JP2970031B2 - Medium identification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for handling media such as envelopes and checks enclosing banknotes to be deposited at banks and the like, and more particularly to detecting the thickness of a media to be inserted and the presence or absence of a magnetic ink printed portion. Further, the present invention relates to a medium discriminating apparatus that can discriminate the type of a medium according to a combination of the detections.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years,
At financial institutions such as banks, cash dispensers (Cash Dis
penser (hereinafter referred to as CD) and automatic teller machine (A
Automatic transaction machines such as utomatic Teller Machine (ATM) have become widespread, and the types of transactions handled vary by model.
Payment, passbook entry, balance inquiry, transfer, etc. are performed.

[0003] Further, an automatic transaction device for depositing and depositing checks and depositing a plurality of checks in an envelope has been developed and put into practical use. Due to the use of envelopes, envelopes in which cash is placed in an envelope and deposited. It can also be used for deposits.

Heretofore, envelope deposits have been handled by a dedicated envelope depositing machine, and when an envelope is inserted into an insertion slot, a sensor detects it and conveys it into the apparatus. In devices that handle checks and envelopes, we want to be able to use the same slot for inserting checks and envelopes in order to reduce the size.However, because checks or cash are inserted into envelopes, the thickness is large, and checks are thin. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to discriminate these and to process each of them, and therefore, a means for discriminating a medium to be inserted is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medium discriminating apparatus which can easily discriminate the type of a medium.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a first medium having a predetermined thickness and having a magnetic ink printed portion, 2 is a second medium thicker than a predetermined thickness and having no magnetic ink printed portion, 3 is a first medium 1 and a first medium. An insertion slot 9 into which one of the two media 2 is selectively inserted is provided inside the insertion slot 3, and the thickness of the first medium 1 and the second medium 2 exceeds a predetermined thickness. A thickness detecting means 10 for detecting whether or not the magnetic ink is printed on the first medium 1 and the second medium 2 is provided near the thickness detecting means 9; The detecting means 16 is a member other than the first medium 1 or the second medium 2 or the first medium 1 or the second medium 2 according to a combination of the detection outputs of the thickness detecting means 9 and the magnetic printing detecting means 10 . Medium
(Abnormal medium) .

Therefore, the first medium 1 or the second medium
When the second medium 2 is inserted, the first medium 1 or the second medium
Or a medium other than the first medium 1 and the second medium
(Abnormal medium) .

[0008]

When the first medium 1 or the second medium 2 is inserted into the insertion slot 3, the thickness detecting means 9 detects whether or not the thickness exceeds a predetermined thickness, and the magnetic printing detecting means 10 detects the magnetic ink. The presence or absence of a print portion is detected. The discriminating means 16 discriminates the first medium 1 or the second medium 2 according to the combination of the detection outputs. That is, if the thickness is smaller than the predetermined thickness and there is a magnetic ink printed portion, it is determined to be the first medium 1. If the thickness is larger than the predetermined thickness and there is no magnetic ink printed portion, the second medium 2 is determined.
Is determined. In this way, the first medium 1 and the second medium 2 can be distinguished even if they are inserted from the common insertion slot 3, so that the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced, and the abnormal medium can be improved. Can be detected and discharged early, the processing time can be shortened, and the load inside the apparatus can be reduced.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a transaction apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG.
Is an explanatory view of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a check and an envelope, FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the embodiment.

The check 1a, the envelope 2a, the check /
The envelope insertion port 3a, the thickness detecting section 9a, the magnetic head 10a, and the discriminating section 16a correspond to the first medium 1, the second medium 2, the insertion port 3, the thickness detecting means 9, the magnetic printing detecting means 10 in FIG. And the determination means 16 respectively.

This transaction apparatus handles checks 1a and envelopes 2a (envelopes in which checks or bills are enclosed) and converts them into cash or deposits them into customer accounts. Check 1a
As shown in FIG. 4 (a), there is a special character printed by magnetic ink in a predetermined area, which is read by a magnetic ink character reader (hereinafter referred to as MICR), and the data and account number are stored in another predetermined area. Printed in normal characters.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the operation input of the customer and information of a bank transaction card (hereinafter referred to as a card), for example, an amount and an account number are printed on the envelope 2a. This is because they are read by the character recognition device at the clearing house.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2 (a), a check / envelope insertion slot 3a, a cash payment slot 4, a card insertion slot 5, and a receipt delivery slot 6 are provided on the front of the apparatus. Reference numeral 7 includes an operation button 70 and a display (hereinafter referred to as CRT) 71.

The operation button 70 indicates the type of transaction, that is, the check 1a.
(Full or partial amount), account deposit, or envelope 2a
A transaction designation button for inputting an account deposit, a numeric keypad for inputting an amount, a confirmation button, and the like. On the CRT 71, operation guidance and input data of the operation buttons 70 are displayed.

As shown in the side view of the main part of FIG. 2B, a sensor S1 is provided at the start end of the conveyance path 8a following the check / envelope insertion slot 3a, and a thickness detector 9a and a magnetic head are provided near the back. Ten
a is arranged, and a message sensor S2 and an envelope printer unit 11 are provided at the rear thereof.

The transport path 8b branches from the transport path 8a between the image sensor S2 and the envelope printer section 11, and the transport path 8b
A CR 12 and a check printer unit 13 are provided. A feed roller R and a gate G are disposed at important points of the transport paths 8a and 8b, and an envelope storage box 14 and a check storage box 15 are provided at the end. The sensor S1 detects the insertion of the medium, and the image sensor S2 reads the amount of the handwritten or check writer characters of the check 1a.

The magnetic head 10a is provided above the transport path 8a and detects the magnetism of magnetic ink characters printed on a predetermined area on the front side of the check 1a shown in FIG. A bill handling unit, a card reading unit, and a receipt printing unit are provided behind the cash payment slot 4, the card insertion slot 5, and the receipt sending port 6, all of which are units provided in a CD by a known technique. Therefore, the description will be omitted, and the main parts related to the present invention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness detecting section 9a is provided on a transport path.
An inverted L-shape in which one end is fixed to the shaft 91 of the fixed roller R3, the movable roller R4, and the movable roller R4 provided at 8a, and is rotatably supported at a corner, and a shielding plate 92 is attached to the other end. , A lever 90, a spring 93, and a shielded sensor S3.

The sensor S3 is normally shielded by the shielding plate 92, and is also shielded by the shielding plate 92 when the check 1a is held between the fixed roller R3 and the movable roller R4 and the lever 90 swings. When two or more sheets of the check 1a are pinched and the lever 90 swings, it is detected that the check has been released and the check 1a has exceeded the predetermined thickness.

In the control block diagram of FIG.
Denotes a determination unit, 17 denotes a sensor amplifier, 18 denotes an amplifier, 19 denotes a motor driver, 20 denotes a magnet driver, 21 denotes a control unit, and M denotes a motor.

The discriminator 16a discriminates between the check 1a and the envelope 2a as described below, according to the combination of the thickness detector 9a and the detection output of the magnetic head 10a. Thickness detector 9a Magnetic head 10a No detection Detected 判定 Judgment as Check 1a No detection No detection ── × (Whether check 1a is upside down) Detected Detected か × (Whether there are multiple checks 1a) Detected None 判定 Judgment as envelope 2a That is, when it is determined that the check is 1a, the envelope 2a, and X (indistinguishable), each is notified to the control unit 21.

The control section 21 includes a CPU and a control program (not shown). The CPU controls the above-described sections according to the control program to determine the check 1a and the envelope 2a to be inserted. Performs the corresponding processing based on the data input by. That is, a check
At the time of deposit operation in 1a, deposit into the customer's account, issue a receipt, read the magnetic ink characters and print it
1a is stored in the check storage unit 8. At the time of cashing request operation,
After printing, the corresponding amount is dispensed, a receipt is issued, and the check 1a printed by reading the magnetic ink characters is stored in the check storage box 15. When a deposit operation is performed on the envelope 2a, a receipt is issued based on the operation input data and the card information, and the receipt is printed on the envelope 2a and stored in the envelope storage box 14.

Having such a configuration and function, the operation will be described next with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the customer inserts a card from the card insertion slot 5 and then inserts either the check 1a or the envelope 2a from the check / envelope insertion slot 3a in accordance with the guidance displayed on the CRT 71, the sensor S1 detects and inserts the motor driver. The command is sent to 19, and the feed roller R is driven by the rotation of the motor M to start the conveyance, and the thickness is detected by the thickness detecting section 9a and the magnetic head 10a.

When each detection signal is sent to the discriminating section 16a, the discriminating section 16a discriminates between the check 1a, the envelope 2a and the other, and notifies the control section 21 of the discrimination. Check result, check
In the case of 1a, the amount of the check 1a is read by the image sensor S2. The read amount is displayed on the CRT 71, and when the customer presses the confirmation button, the check 1a is sent to the transport path 8b and the MICR
The magnetic ink characters are read at 12, and the read magnetic ink characters and the account number read from the card are printed on a predetermined area of the check 1a by the check printer unit 13.

So, according to the guidance,
Enter either full cash or partial cash (in this case, the amount). Check deposit 1a as check deposit box
House in 15.

At the time of full cash exchange or partial cash exchange, a command is issued to the bill handling unit and the corresponding amount is paid in the cash payment port 4.
And the check 1a is stored in the check storage box 15. Further, the transaction details are printed on the receipt by the receipt printing unit and sent out from the receipt sending port 6. At the same time, the card is returned from the card slot 5.

As a result of the discrimination, in the case of the envelope 2a, the amount of the operation input according to the guidance is displayed on the CRT 71, and when the customer presses the confirmation button, the magnet driver 20 is instructed to switch the gate G to switch the envelope 2a. After being conveyed to the conveyance path 8a, the amount and the account number read from the card are printed by the envelope printer unit 11, and the envelope 2a is stored in the envelope storage box 14. It is processed in the following flow.

When the discrimination cannot be made by the discriminator 16a (for example, when the check 1a is inserted upside down or when two or more checks are inserted), it is regarded as a medium other than the check 1a and the envelope 2a. It is immediately discharged to the check / envelope insertion slot 3a. The card is also returned at the same time.

In this manner, the check 1a and the envelope 2a to be inserted can be determined, and the corresponding transaction processing can be performed. Therefore, the check / envelope insertion slot 3a can be commonly used for different types of media. By using this, the transport mechanism becomes common, and the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

By arranging the thickness detecting section 9a and the magnetic head 10a as close as possible to the check / envelope insertion slot 2a, an abnormal medium can be detected and discharged early,
For example, the processing time is shortened and the load on the inside of the apparatus is reduced as compared with the case where the inverted check 1a is transported to the MICR 12 and ejected because the magnetic ink characters cannot be read.

In the above example, a case has been described in which the check 1a and the envelope 2a are discriminated and the corresponding processing is performed. However, other combinations of media may be used. For example, other checks in which magnetic ink characters are printed instead of the check 1a may be used. The same applies to the case of a combination of a certificate and an envelope deposit.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first medium having a magnetic ink printed portion with a predetermined thickness and the second medium having a magnetic ink printed portion thicker than a predetermined thickness are provided.
Insert one of the media from the insertion slot, detect whether or not the thickness exceeds a predetermined thickness by the thickness detection means, and detect the presence or absence of the magnetic ink print portion by the magnetic print detection means According to the combination of the detection outputs, the discrimination means can discriminate between the first medium and the second medium, so that different types of media can be inserted from a common insertion port, and therefore, The size and cost can be reduced, and the abnormal medium can be detected and discharged at an early stage, so that the processing time is shortened and the load inside the apparatus is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a check and an envelope.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a first medium, 1a is a check, 2 is a second medium, 2a is an envelope, 3 is an insertion slot,
3a is the check / envelope insertion slot, 9 is the thickness detection means, 9a
Is a thickness detecting unit, 10 is a magnetic printing detecting unit, 10a is a magnetic head, 16 is a determining unit, 16a is a determining unit,

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06F 19/00 G06F 15/30 RH

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of a first medium having a magnetic ink printed portion with a predetermined thickness and a second medium thicker than the predetermined thickness and having no magnetic ink printed portion are selectively performed. > The insertion slot to be inserted, and the thickness of the first medium and the second medium in the vicinity of the insertion slot .
Thickness detection means to detect whether the thickness exceeds a predetermined thickness
Step and magnetic ink printing section of said first medium and second medium
Magnetic printing detection means for detecting only the presence or absence of
For example, according to the combination of the detection output of said thickness detecting means and the magnetic printing detecting means, a first medium or the second medium or the
A medium discriminating apparatus comprising: discriminating means for discriminating an abnormal medium other than the first medium and the second medium; and means for discharging the abnormal medium after discrimination.