Image analysis – Applications – Reading paper currency
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-02
2004-01-20
Mariam, Daniel (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
Reading paper currency
Reexamination Certificate
active
06681036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper money identification method and apparatus, and more particularly to a paper money identification method and apparatus for detecting a slip of paper money being conveyed and identifying the paper money according to its slip.
2. Description of the Related Art
A paper money identification apparatus used for vending machines and the like is configured to recognize a denomination of an inserted paper money and identifies whether it is real or counterfeit and accept real money of acceptable denomination. The paper money is recognized by detecting its feature by means of an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor or the like and comparing the feature with a previously determined standard value. Generally, paper money is discriminated by sensors disposed in the vicinity of a conveying passage for conveying the paper money to detect a feature of the whole paper money being conveyed.
FIG. 6
is a side view showing a schematic structure of the paper money conveying passage.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, the paper money conveying passage comprises a conveying belt
121
driven by conveying roller
122
rotated by an unshown motor and other conveying rollers
123
,
124
and pushing roller
125
disposed at a position to oppose the conveying belt
121
. Paper money
100
entering the paper money conveying passage is pushed against the conveying belt
121
by the pushing roller
125
and conveyed by the conveying belt
121
driven by the rotations of the unshown motor.
The paper money conveying passage is provided with identification sensor (optical sensor, magnetic sensor or the like)
161
for detecting a feature of the paper money
100
so to detect the feature of the paper money
100
while it is being conveyed.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, in order to detect the feature, a conveyed amount of the paper money
100
is specified by virtue of a pulse synchronized with the rotation of the unshown motor output from an encoder or the like mounted on the motor for driving the conveying belt
121
, and output of the identification sensor
161
is compared with the standard value of the position corresponding to the conveyed amount of the paper money
100
.
When the paper money
100
being conveyed slips (on the conveying belt
121
), however, the conveyed amount of the paper money
100
indicated by the pulse synchronized with the rotations of the motor is different from the actual conveyed amount. And output of the identification sensor
161
obtained at the slipped position as shown in
FIG. 8
is of a position different from the standard value to be compared. In other words, the paper money
100
is judged to be counterfeit because it has slipped. And a paper money acceptance rate is lowered.
As technologies to prevent a drop of the paper money acceptance rate due to a slip of the paper money, there are proposed “Paper money identification apparatus” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-84043, “Paper money identification apparatus” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-255098 and the like.
“Paper money identification apparatus” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 6-84043 determines a measuring zone for detecting a feature of paper money and obtains a maximum value and a minimum value in the measuring zone and their mean value to correct an error resulting from the slip. But, its processing for data measurement and calculation is complex.
“Paper money identification apparatus” described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-255098 normalizes the obtained feature in the paper money conveying distance to correct an error resulting from a slip of the paper money. But, the paper money conveying distance is measured by a pulse encoder mounted on the motor, so that no measures can be taken if the pulse as shown in
FIG. 8
deviates from the actual conveying distance.
As described above, the feature of the paper money is detected by a variety of sensors to discriminate the paper money, but when the paper money slips during its transfer, the comparison between the detected feature and the standard value to be compared corresponds to the comparison of the feature of the paper money at a different position with the standard value, resulting in judging the paper money as a counterfeit money. Therefore, the paper money acceptance rate is lowered.
There is also proposed a technology to deal with a slip of the paper money during its transfer but its processing is complicated, and it sometimes cannot detect a slip of the paper money depending on a situation that the paper money has slipped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Under the circumstances described above, it is an object of the invention to provide a paper money identification method and apparatus which can detect the occurrence of a slip when a paper money slips during its transfer and discriminate the paper money according to the slip of the paper money.
To achieve the aforesaid object, the invention comprises a paper money identification method for identifying paper money by conveying an inserted paper money along a paper money conveying passage by means of conveying belts and reading identification data of the paper money by a paper money identification sensor disposed above the paper money conveying passage, wherein the conveying belts are driven by a conveying motor, the paper money being conveyed along the paper money conveying passage is pushed by pushing rollers, a displaced conveying position of the paper money is detected according to a motor signal synchronized with the rotation of the conveying motor and a roller signal synchronized with the rotation of the pushing rollers, and the identification data is corrected according to the detected displaced conveying position of the paper money to identify the paper money.
The invention also comprises a method wherein the motor signal and the roller signal are pulse signals, and the detection is performed by comparing pulse widths of the motor and roller signals.
The invention further comprises a paper money identification method for identifying paper money by conveying an inserted paper money along a paper money conveying passage by means of conveying belts and reading identification data of the paper money by a paper money identification sensor disposed above the paper money conveying passage, wherein the conveying belts are driven by a conveying motor, the paper money being conveyed along the paper money conveying passage is pushed by pushing rollers, the identification data is sampled according to a roller signal synchronized with the rotation of the pushing rollers, and the paper money is identified according to the sampled identification data.
The invention further composes a paper money identification apparatus for identifying paper money by conveying an inserted paper money along a paper money conveying passage by means of conveying belts and reading identification data of the paper money by a paper money identification sensor disposed above the paper money conveying passage, comprising: a conveying motor for driving the conveying belts; pushing rollers which rotate in contact with the paper money being conveyed along the paper money conveying passage; and detection means for detecting a displaced conveying position of the paper money according to a motor signal synchronized with the rotation of the conveying motor and a roller signal synchronized with the rotation of the pushing rollers, wherein the identification data is corrected according to a detection output of the detection means to identify the paper money.
The invention also directed to the invention wherein the motor signal and the roller signal are pulse signals, and the detection means detects a difference of pulse width between the motor signal and the roller signal as a displacement of transfer of the paper money.
The invention further comprises a paper money identification apparatus for identifying paper money by conveying an inserted paper
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
Mariam Daniel
Patel Shefali
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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