JPS645354B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a banknote validating device for determining the type and authenticity of banknotes.

[Prior art]

Conventional banknote discrimination devices that distinguish the type and authenticity of banknotes, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-37914, have multiple optical sensors and magnetic sensors placed along the banknote conveyance path, Signals obtained from these sensors when a banknote reaches a specific position are compared with pre-stored reference signals from each sensor to determine the banknote.
However, since the width of banknotes in circulation varies by about ±1 mm, the width of the conveyance path must be widened to accommodate this variation. There are also three types of banknotes: 1,000 yen bill, 5,000 yen bill, and 10,000 yen bill,
In a banknote discrimination device that determines authenticity, since banknotes have different widths, the conveyance path is set to match the widest 10,000 yen banknote.

As described above, since the conveyance path is wide compared to the width of the banknote, a correct pattern cannot be obtained unless the banknote is positioned accurately. However, in reality, it is difficult to correctly maintain the banknotes in a predetermined position, and the pattern given to the sensor varies depending on whether the banknotes shift or tilt during transportation. Therefore, in conventional banknote validating devices, in order to determine the authenticity and type of banknotes regardless of such misalignment of banknotes, the permissible range of the detected pattern is widened. Furthermore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-25091, line sensors are provided at both ends of the banknote conveyance path to detect the passing position of the banknote, and the central part of the banknote is scanned by the output of the line sensor. An apparatus has also been proposed in which the authenticity of banknotes is determined by selecting a reference pattern of a detection sensor and comparing this reference pattern with a detection signal actually obtained from the sensor.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if the tolerance range of the detected pattern is widened in order to identify banknotes regardless of their misalignment, the accuracy of banknote determination cannot be made very high, and counterfeit banknotes may be mistakenly identified as genuine banknotes. There was a problem that it could happen. In addition, when line sensors are provided at both ends of the banknote transport path to detect the transport position, in addition to the pair of line sensors, a selection means for selecting a reference pattern based on the outputs of the line sensors is required, making the structure complicated. There was a drawback.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional banknote validating device, and it is possible to divide the detection signal obtained by the sensor without providing a line sensor or the like for detecting the conveyance position. , the technical problem is to improve the determination accuracy by narrowing the allowable range of each signal.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a conveyance means for conveying banknotes, and a plurality of positions (I=1 to
i), a plurality of first, second...i-th sensors arranged in parallel, and a plurality of first, second...j-th positions (J=1
~j) Signal P(I, J) obtained from each sensor
A banknote validating device having a detection means for detecting each of Area (K=1~
k) a storage area for storing the permissible range of the signal of the true banknote to be identified obtained from each sensor for each divided area [I, J, K], and a plurality of positions detected by the detection means during conveyance; a storage means having a storage area for storing the signal P(I, J) obtained from each sensor at the first position (J=1) of the signal P(I, J) obtained from the detection means; The signals of all the first to i-th sensors obtained are
Within the allowable range in any one of the regions (K=1 to k) among the plurality of regions divided at the first position (J=1) corresponding to each sensor (I=1 to i) of the storage means, respectively. As the banknote passes, the signals of all the sensors obtained at the 2nd, . . .
i) corresponding to the second, ... j-th position (J=
2...j) Determine whether any area (K = 1 to k) falls within the allowable range among the multiple areas divided by j), and determine whether all positions (J = 1 to j) fall within the allowable detection range. The authenticity and type of banknotes are determined based on whether or not the results of the determination by the determining means fall within the allowable range at all positions (J=1 to j). It is characterized by the following.

[Effect]

According to the present invention having such characteristics, the first to i-th positions (I=1
Regarding ~i), the banknote detection range is divided into a plurality of parallel areas (K = 1 to k) perpendicular to the banknote transport direction for each of a plurality of detection positions (J = 1 to j) along the transport direction. , each area [I,
J, K], the permissible range of the reference signal is maintained. When the banknote passes, the signal obtained from the first sensor at the first position [J=1] along the conveyance direction is recorded at the corresponding position [I, J]=
Multiple areas divided by [1, 1] [I, J, K]
= Any area (K
=1 to k), it is determined whether the signal falls within the permissible range, and if it falls within the permissible range, the signal obtained from the second sensor is stored at the corresponding position [I, J] = of the storage means.
Multiple areas divided by [2, 1]) [I, J,
K] = [2, 1, 1 to k], it is determined whether the range falls within the allowable range. Then, the same process is sequentially performed for all the sensors to determine whether or not the banknote falls within the permissible range. If the banknote does not fall within the permissible range in any area, it is determined to be a counterfeit bill. As the banknote is transported, the same process is performed for each sensor at the second position, and the banknote is determined to be a genuine banknote if it falls within the allowable range in all areas. Further, by repeating this process for each type of banknote, the type of banknote is determined. In this way, even if the banknote is misaligned during transportation, if the banknote is a regular banknote, it will match the reference range in any of the divided areas.

[Explanation of Examples]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a conveyance path and a photoelectric sensor arranged therein of a banknote validating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the banknote validating device. . In FIG. 1, belts 3 and 3 are attached to a set of rollers including rollers 1 and 2, respectively.
4 is stretched to form a transport route, and three photoelectric sensors S1 to S3 are arranged at different positions (first to i-th, i=3 in this example) on the transport route. Signals obtained from each of the sensors S1 to S3 are amplified by amplifiers 5 to 7, respectively, and provided to an A/D converter 8. The A/D converter 8 converts these amplified outputs into digital values, and supplies the output to a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 9. The CPU 9 determines the authenticity and type of banknotes according to a predetermined arithmetic processing procedure. CPU9
A memory 10, which is a storage device, is connected to. The memory 10 is a storage means that stores the arithmetic processing procedure of the CPU 9 and has an area for holding a reference pattern for each banknote and data obtained from each sensor S1 to S3 when the banknote reaches a specific position.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a storage pattern of the memory 10 for banknotes of a certain denomination. The frame in this figure corresponds to the outer shape of the banknote, and the hatched part shown in the figure is the detection area. Here, the detection area for each banknote is nine areas, that is, each of the first to jth detection positions J (=1 to j) along the conveyance direction of the banknote in the illustrated state, (in this example, j= 3)
and a position I corresponding to i (i=3 in this example) sensors S1 to S3 perpendicular to the banknote conveyance direction.
(=1 to i). Now, each detection area [I,
J] (I=1 to 3, J=1 to 3) are each further divided into k thin detection areas arranged in parallel perpendicular to the banknote transport direction, in this embodiment, K1 to K3. In this way, the memory 10 stores 27
detection area [I, J, K] (I = 1 to 3, J = 1
~3, K=1~3) allowable upper and lower limit values P(I, J, K) max and P(I, J, K) min
is held. Assuming that this embodiment is a bill validating device that detects three types of banknotes, namely, 1,000 yen bills, 5,000 yen bills, and 10,000 yen bills, each denomination has the same configuration as the pattern shown in FIG. Upper and lower limit values are stored. Here, it is assumed that L1 to L3 are numbers corresponding to the respective denominations of a 1,000 yen bill, a 5,000 yen bill, and a 10,000 yen bill. In the following explanation, the upper and lower limit values of the standard held in the memory 10 are P(I, J, K,
L)max and P(I, J, K, L)min.

Next, the operation of the banknote validating device of this embodiment will be explained with reference to a flowchart. In the flowchart of Figure 4, the numbers indicated using leader lines are
It shows the operation steps of the CPU 9. When this bill validator starts operating, it first goes through the steps.
In 20, the number L of the banknote is 1, which is the number of the 1,000 yen bill.
Set to . Furthermore, in steps 21 to 23, J is set to 1, K is set to 1, and I is set to 1. Then, after waiting for the bill to pass, the signal P(I,
J) = P(1, 1) is the upper and lower limit value data of the 1,000 yen bill held in the memory 10 P(1, 1, 1, 1)
Check whether it is within the range of max and P(1, 1, 1, 1) min. Here, if the banknotes passing through the conveyance path are conveyed biased to the left side of the conveyance path as shown in FIG. 5b, or are conveyed tilted to the left as shown in FIG. 5c, As is clear from the conceptual diagram of the storage state of the detection area of the memory 10 in FIG. 3, it is between the upper and lower limits. However, if the banknote is biased to the right in the traveling direction of the conveyance path as shown in FIG.
In this case, the process advances to step 26, where K is incremented, and it is checked whether the value of K is 3 or more (step 27). If the value of K is less than 3, the process returns to step 23 and the same operation is repeated. If the upper and lower limits of the standard match the denomination of the detected banknote, the value of K is between 1 and 3 and is between the upper and lower limits being compared in steps 24 and 25. It happens. In this case, the first sensor (i
= 1), it can be determined that it is a genuine bill at the first position (J = 1), so proceed to step 28, increment I, and check whether the value of I is 3 or more (step 29). . In the first increment, the value of I is set to 2 and the second sensor (i
= 1), the process returns to steps 24 and 25 and the signal P(I, J) = P(2, 1) obtained from the second sensor S2 is stored in the memory 10. Data P (2,
Check whether it is within the range of 1, 1, 1) max and P (2, 1, 1, 1) min. If it is not within this range, the value of K is incremented and the same determination is repeated. As mentioned above, if the banknotes are conveyed along the conveyance path as shown in FIG.
1, 1, 1) min, and if the banknote is biased to the right side as shown in Figure 5a, it is clear from the layout of the storage area of the memory 10 in Figure 3. Thus, it is between the upper and lower limits of P(2, 1, 3, 1). In this way, the signal obtained from sensor S2 is P(2, 1, n, 1) (n=1~
If it is within the range of 3), I is similarly incremented and the signal obtained from sensor S3 is checked (steps 23 to 29). In this way, at the first position (j=1), all the sensor signals P obtained at the first detection position of a certain banknote are
Does (I, 1) fall within the allowable range in any one of the regions (K=1 to 3) divided by the first position (J=1) of each of the first to i-th sensors? It is detecting whether Thereafter, the process advances to step 30, where J is incremented, and it is checked whether the value of J is 3 or more (step 31). That is, if the value of J is 2, the process returns to step 22 and the second position in the center of the banknote is checked in the same way. Here, if the banknote is not tilted with respect to the conveyance path as shown in FIG.
= 3 or K = 1, but if the banknote is tilted as shown in Fig. 5c, K = 2 will be detected in the center.
=2, it matches the reference pattern. In this way, the CPU 9 achieves the function of a discriminating means for discriminating the type and authenticity of banknotes by detecting whether or not all positions (J=1 to 3) fall within the permissible detection range in steps 20 to 32. Also step 27
If the value of K does not match the reference pattern, it is determined that the denominations are different, and the L
Increment (step 32) and return to step 21. If L is not 3 or less, the banknote does not match the reference pattern for any denomination, so it is determined that the banknote is a counterfeit banknote (step 33), and the banknote discrimination process is terminated.
In this way, in each detection area, when K=1 to 3 coincides with the reference pattern and the loop of steps 22 to 31 is exited, the value of L is checked in steps 34 and 35. If it is 1, it is a true 1,000 yen bill, if it is 2, it is a 5,000 yen bill, and if it is not, it is assumed that a 10,000 yen bill has passed through the conveyance route (steps 36 to 38), and the process ends.

In this way, the present invention divides the reference pattern into many areas to narrow the detection range of each area, and also enables accurate identification of banknotes by dealing with uneven distribution and tilting of banknotes. .

In this embodiment, a discriminating device for discriminating banknotes based on the output signal of a photoelectric sensor has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to various types of sensors such as magnetic sensors.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the conveyance path is widened, if the banknotes are conveyed biased to either end, or if the banknotes are conveyed in the center of the conveyance path,
Alternatively, the authenticity of the banknote can be determined in either case when the banknote is conveyed at a certain inclination with respect to the conveyance path. Further, at this time, there is no need to provide a special detection means to determine the passing position of the banknote, and it is also unnecessary to select a reference pattern depending on the passing position, so by using the banknote discrimination device of the present invention, It is possible to distinguish between authenticity and type of banknotes of different types having different widths. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the detection area of each sensor is divided into a plurality of parallel areas perpendicular to the conveyance direction, it is possible to determine whether the signal obtained from the sensor falls within the permissible range in a relatively narrow area. . Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining the authenticity and type of banknotes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a banknote conveyance path of a banknote validating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing its electrical configuration, and FIG. 3 shows a storage area for detected banknotes in the memory 10. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation, and FIG. 5 a,
b and c are diagrams showing the states of banknotes passing through the conveyance path, respectively. S1-S3...Sensor, 5-7...Amplifier, 8
...A/D converter, 9...CPU, 10...memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying banknotes, and first, second, . . . a plurality of sensors, and a first sensor along the conveyance direction of the banknote when the banknote is conveyed;
2nd...a detection means for respectively detecting signals P (I, J) obtained from each of the sensors at a plurality of j-th positions (J=1 to j), wherein: Each detection position of the banknote (J=1
~j), the detection range of each sensor is divided into a plurality of parallel areas perpendicular to the banknote transport direction (K=1~
k) a storage area for storing the permissible range of signals of the true banknotes to be identified obtained from each of the sensors for each area [I, J, K] divided into areas [I, J, K], and a plurality of signals detected by the detection means during conveyance; storage means having a storage area for storing signals P (I, J) obtained from each sensor at the position; A plurality of signals obtained by dividing all the signals of the first to i-th sensors obtained in 1) at the first position (J=1) corresponding to each sensor (I=1 to i) of the storage means, respectively. It is determined whether any of the areas (K=1 to k) falls within the allowable range, and as the banknote passes, the areas 2, . . .
...The signals of all the sensors obtained at the j-th position correspond to the respective sensors (I=1 to i) of the storage means, respectively, and the j-th position (J=2...
Determine whether any of the multiple regions (K = 1 to k) among the multiple regions divided by j) falls within the permissible range, and whether all positions (J = 1 to j) fall within the permissible detection range. a discriminating means for detecting whether the banknote is a banknote; A banknote discrimination device characterized by: 2. The banknote validating device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photoelectric sensor. 3. The banknote validating device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor.