JP5564463B2 - Medium identification device and medium identification method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an identification device and an identification method for optically detecting a surface pattern of a medium and identifying the type and authenticity.

  In the conventional coin identification device and medium identification method, the denomination and authenticity are identified by detecting the outer diameter, material, and thickness of the coin, or by optically detecting the surface pattern. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a single image pickup unit images both the upper and lower surfaces of a coin to identify the type and authenticity of the coin.

JP 2009-276951 A

In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of media are transported close to each other for some reason, when the preceding medium is at the imaging position on the lower surface of the medium, the subsequent medium is at the imaging position on the upper surface of the medium. There may be. In this case, the preceding medium and the subsequent medium are imaged in a mixed state in the same image, but when the denomination or authenticity is determined by image processing, the preceding medium and the subsequent medium are imaged due to factors such as unclear boundaries. The above cannot be separated, and accurate classification and authenticity determination cannot be performed. In this case, the plurality of media are excluded as they are not accepted as true coins. However, in the case where a plurality of media are mixed in the same image by being transported closer than usual, at least one of the media such as clips that may be jammed during transport and damage the device. In such a case, there are cases where it is desired not only to be handled as exclusion but also to stop the transportation for equipment protection.

The medium identification device of the present invention emits light having a wavelength different from that of the first light emitting means that emits light toward one surface of the medium to be conveyed and the first light emitting means toward the other surface of the medium. Second light emitting means, a plurality of reflecting means for changing the direction of the reflected light reflected from the surface of the medium by the light from the first light emitting means, and the light emitted from the first light emitting means reflected from the surface of the medium An image pickup means for picking up an image by receiving light reflected from the surface of the medium and a light emitted by the second light emission means, a first medium image corresponding to the first light emission means, and a second light emission means Image storage means for storing the second medium image, and using the image stored in the image storage means , the first medium image and the second medium image are separated, the outer shape of the medium is determined, and the outer shape determination and determining disturbing medium determining means for determining a medium to induce failure in accordance with the result Characterized in that it has a.

  According to the present invention, even when a plurality of medium images are mixed in the same image, it is possible to perform more appropriate identification by separating and determining individual media on the image.

The side view of the medium identification device which images the upper surface of the conveyance medium based on the Example of this invention The top view of the medium identification device which images the upper surface of the conveyance medium based on the Example of this invention The side view of the medium identification device which images the lower surface of the conveyance medium based on the Example of this invention The top view of the medium identification device which images the lower surface of the conveyance medium based on the Example of this invention The functional block diagram of the coin identification device which concerns on the Example of this invention. Identification processing flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention Comprehensive determination processing flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention An image example in which a plurality of media according to an embodiment of the present invention are captured in the same image An image example in which a plurality of media according to an embodiment of the present invention are captured in the same image Identification processing flowchart according to another embodiment of the present invention

First, the features of the present invention will be described below.
The coin identification device according to the present invention emits light having a wavelength different from that of the first light emitting means that emits light toward one surface of the coin to be conveyed, and the other light emitting means toward the other surface of the coin. Second light emitting means, a plurality of reflecting means for changing the direction of the reflected light reflected from the surface of the coin by the light from the first light emitting means, and the light emitted by the first light emitting means reflected by the surface of the coin Image pick-up means for picking up an image by receiving the light reflected by the surface of the coin and the light emitted by the second light-emitting means, a first coin image corresponding to the first light-emitting means, and a second light-emitting means A second coin image corresponding to the image storage means, a separation process is performed on the image stored in the image storage means to determine the outer shape of the coin, and the denomination and authenticity are determined according to the outer shape determination result. And a discriminating means for discriminating. The discriminating means separates the first coin image and the second coin image when the first coin image and the second coin image are mixed in the image stored in the image storage means. Thus, the outer shape of each coin is discriminated. Furthermore, it is preferable that the determination unit separates the first coin image and the second coin image according to the number of pixels of a predetermined color. Moreover, the coin identification method of this invention receives the light which the light emitted toward the surface of the one side of the conveyed coin and the light emitted by the 1st light emission means reflected on the surface of the coin, and receives the 1st coin. A step of capturing an image, a step of storing the captured first coin image, a step of emitting light of a wavelength different from that emitted by the first light emitting means toward the other surface of the coin, and a second step The light emitted from the light emitting means receives the light reflected by the surface of the coin, captures the second coin image, stores the captured second coin image, the first coin image, and the second coin image. When the coin image is mixed in the same image, the step of determining the outer shape of the first coin image and the second coin image, and the denomination and authenticity determination are performed according to the outer shape determination result. And a step. With these configurations, even when a plurality of coin images are included in the same image, accurate identification can be performed by separating the images based on colors resulting from light having different wavelengths.
Furthermore, at least one of the first coin image or the second coin image is determined to be damaged by the failure-inducing medium determination unit that determines whether the medium is a medium that induces a failure from the separated coin images. It is preferable to have a control means for stopping the function of the coin identifying device when it is determined that the medium is an inducing medium. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a failure by determining whether there is a foreign material that induces a failure from the separated images and stopping the function of the device when it is determined that there is a foreign material.

  The medium identification device according to the present invention is directed to a first medium detection unit that detects a medium to be conveyed, and a surface of one side of the medium to be conveyed when the medium is detected by the first medium detection unit. A first light emitting means for emitting light, a second medium detecting means for detecting the conveyed medium, and a first medium facing the other surface of the medium when the medium is detected by the second medium detecting means. A second light emitting means for emitting light having a wavelength different from that of the light emitting means, a plurality of reflecting means for changing the direction of the reflected light reflected from the surface of the medium by the light from the first light emitting means, and the first light emitting means Image capturing means for receiving light reflected by the surface of the medium and light reflected by the second light emitting means reflected by the surface of the medium, and a first light emitting device corresponding to the first light emitting means. 1 medium image and a second medium image corresponding to the second light emitting means Are stored in the image storage means when the time difference between the timing of detecting the medium by the first medium detecting means and the timing of detecting the medium by the second medium detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value. And determining means for determining the outer shape of the medium from the stored image and determining the type and authenticity of the medium according to the outer shape determination result. Further, the outer shape determination is performed by separating an image stored in the image storage unit based on a color of light emitted from the first light emitting unit and a color of light emitted from the second light emitting unit. And As a result, even when multiple media images are included in the same image due to the media being jammed and transported, it is possible to accurately identify by separating based on the color caused by light with different wavelengths It becomes.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is not limited to the following examples.
(Example 1)
FIG.1 and FIG.2 has shown the side view and the figure seen from the top about a part of structure which concerns on a coin identification device. The coin 2 as a transport medium is transported in the direction of the arrow 3 on the transport path 1, and the position of the coin 2 is grasped by the medium detection means 11A and 11B provided on the transport path 1. Here, the medium detection unit 11A includes a projector 11Aa and a light receiver 11Ab. When no coin is present at the detection position, the light projected from the projector 11Aa is received by the light receiver 11Ab. However, when the coin 2 is conveyed and reaches the detection position, the projected light is blocked by the coin 2. No light is received by the light receiver 11Ab. Thus, the arrival of the coin 2 is detected by monitoring the light receiver 11Ab. In this embodiment, the transmission type optical sensor is used to detect the medium. However, other types of sensors such as a reflection type optical sensor and a proximity sensor may be used for detection. Moreover, although the sensor is arrange | positioned beside the conveyance path and the coin is detected from the horizontal direction, the sensor may be arranged above and below the conveyance path to detect the coin from the vertical direction.
Next, when arrival of the coin 2 is detected by the medium detection means 11A, light is emitted toward the upper surface of the coin 2 from the light emitting means 12A. Then, the light reflected by the surface of the coin 2 is reflected by the reflecting means 13 to change its direction and guided to the imaging means 14. The conveyance path 1a between the reflecting means 13 and the imaging means 14 is transparent to allow reflected light to pass.

Next, FIG.3 and FIG.4 has shown the state by which the coin 2 passed the medium detection means 11A, and was conveyed to the position of the medium detection means 11B. Here, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is a view from above. The medium detection means 11B is composed of a projector 11Ba and a light receiver 11Bb, and detects the arrival of the coin 2 by the same function as the medium detection means 11A. When the arrival of the coin 2 is detected by the medium detection unit 11B, light is emitted from the light emitting unit 12B toward the lower surface of the coin 2. The light reflected from the surface of the coin 2 is guided to the imaging means 14.
Here, the light emitting means 12A and the light emitting means 12B are configured to emit light having different wavelengths. Specifically, for example, the light emitting unit 12A emits blue light, and the light emitting unit 12B emits red light. By using light with different colors (light with different wavelengths) in this way, it is possible to separate images by color. The imaging unit 14 is a color image sensor, and simultaneously captures a blue component image and a red component image.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the medium identification device. When the coin 2 is transported on the transport path 1, the medium detecting means 11A first detects that the coin 2 has arrived, and notifies the light emitting means 12A and the imaging means 14. Upon receiving the notification, the light emitting means 12A emits light, and the image pickup means 14 picks up a coin image. Here, blue light is projected from the light emitting means 12A onto the upper surface of the coin 2, and the projected blue light is reflected by the surface of the coin 2, and further reflected by the reflecting means 13 and led to the imaging means 14, An image is picked up by the image pickup means 14. The image of the upper surface of the coin 2 obtained by the imaging unit 14 is stored in the image storage unit 53. Then, the identification means 55 compares the image of the upper surface of the coin 2 stored in the image storage means 53 with the front and back templates of each denomination stored in advance in the reference data storage means 54. The denomination and authenticity are identified, and the result is temporarily stored in the storage means 56. Here, either the front surface or the back surface is shown as a top image.

  Subsequently, when the coin 2 is further conveyed, the medium detection unit 11B detects that the coin 2 has arrived and notifies the light emitting unit 12B and the imaging unit 14 of the arrival. Upon receiving the notification, the light emitting means 12B emits light, and the image pickup means 14 picks up a coin image. Here, red light is projected from the light emitting means 12 </ b> B onto the lower surface of the coin 2, and the projected red light is reflected by the surface of the coin 2, reaches the imaging means 14, and an image is taken by the imaging means 14. The The image of the lower surface of the coin 2 obtained by the imaging unit 14 is stored in the image storage unit 53. And in the identification means 55, by comparing the image of the lower surface of the coin 2 stored in the image storage means 53 with the template of the front and back of each denomination stored in the reference data storage means 54, Determining denomination and authenticity. Here, the image of the surface opposite to the upper surface image is shown as the lower surface image. The discrimination results of the upper and lower surfaces of the coin 2 are once stored in the storage unit 56 and notified to the comprehensive determination unit 57. Then, the comprehensive determination means 57 performs comprehensive determination based on the denomination and authenticity determination result based on the upper surface image and the denomination and authenticity determination result based on the lower surface image.

  Here, in the case where the medium is transported close, a plurality of medium images may be included in the same image. Therefore, when the upper surface image and the lower surface image are included in the same image, a process of separating both is performed as shown in FIG. The image picked up by the image pickup means is a color image, and the image includes color components such as a blue component and a red component. Each color component is determined by the lightness of the blue component and the lightness of the red component per pixel. In order to determine whether or not both the medium image acquired at the timing when the medium is detected by the medium detector 11A and the medium image acquired at the timing when the medium is detected by the medium detector 11B are included in the same image. Next, a color analysis process is performed (S61). Specifically, it is determined for each pixel in the image whether the lightness of blue is bright, the lightness of red is bright, or otherwise. Finally, if the number of pixels whose blue lightness is higher than a predetermined value in the entire image is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the top image of the medium is captured at the timing when the medium is detected by the medium detection unit 11A. to decide. On the other hand, if the number of pixels whose red lightness is higher than a predetermined value is equal to or greater than the specified value, it is determined that the image is a lower surface image of the medium captured at the timing when the medium is detected by the medium detection unit 11B. Since these determinations are performed independently in principle, both the upper surface image and the lower surface image of the medium may be included. Further, each means described above is controlled by the control means 59, and there is no problem even if the function of each means is executed by the control means 59.

1. When the acquired color of the medium image is a single color Next, for each color, connectivity between pixels is checked, and an area of the same color is cut out. Then, it is determined whether both the blue medium image and the red medium image are mixed (S62). Here, if it is determined that they are not mixed, identification such as outer shape determination, denomination determination, or authenticity determination is performed on the cut out single region (S67). In the outer shape determination, it is also determined whether or not the medium is likely to be jammed in the conveyance path, depending on the shape of the outer shape. Next, it is determined whether the identified image is a top image or a bottom image (S68). When it is determined that the identified image is a top image, the identification of the top image is terminated and the acquisition of the next bottom image is awaited. It will be. On the other hand, when it is determined that the identified image is the lower surface image, a comprehensive determination process is performed together with the identification result of the upper surface image (S66).

2. When the color of the acquired media image is not a single color When both the blue media image and the red media image are mixed in the same image, a chain flag indicating that a plurality of transport media are transported close to each other Is stored (S63). Here, by using the cut-out upper surface image region and comparing with the reference data stored in the reference data storage means 54, the outer shape determination, the denomination determination, or the true / false determination is executed. Then, the determination result is stored in the storage means 56 (S64). In the outer shape determination, it is also determined whether or not the medium is likely to be jammed in the conveyance path depending on the shape of the outer shape.

  Next, by using the cut out lower surface image area and comparing with the reference data stored in the reference data storage unit 54, the outer shape determination, the denomination determination, or the true / false determination is executed. Then, the determination result is stored in the storage means 56 (S65). In the outer shape determination, it is also determined whether or not the medium is likely to be jammed in the conveyance path, depending on the shape of the outer shape. Then, a comprehensive determination process is performed together with the identification result of the upper surface image area of the next medium (S66).

3. Comprehensive Determination Process Next, the comprehensive determination process will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
The comprehensive determination process is executed after the identification process of the lower surface image of the medium is executed.
(1) First, it is determined whether at least one of the media causes clogging from the identification result of the top image or the bottom image of the medium (S71). If the medium has a clogging factor, the conveyance of the medium is stopped and the failure is reduced (S79), and the comprehensive determination process ends.
(2) If the medium is not a failure factor, it is determined whether both the identification result of the upper surface image and the identification result of the lower surface image exist (S72). If only one of them exists, the medium is rejected without being accepted (S78).
(3) If both identification results exist, it is confirmed whether the chain flag is set (S73), and if it is set, the medium is excluded as a chain (S78). On the other hand, if the chain flag is not set, it is confirmed whether both the identification result of the front image and the identification result of the back image exist (S74). If only one of them exists, the medium is excluded (S78).
(4) If both the front image identification result and the back image identification result exist, it is confirmed whether the denominations of both coincide (S75). If they do not match, the medium is excluded (S78).
(5) If the denominations match, it is confirmed that both the front image and the back image are genuine coins (S76). If at least one of them is a fake coin, the medium is excluded (S78). If both the front image and the back image are true coins, the medium is accepted as a true coin (S77).

Next, FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of captured images in which a plurality of media are mixed. In FIG. 8, a captured image 81 includes a lower surface image 82 and an upper surface image 83 of the medium. These can be separated by color components. Since the lower surface image is close to the imaging unit, the entire medium is imaged. However, since the upper surface medium is far from the imaging unit, the lower surface image is partially or entirely hidden by the lower surface image. If the entire upper surface image is hidden by the lower surface medium, the lower surface image of the medium is not identified, and it is determined that there is no identification result of the upper surface image / lower surface image in FIG.
In FIG. 9, the image 91 includes a medium lower surface image 93 (clip) and a medium upper surface image 92. Although the lower surface image 93 (clip) is buried in the pattern of the upper surface image 92, it can be separated by color components.

(Example 2)
As another embodiment according to the present invention, a time from a timing when the medium detecting unit 11A detects the medium to be conveyed to a timing when the medium detecting unit 11B detects the medium to be conveyed is measured by a timer, and the time is predetermined. The color analysis processing shown in FIG. 6 may be started or a chain flag may be set on condition that the value is less than the value. That the time is less than the predetermined value is because a plurality of media are close to each other, and there is a high possibility that they are captured in the same image. In this case, if the time is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is considered that a plurality of media or a single medium is normally conveyed. Therefore, color analysis is not performed and S61 to 62 in FIG. 6 can be omitted. It becomes. As a result, accurate identification can be performed without increasing the processing time.

1. When the medium detection interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the time from the timing when the medium detection unit 11A detects the conveyed medium to the timing when the medium detection unit 11B detects the conveyed medium is first set as a timer. To determine whether it is shorter than a predetermined time (S101). Here, if it is longer than a predetermined time, it is considered that a plurality of media are being conveyed normally (not in a jammed state), so that a media image identification process is executed (S107). Then, it is determined whether the medium image subjected to the identification process is a lower surface image (S108). If it is determined that the image is a top image, the identification of the top image is terminated, and the acquisition of the next bottom image is awaited. On the other hand, when it is determined that the identified image is the lower surface image, a comprehensive determination process is performed together with the identification result of the upper surface image (S106). The overall determination process is the same as in the first embodiment.

2. When the medium detection interval is less than the predetermined time When it is determined in S101 that the predetermined time is less than the predetermined time, a color analysis process is executed (S102), indicating that a plurality of conveyance media are being conveyed in close proximity. The chain flag shown is stored (S103). Here, by using the cut-out upper surface image region and comparing with the reference data stored in the reference data storage means 54, the outer shape determination, the denomination determination, or the true / false determination is executed. Then, the determination result is stored in the storage means 56 (S104). In the outer shape determination, it is also determined whether or not the medium is likely to be jammed in the conveyance path depending on the outer shape.
Next, by using the cut out lower surface image area and comparing with the reference data stored in the reference data storage unit 54, the outer shape determination, the denomination determination, or the true / false determination is executed. Then, the determination result is stored in the storage means 56 (S105). In the outer shape determination, it is also determined whether or not the medium is likely to be jammed in the conveyance path, depending on the shape of the outer shape. Then, as described in FIG. 7, the comprehensive determination process is executed (S106).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance path 1a ... Transparent part 2 of a conveyance path ... Coin 3 ... Conveyance direction 11A, 11B ... Medium detection means 11Aa, 11Ba ... Light projector 11Ab, 11Bb ... Light receiver 12A, 12B ... Light emitting means 13 ... Reflecting means 14 ... Imaging means 53 ... Image storage means 54 ... Reference data storage means 55 ... Identification means 56 ... Storage means 57 ...・ General judgment means

Claims (6)

First light emitting means for emitting light toward one surface of a coin to be conveyed;
Second light emitting means for emitting light having a wavelength different from that of the first light emitting means toward the other surface of the coin;
A plurality of reflecting means for changing the direction of reflected light reflected from the surface of the coin by the light from the first light emitting means;
Image imaging means for receiving and imaging the light reflected by the surface of the coin and the light emitted by the second light emitting means reflected by the surface of the coin;
Image storage means for storing a first coin image corresponding to the first light emitting means and a second coin image corresponding to the second light emitting means;
A medium that performs processing for separating the first coin image and the second coin image from the image stored in the image storage means, determines the outer shape of the coin, and induces a failure according to the outer shape determination result. A failure-inducing medium determination means for determining whether there is,
A coin discriminating apparatus comprising: 3. The coin identifying device according to claim 1, wherein the failure inducing medium determining unit separates the first coin image and the second coin image according to the number of pixels of a predetermined color. . By the disturbing medium determination means, when at least one of the first coin image or the second coin image is determined to be a medium that induces disorder, and a control means for stopping the coin identification device, The coin identifying device according to claim 1, wherein: First medium detecting means for detecting a medium to be conveyed;
A first light emitting means for emitting light toward one surface of the medium to be conveyed when the medium is detected by the first medium detecting means;
Second medium detecting means for detecting the medium to be conveyed;
A second light emitting unit that emits light having a wavelength different from that of the first light emitting unit toward the other surface of the medium when the medium is detected by the second medium detecting unit;
A plurality of reflecting means for changing the direction of reflected light reflected from the surface of the medium by the light from the first light emitting means;
Image imaging means for receiving and imaging light reflected by the surface of the medium and light emitted by the second light emitting means reflected by the surface of the medium;
Image storage means for storing a first medium image corresponding to the first light emitting means and a second medium image corresponding to the second light emitting means;
If the time difference between the timing for detecting the medium by the timing and the second medium detection means for detecting the medium by the first medium detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value, the image stored in the image storage means, Failure-inducing medium determination means for determining the outer shape of the medium by performing processing for separating the first medium image and the second medium image and determining whether the medium is a medium that induces a failure according to the outer shape determination result When,
A medium identification device comprising: The failure inducing medium determination unit separates an image stored in the image storage unit based on a color of light emitted from the first light emitting unit and a color of light emitted from the second light emitting unit. The medium identification apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the medium identification apparatus is performed. A coin identifying method for identifying a coin, comprising:
Emitting light toward the surface of one side of the coin to be conveyed;
Receiving the light reflected by the surface of the coin with the light emitted by the first light emitting means and capturing a first coin image;
Storing the captured first coin image;
Emitting light having a wavelength different from that emitted by the first light emitting means toward the other surface of the coin;
Receiving the light reflected by the surface of the coin with the light emitted by the second light emitting means, and capturing a second coin image;
Storing the imaged second coin image;
When the first coin image and the second coin image are mixed in the same image, the first coin image and the second coin image are separated, and the first coin image and Determining the outer shape of the second coin image ;
Determining whether the medium is a medium that induces a failure according to the outer shape determination result.

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