WO2001067400A2 - Document evaluation apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Document evaluation apparatus for evaluating value documents. The apparatus comprises an input hopper (2); at least one output hopper (105); a transport system (5, 15, 19) for conveying documents singly from the input hopper (2) to the or one of the output hoppers (105); and an evaluation device (400) for monitoring the denomination of documents being transported. The evaluation device (400), a) increments a first count if the evaluation device recognises the denomination of a document, b) provides an indication of the operator if the evaluation device does not recognise the denomination of a document, the operator being able to increment a second count with the value of the unrecognised document, and c) following evaluation of a number of documents, sums the first and second counts and displays the result.

Description

DOCUMENT EVALUATION APPARATUS AND METHOD

The invention relates to document evaluation apparatus and a method of evaluating documents, such as banknotes.

For many years, banknote sorters have been produced for use in central banks and the like for sorting a stack of mixed denomination banknotes into their separate denominations. These carry out a number of tests on banknotes, as they are fed through the equipment to respective output hoppers. In addition, banknote counters have been produced which are intended simply to count the number of banknotes m a stack, as the banknotes are fed from an input hopper to an output hopper. In some cases an authentication check may be made, and also a check for the correct denomination. An example of such a banknote counter is described m EP-A-O613107. In this case, the counter identifies the denomination of notes by one of a number of methods such as long edge size, short edge size, ultraviolet or magnetic properties.

An important aspect of such banknote counters is the ability to allow an operator to identify a bank note to the counter, which could not be determined automatically. This is conventionally known as "value balancing" . In conventional value balancing, a count is incremented by the counter with the value of each banknote which is successfully identified and counted. If a banknote cannot be identified then the machine stops, to allow the banknote to be inspected by the operator. The operator can then either remove the banknote completely so that the count is not incremented, or alternatively can indicate to the counter the value of the banknote, and this value is then used to increment the count. The banknote would then be replaced into the output stack. A drawback of this approach is that at the end of the counting process, there is no way of auditing the performance of the counter. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, document evaluation apparatus for evaluating value documents comprises an input hopper; at least one output hopper; a transport system for conveying documents singly from the input hopper to the or one of the output hoppers; and an evaluation device for monitoring the denomination or series of documents being transported and for a) incrementing a first count if the evaluation device recognises the denomination or series of a document , b) providing an indication to the operator if the evaluation device does not recognise the denomination or series of a document, the operator being able to increment a second count in accordance with the unrecognised document, and c) following evaluation of a number of documents, summing the first and second counts and displaying the result.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, a method of evaluating documents comprises transporting documents singly from an input hopper to at least one output hopper; monitoring the denomination or series of the documents as they are transported; incrementing a first count if the denomination or series of a document is recognised; providing an indication to the operator if the denomination or series of a document is not recognised, the operator being able to increment a second count in accordance with the unrecognised document; and, following evaluation of a number of documents, summing the first and second counts and displaying the result.

In this invention, separate first and second counts are maintained during the evaluation process so that the number or value of documents recognised by the apparatus can be distinguished from the number or value of documents which could not be recognised, and which had to be identified by the operator. In order to present the operator with the total value, these two counts are then summed .

Typically, each count will define the value of the documents counted, but instead they could define the number of documents.

The counts and the sum could be maintained solely electronically for storage, and/or subsequent output on a printed medium such as paper. Preferably, however, displays such an LCD display, are provided for displaying the first and second counts and the sum of the counts. These may be separate displays for each count and the sum, or a single display where the counts and sum can be successively displayed or displayed side by side. The evaluation device may be arranged automatically to display the sum of the first and second counts, for example on detecting that there are no more documents to be evaluated m the input hopper, or alternatively the sum could be manually activated. The latter approach is preferable if the operator wishes to add further documents into the input hopper, to be assembled with the earlier batch.

The evaluation device may be adapted to reset the counts on completion of step (c) , or on commencement of the next evaluation process.

In one approach, the provision of an indication to the operator m step (b) comprises stopping the transport system. This is particularly useful where a single output hopper is provided. In this case, a suite of memory locations may be provided, for storing effectively the first and second counts. A third memory location may be provided for storing the sum of the first and second count, or alternatively that sum could be generated on the fly when the operators wishes the sum to be displayed. In the case of a single output hopper, the operator could enter the count while the evaluation process continues or could wait until the end of the evaluation process before entering the count (or value) of each of the unrecognised documents or the total count (or value) of the unrecognised documents.

The sum could be displayed m response to an operator signal, or in response to the determination that a batch of documents _^of a pre-determined size or value has been counted, or that a separator, header, or trailer document has been detected, or alternatively on a timed basis in which the sum of the current values of the counts is displayed at regular time intervals unrelated to the evaluation process.

Where more than one output hopper is present then the unrecognised documents could be fed to a different output hopper from the recognised documents without stopping the evaluation process.

In this case, the operator can remove the unrecognised documents and in some cases enter their value while the evaluation process continues or, if this is not possible in view of the way in which the apparatus has been set up, wait until a batch of documents has been processed and the apparatus has stopped. As in the single output hopper case, the two counts can be maintained in separate memories, while the sum of the counts could be held in a further memory, or simply obtained when the display is required, or on a timed basis.

The invention is applicable for evaluating any value documents whose value or denomination can be determined, for example banknotes, travellers cheques and postal orders . An example of banknote evaluation apparatus and a banknote evaluation method, according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the primary transport components of the machine shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the display of the machine shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the machine shown m Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a block diagram of the processing components ,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a two pocket counter;

Figure 7 is a block diagram of the processing components for the Figure 6 example; and,

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the primary transport components of a three pocket machine.

The counter 4 shown m Figures 1 and 2 includes an input hopper 2 mounted beneath an inlet opening 3 m an enclosure 1 which comprises upper and lower parts la, lb normally screwed together. Contained within the enclosure 1 is an internal chassis assembly (not shown for clarity) which itself has side members between which the sheet feeding and transport components to be described herein, are mounted. Two conventional feed wheels 5 are non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 7, which is rotatably mounted to the chassis assembly, and have radially outwardly projecting bosses 6 which, as the feed wheels rotate, periodically protrude through slots in the base of the hopper 2.

A pair of stripper wheels 15 are non-rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 16 which is rotatably mounted m the chassis assembly. Each stripper wheel 15 has an insert 17 of rubber m its peripheral surface. Shaft 16 is driven clockwise by a motor (not shown) to feed notes individually from the bottom of a stack of notes 100 placed in the hopper 2.

Transversely m alignment with, and driven from the circumferential peripheral surface of the stripper wheels 15, are pressure rollers 30 which are rotatably mounted on shafts 31 spring based towards the stripper wheels 15.

Downstream of the wheels 15 is a pair of transport rollers 19 non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 20 rotatably mounted in the chassis assembly. Shaft 20 is driven clockwise from a second motor (not shown) to transport the note m the transport arrangement, m conjunction with pairs of pinch rollers 21 and double detector rollers 23, into stacking wheels 27. Pinch rollers 21, rotatably mounted on shafts 22 spring based towards the transport rollers 19, transversely align with rollers 19 and are driven by the peripheral surface of the rollers 19. The double detector rollers 23, rotatably mounted on shafts 24 are in alignment with the transport rollers 19, and are essentially caused to rotate by the note passing between the adjacent peripheral surfaces of the rollers 19 and 23.

Situated between the pressure rollers 30 and pinch rollers 21 are separator roller pair 25, non-rotatably mounted on shaft 26 adjustably fixed to a top moulding assembly 32, having a circumferential peripheral surface which is nominally m alignment with the peripheral circumferential surface of, but transversely separated from, the stripper wheels 15.

Also forming part of the top moulding assembly 32, is a curved guide surface 8 extending partly around the circumference of the rollers 15, 19 which, when the top moulding is lifted allows the operator access to the note feed and transport path so that a note jam can be cleared. A surface 37 provides note guiding from the end of the curved guide surface 8 to the conventional stacking wheels 27.

The drive motor (not shown) continuously drives the drive shaft 16, and, via a belt and pulley arrangement from shaft 16, the auxiliary drive shaft 7 rotating the feed wheel 5. Drive shaft 20, rotating the transport rollers 19, is driven by another drive motor (not shown) . A further pulley and belt arrangement (not shown) between shaft 20 and shaft 28, on which the stacking wheels 27 are non rotatably mounted, provides the drive to the stacking wheels 27. A guide plate 9 extends as a continuation of the base of the hopper 2 towards the nips formed between the transport rollers 19 and the double detector rollers 22. In order to identify banknotes by country, bank of issue, denomination or series as they are fed from hopper 2 to the stacking wheels 27, a pattern detector 50 is mounted adjacent to the transport path. The pattern detector 50 comprises a linear photodiode array, which extends across the full length of the banknotes (transverse to the feed direction) , so as to detect light originating with a light source (not shown) reflected off the facing surface of banknotes as they pass beneath the detector.

(Other known pattern detectors could be used which, for example, only scan a portion or portions of the banknotes.) The photodiodes are sampled regularly, and the samples digitised and stored to generate a digital representation of the appearance of the face of the banknote. This is then compared m a conventional manner by a microprocessor 400 with a set of pre-stored banknote face images in a store 410, to attempt to identify the banknote concerned. If the detected image is sufficiently similar to one of the stored images, then the banknote is identified as corresponding to that stored image, and the value associated with the stored image banknote is used to increment a count 140 m a memory location 141, as will be explained in more detail below. If the pattern detector system 50,400,410 cannot identify the banknote, then the drive motor to the rollers 5, 15 is stopped, or at least disconnected, by the microprocessor 400 (the drive motors being indicated at 415 in Figure 5) to prevent further banknotes being fed while the drive to the rollers 19, 23 and the stacking wheels 27 continues, so that the banknote is fed out into the output hopper 105.

In order to control operation of the machine, a set of controls are provided as shown at 110, on the front face. These controls include a start/stop button 121, a mode switch 122, denomination keys 123, a "Total" key 124, and a display clear key 126. A LCD display 127 is provided for displaying various totals and commands which will be described m more detail below. A number of other conventional keys are provided which are not relevant to the present invention, including a denomination key 128 for enabling/disabling note recognition detection, an "Auto" key 129 for enabling/disabling automatic start, a CFA key 130 for enabling/disablmg/selectmg of the various authentication detectors, a batch key 125 for setting a batch size, and a speed key 131 for setting the throughput speed. These conventional keys can also be found on the De La Rue 2700 banknote counter, and so will only be described m further detail.

The display 127 is adapted to display the separate counts, 140, 145, 150 as shown m Figure 3. The count 140 displays the total value of notes which have been successfully identified by the machine as stored m memory location 141, the count 145 displays the total value of notes which have been identified by the operator as stored in a memory location 146, and the count 150 is the sum of the counts 140, 145 as stored m a memory location 151 by the microprocessor adding the contents of the stores 141, 146. Typically, the count 150 will only be displayed at the end of a count operation, or m response to operator commands, or on a timed basis, say every 5 seconds, or as a running count .

Typically the memory locations 141,146 contain the running count (value) of the documents processed since they were reset to zero, however, the running count could comprise of the sum of the contents of separate memories in memory locations 141,146 each of which contains the running count for a single denomination, e.g. $1, $2, $5 etc.

(This feature could then be used, in particular for the operator inputted count, to provide a stricter audit of the documents processed by the operator. It could also be of value in statistical work associated with note denominations in circulation) . An example of the operation of the machine will now be described with reference to Figure 4.

It should be noted that control is achieved by the microprocessor 400 coupled with the elements m the control panel 110, sensors (not shown) and also with the various motors 415 described above, so as to control operation of the machine .

Initially, the microprocessor 400 monitors for the selection of an operating mode, step 200 via the mode switch 122. In the present case, we are only concerned with the "value mode", but m practice other modes such as batch counting, series sorting and the like could be selected instead. Once the microprocessor 400 determines that the value mode has been selected (step 210) it monitors for activation of the start button 121 (step 220) .

Once the start button 121 has been activated, the microprocessor 400 checks to see that there is a stack of notes 100 m the input hopper 2 (step 230) , by reference to a sensor of conventional form (not shown) . If there are no notes m the input hopper 2 then the microprocessor will issue an error message on the display 127 (step 240), and processing returns to step 220.

Otherwise, the count process commences with both motors being activated to rotate the various rollers as previously described (step 250) .

As a banknote passes beneath the pattern detector 50, it is scanned and the microprocessor 400 carries out the pattern recognition process, to determine whether or not the scanned face corresponds to a previously stored face, in an attempt to identify the note (step 260) . If the note is identified, then the microprocessor can determine the value of that note and will increment the count 140 (step 270) by the value of the note and store the result in memory location 141. Thus, if the note is a £10 note then the count 40 will be incremented by "10".

If the note cannot be identified in step 260, then the microprocessor 400 causes the motor drive to the rollers 5, 15 to be stopped (step 280) , although the drive to the rollers 19 and wheels 27 will continue so that the unidentified or unrecognised note is fed into the stacking wheels 27 and the output hopper 105. An error message will also be displayed on the display 127, prompting the operator to look at the unrecognised note m the output hopper 105. The operator can then either decide that the note should not be included m the batch at all, m which case he depresses the start/stop button 121 and the motor drive to the rollers 5, 15 is restarted without any change to the count 140, or alternatively he inputs the value of the note using the keys 123 (step 290) . The microprocessor responds to input from the keys 123 to increment the count 145 (step 300) , by the value entered and to store the new value m memory location 146. In the example shown m Figure 3, the operator has entered the value "5". It will be noted that the count 140 is not changed, so that this retains the value allocated to banknotes correctly identified by the machine. In addition, when one of the keys 123 is depressed, the motor drive to the rollers 5,15 is restarted.

In another example, the operator can only enter the value of the unrecognised note or notes at the end of the process when the input hopper is empty. Following the processing of a note, the microprocessor checks to see whether or not the input hopper 2 is empty

(step 310) , and if it is not, processing returns to step

260. If the input hopper is empty, then the microprocessor will automatically sum the counts 140, 145 and display the result at 150 (step 320) and store the result m memory location 151.

The operator can then remove the counted stack from the output hopper 105, or alternatively add more notes into the input hopper 2. The counts 140, 145 can be cleared automatically upon removal of banknotes from the output hopper 105, or in response to activation of the clear button 126, or on a further depression of the start/stop button 121.

In a further alternative, the operator may indicate to the microprocessor, for example by using the mode switch 122, that the counts 140,145 are to be maintained even when the input hopper 2 is empty thus allowing further banknotes to be placed m the input hopper and added to these totals. When the operator is finished, he can depress the total button 124 to obtain the final total 150. In some cases, header documents may be included m the stack of banknotes, the microprocessor being adapted to respond to the detection of such a header document to add the counts 140,145 and display the total count 150 and at the same time stop the motor drive to the rollers 5,15 so that the counted stack can be removed.

The counter 4 shown m Figures 1 and 2 has a single output hopper 105. The invention is also applicable, however, to counters/sorters having multiple output hoppers and Figure 6 illustrates such an example with two output hoppers. The Figure 6 counter 1300 has an input hopper 1401 having a base 1402 with an aperture 1403, through which a high friction portion 1404 of a nudger wheel 1405 can project. The base 1402 optionally has a second aperture 1406 in alignment with a barcode reader 1407 for reading data on note separators. Bank notes are supported in a stack on the base 1402 against a front wall 1426, and are fed intermittently by rotation of the nudger roller 1405 into a nip 1408, between a high friction feed roller 1409 and a separator, counter rotating roller 1410. The nudger 1405 and roller 1409 are driven by a motor 1200 (not shown m Figure 6) . The documents pass through pinch rollers 1411, 1412 into a pattern detection region 1413 in which a sensor 1414 scans the bank note as it is fed and passes information back to the microprocessor 400 (Figure 7) . Each bank note is then fed through pinch rollers 1416, 1417 onto a drive belt 1418 which conveys the bank note around various rollers 1419 to a diverter 1420. At least one of the rollers is driven by a motor 1210 (not shown m Figure 6) The position of the diverter 1420 is controlled by the microprocessor 400, so that bank notes are guided either towards an output pocket 1421, where they are stacked using a rotating stacking wheel 1422 m a conventional manner, or to a reject bin 1423.

As can be seen, the bank notes are stacked on the base 1402 and are urged forward against the front wall 1426. A small gap 1427 is provided at the base of the front wall, through which individual bank notes and separators can be nudged .

As can be seen m Figure 7, the counter operating components are modified to include the ability for the microprocessor 400 to control the diverter 1420. The counting operation performed by the components shown m Figure 7 is the same as described with respect to the previous example and so the same components have been given similar reference numerals.

Figure 8 illustrates schematically a further counter 500 based generally on the De La Rue 3700 sorter. This comprises an input hopper 502 into which a stack of notes is placed, a pair of output pockets 503,504 into which banknotes are sorted and a cull pocket 505.

In this case, the banknotes are fed long edge leading m contrast to the short edge leading transport of the other examples .

The processing components for the Figure 8 example will be substantially the same as those shown m Figure 7 except that the microprocessor 400 is able to control the positions of both diverters 508,509.

It should be understood that in all these examples, although pattern recognition is described for the purposes of denomination determination, other characteristic features of documents could be detected such as magnetic characteristics, size characteristics and the like using mechanical, optical and/or magnetic detectors as necessary. These can be used either alone or in combination.

Claims

1. Document evaluation apparatus for evaluating value documents, the apparatus comprising an input hopper; at least one output hopper; a transport system for conveying documents singly from the input hopper to the or one of the output hoppers; and an evaluation device for monitoring the denomination or series of documents being transported and for a) incrementing a first count if the evaluation device recognises the denomination or series of a document , b) providing an indication to the operator if the evaluation device does not recognise the denomination or series of a document, the operator being able to increment a second count in accordance with the unrecognised document, and c) following evaluation of a number of documents, summing the first and second counts and displaying the result.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each count defines the value of the documents counted.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying the first and second counts and the summed count.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein separate displays are provided for each count and the sum.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising separate memory locations for the first and second counts and an adder for summing the first and second counts .

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a further memory location for storing the sum of the first and second counts.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the adder is operable at predetermined intervals to add the first and second counts.

8. Apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 7 , wherein the adder is operable m response to operator input to add the first and second counts.

9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation device is manually activated to perform step (c) .

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation device is adapted to reset the counts on completion of step (c) .

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation device is adapted to reset the counts on commencement of the next evaluation process.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the provision of an indication to the operator m step (b) comprises stopping the transport system.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the transport system is stopped after the unrecognised document has been fed to the or one of the output hoppers .

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, the apparatus including more than one output hopper, wherein the provision of an indication to the operator in step (b) comprises transporting the unrecognised document to one of the output hoppers while continuing to transport recognised documents to another of the output hoppers.

15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transport is adapted to transport rectangular documents with their long edges leading.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the documents comprise banknotes.

17. A method of evaluating documents comprising transporting documents singly from an input hopper to at least one output hopper; monitoring the denomination or series of the documents as they are transported; incrementing a first count if the denomination or series of a document is recognised; providing an indication to the operator if the denomination or series of a document is not recognised, the operator being able to increment a second count with the value of the unrecognised document; and, following evaluation of a number of documents, summing the first and second counts and displaying the result.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein each count defines the value of the documents counted.

19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the summing step is carried out m response to a manual command from the operator.

20. A method according to any of claims 17 to 19, further comprising resetting the counts following completion of the summing step.

21. A method according to any of claims 17 to 20, further comprising resetting the counts on commencement of the next evaluation process.

22. A method according to any of claims 17 to 21, comprising continuously transporting recognised documents to one output hopper and unrecognised documents to another output hopper until the input hopper is empty or a predetermined batch of documents has been withdrawn from the input hopper.

23. A method according to any of claims 17 to 22, wherein the step of providing an indication to the operator comprises stopping the transport of documents.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the transport is stopped after the unrecognised document has been fed to the or one of the output hoppers .

25. A method according to any of claims 17 to 24, wherein the documents are rectangular and fed with the long edges leading.

26. A method according to any of claims 17 to 25, wherein the documents comprise banknotes .