JPH0215914B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a paper sheet counter that counts paper sheets and at the same time determines the type of paper sheets using an optical system.

``Conventional technology'' Conventionally, a paper sheet counting machine used in banking operations, etc. automatically distinguishes between normal and different types of paper sheets (banknotes) that are bundled, and automatically selects only normal notes. A counting machine is well known, and a "paper sheet counter" (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 71184/1984) was previously proposed as such a counting machine.

FIG. 1 shows an external view of this type of paper sheet counting machine. After placing a banknote bundle 1 on a holder 2,
When the start button (not shown) provided on the holder 2 is pressed, the holder 2 closes, the protective covers 4, 4 are closed by the cover motor (not shown), and the inside of the absorption head for flipping up bills opens. When a predetermined suction pressure is reached, counting of the banknote bundles 1 is started.

Moreover, FIGS. 2 to 4 show a mechanism for counting banknote bundles 1 and detecting different types of banknotes. In FIG. When the instruction is input, the rotary cylinder 7 is held in the holder 2 and rotated in the direction of arrow A.
It is rotated to the side and comes into contact with one of the absorption heads 8 provided on the rotary cylinder 7 and connected to a plurality of vacuum pumps. Next, the rotating barrel 7 starts rotating counterclockwise, and thereafter, the bills in the banknote bundle 1 are suctioned and separated one by one by these absorption heads 8 and counted.
In addition, at this time, the dimensions of the banknotes being counted are determined by transmitting light from the light sources 10 and 11 in the figure and passing through or reflecting the banknotes from the upper and lower ends of the lens.
3, 16, and reflecting mirrors 14, 17, and the light receiving element groups 15, 18, respectively (see Figs. 3 and 4), and these dimensions are compared successively with the dimensions of a regular bill. be done. Based on the results of this comparison, it is determined whether the counted banknotes are genuine or of a different type.

As described above, since the paper sheet counting machine uses an optical system as a means for detecting different types of bills during counting, it is important to prevent this optical system from being affected by external light during counting.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, the conventional paper sheet counting machine as described above had the following problems.

The protective covers 4, 4 also have the role of a light shielding plate that shields the internal optical system from external light, so they must be completely closed when counting the bills. If the lens is closed too late or not completely, there is a risk that the optical system will be affected by external light and malfunction.

The output signals of the light-receiving element groups 15 and 18 are each level-adjusted by an amplifier, but if the amplifier is maladjusted or the light-receiving element itself is defective,
It is not possible to properly determine the width of banknotes or perform double detection to detect whether two or more banknotes overlap during counting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is intended to promptly eliminate defects in the light receiving element group (light receiving section), improper adjustment of the amplifier, and furthermore, defects in cases where the protective cover is not completely closed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper sheet counter that can detect these defects and quickly make an operator aware of the occurrence of these defects.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a light source that emits light toward a sheet of paper, and a light source that receives light from the light source that is transmitted or reflected by the sheet of paper. A paper sheet counter comprising a light receiving section that converts into an electrical signal, and sequentially determining the type of paper sheets loaded in a holder one by one based on the output signal of the light receiving section, the light source and between a shielding position in which the banknotes loaded in the holder are shielded from external light along with an optical system path consisting of a light receiving section, and an open position in which these optical system paths and the banknotes loaded in the holder are opened to the outside. a movable protective cover; a cover motor for moving the protective cover between a shielding position and an open position; on the condition that the protective cover is moved to the shielding position and a cover closed position signal indicating that the protective cover is in the shielding position is output, and an end signal instructing to stop or end counting of the paper sheets is input. , a cover motor drive control unit that moves the protective cover to an open position, and an initial level comparison unit that compares the output signal of the light receiving unit with a predetermined reference level, On the condition that a cover closed position signal indicating that the cover is in the shielding position is input, an abnormal signal indicating that the state is unsuitable for counting is sent to the cover motor based on the comparison result in the initial level comparing section. an initial state abnormality detection section that outputs an output to the drive control section; and a display section that displays the details of the abnormality based on the abnormality signal output from the initial state abnormality detection section, further comprising: controlling the cover motor drive; The part is provided with a function of disabling the input of the end signal and controlling the drive of the cover motor so as to protect the shielding position of the protective cover on the condition that the abnormality signal is input.

"Operation" According to the present invention, an abnormal signal indicating a state unsuitable for counting is generated from the comparison result of the output signal of the light receiving section with a predetermined reference level, that is, a defect in the light receiving section itself, a protective cover, etc. An abnormal signal is output indicating that the is not completely closed.

When this abnormal signal is output,
While the details of the abnormality are displayed on the display, the input of the end signal for opening the protective cover is disabled in the cover motor drive control section.As a result, the operator can If the protective cover does not open even though counting is not being performed (counting has been stopped), it can be immediately recognized that the cause is a defect in the light receiving unit itself, the protective cover is not completely closed, etc. .

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. In the figure, 21 is an upper end position detection section,
Lens 13 and reflecting mirror 14 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4,
It is composed of a light-receiving element group 15 and an amplifier (not shown), and outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the upper end of the bill that is being counted. 22 is a lower end position detection section;
Similarly, a lens 16, a reflecting mirror 17, a light receiving element group 18
and an amplifier, and outputs a signal corresponding to the lower end of the bill that is being counted. Also, 20 is the second
In the figure, a non-contact switch 23 for counting banknotes is turned on/off each time banknotes are counted as the rotary tube 7 rotates, and 23 is a timing pulse generation control section, and a vacuum switch 40 (to be described later) is in an on state. 4 based on the on/off signal of the non-contact switch 20 supplied via the AND gate 41.
Generate different types of timing pulses. That is,
A timing pulse TPO is always generated at the rising edge of the ON signal of the non-contact switch 20, a timing signal TP1 is generated only at the falling edge of the first ON signal of the non-contact switch 20 after counting has started,
A timing signal TP2 is generated whenever the ON signal falls after the first shot, and a timing signal TP3 is generated always when the ON signal falls after the second shot.

24 is a ticket type discrimination section, and the upper end position detection section 2
1 and the code signals JDA to JDD or signals indicating the dimensions of the banknote based on the position information of the top and bottom ends of the banknote during counting obtained from the bottom position detection unit 22.
Generates NJD and this signal JDA~JDD or signal
NJD is held by the timing pulse TP0 generated by the timing pulse generation control section 23. 25 is a genuine note storage unit, in which the 1
The code signals JDA to JDD of the 1st banknote are held by the timing pulse TP1. Reference numeral 26 denotes a center transmitted light detection section, which detects light emitted from a light source (not shown) and transmitted through approximately the center of the banknotes that are being counted. The output voltage of the central transmitted light detection section 26 is proportional to the degree of transmission of light from the banknotes during counting. This output voltage is then compared with a reference voltage supplied from the reference level setting section 55 in the dual level comparison section 27. If two or more banknotes are overlapped during counting, a double feed signal DBL is output from the double feed determination section 53 based on the output signal of the double level comparison section 27.

Next, 56 is an initial level comparing section, which compares the signals supplied from the upper end position detecting section 21, the lower end position detecting section 22, and the central transmitted light detecting section 26, and the reference level corresponding to each of these signals. Compare each with the reference level supplied from the level setting section 55,
It outputs the comparison results. Reference numeral 57 denotes an output abnormality determination section, which detects the upper end position detection section 21, the lower end position detection section 22, and the center transmitted light detection section 26 based on the signal supplied from the initial level comparison section 56.
It determines whether the output signal is abnormal, and outputs an output abnormality signal ABN if an abnormality is determined.
This output abnormality determining section 57 performs the above-described determining operation at the rise of a start timing signal TPS, which will be described later.

The abnormal sending/different type of ticket determination unit 28 is the ticket type determination unit 24
The banknote code signals JDA to JDD during counting after the second banknote supplied by
The timing pulse is synchronized with the code signal of the second bill.
They are compared by TP3, and if the comparison results do not match, that is, if the dimensions of the banknotes being counted and the first banknote are different, a different type banknote signal DIF is output. In addition, when the size of the banknote being counted cannot be determined, the abnormal feed/different type of bill determination section 28 samples the signal NJD output from the bill type determination section 24 using the timing pulse TP2, and this signal is output. If so, the abnormal feed signal EF is output in the same way. The signals DIF and EF output from the abnormal feed/dissimilar ticket determination section 28 are sent to the batch device drive section 29,
The information is supplied to the abnormal/dissimilar ticket display section 30 and the gate control section 31, respectively. The batch device drive section 29 is used to excite the batch solenoid 19 shown in FIG. 2 based on the supplied signal to stop counting banknotes, and the abnormality/mismatched bill display section 30 is configured to excite the batch solenoid 19 shown in FIG. 2 based on the supplied signal. This is to drive display elements corresponding to abnormal conditions.

Next, the vacuum switch 40 is a switch that is turned on when the air pressure inside the suction head 8 in FIG. 2 drops below a predetermined pressure, and turns off when it rises above a predetermined pressure. . Of the output signals based on on/off of the vacuum switch 40, the vacuum switch 40
The signal ON outputted while is on is supplied to the AND gate 41 and the AND gate 54, respectively.
Further, a pulse signal CE output when the vacuum switch 40 shifts from on to off is supplied to the gate control section 31, cover motor drive control section 42, and pump motor drive control section 44, respectively. The AND gate 41 supplies the on/off signal of the non-contact switch 20 to the sheet number counting section 45 on the condition that the signal is ON which is output when the vacuum switch 40 is on. Banknotes are counted at the counter.

The number setting unit 46 is for setting in advance the number of banknotes to be counted.
and the output of the number counting section 45 are compared in the number comparison section 47, and when the outputs of both match, that is, when a predetermined number of banknotes have been counted, a match signal is output to the gate control section 31. It's becoming like that. The gate control unit 31 confirms that the sheet number comparison unit 47 is outputting a matching signal and that the abnormal feed signal is detected.
The signal OPN is generated by the pulse signal CE generated when the vacuum switch 40 transitions from on to off on the condition that EF, the different ticket signal DIF, the double feed signal DBL, and the abnormal output signal ABN are not output. Output. This OPN signal is then supplied to the holder motor drive control section 48.

Next, the start switch 49 is a switch that is operated by the start button 3 that is pressed when starting counting banknotes.
Pulse signal STA when transitions from on to off
is generated, and this pulse signal STA is sent to the pump motor drive control section 44 and the holder motor drive control section 4.
8, number counting section 45, abnormality/different type ticket display section 30,
It is supplied to the double feed determination unit 53 and the abnormal feed/different type ticket determination unit 28, respectively. Here, the signal STA resets the number counting section 45, the abnormal/different type ticket display section 30, and the abnormal feeding/different type ticket determining section 28, respectively. Further, the operations of the pump motor drive control section 44 and the holder motor drive control section 48 when the signal STA is supplied will be described later.

The clear switch 50 is a switch used to reset the necessary parts after counting is stopped due to abnormality detection, and a signal CLR is output when the clear switch 50 changes from off to on. This signal CLR is supplied to the batch device drive section 29 to reset it, and is also supplied to the holder motor drive control section 48 and the output abnormality determination section 57. Holder motor drive control section 4
Reference numeral 8 denotes a control unit that drives and controls a holder motor (not shown) that opens and closes the holder 2 shown in FIGS. The holder motor is driven so that the holder 2 is closed, and the holder 2 is opened when the signal OPN from the gate control section 31 (signal output when counting of a predetermined number of banknotes is completed) or the signal CLR from the clear switch is supplied. Drive the holder motor as follows. When the holder 2 is in the closed state, the holder motor drive control section 48 outputs a pulse signal HLD-CLS-P for confirming the closed state.

The cover motor drive control unit 42 is a control unit that drives and controls a cover motor (not shown) that opens and closes the protective covers 4, 4 in FIGS. 1 and 4,
Pulse signal from holder motor drive control section 48
When HLD-CLS-P is supplied, the cover motor is driven to close the protective covers 4, 4, and when the pulse signal CE from the vacuum switch 40 is supplied, the protective covers 4, 4 are opened. Drive the cover motor. In addition, the output abnormality signal ABN is the highest priority input signal in the cover motor drive control section 42, and this output abnormality signal
While ABN is input, the aforementioned pulse signal CE
is invalidated, and the operation of the protective covers 4, 4 is prohibited. When the protective covers 4, 4 are in the closed state, the cover motor drive control unit 42 sends a signal to confirm the closed state.
Output COV-CLS-P. This signal COV
CLS-P is outputted by a limit switch or the like that is turned ON when the protective covers 4, 4 are closed, for example.

The counting motor drive control unit 43 is a control unit that drives and controls a counting motor (not shown) that rotates the rotary cylinder 7 in FIG. 2, and a signal ON from the vacuum switch 40 is supplied to the AND gate 54.
And a signal from the cover motor drive control section 42
The counting motor is driven only when COV-CLS-P is supplied. Pump motor drive control section 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a control unit that drives and controls a vacuum pump (not shown) for lowering the air pressure inside the absorption head 8 shown in FIG. It is started and stopped when the pulse signal CE from the vacuum switch 40 is supplied.

In the above configuration, when the operator presses the start button 3 after placing the banknote bundle 1 on the holder 2, the start switch 49 is activated and the signal is
STA is output. This signal STA is supplied to the pump motor drive control unit 44, and as a result, the vacuum pump is activated and the air pressure inside the absorption head 8 of the rotary cylinder 7 begins to fall. On the other hand, the signal STA is supplied to the holder motor drive control section 48, and the holder motor is driven.As a result, the holder 2 is closed and the banknote bundle 1 is closed.
is clamped and rotated toward the rotary cylinder 7 to come into contact with the absorption head 8. At this point, the holder motor drive control section 48 outputs a pulse signal HLD-CLS-P. Then, the cover motor drive control section 42 drives the cover motor using this pulse signal HLD-CLS-P, and outputs a signal COV-CLS-P when the protective covers 4, 4 are closed.

On the other hand, since the absorption holes of the absorption head 8 are blocked by the banknotes in contact with the absorption head 8, the atmospheric pressure inside the absorption head 8 rapidly decreases, and when this atmospheric pressure falls below a predetermined pressure, the vacuum Switch 40 is turned on. Then, when the vacuum switch 40 is turned on, a signal ON is generated. Here, the AND gate 54 is connected to the signal ON and the signal COV-CLS-P.
and the start timing signal.
Output TPA. Then, when the start timing signal TPA rises, the output abnormality determination section 57 detects the upper end position detection section 21 and the lower end position detection section 2 based on the output signal of the initial level comparison section 56.
2 and the level of the output signal of the central transmitted light detection section 26 is determined to be abnormal. In this case, the protective covers 4, 4 are completely closed, and there is an abnormality in the central transmitted light detection section 26, the light receiving element groups 15, 18, and the amplifiers that adjust the output signal levels of the light receiving element groups 15, 18. If not, the output abnormality determination unit 57
The judgment result is "normal", so the output abnormal signal
ABN is not output. Furthermore, when the start timing signal TPA is output, the counting motor drive control section 43 drives the counting motor, thereby starting counting of banknotes.

On the other hand, even though the protective covers 4, 4 are not completely closed, the detection position of the limit switch that detects the closed state of the protective covers 4, 4 is shifted, and the signal COV-CLS-P is output. , if light penetrates into the interior through the gap between the protective covers 4, 4, or there is an abnormality in the central transmitted light detection section 26, the light receiving element groups 15, 18, and the amplifiers that amplify the output signals of the light receiving element groups 15, 18. If it gets hot,
The determination result of the output abnormality determination unit 57 is "abnormal", and the output abnormality signal ABN is output. As a result,
The batch device drive unit 29 drives the batch solenoid 19 shown in FIG. 2, thereby preventing the absorption head 8 from turning over the banknote bundle 1.

Therefore, even if the rotary cylinder 7 starts rotating, the inside of the absorption head 8 immediately communicates with the outside air, and the vacuum switch 40 is turned off. Vacuum switch 40
When turned OFF, the ON signal supplied to the AND gate 54 stops, and the start timing signal
TPS stops. As a result, the counting motor drive control section 43 immediately stops operating and the counting operation is not started. Further, when the abnormality/different type ticket display section 30 is supplied with the output abnormality signal ABN, it displays this "abnormality", and when the cover motor drive control section 42 is supplied with the pulse signal CE and the output abnormality signal ABN, Priority is given to the abnormal signal ABN, and the operation of the protective covers 4, 4 is prohibited to protect them in the closed state.

As described above, in this embodiment, when an abnormality is detected, the protective covers 4, 4 output an abnormality signal.
It is controlled to be held in the closed state by the ABN, so that it can be easily checked whether the "abnormality" is an abnormal operation of the protective covers 4, 4.

Note that in this embodiment, the upper end position detection section 21,
Lower end position detection section 22, center transmitted light detection section 26
The light receiving unit 100 shown in the claims is configured by,
Further, the reference level setting section 55, the initial level comparing section 56, and the output abnormality determining section 57 constitute an initial state abnormality detecting section 101 shown in the claims.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the present invention, an abnormal signal indicating a state unsuitable for counting is detected from the comparison result of the output signal of the light receiving section with a predetermined reference level, that is, a defect in the light receiving section itself. An abnormal signal is output indicating that the protective cover is not completely closed.

When this abnormal signal is output,
While the details of the abnormality are displayed on the display, the input of the end signal for opening the protective cover is disabled in the cover motor drive control section. If the protective cover does not open even though it has not been done (counting has been stopped), it may be due to a defect in the light receiving part itself.
It is possible to immediately recognize that the cause is that the protective cover is not completely closed, and this allows for prompt countermeasures to be taken after the abnormality occurs, improving work efficiency. The effect that it is possible to achieve is obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view of a paper sheet counter according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the paper sheet counter, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the light receiving section of the paper sheet counter. The side view shown in FIG. 4 shows the light sources 10, 1 in the sheet counting machine.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of this embodiment. 1...Banknote bundle (paper leaves), 2...Holder, 4...
Protective cover, 10, 11...Light source, 30...Abnormal/different ticket display section (display section), 42...Cover motor drive control section, not shown...Cover motor. 10
0... Light receiving section (upper end position detection section 21, lower end position detection section 22, center transmitted light detection section 26), 10
1...Initial state abnormality detection section (reference level setting section 5
5, reference level comparison section 56, output abnormality determination section 5
7). ABN...Output abnormal signal (abnormal signal), CE...
…Pulse signal (end signal) HLD-CLS-P…
…Pulse signal (start signal), TPS…Start timing signal (cover open position signal), COV—
CLS-P...signal (cover open position signal).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light source that irradiates light toward a sheet of paper, and a light receiving section that receives the light from the light source that is transmitted or reflected by the sheet of paper and converts it into an electrical signal, the light receiving section that In a paper sheet counting machine that sequentially determines the type of paper sheets loaded in a holder one by one based on an output signal, the paper sheet counting machine is configured to sequentially determine the type of paper sheets loaded in a holder, one by one, with an optical system path consisting of the light source and a light receiving section. a protective cover that is movable between a shielding position for shielding from external light and an opening position for opening the optical system path and banknotes loaded in the holder to the outside; a cover motor that moves the protective cover between the two; and a cover motor that moves the protective cover to a shielding position on the condition that a start signal instructing to start counting the paper sheets is input, and the protective cover is in the shielding position. a cover motor drive control unit that outputs a cover closed position signal indicating that the sheet count is stopped, and moves the protective cover to an open position on the condition that an end signal that instructs to stop or end counting of the paper sheets is input; , an initial level comparison section that compares the output signal of the light receiving section with a predetermined reference level, and a cover closed position signal indicating that the protective cover is in the shielding position is input from the cover motor drive control section. an initial state abnormality detection section that outputs an abnormality signal indicating that the state is unsuitable for counting to the cover motor drive control section based on the comparison result in the initial level comparison section; and a display unit that displays the details of the abnormality based on the abnormality signal output from the initial state abnormality detection unit, and the cover motor drive control unit is provided with a display unit that displays the abnormality signal on the condition that the abnormality signal is input to the cover motor drive control unit. . A paper sheet counting machine, further comprising a function of disabling the input of the end signal and controlling drive of the cover motor so as to maintain the shielding position of the protective cover.