JPH09326022A - Paper sheet batch counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately count paper sheets even a read window can not be all covered with the paper sheet group by providing a light shield part which covers an excessive part, making no contribution to a read, with the read window and thus shielding it from light. SOLUTION: On a card arrangement surface 21 of a stock part 20, a the thin and long read window 22 which extends in the array direction B of a card group A is formed. On the side of the other end 20b of the stock part 20, a press light shield part 24 is provided which slides on the card arrangement surface 21 in the array direction B to press the card group A against a support wall 23. The press light shield part 24 is equipped with a press piece 25 and a light shield plate 26 as a thin and long rod type light shield arm which has its base end 26a fixed to the press piece 25 and also has its free end 26b projected outward. The light shield plate 26 is both wider and longer than the read window 22. Consequently, the excessive part 22a of the read window 22 which does not contribute to a read is covered with the light shield plate 26 and shielded from light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper sheet batch counting apparatus for stacking and optically counting banknotes such as cards, banknotes and securities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional paper sheet batch counting device is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped light shielding case, and a stock section for arranging paper sheets in an overlapping manner is provided above the light shielding case.
An elongated reading window is formed on the bottom surface of the stock section and extends in the direction of arrangement in the paper sheet group, and the illuminance of the end surface of the paper sheet group placed in the stock section can be detected through the reading window in the light-shielding case. You can That is, inside the light-shielding case, an LED that illuminates the end surface of the paper sheet group, a photo sensor that moves in the parallel direction of the paper sheet and detects the illuminance of the end surface of the paper sheet group, and a photo sensor are output. A counting circuit that receives a signal and counts the number of sheets is provided. Then, the illuminance of the end face of the paper sheet group illuminated by the LED is detected by the photo sensor, and the number of pulses of the waveform signal output from the photo sensor is counted by the counting circuit, thereby facilitating the number of paper sheets. I could count.

[0003]

However, in the conventional paper sheet batch counting apparatus, when the number of paper sheets is small and the reading window cannot be completely covered, the external light enters from the reading window into the light shielding case. This is a problem because it may get in and miscount the number of paper sheets by this extraneous light. Further, when the conventional batch counting apparatus for paper sheets is stored in a dusty environment, dust is often attached to the reading window. If this device is used with dust adhering to the reading window, the number of sheets may be erroneously counted due to the influence of dust.

The present invention solves such a problem and can accurately count the number of paper sheets even when the reading window cannot be completely covered with the paper sheet group, and dust particles can be counted. A feature of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet batch counting device in which dust is unlikely to adhere to the reading window even when the device is stored in a high-volume environment.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the paper sheet batch counting device of the present invention detects the illuminance of the end face of a paper sheet group that is arranged so as to be superposed on a light-shielding case, and this detection is performed. In a paper sheet batch counting device that collectively counts the number of paper sheets from the detection signal obtained in step 1, the stock is provided on the outer surface of the light-shielding case and the paper sheet group is placed on the paper sheet placement surface so as to be stacked. And an elongated reading window formed on the sheet placement surface and extending in the arrangement direction of the sheet group, and provided inside the light-shielding case to illuminate the end surface of the sheet group through the reading window. An illuminating means, a light detecting means provided inside the light-shielding case for detecting the illuminance of the end face of the paper sheet group through the reading window, and a light detecting means provided at one end side of the stock portion in the arrangement direction, Support wall that supports one side, and other stock parts in the arrangement direction Provided on the side, characterized in that it comprises a shielding portion that shields block the excess portion that does not contribute to the read by the reading window.

According to the paper sheet batch counting apparatus of the present invention, the reading window formed on the paper sheet arranging surface is arranged in a state where the paper sheet group is superposed on the paper sheet arranging surface of the stock section. By irradiating the end surface of the paper sheet with the light from the illuminating means, the illuminance on the end surface of the paper sheet group is detected by the light detection means.
Here, the reading portion of the reading window is closed by the end surface of the sheet group, and the surplus portion that does not contribute to reading is closed by the light shielding portion.
Therefore, the reading window is completely blocked by the paper sheet group and the light blocking portion, and external light does not enter the light blocking case through the reading window. Therefore, the illuminance of the end surface of the paper sheet group illuminated by only the light from the illumination means is detected by the light detection means, and the number of paper sheets can be accurately counted based on this detection signal.

Further, when the paper sheet batch counting apparatus according to the present invention is stored, the entire reading window is closed by the light-shielding portion so that, for example, when a glass plate is attached to the reading window, No dust is attached. Moreover, when nothing is attached to the reading window, dust does not enter the inside of the light shielding case. In this way, the number of paper sheets can be accurately counted without being affected by dust.

Here, the light-shielding portion slides in the arrangement direction on the paper sheet arrangement surface to press the paper sheet group from the other side against the support wall, and a position for fixing the press sheet to the pressing piece and covering the reading window. It is preferable to provide a light shielding plate that slides the paper sheet disposing surface to block the surplus portion.

The light shield plate is preferably an elongated light shield arm whose base end is fixed to the pressing piece and whose free end projects outward from the other end of the stock portion.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a paper sheet batch counting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1. Further, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped light shielding case 10, and a card (paper sheet) conforming to the ISO standard, for example, is provided on the front end 10a side above the light shielding case 10. Stocker 2 for stacking multiple sheets of A1
0 is provided.

On the card placement surface 21 of the stock section 20,
An elongated reading window 22 extending in the arrangement direction B of the card group A is formed. A support wall 23 that supports one side of the card group A is provided on the one end 20a side of the stock unit 20 in the arrangement direction B. On the other end 20b side of the stock portion 20 in the arrangement direction B, the other side of the card group A is supported, and the card group A is slid on the card arrangement surface 21 in the arrangement direction B so that the card group A is supported by the support wall 23. A pressing light-shielding portion (light-shielding portion) 24 for pressing is provided.

The pressing light-shielding portion 24 supports the card group A on the support wall 2
3 and a light-shielding plate 26, which is a long and thin rod-shaped light-shielding arm whose base end 26a is fixed to the pressing piece 25 and whose free end 26b projects outward from the other end 20b of the stock portion 20. I have it. Further, both ends 25a and 25b of the pressing piece 25 slide while contacting both side wall surfaces 20c and 20d of the stock portion 20, so that both side wall surfaces 20c and 20d function as guides for the pressing piece 25.

An inverted U-shaped guide member 27 is fixed on the extension of the reading window 22 at the other end 20b of the stock portion 20, and the light shielding plate 26 is sandwiched by the guide member 27 from above. Therefore, by gripping the free end 26b of the light shielding plate 26 and moving the pressing light shielding plate 24 in the arrangement direction B, the pressing light shielding plate 24 slides on the reading window 22 using the guide member 27 as a guide.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the light shielding plate 26 is
Both the width and the length are larger than the reading window 22. Therefore, the excess portion 22a of the reading window 22 that does not contribute to reading
Is blocked by the light shielding plate 26 to be shielded from light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the pressing light-shielding portion 24 is pushed in without the card group A being placed and the pressing piece 25 is brought into contact with the support wall 23, the reading window 2
The entire surface of No. 2 is blocked by the light shielding plate 26 and is shielded from light. For this reason,
When the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1 is stored, the pressing light shielding unit 24
If is pushed in, the reading window 22 is completely covered with the light shielding plate 26. For example, when a glass plate is attached to the reading window 22, dust does not adhere to the glass plate. Further, when nothing is attached to the reading window 22, dust does not enter the inside of the light shielding case 20.

Further, inside the light-shielding case 10, a plurality of LEDs (illuminating means) for illuminating the end face C of the card group A are provided.
30 are incorporated, and the LEDs 30 are located on both sides of the reading window 22. Further, inside the light-shielding case 10 and below the reading window 22, a rectangular total reflection mirror 31 that is obliquely raised toward the front end 10a is arranged. Furthermore, the front end 10a inside the light shielding case 10 has a rear end 10a.
A rectangular total reflection mirror 32 that rises toward b is arranged.

Then, the rear end 10b inside the light shielding case 10
A rectangular CCD line sensor (light detecting means) 33 opposed to the front end 10a is arranged in the same direction as the left-right direction B. The CCD line sensor 33 makes one line of light reflected by the total reflection mirror 32 incident, and collectively outputs an analog signal according to the light intensity of this light. In addition, the reflector 32 and the CCD line sensor 33
An imaging lens 34 that focuses the light is disposed on the optical path between and. Further, above the CCD line sensor 33, an analog signal output from the CCD line sensor 33 is input to count the number of pulses of this analog signal and to determine whether or not the count value is a correct value. 40 and a liquid crystal display 50 for displaying the count value output from the counting circuit 40 and the determination result are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the counting circuit 40 has a CC
A sample and hold circuit 41 for inputting an analog signal output from the D line sensor 33 and sampling the analog signal, and an A for converting the analog signal output from the sampling and hold circuit 41 into digital data.
And a D converter 42. In addition, the counting circuit 40
Is a CCD line sensor 33, a sample hold circuit 4
1 and a clock oscillator 43 that supplies a clock pulse to the AD converter 42, and a counter circuit 44 that counts the number of cards A1 based on the digital data output from the AD converter 42.

Further, the counting circuit 40 includes the counter circuit 4
It is provided with a CPU 45 that controls 4 to count the number of cards A1 and determines whether or not the obtained count value is correct, and a RAM 46 that stores various data and flags. Then, the count value and the determination result output from the counting circuit 40 are given to the liquid crystal display 50 via the driver 51, and the count value (that is, the number of cards A1) or the error message is displayed.

The sample and hold circuit 41 is a circuit for sampling the analog signal output from the CCD line sensor 33 at a constant cycle, and can output in a stepwise manner according to the brightness. In addition, the AD converter 42
Converts the analog signal output from the sample-hold circuit 41 into 8-bit digital data according to the value (256 gradation digital where [00000000] is the brightest and [11111111] is the darkest. It is a circuit for converting to data).

Further, the RAM 46 is composed of a plurality of memories 1.
(46a) to memory 4 (46d) and flag 46e. Memory 1 (46a) and memory 2 (46b)
In, the digital data output from the AD converter 42 is temporarily stored. The memory 3 (46c) stores the difference between the two data stored in the memory 1 (46a) and the memory 2 (46b). Further, the memory 4 (46d) stores a set level (first reference value) and a reset level (second reference value) in advance.

The counting circuit 40 counts the number of pulses of the analog signal output from the CCD line sensor 33 by using the set level and the reset level. That is,
As shown in FIG. 6, the sampling value output from the sample hold circuit 41 is sequentially compared with the previous sampling value, and when the difference between these sampling values is larger than the set level, the flag 46e is set. If the difference between the sampling values is larger than the reset level, the flag 46e is reset. Then, the counter circuit 44 indicates the number of times the flag 46e is repeatedly set and reset.
By counting with, the number of pulses of the analog signal is counted.

Next, the operation of the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1 will be described. First, the card group A is added to the stock section 20 shown in FIG.
The card group A is filled with
The card group A is fixed in the stock portion 20 by pressing the card to one side. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, by turning on each LED 30 and irradiating the end surface C of the card group A with light, the light reflected by the end surface C of the card group A is reflected by the total reflection mirrors 31, 32. CCD line sensor 3
Go straight toward 3. In this way, two total reflection mirrors 3
1, 32 are used to shield the reflected light from the front end 10 of the case 10.
By reciprocating at the portion a, the optical path of the reflected light can be increased, and as a result, the light shielding case 10 can be downsized.

The light reflected by the total reflection mirror 32 is incident on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 33 via the imaging lens 34. Then, on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 33, the image of the end surface C of the card group A imaged by the imaging lens 34 is projected. The illuminance on the end face C of the card group A is high on the end face C1 of each card A1.
The interval between 1 is low. Therefore, the image obtained by the CCD line sensor 33 has a striped pattern in which light and dark are repeated in the extending direction of the CCD line sensor 33. This image is converted into an electric signal by the CCD line sensor 33 and given to the counting circuit 40 shown in FIG.

Next, the counting process performed by the counting circuit 40 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8.
First, the illuminance is read by the CCD line sensor 33, and an electric signal is given from the CCD line sensor 33 to the sample hold circuit 41. The sample hold circuit 41 converts this electric signal into a stepwise waveform signal according to the brightness (step 100). This waveform signal is given to the AD conversion converter 42 and converted into digital data at the same timing as the sample hold (step 101). Then, the digital data is stored in the CPU 45.
And this data is stored in the memory 1 (46a) (step 102).

Under the synchronous control by the clock oscillator 43,
The electrical signal output from the CCD line sensor 33 at the next clock timing is sampled by the sample hold circuit 41 (step 103) and then converted into digital data by the AD converter 42 (step 10).
4). This digital data is stored in the memory 2 (46b) under the control of the CPU 45 (step 105).

Next, the digital data stored in the memory 1 (46a) is subtracted from the digital data stored in the memory 2 (46b), and the subtraction result is stored in the memory 3 (46c).
(Step 106). And memory 3
It is determined whether the digital data stored in (46c) is smaller than 0 and the absolute value of the digital data stored in the memory 3 (46c) is larger than the absolute value of the digital data stored in the memory 4 (46d) ( Step 10
7). As a result of the judgment, this condition is satisfied, and the flag 46
If e is reset (step 108),
The CPU 45 sets the flag 46e and adds 1 to the counter value of the counter circuit 44 (step 10).
9).

When the conditions are not satisfied in the determinations in steps 107 and 108, and when the processing in step 109 is completed, the digital data stored in the memory 3 (46c) is larger than 0 and the memory 3 (46c) )
The absolute value of the digital data stored in the memory 4 (46
It is determined whether it is larger than the absolute value of the digital data stored in d) (step 110). As a result of the determination, if this condition is satisfied and the flag 46e is set (step 111), the CPU 45 resets the flag 46e (step 112).

If the conditions are not satisfied in the determinations of step 110 and step 111, and if the process of step 112 is completed, it is checked whether the reading of the CCD line sensor 33 is completed (step 113), and the reading is not completed yet. If not, the digital data stored in the memory 2 (46b) is read and the memory 1 (46a) is read.
(Step 114). Then step 1
Return to 03.

When the reading of the CCD line sensor 33 is completed, the flag 46e is checked (step 115). If the flag 46e is set,
An error signal of read failure is output to the liquid crystal display 50 (step 116), and the process ends. As a result, an error message is displayed on the display 50, and the user who sees this display reloads the card group A into the stock unit 20 so that the end faces C of the card group A are aligned.

Further, when the flag 46e is reset in step 115, the counter value of the counter circuit 44 is output to the liquid crystal display 50 as a count value (step 117), and the process is ended. As a result, the number of cards A1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 50.

Since the illuminance distribution is collectively read using the CCD line sensor 33, a mechanism for moving the photo sensor in the direction in which the cards A1 are stacked is unnecessary. Therefore, the mechanism of the paper sheet batch counting apparatus 1 can be simplified.

Also, the illuminance distribution on the end face C of the card group A is set to 1
By reading one line at a time, it becomes difficult to be affected by the change in the brightness of the LED 30 when counting the number of cards A1.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but may be modified as follows, for example, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the card A1 is used as an example of the paper sheet, but cards made of other plastics, paper, etc., such as credit cards, cash cards, prepaid cards, etc., banknotes, stamps, etc. , Securities, etc. may be used.

(2) In the above embodiment, the optical reduction type C
Although the CD line sensor 33 is used, a contact type CCD line sensor may be used.

(3) In the above embodiment, the elongated bar-shaped light shielding plate 26 is used, but a rectangular flat plate may be used. Further, instead of the light shielding plate 26, the excess portion 22 of the reading window 22
Other members capable of closing a may be used, for example, a rectangular dark curtain in which one side is fixed to the lower end of the pressing piece 25 and the other side is fixed to the other end 20b of the stock portion 20.

(4) In the above embodiment, when the card group A is pressed against the support wall 23, the light shielding plate 26 is moved as a handle, but a spring is provided between the pressing piece 25 and the other end 20b of the stock portion 20. The card group A may be attached and pressed against the support wall 23 by the force of the spring.

[0040]

Since the batch counting apparatus for paper sheets according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, of the reading window formed on the paper sheet arrangement surface of the stock section, the excess portion that does not contribute to reading is blocked by the light blocking section, so that external light may enter the light blocking case from the reading window. Absent. Therefore, it is possible to accurately count the number of sheets without miscounting the number of sheets due to the influence of extraneous light.

Further, by blocking the entire reading window with the light shielding portion during storage, for example, when a glass plate is attached to the reading window, dust does not adhere to the glass plate. Also, if nothing is attached to the reading window,
No dust gets inside the light-shielding case.

Further, since the line sensor is used to detect the illuminance on the end face of the paper sheet and there are no mechanically movable parts, the mechanism of the apparatus can be simplified. Therefore, the reliability of the device is high. Furthermore, since the line sensor has a short reading time, it is possible to count the paper sheets in a short time.
Further, it is less susceptible to the influence of uneven illumination and the reduction of the peripheral light quantity of the lens, and the influence of the temporal change and temperature change of the illumination lamp is also small. Further, it has little influence on coloring and stains of paper sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a paper sheet batch counting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the paper sheet batch counting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the paper sheet batch counting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a configuration of a stock unit accommodating a card. (B) is a plan view showing a configuration of a stock portion in which the pressing light-shielding portion is pushed all the way in.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a counting circuit.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing an analog signal output from a CCD line sensor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first half flow of a counting process performed by a counting circuit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second half flow of the counting process performed by the counting circuit.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Paper sheet batch counting device, 10 ... Light-shielding case, 20 ... Stock section, 21 ... Paper sheet placement surface, 22 ... Reading window, 23 ...
Supporting wall, 24 ... Shading part (pressing shading part), 25 ... Pressing piece, 26 ... Shading plate, 30 ... LED (illuminating means), 31,
32 ... Total reflection mirror, 33 ... CCD line sensor (light detecting means), 34 ... Imaging lens, 40 ... Counting circuit, 41 ...
Sampling and holding circuit, 42 ... AD converter, 4
3 ... Clock oscillator, 44 ... Counter circuit, 45 ... CP
U, 46 ... RAM, 50 ... Liquid crystal display, A ... Card group (paper sheet group), A1 ... Card (paper sheet), C ... End surface.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper sheet batch counting for detecting the illuminance of an end surface of a paper sheet group arranged in a stack on a light-shielding case and collectively counting the number of paper sheets from a detection signal obtained by this detection. In the apparatus, a stock portion provided on the outer surface of the light-shielding case and arranged to stack the paper sheet group on the paper sheet arrangement surface, and an arrangement direction of the paper sheet group formed on the paper sheet arrangement surface. An elongated reading window extending to the light-shielding case, an illuminating unit provided inside the light-shielding case and illuminating an end face of the paper sheet group through the reading window, and a reading unit provided inside the light-shielding case. A light detection unit that detects the illuminance of the end surface of the paper sheet group through a window, a support wall that is provided at one end side of the stock unit in the arrangement direction and that supports one side of the paper sheet group, Installed at the other end of the stock part in the arrangement direction And a light-shielding portion that shields and shields the excess portion that does not contribute to the reading by the reading window. 2. The light-shielding portion slides on the paper sheet arrangement surface in the arrangement direction and presses the paper sheet group against the supporting wall from the other side, and the press piece is fixed to the pressing piece. The paper sheet batch counting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a light shielding plate that slides the paper sheet arrangement surface at a position that covers the reading window to close the surplus portion. 3. The light shielding plate is an elongated light shielding arm having a proximal end fixed to the pressing piece and a free end protruding outward from the other end of the stock portion. Paper sheet batch counting device.