KR101754051B1 - Method and apparatus for sorting articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for classifying a plurality of articles and an apparatus for performing the method are disclosed. The method comprising: detecting at least one characteristic of each article; Classifying any article whose detected characteristic meets a first set of predetermined criteria as a first destination; Classifying any other article as a second destination; Which of the articles classified as the second destination has the detected characteristics meeting the second set of predetermined criteria and which does not satisfy the second set of the predetermined criteria of the articles classified as the second destination Judging whether or not the acquired characteristic has a characteristic; As determined in the previous step, the second destination has one or more articles having a detected characteristic that meets the second set of predetermined criteria and one or more articles having detected characteristics that do not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria Classifying an item into a third destination from a second destination, wherein the detected property meets a second set of predetermined criteria, and sorting any other goods from the second destination into a fourth destination Step.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES [0002]

The present invention relates to a method for classifying articles and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The disclosed techniques and apparatus are particularly well suited for sorting items of value such as currencies, including bills and coins, as well as other documents such as certificates, surrogate currencies, checks, and the like. Therefore, although the present invention will be mainly described with respect to the use of banknotes, it can be seen that the method and apparatus are equally applicable to the classification of other articles.

Various paper currency classifiers are known, including multi-poket sorters such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,394,992. This classifier has two pockets in which sorted bills can be output. A stack of banknotes to be sorted is input to an apparatus that detects the characteristics of each banknote using a sensor and outputs the banknotes to one or the other pocket based on the detected characteristics. In this way, a bill identified by a sensor that deals with special characteristics (e.g., incorrect direction, denomination, etc.) may be separated from the remaining stack.

This two-pocket sorting machine has an inherent limitation that it can only classify the stack of bills into two sets. As a result, to classify two or more types of banknotes of a mixed stack into separate sets, it may be advantageous to use a sorter having two or more output pockets (i.e., one pocket per "type") . This adds considerable complexity and cost to the device. In addition, the number of pockets that can be configured with a single machine is limited, in particular by technical constraints, as well as by size issues.

International patent application WO01 / 99060-A1 discloses two embodiments of apparatus employed for sorting and processing sheet material such as banknotes. The first embodiment has five output destinations as well as one "shredder" output, and banknotes are sorted into these destinations based on a predetermined criterion. The second embodiment has a reduced size classifier having three output destinations plus one "paper shredder" output. A classification procedure similar to that of the first embodiment is possible using the apparatus of the second embodiment. Both embodiments require two or more output pockets to sort two or more types of banknotes from the mixed stack.

There is an option (option) for re-feeding the paper money classified as a special output destination when using the apparatus of any one of the embodiments of WO01 / 99060-A1. Such a procedure allows a particular stack of notes to be re-evaluated and the classification criteria to be reapplied. At this time, this can accurately classify the bills that are incorrectly classified in the first "pass ". However, the procedure for the re-supply operation is complex and effectively doubles the processing time of a device with only a small increase in classification accuracy.

DE10117822-A1 discloses another apparatus for sorting banknotes. This apparatus is equipped with three output destinations, and the bill input position can be used as one of the output destinations. The apparatus of this publication may be employed to perform currency unit classification having two or more currency units or "types ". This is made possible through the use of three output destinations. This publication allows one or more output destinations to be configured to be a destination for one or more denominations or "type" bills. At this time, the operator instructs the operator to refill the stack of banknotes present in one of these destinations after the first sorting to further classify the stack into a plurality of single unit stacks. Once the bills are fed again, their characteristics are again detected and a new set of classification criteria is applied to classify the re-fed bills into one of three output destinations. This apparatus allows three or more types of banknotes to be sorted while requiring three output destinations and the length of time to carry out the sorting into two or three or more denominations or types is a single classification & "Effectively < / RTI >

International patent application WO02 / 27670-A1 discloses a bill handling machine for in-feed and out-feed of bills. Such a machine is employed to handle the majority of bill of the majority of different denominations to manage deposits and withdrawals. The machine is equipped with a number of secret cassettes located within the machine, in which the denomination of a particular denomination is sorted. At this time, these classified banknotes of a given denomination may be retrieved from these cassettes when the operator requests return.

EP1643462-A2 also discloses a similar currency sorter with a number of cassettes that are employed to store paper currency classified according to a number of criteria. In particular, EP1643462-A2 enables an operator to view the contents of each output destination. In both publications, since the bill passes through one of the classification cassettes from the input destination, a number of different classification criteria can be applied. However, the apparatuses of the above-mentioned patent publications disclose that two or more output destinations are used for sorting banknotes. In addition, both devices require bulky, complicated control electronics to provide complex classification functions. One problem with the complexity of such a device is the need for in-depth knowledge of the device and classification procedures. This machine is employed to handle a large number of bills, thereby prolonging the time required to sort the small stack of bills proportionally. In addition, there is a greater chance that an error will occur as the classification is performed internally and the operator is unclear.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method of classifying an article of value that can be performed for an operator for a short, short period of time. In addition, there is a further need for an apparatus that is employed to effectively classify articles of value in order to increase processing capacity in various kinds of classification environments.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of classifying a plurality of articles using a sorting device,

a) detecting at least one characteristic of each article;

b) classifying any article whose detected characteristic meets a first set of predetermined criteria as a first destination;

c) sorting any other article into a second destination;

d) which of the articles classified as the second destination has a detected characteristic that satisfies the second set of predetermined criteria, and which of the articles classified as the second destination satisfies the second set of predetermined criteria Determining whether the detected characteristic is detected;

e) determining, as determined in step (d), one or more articles having a detected characteristic that the second destination meets the second set of predetermined criteria and a detected characteristic that does not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria Classifying any article into a third destination from a second destination where the detected property meets a second set of predetermined criteria;

and f) sorting any other article from the second destination to the fourth destination.

Thus, by sorting the articles according to the first and second criteria, the articles are classified into at least three categories, i.e., the first output as a result of step (b), the second output as step (e) (The first and second "destination") classifiers to classify the output of the two-pocket (first and second " destination " These categories may represent any property of the article. For example, in the case of banknotes, the stack can be classified into different orientations, currencies, and denominations, depending on whether the note fitness level (i.e., the state of the paper currency) and / or the paper currency is genuine have.

Additionally, the method further comprises determining whether the second destination includes a mix of banknotes (mixed banknotes) using the characteristics of each article detected in step a), and if a mix is found, only the second and third destinations And effective means for classifying a plurality of articles as in step (d) of performing classification. Thus, the unnecessary second classification can be avoided while improving the efficiency. Based on step (d), the operator may provide an indication that the second destination, that is, the supply stack of bills does not include a mix of documents containing only two "types ", and therefore, I did not need any further classification. When processing with large processing capabilities, the determination of step (d) can save a significant amount of time and greatly improve productivity. In the prior art, since there was no method for judging whether or not the output destination is the inclusion of the banknotes, the second classification was always carried out even though only a single "type" banknote was included in the second destination. Thus, the method of the present invention prevents these "ineffective sorting ".

In a particular embodiment, the classification apparatus has only two output destinations, the third destination is one of the first or second destinations, and the fourth destination is the remaining one of the first or second destinations. This enables the method to be performed on a two-forget classifier, thereby reducing the need for additional output destinations that were needed when performing complex classification in the prior art.

It is preferable that the article is a sheet document such as a banknote or the like. However, as described above, the method may be applied to any item requiring classification.

In a particular embodiment, the first and third destinations are the same, so that one output pocket of the classifier can be used as the first and third destinations. In alternate embodiments, other destinations may be used (e.g., where the separated items in the second category are dispatched elsewhere). In another embodiment, the second and fourth destinations are the same. Thus, the method of the present invention allows one or more of two fixed destinations or "pockets" to be used as a third and / or a fourth "virtual" destination or "pocket" The destination may be used as the third "virtual" destination, and the second destination may be used as the fourth "virtual" At this time, this allows a sorting machine with two or more pockets to be evaluated on a two-pocket sorter. It is also possible to repeat this method a selected number of times to provide additional classification to the nth and / or (n + 1) th destinations. This has the effect of enabling as many infinite destinations as possible to be evaluated on the two-pocket classifier.

In a particular embodiment, the second set of predetermined criteria is the same as the first set of predetermined criteria. In addition, if the third and fourth destinations are each the same as the first and second destinations, the method allows a single classification based on the first set of predetermined criteria to have a plurality of "routes & The article classified as the second / fourth destination may be fed and the first set of criteria may be reapplied.

Although any property of the article detectable by the user or device may be used instead, the detected property of the article preferably includes one or more of reliability, currency, denomination, status, issue and orientation Do.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first set of predetermined criteria is that the article is authentic and the condition is suitable for use again. By first separating all items that are genuine and suitable for re-use of those conditions, these items can be quickly and easily extracted for recycling. In addition, in many cases, such articles form a major part of the plurality of articles to be sorted and the work required to sort the remaining articles by minimizing them first is minimized.

Preferably, the second set of predetermined criteria is that the article is genuine. This completes the classification in its real form, but the unsuitable item is divided from the fake bill (ie, a bad currency, a foreign object or a counterfeit article).

This criterion may have one or more claims that the detected characteristic must be met for an article that is considered "real" and / or "fit ". These requirements may include other limitations such that a set of thresholds or measured parameters of an article must meet optical characteristics such as UV reflection, fluorescence, opacity, and / or the like, and / For example, a magnetic feature, security printing, or the like.

In some embodiments, the second set of criteria may be applied to the bill from the second destination without further analysis of the article (i.e., without re-detecting their characteristics), thereby accelerating the second classification. This can be done by logging the characteristics of each article classified as the second destination and using this information to sort the article according to the second criterion. In addition, in some cases, it is preferable that step (e) includes detecting at least one characteristic of each of the articles from the second destination. These characteristics may or may not be the same as those detected in step (a).

In some particularly preferred embodiments, steps (e) and (f) are performed on an article moving at a speed different from that of steps (a) - (c). The second classification can be performed faster or slower than the first classification. For example, if all the unsuitable bills that need to be treated carefully by the first classification are removed, faster processing may be beneficial to the second classification. A slower process may be advantageous if it is known that less bills are left in the second classification because further reduction in the transfer speed prevents further damage to the bills and reduces the risk of jam. Moreover, a slower process can improve the detection of the properties of the article. For example, by allowing banknotes to pass through the array of sensors more slowly, better pattern recognition can be done. The speed of the article can be adjusted by changing the transmission rate at which the article is carried or by changing the rate at which the article is input to the apparatus.

The step (b) of the method preferably includes the step of displaying data relating to the article of the first destination. Particular examples include indicating the total value of the articles of the first destination, or the piece count of those articles. This enables the user to quickly assess that the classification was successful and to pass the displayed information to a recycler with the classified goods.

In an alternative embodiment, the data relating to detection of the paper currency characteristics such as the first classification and / or the piece count or the individual paper currency values are stored at the time of detection of the first sort end event. This event may be the reception of user input (e.g., pressing a button, etc.) among others or the elapse of a predetermined period of time (e.g., 30 seconds). Then, this data may be displayed to the user at the end of the method, or may be composed of the sum of the piece counts and / or the values of all bills of the first destination. The data relating to the second classification may also be stored at the time of detection of the second classification termination event after the last step of the method. This event may be of the same form as the first classification end event. Likewise, the data may be displayed to the user after the method is completed. This data may be information on bills in the third and fourth destinations, for example, a piece count or sum of values.

Advantageously, if it is determined in step (d) that all articles classified as the second destination satisfy a second set of predetermined criteria, the step may further comprise the step of displaying this to the user. This makes it clear to the user that steps (e) and (d) need not be performed in special cases. Preferably, the step of instructing includes the step of displaying data relating to the article of the second destination such as a total value or a fragment count.

In a particular advantageous embodiment, before step (d), steps (a) - (c) are repeated for a second plurality of articles. In some cases, the plurality of second articles comprises an article that is classified as a second destination. This is beneficial during batch processing (i.e., classified as a second destination) in which only some of the goods do not meet the first set of criteria. Several bundles of articles may be classified based on a first criterion before those that do not meet the first criterion are classified as the second criterion. This can greatly increase the overall throughput. The method may also be employed to initiate performing step (d) when a first classification termination event is detected.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first set of predetermined criteria is selected according to the detected characteristic of the first article to be classified so that the first article to be classified satisfies the first set of predetermined criteria. This allows fast initialisation of the machine since the reference can be automatically selected.

More preferably, the second set of predetermined criteria may include a first set of predetermined criteria, such that the first set of items to be sorted from the second destination satisfies a second set of predetermined criteria, Is selected according to the characteristics.

Advantageously, the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether each item meets a third set of predetermined criteria; and if the item satisfies the third set of criteria, Respectively. Thus, the method can be used to quickly find even one particular type of article, or even a single article (e.g., if identified by a serial number or the like). Advantageously, an indication is made to the user by means of an indicator that is positioned adjacent to an article that meets the third set of predetermined criteria or a pocket in which each article is classified. This becomes very apparent to the user who knows the identified item for quick access.

In certain embodiments, the method is stopped when the detected characteristic of any one of the articles meets a third set of predetermined criteria. This ensures operator attention and allows easy removal of the article. Preferably, the third set of predetermined criteria is mutually exclusive with the first and second sets of predetermined criteria. More preferably, the third set of predetermined criteria is that the article is a counterfeit article suspected.

In a specific embodiment, step (b) comprises the step of storing information about the article classified as the first destination, wherein step (e) comprises: if the classification is performed, Together with information on any additional articles from the sorted re-supply article.

By re-feeding the articles classified as the second destination and repeating steps b) and c), the article from the second destination having the detected characteristics that meet the first set of predetermined criteria but not classified in the first path It becomes possible to find out. For example, in the first path, two real and proper bills overlap. This can be detected as "double ", and the bill will pass through to the second destination. In the second route using the banknotes previously removed, the banknotes will not be overlapped by being fed differently, so that in the second route the banknotes will be added to the already sorted banknotes already present at the first destination. The re-supply and reclassification of the article from the second destination may be repeated any number of times.

In a variant embodiment, the step b) comprises the step of storing a first set of information about the goods classified as the first destination at the time of detection of the first classification termination event, wherein step f) And storing second set information about an article stored in at least one of the first, second, third and fourth destinations.

As described above, these classification termination events may be generated after the user input is received or after the set period elapses. The first and second sets of information may be displayed to the user via either a printed output or a display method with a document counter. The information may also be displayed on a display of a computer connected to the counter.

The method may have a step of performing a plurality of paths in the first and second classification processing, as in the above-described method embodiment. In a second classification with steps e) to f), the user may reset the second set of information to generate a "REDO" command which causes steps e) and f) to be newly repeated. As described above, in the preferred embodiment, the first and third destinations are the same, and the second and fourth destinations are the same.

The present invention provides an apparatus comprising: an input device for supplying an article to the apparatus;

Two or more output destinations;

A diverter system capable of switching an article to a selected output destination;

One or more sensors for detecting one or more characteristics of each article supplied from the input device; And

And a controller operatively connected to the diverter system and the one or more sensors,

The controller comprising:

Determining whether the article meets a first set of predetermined criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors and if the article meets a first set of predetermined criteria, A first module adapted to operate the divertor system to sort the article into a second output destination if the article does not meet a first set of predetermined criteria;

A number of articles classified as a second destination meeting a second set of predetermined criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors,

A second module adapted to determine the number of articles classified as a second destination that does not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors,

And the second module is further adapted to configure the classification device based on the result of the determination made by the second module.

The sorting device configured as described above allows this sorting device to be configured based on the contents of the second destination, for example, the second module can be configured so that the second destination is one of the mix of banknotes or the control system is suitable for the operator of the device It may output a field indicating that it contains only one type of paper currency that can be allowed to output an instruction. Such an apparatus generates additional data that can be used to increase the efficiency of the sorter by using information recorded by one or more sensors.

In a particular embodiment, if the second module determines that the result of the determination made by this second module is non-zero, i.e. if the second module determines that there is a mix of banknotes in the second destination In order to change the state of the sorting device. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller is equipped with a third module configured to operate the diverter system when the result of the determination made by the second module is non-zero, Wherein the operation of the diverter classifies an article from a second output destination to a third output destination if the article meets a first set of criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors, And sorting the article from the second output destination to the fourth output destination if the article does not satisfy the second set of criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors. Thus, the extra data generated by the module of the controller can be used to realize the classification processing in a manner not found in the prior art.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a two-pocket classifier for use in an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the steps included in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig.
3 is a continuation flow chart illustrating additional steps that may optionally be performed in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a step included in the second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing the steps included in the third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a continuation flow chart illustrating additional steps that may be performed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
7A to 7K are diagrams illustrating an example of realization of a schematic user interface for explaining an example of an operation performed using the technique of the present invention.
Figs. 8A to 8D are diagrams showing exemplary printouts generated by a printing apparatus connected to the two-pocket classifier shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

As an example of a bill classification request involving more than two types of bills, it is sometimes necessary to control the detection and conformity classification of counterfeit bills by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers in Europe, Recycling Framework: A paper recycling framework (ERF), also known as the European Recycling Framework (European Recycling Framework) is set by. This requires identification of the following conditions. In other words,

"A" ... (i) documents not recognized as euro bills; And

       (ii) suspected fraudulent banknotes;

"B1" ... Real and "suitable" Euro bills; And

"B2" ... Real and "unfit" Euro bills;

Here, "suitable" and "non-conforming" are to denote a banknote that meets a predetermined quality criterion and a banknote that does not satisfy the criterion.

In a typical sorting process, a machine with two or more pockets (at least two + cull pockets) performs this process, even though such a machine may perform the sorting process in one path of the note .

1, a two-pocket sorter 1 suitable for use with the present invention includes an input hopper 2 for feeding bills and two output pockets P1 and P2 as well as a user interface 6). The two output pockets each have selectable value indicator (V1, V2). In addition, an alarm device, such as the LED 7 following the pocket P2, is used to indicate the presence of a specific bill, such as a suspected counterfeit bill, in the pocket P2. A similar LED may alternatively be provided after the pocket P1 to communicate information about the contents of the pocket P1.

Banknotes are transported between components by a conventional transmission system not described here. When the banknote is supplied to the apparatus 1, the characteristics of each banknote are detected by one or more sensors 3, which may include optical sensors such as an IR detector, a UV detector, a fluorescence detector, a magnetic detector, The result is output to the controller 4 that controls the diverter 5 such that each banknote advances toward either the output P1 or the output P2. The controller 4 may have one or more modules employed to perform the classification method described below.

The machine may be operated to perform the two classifications depicted in the flow charts of Figures 2 and 3. The progress of the operation may be displayed to the user via the user interface 6 with any other relevant information. A first embodiment of the invention begins with the method of Fig. This processing is started when a stack of banknotes is received (step S200). The characteristic (including at least the reliability and state of the banknote) of each banknote is detected in step S205. A banknote that is genuine and meets a criterion considered to be suitable for reuse is classified as a first destination, pocket P1 (step S210). All the other banknotes are diverted to the second destination, the pocket P2 (step S220). Thereby, the first process transfers the category B1 (real and suitable bills) to the pocket P1 and the category B2 (the real and unsuitable bills) and the category A (unrecognized or suspected counterfeit bills) to the pockets P2 Classify.

Preferably, the value indicator V1 of the pocket P1 indicates the value of the category B1 bill counted and authenticated and reliably tested (step S215), and / or the fraction coefficient is indicated by V1. During this processing, the user interface 6 will display "BRF FIT" to inform the user of the current classification.

In step S255, the process determines whether all the bills classified into the second destination P2 are of the same " type "(i.e., which of the articles classified as the second destination has a specific set of predetermined criteria And whether the article classified as the second destination has a detected characteristic that does not satisfy that set of predetermined criteria). If it is determined that all the bills classified as P2 satisfy the second criterion (i.e., there is no "rogue" bills), the process may end at step S240. This increases efficiency by preventing unnecessary second sorting from being performed. This determination is also performed using the sensed characteristics of each bill recorded in step S205, which means that further detection is necessary to determine whether the pocket P2 includes the type mix of step S225. In this case, if it is determined that the pocket P2 exclusively includes the category B2 bill, the value indicator V2 displays the value of the banknote of the pocket P2 or the fraction coefficient (step S230).

(Such as a category A bill) is present in the pocket P2 (i.e., at least one of the articles classified as the second destination has a sensed characteristic that meets the second set of predetermined criteria, If it is found that there are two different "types" of articles with sensed characteristics where at least one of the sorted articles does not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria, then the following: (V2) is cleared or the display screen is not displayed to force the need to reclassify the bills in the pocket P2; And the "suspected counterfeit" alarm 7 is switched when at least one category A (ii) banknote is not detected (step S235).

After the completion of the first classification, the bill from the pocket P1 can be recycled (i.e., it can be returned to the call circulation) and the bill from the pocket P2 can be displayed (I.e., if the output P2 includes an exclusively valid category B2 note) can be returned to the service center or bank, and there is no value displayed to divide into categories A and B (as shown in FIG. 3) The case may be reclassified using the second class as follows, or may be reinserted into the machine to perform the second "path" of the first class. This process is described in more detail later with respect to the second embodiment.

If the mix of banknotes is classified as a second destination in the first classification, the processing typically moves to the second classification beginning at step S300 of FIG. The bill from the second pocket P2 can be removed and reinserted into the device via the input, or re-entered directly from the P2 into the system. Optionally, the characteristics of the banknote from P2 can be detected in step S305. However, the result of the earlier discrimination performed in step S2 can be used again, and the log provided continues to display the results from each bill. In step S310, all bills from P2 that are considered to be real are classified as P1, and the rest are classified as P2 (step S320). The second process then categorizes the bills of category B2 (real and "unsuitable" bills) into pockets P1 and any bills of the remaining category B1 If not classified from the bundle, it moves to the pocket P1 together with the unsuitable bills, and moves the bills of category A (unidentified or suspected counterfeit bills) to the pockets P2.

Preferably, the value indicator V1 of the pocket P1 will display the value of the counted and authenticated category B2 bill (step S315) or the fraction coefficient. The value indicator V2 of the pocket P2 does not normally display any value because the pocket P2 contains the category A bill. The user interface 6 typically displays "UNFIT" to identify the second category.

Typically, the pocket P2 may include a category A (i) note, e.g., a note not recognized as an euros note. The reason is that the bill is part of a foreign currency and the bill is a bills such as a voucher, a check, a certificate, a sheet from a notepad, or a bill that is badly stained or damaged It is because.

Rarely, the category A (ii) suspected fake (banknote) bills are contained in the pocket P2 (detected in step S305) and the alarm 7 is switched again (step S325) (I.e., all the bills in the pocket P2 with the appearance of the banknote bank) for hand-over to the banknote (e.g., the police).

Then, this process can be ended in step S330. In another example, the third, fourth, and subsequent classification may be performed when outputting banknotes to P2 by repeating at least steps S8, S9 using any suitable criteria for sorting the banknotes.

Although this first embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a bill recirculation frame reference, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various other user-defined criteria may also be used to classify the bill. For example, instead of detecting whether the banknote is "suitable" or "non-conforming ", the device is placed on a criterion based on any measurable characteristic of the article of currency denomination Accordingly, the bill can be classified.

Advantages of the proposed two-pocket process

The proposed two-pocket procedure makes it possible to use a two-pocket sorter to identify non-real currency / counterfeit bills as well as to separate appropriate bills and unsuitable bills. The above-described processing is performed as follows: 1) the operator performs a fitness sort as soon as all the "good bills" in the category B1 are immediately moved to the pocket P1 in the first classification ("ATM FIT" 2) a clearance of the value indicator V2 is a toll for the operator, but a second classification for separating the ineligible bills of category B2 from the zero-value bills of category A "UNFIT"), and 3) rejection in the pocket P2 can be accumulated during the first classification and processed with a single second classification (S2) run for larger bundling treatments , Which is particularly advantageous.

For example, if the machine can process 100 bills at a time, 1000 bills in the customer bundle will be the 10th iteration of the first classification on every 100 bills supplied and all removed pocket (P2) bills (bundle 7% A total of 11 classifications, a single second classification that handles 80 notes (including "B1" and 1% "A" notes). This means that for the first "ATM" classification as proposed and the second "UNFIT" classification thereafter, rather than the first "Authentication" classification and then the second " A total of 20 sessions that need to be performed using 10 prior classifications, i.e., a typical prior art method (only 10 banknotes are separated after 10 < RTI ID = 0.0 > And compared with the classification. By performing the above-described special classification, the processing is accelerated.

However, in other cases, it may be beneficial to choose alternative criteria. For example, the first criterion may be simply "the bill is real", while the second criterion may be "the bill is suitable for reuse". Thus, although fewer characteristics of the banknote need to be evaluated in the first classification, the conformance characteristics still need to be collected in the second classification.

Also, if the second set of predetermined criteria used in the second classification is set to a first set of predetermined criteria (e.g., genuine and appropriate bills), the second classification will be the second one of the first classification, Or unrecognized bills to be reprocessed by a two-pocket sorter.

Once the above two classifications are performed, one or more further classifications may be performed on the article classified as the fourth destination, in order to separate the counterfeit paper money from other unrecognized documents such as foreign currency, for example.

In summary, this is a two-pocket machine that can be further improved by simply indicating a value in the pocket if it contains one category of bills exclusively. Four categories of bills (suitable bills, unsuitable bills, unrecognized bills, Paper money) effectively and easily, and provides an indication to the operator when the suspected bill is contained within the pocket.

In a preferred embodiment, the first classification is used for classification between 'real and suitable' bills and 'offsort' bills. Only 'off-sort' bills contain 'real and unfit' bills , The value is displayed and the processing is completed.

If the first "off-sort" "other than" is a mixed bills, the second classification is performed for the classification between "real" notes and "off-sort notes". Typically, the 'real' bills in the second category will all be 'real and unfit' bills, but if the 'real and proper' bills are not recognized in the first category and only in the second category, Will be added to the 'inadequate' bill.

The second category, 'off-sort', typically has unrecognized bills and counterfeit bills that require manual classification. To reduce the risk of counterfeit bills that are not recognized during manual classification, the machine will display if there is any suspected counterfeit bills at the end of the first category and / or at the end of the second category.

Variation of the first embodiment

It will be appreciated that the first embodiment described above is merely exemplary and that the method may be implemented in a number of ways including, but not limited to, any of the following.

1) If the "offsort" (content of the second pocket P2 or the second or fourth destination) is exclusively of at least one category, the operator is changed.

2) A system according to (1), wherein if only 'off-sort' includes 'real and unfit' bills, change the operator.

3) A system according to (1), wherein if only 'off-sort' includes 'real and suitable' notes, change the operator.

4) A system according to (2) or (3), wherein the operator is changed by displaying the value of the article and / or the fractional coefficient in the offsort.

5) A system according to (1), (2), (3) or (4), wherein the system has a classification category of more than pocket / destination.

6) A system according to (5), wherein the system has a classification of three or four modes performed using a two-pocket machine.

7) sorting between one category and an offsort, and then in the second classification, any item that can be found in the sorted category of the first category is inserted into the sorted category of the second category, A sorting method comprising sorting a sort.

8) A system according to (7), wherein the item is a paper document, in particular a paper currency.

* 9) If the suspected counterfeit bill is included in the offsort, change the operator.

10) A system according to (9), wherein the change is made by a red LED adjacent to a pocket containing a counterfeit bill.

11) A method of sequential two-way sorting performed between a category and an offsort until the offsort includes one category, or two categories that must be manually sorted.

12) A system according to (11), wherein said category is dynamically allocated in response to a first bill viewed.

13) A method for determining a composition within an offsort and in response thereto selecting a category to be classified as a continuing classification.

14) A method for determining composition within an offsort and altering an operator or an external system.

15) classifying between one category and an offsort, and then comparing the offsets from the first classification when processed in the second classification to the second classification, so that there is less probability that the offsets are classified as being classified in the first classification category Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > first classification offsets in a second classification using different thresholds for the second classification.

16) A system according to (15), wherein the item is a paper document, in particular a paper currency.

17) The system according to (16), wherein in the second classification, any other items that are borderline notes are classified as current categories but can be found in the sorted category of the first category are inserted into the offsets.

18) A system according to any one of (1) to (17), wherein processing is halted when encountered with a particular category.

19) A system according to (18), wherein the special category is a suspected counterfeit bill.

20) A system according to (18), wherein the special category is an unexpected type of real bill encountered in the second category.

21) A method of using the identification result (detected criteria) of the paper money from the first classification for identification (unfolding) and a known sequential currency unit during a consecutive (second / third ...) classification.

22) A system according to (21), wherein the first classification is performed between "real" and "offsort", and the second classification is "real" between "fit" and "nonconformity".

23. The system according to (21) or (22), wherein the continuous classification is performed at a higher or lower rate as compared to the previous classification.

24) A system according to (1) - (23), wherein the image is captured when a suspected counterfeit bill is found.

The following modifications to the first embodiment are also conceivable. In other words,

The first category between 'real and proper' bills and 'offsets'. Typically, the 'real' bills in the second category will all be 'real and proper' bills, but if the 'real and inapplicable' bills are not recognized in the first category and only in the second category, 'Will be added to the bill.

However, with respect to the preferred embodiment, the second classification is a classification between 'genuine and unsuitable' bills and 'offsets'. If the off-sorting is only one category of banknotes, the processing can be completed by displaying the category to the operator.

When the mixed unsuitable bills and the appropriate bills are mixed after the second batch, the quality or nature of the mix, such as 92 suitable bills, 5 border bills and 1 improper bills are displayed on the operator or external system.

Using different thresholds for fitness for the second classification such that the offsets from the first classification when processed in the second classification are less likely to be classified as sorted in the first classification category.

However, any of the above methods stops processing when a suspicious counterfeit bill is encountered.

However, any of the above methods stops processing when it encounters an unexpected type of real bill in the second classification.

A method of using the identification result of a banknote from a first classification and a known sequential currency unit for identification (unfolded) during a subsequent (second / third) classification. When there is no misfeed for the first classification, this has the advantage of allowing the second classification at a higher rate. In addition, this avoids the complication of borderline conforming bills that are classified differently for the second category.

One embodiment of this can be categorized between real bill and offsort for the first classification and can be "real" between "fit" and "non-fit" for the second classification.

Second classification Instead of manual sorting of offsets, the third classification perhaps handles documents with other machines, perhaps at a slower rate, perhaps capturing images of some or all of the documents, or perhaps capturing serial numbers among them.

In another embodiment of the present invention

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. The method described here is also performed using the two-pocket classifier 1 as shown in Fig. As summarized, a stack of banknotes to be sorted is placed on top of the apparatus in step S400 and passes through the apparatus in step S405 to detect characteristics of the banknote, such as reliability and suitability. While this embodiment has been described in terms of reliability and suitability, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any other standards may be applied. Detection of the reliability and conformity characteristic for each bill enables all bills considered to be genuine and suitable for reuse ("ATM FIT") in step S410 to be classified as the first destination, pocket P1. As each banknote is sorted, data relating to each banknote obtained by the apparatus 1 in step S415 can be stored in the memory. This data can be a bill characteristic, a series or issue number, a value or the like. This can then generate a list of data records for the paper currency in the pocket P1 that is updated when each additional paper currency is fed into the pocket. In a particular embodiment, the data relating to the banknotes in the first pocket may simply be the cumulative segment count or sum of the sorted banknotes, and in other cases the complete details of the characteristics of each banknote may be stored.

As described above, all other bills are classified as the second destination, pocket P2 in step S420. Again, like the first pocket, there is an option to store the data in memory for each bill sorted into the second destination. This data may be updated for each additional banknote classified as the second destination. As described above, the classification of the banknote to the first destination and the second destination represents one "pass" of the first classification. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the user now has the option in step S430 to perform the second path of the first classification using the bills classified as the second destination.

If the user selects to perform the second route for the banknotes classified as the second destination of the device, the banknote is removed from the second destination and the banknote is returned to the apparatus 1, that is, by returning the step to step S400 This classification can be performed. The characteristic of each bill against this second path is typically re-detected and any bill considered genuine and suitable for reuse is classified as a second destination, pocket P2, at step S420. If it is verified that some bills originally classified as a second destination for the second path are genuine and suitable (i.e., have bills characteristic to meet the first set of predetermined criteria), then from the first path of the first class, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > P1, < / RTI > Each note added to the first destination in the second path also typically updates the data record relating to the note present in the pocket P1 in step S415. If the additional banknotes are reclassified to the first destination for the second path, the data for the banknotes in the second destination need to be reset and recalculated in step S425. At the end of the second path, the user typically has the same number or fewer bills as for the first path at the second destination.

Any number of paths may be performed during the first sorting to ensure that all bills that are genuine and suitable for reuse (i.e., bills meeting the first criterion) are successfully detected. After all necessary paths have been performed, the first classification is completed and the processing ends in step S440. Further, all the steps following the judgment step in Fig. 2 may be performed. If the later steps of FIG. 2 are performed and it is determined to perform the step of FIG. 3, it is also possible to perform several paths during the second classification, as well as multiple paths of the first classification, And a fourth destination. This can be performed in the same manner as the method of FIG. The data classified in steps S415 and S425 can also be displayed to the user in step S435.

Performing multiple paths during a single classification has several advantages. In certain circumstances, this may be the case where a bill satisfying the first set of predetermined criteria is not successfully detected or recognized in a first route of any classification. In addition, certain bills meeting the first set of predetermined criteria due to supply and transfer irregularities may be superimposed and detected as "double notes ", thereby sending to a second destination with another miscellaneous bill have. It is unlikely that the same supply and transfer irregularities will occur again during the second or subsequent path, and therefore the bills are likely to be successfully detected and sorted. In certain circumstances, the stack of bills from the second destination may also be switched or recognized for recognition of the undetected bills. Since the bills present in the first destination remain at the first destination, the number of bills in the first destination increases, and the number of bills in the second destination decreases as a continuous route is performed. Typically, pass repetition will be terminated when the number of bills that are passed to the second destination becomes constant over several paths. This method of using multiple paths for a single classification may also be employed to operate with the method of the first embodiment or any of the variations.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. In this case, the banknotes are inserted again into the apparatus 1 in step S500 as described above, and the banknotes are classified into either the first destination S510 or the second destination S515 depending on the predetermined number of criteria Various characteristics of each bill are detected. In the third embodiment of Fig. 5, this first classification may also have a number of paths as described with respect to the second embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, when the user is ready to proceed from the first classification to the second classification, they are informed that the "sort-end" event detected by the device 1 in step S525 Allow. This "end of classification" event may include an operation of pressing the "CULL" button existing on the device 1 or may include an operation of clicking an icon in the user interface 6. [ The device 1 can also be adapted to wait for a predetermined length of time after the final path and to generate a first "termination of classification" event if there is no user interaction detected during this time. The "end of classification" event may also occur if the device detects that one of the sockets P1 and P2 is empty (i.e., the preexisting bill in the pocket is now removed).

When a first "classification terminated" event is detected by the device 1, the data relating to the paper currency present in the first destination, pocket P1, will be stored in the device memory, or perhaps an external computer system, at step S535 . As in the second embodiment, this data may have a list of characteristic data for each bill in the pocket P1, or may have a fraction coefficient or a sum value of successfully sorted bills. Once the first classification termination event is detected, the first classification criterion is reset in step S540 and the second set of predetermined classification criterion is recovered or input by the user. This second classification is shown in FIG. As with the second classification of the previous embodiment, the banknote supplied to the apparatus 1 is classified as the third destination in step S610 if it has the characteristics measured in step S605 meeting the second set of predetermined criteria. In a particular case, the third destination may be pocket P1. Any bill that does not meet the second set of criteria is classified as a fourth destination, which may be pocket P2 in step S615. As with the first classification, multiple paths of the second classification may be performed. As each bill of the second category is processed, the data is collected about the bill in the third and fourth destinations in the same manner as the data collected in the method shown in FIG.

Once the necessary number of paths have been performed, a second "classification terminated" event detected by the device 1 in step S630 may be generated and the second classification process is terminated. Similar to the first "classification termination" event, this can be done by pressing a button, such as the "DONE" button, present in the device 1, or after the amount of time the event has elapsed. At the time of detecting the second "classification terminated " event, the collected data about the banknotes in the third destination and the fourth destination are stored in the memory in step S635. As described above, this data may have a sum of the sum of the fractions of all bills in each destination or a sum value.

Once the second "classification terminated" event is detected, the device 1 can display three fragments of information to the user in step S640, which corresponds to the bills in the first destination classified during the first classification Collected data corresponding to the bills in the third destination classified in the second classification, or data collected corresponding to the bills in the fourth destination classified in the second classification. If the first and second classifications include a classification of "real" and "suitable" bills as described in the first embodiment, the first classification data may have a total coefficient and / or value of "real and suitable" , The second classification data for the first destination may have a total count and / or value of the "real" or "not suitable" bills and the third set of second classification data for the bills in the fourth destination may have P2 or CULL And may have a total count of any other bill in the pocket. The LED 7 next to the second pocket again can be used to emphasize to the user whether the fourth destination includes any counterfeit bills. The classification data or a portion of this classification data may be displayed on the user interface 6 of the device 1, on the screen of the attached computer system, on the remote display, or printed using a connected printer .

In a variation of the third embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 1 may further be employed to receive a "REDO" command that allows the user to repeat the second classification. Upon receipt of a "REDO" command, which may be received, for example, after the user has pressed the "REDO" button in step S625, the classification data collected for the second classification indicates that the user has acquired all bills from the third and fourth destinations , And re-supply them to the device 1 to re-execute the second classification.

It is possible to repeat the second classification any number of times to provide an infinite number of "virtual" destinations or pockets in addition to the two "real" destinations or pockets provided by the two- do.

Additional examples of classification criteria

In some implementations of the first through third embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to set a particular denomination as the first set of denominations of a given criterion. For example, a user may want to classify all "real and suitable" 10 Euro bills. In such a case, the apparatus may be adapted to apply this denomination reference by default to the second seat of the reference so that only the denomination of the selected denomination is classified as the third destination during the second classification.

Alternative adaptation requires the use of a monetary unit criterion during the first classification but by default that does not set the monetary unit criterion as the second set of monetary units of the predetermined criterion for the second classification. In this case, the denomination reference, which is the forming part of the first set of predetermined criteria, may be stored and compared with the collected data for the banknotes classified as the third destination during the second classification. If all the bills in the third destination match the denominated reference set as part of the first set of criteria, then the LED next to the third destination will be a set of lighting patterns or, for example, green or flashing green May be set so as to have a color to be displayed. If the third destination includes a mix of denominations other than the denomination selected as part of the first set of predetermined criteria, then the LED following the third destination may be a different lighting pattern, for example a flashing green light instead of a green light, Instead of a flashing green light, it may work with a flashing red light.

In addition, the issue number or the denomination class may be another criterion that can form part of either the first class or the second class. For example, one of the criteria may be set during the first classification such that all bills of the issuing grade or number that have become obsolete are classified as the second destination. The second set of predetermined criteria during the second classification may classify the same issue class and number that should be recovered to the third destination such that the paper money in the first destination is a bill of the issue to be recovered "true & . Since the banknote from the third destination may typically be returned to the bank, this may represent a time-saving option.

Worked Example

A worked example of the classification performed by the operator of the device 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 7a-7k. These figures show a number of user interface screens displayed as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be used to implement any of the embodiments of the present invention.

In the following example, a reference includes, for example, a physical output destination (P1, P2) as shown in Figure 1 and a logical or "virtual" bill destination , Where the logical destination represents the stack of bills along with the bills in the current physical output destination.

Beginning with FIG. 7A, the operator is presented with a screen 700A displaying text in a heading indicating that the device is ready to perform a classification for a new batch of banknotes before commencing classification. At the start, the new bundle will reset the count and value sum of the bills that are typically classified as any logical bill destination. At the bottom of the screen 700, up to four icons can be displayed to the operator. Each icon will correspond to a function key placed below the icon. 7A shows an icon "BACK" 710 indicating that when the operator presses the first function key among the four keys arranged at regular intervals in the lateral direction, the operator can use it and add it to the data from the previously performed classification ) Are shown. When the apparatus 1 is in the automatic start mode, the screen 700 will be displayed until the operator places the stack of banknotes in the input hopper 2. [ If the device 1 is in the manual start mode, the classification of bills will not start until the operator presses the appropriately assigned "START" button. After the sorting has been initiated, the bills may be fed individually to the device 1 along the transmission path surrounded by the one or more sensors 3, the characteristics of each bills being such that the bills are separated from the diverter 5 and the physical output destination (P1, P2). In the present non-"SPLIT " classification example, the first output destination P1 is used to receive banknotes (i.e., B1 banknotes) that pass the BRF" The destination P2 is used as a "cull packet" for receiving a bill that does not meet the criterion.

After the banknote is supplied to the apparatus 1 and classified as one of the output destinations P1 and P2, the operator is presented on the screen 701 as shown in Fig. 7B. This screen shows the transient values for the logical "cull pocket" destination of the row 715 and the sum of the coefficients as well as the logical sum of the two logical banking destinations, i.e., L1 of row 725 and L2 of row 720 The cumulative value and the total of the coefficients are also displayed. In the current example, the sum is reset for the new bundle, fifteen bills meet the BRF compliance criteria and are classified as a first logical bill destination L1 and fifteen bills as the first output destination P1 As shown in Fig. The number and value of bills in the logical billing destination L1 are shown in a row 725 where the column 730 represents the total value of all bills classified as the first logical billing destination L1 And column 735 indicates the number of banknotes in the output destination classified as the first logical banknote destination L1.

의 출력 목적지 합계를 제공한다는 것을 나타낸다. 따라서, 화면(700B)은 도 4의 스텝 S405∼S425를 참조하여 설명한 것과 같은 첫번째 분류의 제1 "경로"의 결과를 나타낸다.The bill sorted into the second physical output destination P2 is not shown in row 720, but instead is shown in a temporary row 715 showing the contents of the logical "cull pocket ". In the current example, an "ADD" icon 745 is also displayed over the third function key. The presence of the "ADD" icon 745 indicates that all the bills physically classified as the second output destination P2 are of the same "type ", i.e. banknotes of class B2 that are recognized and genuine but do not meet the BRF compliance criteria . The data in row 715 indicates that there are seven notes of this "type " in the second output destination P2,

Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > Thus, the screen 700B shows the result of the first "path" of the first classification as described with reference to steps S405 to S425 of FIG.

In a particular variation, an indicator such as illumination device 7 with two color LEDs, as well as displaying the "ADD" icon 745, displays a first color, and / To indicate that all bills in the output destination P2 have passed through the second set of predetermined criteria and that the output destination does not contain any article with a detected characteristic that does not meet the second set of predetermined criteria Where the second set of predetermined criteria is equipped with the fact that the bills are real and recognized (and the first set of criteria is equipped to ensure that the bills meet BRF compliance).

At this stage, the operator can perform the second "route" of classification (i.e., reclassification of S430) using the bills sorted into the second output destination P2. If the operator removes the banknote from the second output destination P2 before pressing the function key under the "ADD" icon 745, the data in the row 715 may be reset and the banknote from the second output destination P2 May be re-supplied through the apparatus 1. Fig. In all cases, this allows the bills to be classified again as the second output destination P2 and to provide the same data in row 715. However, in certain cases, if the bill is correctly detected as category B2 of the first "path ", then the bill will be classified as the first output destination P1 and its associated data is stored in the first Will be added to the data for the logical destination.

If the operator is happy with the data shown in the screen 700B, even if the banknote is present in the common physical output destination P2, the operator can make a record in the second output destination P2, that is, the banknote in the current logical "cull pocket & Adds data to the data for the second logical destination (L2) displayed in line (720); To add data in row 715 to the data in row 720, they will press a function key under the "ADD" Pressing the function key under the "ADD" icon 745 represents the classification termination event detected in step S525 of FIG. 5, wherein the data for the second output destination P2 is also stored in step S535. In some variations, if all the bills in the physical output destination P2 are made of bills that meet the B2 criteria, then the device 1 will store the data of the row 715 in the particular case after the set time period has elapsed May be configured to automatically add to the sum for the second logical destination in row 720. [

After pressing the function key under the "ADD" icon 745, the operator is presented with a screen 700C as shown in Fig. 7C. As can be seen, the preset information in row 715 is now added to row 720. [ Icon 745 is now replaced by the "REMOVE" If the operator presses the function key under the "REMOVE" icon 750, the data added to the cumulative sum for the second logical destination (L2) of the row 720 is removed. Thus, in this example, depressing the function key under the "REMOVE" icon 750 corresponds to operating the "REDO" command as described in connection with step S625 in the third embodiment. Accordingly, pressing a function key under this icon resets the current classification data for the second output destination P2 as described with reference to step S620.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the operator removes the bills present in the physical locations P1, P2 and separates them into two separate < RTI ID = 0.0 > Move to the stack. When these bills are removed, the sum will remain in rows 720, 725 representing the cumulative sum of the two stacks representing the first and second logical locations. If the operator leaves the bills from the above classification at the second output destination P2 and adds further banknotes to the input area 2 for another classification, the sum of the rows 720 is reset, as shown in Figure 7d .

지폐가 BRF 적합성을 충족시키는 것으로 검지되고, 이로써 제1 출력 목적지(P1)로서 물리적으로 분류되고 행(725)의 제1의 논리적인 목적지에 대한 합계에 추가된다. 그렇지만, 도 7d는 추가적인 스택의 지폐가 제2 기준을 충족시키지 않는 하나 이상의 지폐를 갖추는 경우를 나타내고 있다. 이들 지폐는 제2 출력 목적지로 분류될 것이고, 목적지(P2)로 이미 분류된 7개의 지폐의 최상측(top)에 퇴적될 것이다. 이것은, 제2 목적지가 제2 기준을 충족시키는 지폐와 제2 기준을 충족시키지 않는 지폐의 혼합으로 되어 있음(예컨대, 신뢰성 기준을 충족시키는 일부 지폐와 신뢰성 기준을 충족시키지 않는 일부 지폐가 분류 처리 중에 인식되고 있음)을 의미한다. 또한, 제2 기준을 충족시키는 지폐와 제2 기준을 충족시키지 않는 지폐의 혼합으로 되어 있는 지폐의 스택에 대해 추가적인 분류를 수행하기 전에 제2 출력 목적지가 비었다면 유사한 세트의 이벤트도 발생할 것이다.FIG. 7D shows the result of processing an additional stack of five notes, that is, performing additional first sorting while leaving pre-classified notes in the second output destination P2. In the example shown in Fig. 7D, two

The banknote is detected as meeting the BRF compliance and is thereby physically classified as the first output destination P1 and added to the sum for the first logical destination of the row 725. [ However, FIG. 7D shows a case where the bill of the additional stack has one or more bills that do not meet the second criterion. These bills will be classified as the second output destination and will be deposited on top of the seven bills already classified as destination P2. This is because the second destination is a combination of a banknote that meets the second criterion and a banknote that does not meet the second criterion (e.g., some banknotes meeting the reliability criterion and some banknotes not meeting the reliability criterion) Is recognized). A similar set of events will also occur if the second output destination is blank before performing further classification on the stack of bills that is a mixture of paper money that meets the second criterion and paper money that does not meet the second criterion.

A combination of other banknote "types" in the second output destination P2 is generated by the presence of the " SPLIT "icon 755 on the third function key and by the presence of the zero value entry in column 730 in row 715, 715) of the non-zero fractional coefficient at column 735. [ In this case, the sum of the coefficients in column 735 is the sum of the ten banknotes (i.e., seven banknotes already classified / the three additional banknotes recently supplied to the apparatus 1) in this step are in logical "cull pockets" The physical output destination P2 indicating that there are ten banknotes. In a particular embodiment, the color or illumination pattern of the indicator LED, such as reference numeral 7, is adapted to provide a different signal from that provided when the bills in the second output destination P2 all meet the second criterion, Two colors and / or a second illumination pattern. The display of the "SPLIT" icon 755 and the indicator 7 indicates that another classification is required, that is, all the bills in the second output destination P2 are of the same & "To < / RTI >

When presented with screens 700B-700D, the operator will also press a function key at least under the "DETAIL" icon 740 to display details about each bill processed by the device 1. Such details may include, for example, a list of properties processed along with details of any criteria that are not met or met by the bills.

After the classification result shown in FIG. 7D, if the operator presses the third function key under the "SPLIT" icon 755, they are presented on the screen 7E as shown in FIG. 7E. Pressing the "SPLIT" key allows a second "SPLIT" classification as shown in Figures 3 and 6 to be performed. To illustrate that the second classification is performed, the GUI screen during the "SPLIT" procedure is displayed in the reverse video mode as seen in Figures 7E and 7F. The second category may also be thought of as a " sort within a sort ", wherein a note classified as a second output destination P2 has BRF compliance to the first logical destination, May be further classified without interfering with the classification of. When presented to the screen 700E, if the operator does not want to perform the "SPLIT" processing, he may terminate the bundling by pressing the function key under the "END"

Before starting the second classification, the operator removes the bills in the first and second output destinations Pl and P2 and places them on the two respective stacks. The banknotes from the good (i.e., first) output destination P1 during the second classification are set to one side and not used. The screen 700E shows that the device 1 is ready to receive a stack of notes corresponding to the notes already deposited in the second output destination P2 indicating the notes in the logical "cull pocket ". Again, depending on the selected start mode, the operator will leave the input module 2 from the second output destination P2 and wait or press the key to start the second sorting. Quot; SPLIT "or the second classifies the suspected counterfeit or unrecognized banknote (i.e., the bills that do not meet the reliability criterion) as the second output destination P2 and the non-counterfeit notes Banknote that meets the criterion) into a first output destination P1. In the example shown in Fig. 7F, three bills are detected as suspected counterfeit bills or unrecognized (e.g., category A) bills and classified into a second output destination P2, which is shown in row 715. [ At this time, the seven bills are detected as having passed the reliability criterion (for example, category B2) and classified as the first output destination P1, while the banknotes classified as the first output destination P1 for the "SPLIT" The sum and number are added to the sum for the second logical destination L2 as shown in row 720. [ A row 725 indicates a banknote that has already been classified as the first output destination P1 that is set to one side.

During the "SPLIT" mode, the current classification mode setting relating to banknote suitability (which is part of the first criterion) is disabled and the classification is made based on the second criterion (based on a second criterion different from the first criterion) 1 < / RTI > output destination P1, the suspected counterfeit or unrecognized banknote is classified as the second output destination P2. After the split classification is performed, the operator will again see the details of the classified bills by pressing the function key under the "DETAIL" icon 740. In order to exit the "SPLIT" mode, the sorted bills are removed from both the second output destination P2 and the first output destination P1, and the function key under the "CLOSE" The bills from the second output destination P2, which are detected as suspected counterfeit bills or unrecognized bills, are set to one side and may be reported to relevant authorities. The banknotes classified into the first output destination P1 during the "SPLIT" classification are sorted out from the second output destination P2 (representing banknotes in the second logical destination L2) Stacks of bills from the first output destination P1 that have been removed prior to the "SPLIT" classification are placed with them forming the first logical destination L1.

After the operator exits the "SPLIT" mode, data previously displayed in a row 720 of the screen 700F corresponding to genuine or improper banknotes classified as the first output destination P1 during the "SPLIT & (I.e., added to the data shown in row 720 of screen 700D) to the already stored data relating to the bills classified as the second logical destination L2. At this time, this creates an output screen 700G as shown in Fig. 7G. When facing the screen 700G, the operator has three options: 1) the option to continue processing more bills in a particular bundle of bills by pressing function keys below the "CONTINUE" 2) the option to process more "cull" bills by pressing function keys below the "SPLIT" Or 3) they have finished processing the bundle of bills by pressing the function key under the "END" icon 775. [ In a specific modification, if the key is not pressed within the time limit set by the operator, for example 15 seconds, an audible alarm may be activated and a screen 700H as shown in Fig. Lt; / RTI > If the operator detects that the bundle of banknotes has been processed, the operator will press the function key under the "YES" icon 790. If they want to continue processing more bills in a given bundle, they will press the function key under the "NO" icon 780. However, if they want to erase all data for the current bundle, they press the function key under the "DELETE" icon 785. When the function key under the "DELETE" icon 785 is pressed, the screen returns to the "DETAIL" and "REMOVE" icons on the screen 700C and the "END" do. If the function key under the "YES" icon 790 is pressed, classification of the bundle of banknotes is terminated and the system returns to the idle screen 700A. When the function key under the "DELETE" icon 785 is pressed, the screen 700I causes the input module 2 to automatically restart the batch process to overwrite the data from the previous classification of the bundle of banknotes, Quot ;, and " overwrite "). In the preferred embodiment, screen 700I is not shown, and the system returns to screen 700A. When the operator presses the function key under the "BACK" icon 710 in Fig. 7i, the operator is presented with a screen 700J as shown in Fig. 7J. In the screen 700J, the operator is presented as a "YES" icon 790 but also as a "RESTOR" icon 795, as in screen 700H. When the operator presses the function key under the "RESTOR" icon 795, the data for the deleted batch is restored and all the totals for the batch are undone. The operator will then process the additional bills in the bundle and add the data to the stored data for the previous bills processed in the bundle. By pressing the function key under the icon 790, it is confirmed that the bundle sheet is in the deleted state.

At any time during the classification process, the operator will press the "TOTAL" key, which allows the operator to view the sum of banknotes in all pockets since the data was finally cleared. This total screen is shown at 700K in Fig. 7K. In row 701, a banknote classified as a second logical destination for a particular bundle is physically classified as a second output destination P2 during a non-"SPLIT " classification, Quot; SPLIT "category) of the bills classified as the first logical destination (L1) in the row 702 (e.g., bills classified as the first logical destination < RTI ID = (The real and suitable bills physically sorted into the first output destination P1 during the non-"split" classification) and the sum and number of the first and second logical destinations L2) of the banknotes classified into the banknotes. Thus, these sums are physically classified as a second output destination during a non-"split" classification and then physically classified as a second output destination (i.e., logically as a third "cull" (Category A) of suspected counterfeit bills or unknown bills (category A). In this mode, the operator will press or hold the "TOTAL" key to access the sum menu giving a breakdown of the banknote sum by currency unit. In these situations, a "batch " is typically defined as a bill being processed between a batch start event and a batch end event, where the batch start event is displayed on screen 700A Quot; END "icon 775 followed by a function key under the" YES "icon 790. The " END "

After the bundle has been terminated, the operator can also add an option to enter the reference number defined by the operator for that bundle, which may be used to tag the associated data output information (printout) or to recall the classification data from memory . To enter the bundle reference number, the operator may be presented on the user interface screen, where they can use the number of the input key to enter a reference number or string. This enables the operator to more easily retrieve data for a given batch of banknotes.

Although the above examples have been provided with reference to the BRF classification, it should be appreciated that any other form of < RTI ID = 0.0 > the < / RTI > first and second criteria may be appropriately substituted with references to one or more of the issue, currency, currency, direction and note face It should be noted that the same steps can be applied to the classification.

Data such as those shown in screens 700A-700K may also be provided as printed output using a printing device operably connected to the device 1. The printing device may be a thermal printer such as a printer of the TSP 700 II series supplied by Star Mocronics. Figures 8A-8B show a series of exemplary printouts.

FIG. 8A shows an exemplary printout from "SPLIT" or a second classification (as described with reference to FIG. 7F). Working from the top side of Figure 8A, the output is the current bundle number or reference number; The current user's user identifier; Current processing mode - "RUTH-ONLY" describes that only reliability criteria apply; One or more rows representing the currency and denomination of any bill in the first output destination P1 along with the number of bills and their values; And the total number of banknotes of all the denominations in the first output destination P1 and the total value. The line containing the "*" symbol depicts each classification process.

Figure 8b shows an exemplary printout from the first classification, i.e., results similar to those shown in Figures 7c and 7g. Working from the top side of Figure 8B, the output is the current device or machine identifier; Current bundle number or reference number; The current user's user identifier; Current processing mode - "BRF" indicates that BRF classification is in progress; One or more rows representing currency and denominations of any bills logically classified as a second logical destination (i.e., BRF "nonconforming" bills) with the number of bills and their values; One or more rows representing currency and denominations of any bills logically classified as a first logical destination (i.e., BRF "fit" bills) along with the number of bills and their values; And the total number of banknotes of all the denominations classified into the first and second logical destinations and the total value.

Figure 8c shows an exemplary printout detailing the statistic of the number of BRF classifications. Working from the top side of Figure 8c, the output includes the current device or machine identifier; The range of bundles to which statistics are related in the form of the first bundle number or reference number and the last bundle number or reference number; Quot; banknotes " added by pressing a function key corresponding to the sum of the number of banknotes in each denomination and their values and the sum of the second logical destination L2, i.e., "ADD" One or more rows representing currency and currency units of all bills added to the data for; A row summing the number and value figures for the second logical destination (L2) banknote; One or more rows representing the currency and currency units of the BRF "fit" banknotes, all bills classified as the first logical destination (L1) according to a first criterion, together with the number of bills in each denomination and their values; And a number and value calculation for the first logical destination (L1) banknote.

Figure 8d shows a set of statistics similar to Figure 8c for non-BRF classification processing using Russian rubles. In this example, banknotes are summed according to a banknote (the top half of the output) that meets the set of criteria and a banknote (the bottom half of the printed output that does not meet the criteria). An example of a non-BRF classification is that the first criterion is one of a first criterion of whether a banknote has a particular side facing upwards and a second criterion of whether the banknote is oriented in a particular way.

Claims (36)

CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of classifying a plurality of valuable sheet products using a classifier,
a) supplying the plurality of articles to the sorting device;
b) detecting at least one characteristic of each article using said sorting device;
c) sorting any article whose detected characteristic meets a first set of predetermined criteria into a first destination of the sorting device;
d) sorting the other items into a second destination of the sorting device;
e) whether any of the articles classified as the second destination has a detected characteristic that satisfies the second set of predetermined criteria, and which of the articles classified as the second destination satisfies the second set of predetermined criteria Based on the at least one characteristic detected in the step (b), using the classification device;
f) determining whether the second destination meets the second set of predetermined criteria, as determined by the classification device in step e), and the one or more articles having a detected characteristic that does not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria Outputting an instruction from the sorting device when the sorting device includes one or more articles having detected characteristics;
f ') re-supplying the article in the second destination to the sorting device based on the instruction;
g) sorting any article having a detected characteristic that meets the second set of predetermined criteria based on the indication from a second destination to a third destination of the sorting device;
h) sorting any article having a detected characteristic that does not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria from a second destination to a fourth destination of the sorting device,
Wherein the classification device has only two physical output destinations, the first destination is one of the two physical output destinations and the second destination is another one of the two physical output destinations, 3 destination is one of the two physical output destinations and the fourth destination is another one of the two physical output destinations,
A first set of the predetermined criteria is selected according to a detected characteristic of a first article to be classified so that a first article to be classified satisfies a first set of predetermined criteria,
Wherein the second set of predetermined criteria is determined based on the detected characteristics of the first article to be classified from the second destination so that the first article to be classified from the second destination satisfies the second set of the predetermined criteria . ≪ / RTI >
The sorting method according to claim 1, wherein the article is a banknote.
delete delete delete 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detected characteristics of the article include at least one of reliability, currency, denomination, status, issue and orientation.
3. The classification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined criterion is that the article is genuine and the article meets a predetermined quality standard.
The classification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second set of predetermined criteria is that the article is genuine.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that step f) comprises the step of detecting at least one characteristic of each of the articles from the second destination.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that steps f) and g) are carried out on articles moving at different speeds than steps b) to d).
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that step c) of the method comprises the step of displaying data relating to the article of the first destination.
3. The classification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if it is determined in step e) that all the articles classified as the second destination meet the second set of predetermined criteria, the classification method displays the same to the user.
The classification method according to claim 12, characterized in that the step of displaying comprises a step of displaying data relating to the article of the second destination.
3. A classification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if it is determined in step e) that all the articles classified as the second destination do not satisfy the second set of predetermined criteria, .
3. A classification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, before step e), the steps b) to d) are repeated for the second plurality of articles.
delete delete Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein after step b), it is determined whether each article meets a third set of predetermined criteria, and if any article satisfies a third set of criteria , And displaying this to the user.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indication is made to the user by an indicator that is positioned adjacent to an article meeting a third set of predetermined criteria or a pocket in which each article is stored.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method is stopped when the detected characteristic of any one of the articles satisfies a third set of predetermined criteria.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the third set of predetermined criteria is mutually exclusive with the first and second sets of predetermined criteria.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the third set of predetermined criteria is a counterfeit article in which the article is suspected.
delete 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a first set of information about the articles classified as the first destination upon detection of termination of the classification of steps c) and d) Storing second set information about an article stored in at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth destinations upon detection of termination of the second set.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein step e) is not performed until the end of the classification of steps c) and d) is detected.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step c) comprises the step of storing information about the article classified as the first destination, wherein step f) comprises: if the classification is performed, Together with information on any additional articles from the resupplied article classified as a destination.
27. The classification method according to claim 26, further comprising repeating steps f) and g) a plurality of times.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein after the user input is received, the end of the classification of steps c) and d) or the end of the classification of steps g) and h) is generated.
The classification method according to claim 24, wherein the end of the classification of steps c) and d) or the end of classification of steps g) and h) is generated after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
26. The method according to claim 24 or 25,
i) displaying the first and second sets of information.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein step h) comprises one of printing information or displaying information on a display screen.
26. The method according to claim 24 or 25,
j) receiving a "REDO"command;
k) resetting a second set of information;
l) repeating steps f) and g).
The method according to claim 24, further comprising a step of re-feeding the article classified as the second destination before step f) and repeating steps c) and d).
34. The method of claim 33, wherein step c) includes: creating a first set of information after step c); and associating the first set of generated information with a first set of information And updating the information with the information.
A sorting device for sorting a plurality of worthy sheet products,
An input device for supplying an article to the sorting device;
Exactly two physical output destinations;
A divertor system capable of switching an article from an input device to an output destination selected from the two physical output destinations;
One or more sensors for detecting one or more characteristics of each article supplied from the input device; And
And a controller operatively connected to the diverter system and the one or more sensors,
The controller comprising:
Determining, in a first sensing step, whether the article meets a first set of predetermined criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors, and if the article meets a first set of predetermined criteria A first module adapted to operate the divertor system to classify the article as a first destination and the article as a second destination if the article does not meet a first set of predetermined criteria;
Wherein the one or more articles classified as the second destination satisfies a second set of predetermined criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors in the first detection step, Wherein at least one of the one or more articles sorted by the at least one sensor detects in the first detection step whether the second set of predetermined criteria is not satisfied based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors, A second module adapted to determine based on at least one characteristic of each article detected by the sensor; And
And a third module configured to operate the divertor system when the result of the determination made by the second module is nonzero,
Wherein the second module is further configured to output an indication indicating whether further classification is necessary based on the positive result from the determination of the amount performed by the second module,
Wherein the operation of the diverter by the third module classifies the article from the second destination to the third destination if the article meets the first set of criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors And sorting the article from the second destination to the fourth destination if the article does not satisfy the second set of criteria based on the one or more characteristics detected by the one or more sensors,
Wherein the first destination is one of the two physical output destinations and the second destination is another one of the two physical output destinations and the third destination is one of the two physical output destinations and the fourth The destination is another one of the two physical output destinations,
A first set of the predetermined criteria is selected according to a detected characteristic of a first article to be classified so that a first article to be classified satisfies a first set of predetermined criteria,
Wherein the second set of predetermined criteria is determined based on the detected characteristics of the first article to be classified from the second destination so that the first article to be classified from the second destination satisfies the second set of the predetermined criteria Is selected.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein if further classification is required, the second module may change the state of the classification device if the result of the determination made by the second module is non-zero And wherein the first and second flow paths are configured to communicate with each other.

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