JP2800627B2 - Banknote recognition device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for identifying bills and the like used in vending machines, currency exchange machines and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the diversification and increase in the price of products sold by vending machines, vending machines equipped with a bill validator are increasing. Vending machines are often installed outdoors and counterfeit bills are sometimes used. A bill discriminating apparatus used in such a vending machine is required to have excellent bill authenticity judgment ability.

[0003] This kind of conventional bill discriminating apparatus has a configuration as shown in a block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a magnetic sensor. The output of the magnetic sensor 1 is connected via an amplifying means 2 to a comparing means 3 for comparing the output of the amplifying means 2 with a preset reference voltage. The output of the comparing means 3 is connected to a magnetic total width detecting means 4 for detecting a total width of a magnetic portion in a predetermined section of a bill (hereinafter referred to as a determination section). The output of the conveyance amount detection means 6 for detecting the conveyance amount of the bill by the conveyance means 5 is also connected to the magnetic total width detection means 4. The output of the magnetic total width detecting means 4 is connected to a judging means 7 for judging the authenticity and type of the inserted bill.

[0004] The operation of the conventional bill validator constructed as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

When the bill 10 is conveyed by the conveying means 5, a portion indicated by 11 in FIG. 2A passes through the detecting portion of the magnetic sensor 1. In the magnetic sensor passing portion 11, patterns (hereinafter referred to as magnetic patterns) 12 to 11 printed with magnetic ink are provided.
15 are included. Therefore, when the banknote 10 passes, the amplifying means 2 outputs a waveform like 20 shown in FIG. The comparing means 3 compares the output waveform 20 of the amplifying means 2 with the reference voltage 21, and when the output of the amplifying means 2 exceeds the reference voltage (with magnetism), when it does not exceed it (without magnetism). 2 (c) are output.

On the other hand, the transport means 5 is provided with a pulse plate as shown at 40 in FIG. 2D according to the rotation speed of the transport motor, that is, the transported amount of bills, for example, by a pulse plate attached to the shaft of the transport motor. Is output to the conveyance amount detecting means 6.
The conveyance amount detection means 6 counts the pulses of the output waveform 40 from the conveyance means and outputs it to the total width detection means 4 with magnetism.

[0007] The total width detecting means with magnetism 4 includes a conveying means 5.
With the conveyance width of the banknote corresponding to the pulse output by the unit as one unit, the total width of the magnetized portion in the determination section is detected. First, the total width detection unit with magnetism 4 detects the input from the comparison unit 3 if there is no magnetism from the time when the input value from the conveyance amount detection unit 6 changes until the next change, and the portion of the same is detected. (Without magnetism), otherwise (with magnetism). Then, the total width of the (with magnetism) portion in the determination section is detected and output to the determination means 7.

[0008] Suppose the judgment section is that the transport amount is "5" to "30".
If it is set to, a portion 41 indicates a determination section. First, since the carry amount continues from “5” to “6” (without magnetism), this portion becomes (without magnetism). Similarly, the portion W20 up to the transport amount “8” is all (no magnetism). Since the transport amount is between "8" and "9" (with magnetism), this portion W10 is (with magnetism). In the same manner, detection is performed until the transport amount becomes “30”, and the portions W10 to W16 become (with magnetism). Then, the magnetic total width detecting means 4 outputs the total width ("7" unit) of the magnetic portions (W10 to W16).

The determination means 7 includes a total width detection means 4 with magnetism.
If the input from is within the allowable range determined for each determination section, the banknote is determined to be a true banknote. This range is
In order to ensure the acceptance rate of bills even under various environmental conditions, it is determined in consideration of variations in printing and cutting of bills, changes in characteristics of electric components due to temperature and time, and the like.

[0010]

However, with the above-described conventional configuration, it has been difficult to prevent illegal use of counterfeit banknotes in which true banknotes and blank papers are combined.

The reason will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 50 denotes a counterfeit bill, and a blank sheet 51,
53 and 55 and a part of true banknotes 52, 54 and 56 are alternately combined. The magnetic sensor passing portion 57 includes magnetic patterns 58 and 59. When the counterfeit banknote 50 passes, the amplifying means 2 outputs a waveform like 60 shown in FIG. (C) is output. The total width detection unit with magnetism 4 detects the magnetized portion (W30) in the determination section 81 shown in FIG.
To W32) and outputs the total width (in “3” units).

[0012] The difference between the true banknote and the counterfeit banknote cannot be said to be sufficient when the total width of the magnetized portion in the determination section detected in this way is considered in various environmental conditions. Therefore, there is a possibility that such a counterfeit banknote is erroneously determined as a true banknote.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bill discriminating apparatus capable of preventing improper use of a counterfeit bill combining a true bill and a blank sheet.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve this object, a bill validator according to the present invention uses a magnetic sensor and an output of the magnetic sensor to detect magnetism within a predetermined section of a predetermined bill. Means for detecting the maximum width of the portion;
A determination means is provided for comparing the width detected by the detection means with a predetermined allowable range to determine the authenticity of the bill.

[0015]

With this configuration, the maximum width of the portion without magnetism is detected for each magnetic printing pattern, and the optimum judgment can be performed for each pattern. Can be prevented.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bill validator according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a magnetic sensor. The output of the magnetic sensor 1 is connected via an amplifier 2 to a comparator 3 for comparing the output of the amplifier 2 with a preset reference voltage. The output of the comparing means 3 is a combination of a magnetized total width detecting means 4 for detecting a total width of a magnetic portion within a predetermined judgment section and a magnetic non-magnetized portion of the predetermined non-magnet portion within the predetermined judgment section. It is connected to the maximum width detecting means 8 without magnetism for detecting the maximum width. The output of the conveyance amount detection means 6 for detecting the conveyance amount of the bill by the conveyance means 5 is also connected to the total width detection means with magnetism 4 and the maximum width detection means 8 without magnetism. Then, the output of the total width detecting means with magnetism 4 and the output of the maximum width detecting means without magnetism 8 are connected to a judging means 9 for judging the authenticity and type of the inserted bill.

The operation of the above-structured bill validator will be described below with reference to FIGS. The operations of the magnetic sensor 1, the amplifying unit 2, the comparing unit 3, the total width detecting unit with magnetism 4, the conveying unit 5, and the conveying amount detecting unit 6 are exactly the same as those of the conventional apparatus, and therefore the description is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram for explaining detection of the total width with magnetism and the maximum width without magnetism in a true bill.

The maximum width detecting means 8 without magnets is
The maximum width of the non-magnetized portion in the determination section is detected with the conveyance width of the banknote corresponding to the pulse output by the unit as one unit. However, portions without magnetism that are in contact with both ends of the determination section are excluded from the detection target of the detection of the maximum width. First, the maximum width detecting means 8 without magnet is provided if the input from the comparing means 3 continues (without magnetism) from the time when the input value from the transport amount detecting means 6 changes to the time when it changes next. The part is (without magnetism), otherwise (with magnetism). Then, the maximum width of the portion (without magnetism) in the determination section is detected and output to the determination means 9.

Suppose that the judgment section is the conveyance amount “5” to “30”.
Assuming that is set to up to 41, 41 shown in FIG.
Indicates a determination section. First, since the carry amount continues from “5” to “6” (without magnetism), this portion becomes (without magnetism). Similarly, the portion W20 up to the carry amount “8” is completely (no magnetism). Since the transport amount is between "8" and "9" (with magnetism), this portion W10 is (with magnetism). In the same manner, detection is performed until the carry amount becomes “30”, and the portion of W20 to W27 becomes (no magnetism). Then, the maximum width detecting means 8 without magnetism detects the magnetless portion (W
21 to W26) (in units of “2”).

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram for explaining the detection of the total width with magnetism and the detection of the maximum width without magnetism in counterfeit banknotes. In FIG. 3, the maximum width detecting means 8 without magnet is
A portion without magnetism (W40 to W43) in the judgment section 81 is detected, and the maximum width (in units of "8") of the magnetless portions (W41, W42) not in contact with both ends of the judgment section is output.

The judging means 9 includes the total width detecting means 4 with magnetism.
And the input from the maximum width detecting means 8 without magnetism,
If each is within the allowable range defined for each judgment section,
The banknote is determined to be a true banknote.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the maximum width of a non-magnetic portion within a predetermined section of a predetermined bill is detected from the magnetic sensor 1 and the output of the magnetic sensor 1. Means 8 and a determination means 9 for comparing the width detected by the detection means 8 with a predetermined allowable range to determine the authenticity of the banknote, so that each magnetic printing pattern has The maximum width can be detected, and an optimum determination can be made for each pattern.

In a set of a series of magnetic patterns including a plurality of magnetic patterns such as a character string, the width of the non-magnetized portion indicates the interval between the magnetic patterns. This is a stable feature in the printing process compared to the amount of magnetism in the set, such as indicated by the total width of a portion of magnetism. Therefore, it is less susceptible to deterioration of the printed portion due to the use of bills and changes due to the temperature and time of electric components.

In addition, the intervals between the magnetic patterns naturally differ depending on the set of the patterns, and a detection error also occurs due to variations in printing and cutting of banknotes and variations in mounting positions of the magnetic sensors. Therefore, it is very significant to detect the maximum width of the portion without magnetism and perform the optimal determination in each determination section instead of the uniform condition over the entire area of the banknote in order to realize stable identification performance.

The reason why the portions without magnetism that are in contact with both ends of the determination section are excluded from the detection of the detection of the maximum width is to make it less susceptible to the influence of the slip of the conveyance and the printing variation. This is because, if a transport slip or the like occurs, even a true bill may have a long portion without magnetism in the determination section.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, a magnetic sensor and a means for detecting the maximum width of a non-magnetic portion within a predetermined section of a predetermined bill from the output of the magnetic sensor. And a determination means for comparing the width detected by the detection means with a predetermined allowable range to determine the authenticity of the bill, so that the maximum width of a portion without magnetism for each magnetic printing pattern Is detected, and an optimum determination can be made for each pattern. Therefore, it is possible to realize a bill validating device that can prevent illegal use of a counterfeit bill combining a true bill and blank paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bill validator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic printing pattern of a banknote in a true banknote; FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of an output waveform of an amplifying unit in a true banknote; FIG. Output waveform diagram (d) is an explanatory diagram of the input waveform of the conveyance amount detecting means in the true bill.

FIG. 3 (a) is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic printing pattern of a banknote in a counterfeit banknote; FIG. 3 (b) is an explanatory diagram of an output waveform of an amplifying unit in the counterfeit banknote; Output waveform diagram (d) is an explanatory diagram of the input waveform of the conveyance amount detecting means in the counterfeit banknote.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional bill validator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic sensor 8 Maximum width detection means without magnetism 9 Judgment means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G07D 7/00-9/06

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A magnetic sensor, means for detecting, from an output of the magnetic sensor, a maximum width of a predetermined portion of a bill having no magnetism in a specific section, and a width detected by the detecting means. A bill discriminating apparatus comprising: a judging means for judging the authenticity of a bill by comparing the bill with a predetermined allowable range. 2. The bill identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an allowable range is defined for each of a plurality of specific sections of the bill. 3. The bill identifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portions without magnetism that are in contact with both ends of the specific section of the bill are excluded from the detection of the maximum width.