Check-actuated control mechanisms – Control mechanism actuated by check – other than coin – which... – By pliant currency
Patent
1996-06-18
1998-02-24
Bartuska, F. J.
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Control mechanism actuated by check, other than coin , which...
By pliant currency
250556, 356 71, G07D 700
Patent
active
057203768
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to document handling systems such as banknote transport mechanisms, and in particular to transport mechanisms used in banknote validators, and to banknote validators incorporating such banknote transport mechanisms.
The term "banknote" as used throughout this specification, is intended to mean any document of value, such as a cheque, bond, credit card or bank card.
A banknote validator is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In operation, a user inserts a banknote into the entrance channel 1. The banknote is then transported by a transport mechanism past a sensor device 2. The output of the sensor device is used to determine whether the inserted banknote is genuine and of the appropriate denomination for the particular validator. A positive validation causes the inserted banknote to travel to a banknote stacker 3. A negative validation causes the banknote to be conveyed to a reject passage, where the banknote is returned no the user. The determination of whether the banknote is to be accepted by the validator is effected by validation circuitry 5 which operates in response to the output of the sensor device 2.
The transport path of the banknote from the entrance channel 1 past the sensor 2 is defined by a first, upper, support member 6 and a second, lower, support member 7. The first and second support members are arranged to pivot about an axis 8, which enables the support members to be separated, thereby facilitating various maintenance and servicing operations.
One problem with such validators is that, for accurate sensing to take place, the banknote must be positioned correctly with respect to the sensor 2. The pivoting arrangement of upper and lower support members gives rise to slight differences in positioning of the belts of the transport system, resulting in the spacing between the sensor and the banknote not being accurately reproduceable. It would therefore be desirable to provide an arrangement which overcomes this problem. In some sensing arrangements, a reference surface is provided at the position which would be adopted by a banknote being validated, for the purpose of calibrating the sensor output. As with the desirability for correct positioning of the banknote with respect to the sensor, it would also be desirable to arrange for the reference surface to be positioned at a constant and reproduceable distance from the sensor.
Furthermore, the width of the banknote passage must necessarily be somewhat greater than the width of the largest banknote which the validator is designed to accept, and, consequently, the lateral positioning of the banknote will not necessarily be well defined. It would therefore be desirable to provide an arrangement wherein all banknotes are caused to be transported such that they adopt a substantially constant lateral positioning within the banknote transport path.
Reference is made to GB-A-2107911 which describes a microprocessor controlled currency note validator which includes a transport for propelling an inserted note longitudinally past an optical scanning station. Infrared and visible color reflectance readings and opacity readings are taken along several longitudinally extending tracks on the note. The microprocessor normalises the reflectance readings to accommodate for variations in soiling and compares the normalized reflectance readings and the opacity readings against stored acceptance band data, correcting for pattern registration variations if necessary. The length of the note is also checked and a validation signal is provided if the note passes the optical tests and the length test. During the idle cycle, the microprocessor automatically adjusts the optical circuitry to compensate for component drift and dirt buildup.
Reference is also made to GB-A-2090685 which describes a ticket transport which is capable of rapidly reciprocating a ticket to permit a single transducer to read, write and/or verify information on The ticket. Upper and lower ticket guide plates define a ticket channel through which a tic
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patent: 4669380 (1987-06-01), Seib et al.
patent: 4807735 (1989-02-01), Huber
patent: 5004898 (1991-04-01), Ihsikawa et al.
patent: 5014325 (1991-05-01), Moritomo
Gerlier Andre
Polidoro Roberto
Bartuska F. J.
Mars Incorporated
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