JPH0140390B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a banknote denomination discriminating device suitable for use in automatic currency exchange machines, vending machines, etc.

"Prior Art" As is well known, automatic currency exchange machines, vending machines, etc. internally distinguish between authenticity and denomination of banknotes inserted therein.

Now, as a method for distinguishing the denomination of banknotes, many methods have been put into practical use based on the size of banknotes. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing an example of these methods, and this method is called a span detection method. That is, in this method, a reference sensor 1 and a plurality of detection sensors 2, 2, . 2... is banknote 3
The size of the banknote in the transport direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "dimension") is measured based on whether the banknote is detected, and the size of the banknote is determined based on this.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, the above method has the drawbacks of requiring a large space and high cost, as it is necessary to provide the number of detection sensors 2, 2, etc. corresponding to the types of banknotes to be discriminated. It was hot.

Furthermore, in this method, the position of the detection sensor must be changed in order to accommodate changes in the "size" of the banknote. For this reason, when banknotes are revised and their "dimensions" are changed, they also have the disadvantage that it is difficult to modify them to accommodate this change.

Note that another discrimination method is a clock counting method. In this method, one detection sensor is installed on the banknote conveyance path, and the "size" of the banknote is determined from the counted value by counting clock pulses while the banknote passes through the detection sensor. This method does not have the drawbacks of the above-mentioned span detection method, but if the moving speed of the banknote or the period of the clock pulse changes, accurate measurement cannot be made, and there is a risk of misidentifying the denomination. Therefore, in order to overcome this drawback, the values counted by the clock counting method are
A bill has been proposed for mechanical timing correction and counting, which corrects the number of revolutions of the mechanical system of the banknote conveyance unit, such as the number of rotations of gears. However, even with this method, if the bill slips and the moving speed fluctuates, it cannot be dealt with, and there is a risk that the denomination will have to be discriminated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a banknote denomination discriminating device having the following features.

(a) There is less risk of misidentifying denominations due to fluctuations in banknote conveyance speed, etc.

(b) Two detection sensors can distinguish various types of banknotes.

(c) Changes in the “dimensions” of banknotes can be easily accommodated by changing the settings of software constants.

"Means for Solving the Problems" A banknote denomination discriminating device of the present invention is a banknote denomination discriminating device that discriminates the denomination of various banknotes based on the dimensions of each transport method. a first position sensor that outputs a signal when a banknote passes through a first position; and a second position sensor that outputs a signal when a bill passes through a second position.
a second position sensor that outputs a signal when the banknote is passing through the position; and a second position sensor that measures the time required for the banknote to pass the first position based on the output signal of the first position sensor. a second timer that times the time required for one end of the banknote to pass between the first position and the second position based on the output signals of the first and second position sensors; A timekeeping means, a storage means for storing discrimination data for each denomination, and calculating a ratio of the timekeeping results by the first and second timekeeping means, and discriminating the denomination by comparing this with the discrimination data. and a discrimination means,
The second position is set apart from the first position in the transport direction by a predetermined distance that is greater than or equal to the minimum value and less than or equal to the maximum value of the dimensions of the various banknotes in the transport direction.

"Operation" In the banknote denomination discrimination device of the present invention, the first position sensor outputs a signal when the banknote is passing through the first position on the conveyance path. Further, the second position sensor outputs a signal when the banknote is passing through a second position different from the first position. Further, the first timer measures the time required for the banknote to pass through the first position based on the output signal of the first position sensor. Further, the second timer measures the time required for one end of the banknote to pass between the first position and the second position based on the output signals of the first and second position sensors.

Therefore, for example, when the second position is set downstream from the first position, the second timer measures the second position from the rising edge of the output signal of the first position sensor. By measuring the elapsed time until the output signal of the position sensor rises, the time required for the leading edge of the banknote to pass between the first position and the second position can be measured. Timing by the first and second timing means will start at the same time.

The second position is set apart from the first position in the transport direction by a predetermined distance that is greater than or equal to the minimum value and less than or equal to the maximum value of each "dimension" of the various banknotes.

Therefore, for example, if the second position is set downstream from the first position, the first and second positions
The average value of the difference between the points at which the time measurement of the time measurement means ends becomes the minimum value. That is, when various banknotes are conveyed at random, the average time that either the first or second timer measures alone becomes the minimum.

Therefore, the first and second time-measuring means measure time at approximately the same time, and the average velocity of the banknotes and the like when they measure time are approximately equal, and the first and second time-measuring means
The ratio of the time measurement result of the second time measurement means and the time measurement result of the second time measurement means is always a substantially constant value for each banknote, which is not affected by the transport speed of the banknote or the like.

"Embodiment" An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a banknote denomination discriminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are a front view and a plan view showing a banknote conveyance path, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a discriminator. In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are light emitters,
Further, 3 and 4 are respective light receivers. These light emitter 1, light receiver 3 (first position sensor), and light emitter 2, light receiver 4 (second position sensor) are installed at predetermined locations on the banknote conveyance path of an automatic money changer or the like. . That is, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
The conveyance path R between P and Q, Q is sandwiched between these belts P, P and Q, Q, and progresses from left to right in the figure. The light emitter 2 and the light receiver 4 are each connected to a transport path R.
The light emitter 1 and the light receiver 3 are arranged opposite to each other via the conveyance path R in the center of the conveyance direction.
A light emitter 2 and a light receiver 4 are respectively arranged at a predetermined distance L apart from each other in the transport direction. here,
The predetermined distance L is the length in the longitudinal direction of the smallest new 1,000 yen bill among circulating banknotes, that is, the dimension in the conveying direction (as mentioned above, simply referred to as "dimension") of 150 mm or more, and among the circulating banknotes. The largest old 10,000 yen bill has "dimensions" of 174 mm or less. In this case, it is most desirable that the predetermined distance L be around 162 mm, which is between 150 mm and 174 mm.
Then, when the light receivers 3 and 4 receive light from the light emitters 1 and 2, they output an off signal, while the bill M advances along the conveyance path R and the light emitters 1 and 2 When the light from the sensor is blocked, it outputs an on signal. The signal from the photoreceiver 3 is supplied to a one shot 5 and a first input of an AND gate 6, and the signal from the photoreceiver 4 is supplied to a oneshot 7. One shot 5 detects the rising edge of the signal supplied from optical receiver 3, sets a flip-flop (hereinafter referred to as F/F) 8, and one shot 7
detects the rise of the signal supplied from the light receiver 4 and resets the F/F 8. The output signal of this F/F 8 is the first output signal of the AND gate 9.
Supplied to the input end. On the other hand, 10 is an oscillator that supplies a pulse signal of a predetermined frequency to the second input terminals of AND gates 6 and 9. Furthermore, counters 11 and 12 (respectively, a first timer and a second timer) count the output signals of the AND gates 6 and 9, respectively, and calculate the counted values CN ₁ and CN ₂ by the discriminator 13. supply to

Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above discrimination device. In the figure, 14 is a central processing unit, ie, CPU (discrimination means), which performs banknote discrimination and the like. In addition, 15 is an I/O port, which receives the count values supplied from counters 11 and 12.
Supply to bus line BL of CPU14. Also, 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a read-only memory, ie, ROM (storage means), in which programs used for processing by the CPU and discrimination data shown in FIG. 5 are stored. Here, the discrimination data consists of denomination data of each circulating banknote, new 1000 (yen), 5000 (yen), etc., and ratio data 0.92, 0.95, etc. corresponding to these denomination data, and the ratio data is The “dimension” Li of the banknote indicated by the denomination data is determined by the above-mentioned light emitter 1 and light receiver 3.
and the value Li/L divided by a predetermined distance L between the light emitter 2 and the light receiver 4. This value corresponds to the size of the banknote and is a value unique to each circulating banknote.
On the other hand, 17 is a random access memory or RAM for data storage.

The operation of the bill discriminating device having the above configuration will be explained. Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams showing how a banknote MI (new 1,000 yen bill) with the shortest "dimension" and a banknote MA (old 10,000 yen bill) with the longest "dimension" proceed along the transport path R, respectively. FIG. bill
MI (MA) moves along the conveyance path R, and the tip of the banknote MIF
When (MAF) reaches the light emitter 1, an on signal is output from the light receiver 3, and the rise of this on signal is detected by the one shot 5, and the F/F 8 is set. As a result, and gates 6 and 9
At the same time, pulses are output at a frequency equal to the frequency of the oscillator 10, and the number of pulses is counted by the counter 1.
1 and counter 12. Then, the bill MI (MA) travels along the conveyance path R in the right direction in FIGS. 6 and 7, and first, the tip (MIR) of the bill MI shown in FIG. do. Then, the output of the light receiver 3 becomes "L" and the counter 6 stops counting. on the other hand,
Counter 7 continues counting and the banknotes
When the tip MIF of MI reaches the emitter 2, the receiver 4
An on signal is output from the switch, and its rise is detected by the one shot, and the F/F 8 is reset. As a result, the output of AND gate 9 is
It becomes "L" and the counter 12 stops counting.
However, in the case shown in Figure 6, banknotes
While MI travels the distance from point A to point B,
While counters 11 and 12 both count,
While the bill MI travels the distance from point B to point C, only the counter 12 counts (hereinafter, the distance counted by only one counter like BC will be referred to as the independent counting distance). Therefore, the counter 12 counts more than the counter 11 while the banknote MI travels from point B to point C, and as a result, the count of the counter 12 and CN ₂ are as follows:
The count value CN of the counter 11 is greater than ₁ .
On the other hand, in the banknote MA shown in FIG. 7, after the leading end MIF of the banknote passes through the light emitter 2, the rear end MAR of the banknote MA passes through the light emitter 1. Therefore, while the banknote MA advances from point A to point C, the counters 11 and 12 both count the banknote
Only the counter 11 performs counting until MA reaches point C from point D. Therefore, the independent counting distance is CD, and the counter 11 is smaller than the counter 12.
This means that while the banknote MA travels from point C to point D, it is counted unnecessarily. As a result, counter 1
The count value CN ₁ of 1 is larger than the count value CN ₂ of the counter 12. These count values CN ₁ and CN ₂ are then sent to the CPU 1 via the I/O port 15.
4.

Here, if the traveling speed of the banknote MI (MA) is υ, the period of the pulse output from the oscillator 10 is T, and the "dimension" of the banknote MI (MA) is Li, then CN ₁ = Li/υ・T... …(1) CN ₂ =L/υ・T …(2)

In this case, υ fluctuates due to fluctuations in the motor rotation speed and the slip of the banknote MI (MA), and T
The oscillator 10 fluctuates under the influence of temperature.
Therefore, while the banknote MI(MA) passes through the light emitter 1 in FIGS. 6 and 7, the banknote MI(MA)
Let the average speed of the banknote MI (MA) be υ ₁ and the average period therebetween T ₁ , and let the average speed of the banknote MI (MA) while traveling from emitter 1 to emitter 2 be υ ₂ and the average period therebetween be T ₂ . For example, the above formulas (1) and (2) become CN ₁ =Li/υ ₁ ·T ₁ ...(3) CN ₂ =L/υ ₂ ·T ₂ ...(4), respectively.

Here, in the present invention, the distance L between the light emitter 1 and the light emitter 2 is within a range that is greater than or equal to the "dimension" of the smallest banknote among the circulating banknotes and less than or equal to the "dimension" of the longest banknote. It is installed in As a result,
Single counting distance when the shortest banknote MI is transported
The sum of BC and the single counting distance CD when the longest banknote MA is conveyed (BC + CD) is the sum of the light emitter 2,
It is the minimum value among the sums of the individual counting distances when the shortest and longest banknotes MI and MA are transported at an arbitrary position on the transport path R. In other words, the sum of the individual counting distances when the shortest and longest banknotes MI, MA are conveyed is minimum and constant when the light emitter 2 is located within the above range, and outside the above range, It gets bigger as you move away from it. Minimum single counting distance means that when all banknotes are conveyed, the average value of the single counting distance traveled by the banknotes is the minimum, and at the same time, the time taken for these banknotes to travel the single counting distance is the minimum. This means that the average value is the minimum.

Therefore, by installing the light emitting device 2 within the above range, fluctuations in the conveyance speed υ of the banknotes and period T while the banknotes travel the single counting distance can be reduced.
The fluctuations in are minimized, and the average speeds υ ₁ and υ ₂ and the average periods T ₁ and T ₂ are approximately equal no matter what size banknotes are conveyed, so that υ ₁ ≒υ ₂ ...( 5) T ₁ ≒T ₂ ...(6).

As a result, from equations (3), (4), (5) and (6), CN ₁ and
The ratio of CN ₂ is CN ₁ /CN ₂ =Li/υ ₁ ·T ₁ ·υ ₂ ·T ₂ /L≒Li/L (7). That is, the ratio CN ₁ /CN ₂ between the count value CN ₁ and the count value CN ₂ is equal to the ratio Li/L between the "dimension" Li of the detected banknote and the predetermined distance L. If the count value CN ₁ and count value CN ₂ are input, the CPU will
The ratio CN ₁ /CN ₂ between CN ₁ and CN ₂ is calculated, and ratio data having a value equal to this calculation result is searched from the discrimination data in the ROM. In this case, the content of the denomination data recorded corresponding to the ratio data that matches the ratio CN ₁ /CN ₂ is the denomination of the banknote that has traveled along the transport path R.

In this way, even if the speed υ of the banknotes passing through the transport path R and the frequency T at that time are different values each time the banknotes pass, the banknotes can be reliably discriminated without being affected by this.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the time for a banknote to pass a fixed point (first position) is measured by a clock pulse, and the clock pulse is used to make the banknote travel a certain known distance L from the fixed point. By counting the time required to travel this known distance L and calculating the ratio of the time required to pass the fixed point, the dimensions of the banknote can be calculated from this calculation result. Since the banknotes are discriminated, even if the speed υ of the banknotes passing through the conveyance path R and the frequency T at that time are different values each time the banknotes pass, the banknotes can be reliably discriminated without being affected by this. be able to.

In addition, since the known distance was set to a value within the range of "dimensions" of the largest banknote among each circulating banknote and greater than "dimensions" of the smallest banknote, the speed υ of the banknote and the frequency T Even if the value varies, the detection error caused by the variation is minimized, and banknotes can be reliably discriminated without error.

Furthermore, since the device of this embodiment is configured with two position sensors, it can be realized in a small space and at low cost.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the banknote denomination discriminating device of the present invention, the ratio between the first and second time measurement results is a substantially constant value for each banknote, which is not affected by the banknote conveyance speed, etc. Distinguishing banknotes by value has the effect of greatly reducing the possibility of erroneous discrimination due to fluctuations in the conveyance speed of banknotes, etc.

Further, since the banknote denomination discriminating device of the present invention can be configured with two position sensors, it has the advantage of being compact and able to be installed in a small space, as well as being low cost.

Furthermore, even if there is a change in the "size" of a banknote due to a revision of the banknote, this can be easily accommodated by changing the discrimination data.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a banknote denomination discriminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are a front view and a plan view showing a banknote conveyance path, and FIG. A block diagram showing the configuration of
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the content of the discrimination data, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic planes showing the state in which a banknote with the shortest dimension in the conveyance direction and a banknote with the longest dimension in the conveyance direction proceed along the conveyance path R, respectively. 8 are schematic plan views showing an example of a conventional denomination discrimination method. 1, 2... Emitter, 3, 4... Light receiver (1, 3 above)
and 2 and 4 are first and second position sensors respectively), 10... oscillator, 11, 12... counter (1
1...first time counting means, 12...second counting means),
14...CPU (discrimination means), 16...ROM (storage means), R...transport path, L...predetermined distance.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a banknote denomination discriminating device that discriminates the denomination of various banknotes based on their dimensions in the transport direction,
a first position sensor that outputs a signal when a banknote passes a first position on the conveyance path; and a second position sensor that outputs a signal when a banknote passes a second position different from the first position. 2 position sensors; and the first position sensor.
a first position sensor that measures the time required for the banknote to pass through the first position based on the output signal of the position sensor;
and a second timer for measuring the time required for one end of the banknote to pass between the first position and the second position based on the output signals of the first and second position sensors. A timekeeping means, a storage means for storing discrimination data for each denomination, and calculating a ratio of the timekeeping results by the first and second timekeeping means, and discriminating the denomination by comparing this with the discrimination data. discriminating means is provided, and the second position is determined from the first position.
1. A banknote denomination discriminating device, characterized in that the banknote denomination discriminating device is set at a distance in the transport direction from the position of the banknote by a predetermined distance that is greater than or equal to the minimum value and less than or equal to the maximum value of the dimensions of various banknotes in the transport direction.