the light reflected by the at least one partial reflection unit and the total reflection unit. The discrimination apparatus according to claim 1 further includes
Corresponding to the at least one partial reflection part and the total reflection part, the carrier path is arranged, and the light reflected by the at least one partial reflection part and the total reflection part is received and a detection signal is output. A plurality of light receiving units
The determination unit is configured to determine a conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path based on a detection signal output from the light receiving unit. The discrimination device according to claim 1 or 2,
The transmittance or reflectance of the at least one partial reflection portion is a value in a range in which the light amount of each light reflected toward the transport path by the at least one partial reflection portion and the total reflection portion is predetermined. Discriminator set to be. In the discrimination device according to claim 3,
The paper sheet has a long side and a short side, and is conveyed so that the conveyance path and the long side intersect,
The at least one partial reflection portion and the total reflection portion are respectively arranged so as to reflect light perpendicular to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the paper sheets conveyed through the conveyance path,
The discriminating device, wherein the discriminating unit discriminates a conveyance state of the paper sheets based on detection signals from the plurality of light receiving units. A discriminating device for discriminating the conveyance state of paper sheets,
A single light source,
A plurality of partial reflectors arranged on an optical path of light emitted from the single light source and reflecting a part of the light emitted from the light source toward a conveyance path along which the paper sheets are conveyed;
A discriminating device comprising: a discriminating unit that discriminates a transport state of the paper sheet in the transport path based on light reflected by the plurality of partial reflection units. The discrimination device according to claim 5 further includes:
A plurality of light receiving portions that are arranged across the conveyance path corresponding to each of the partial reflection portions, receive light reflected by the partial reflection portions, and output a detection signal,
The determination unit is configured to determine a conveyance state of the paper sheet in the conveyance path based on a detection signal output from the light receiving unit.

Images