Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6179110
-
Patent Number
6,179,110
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 12, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 30, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A bill validator is provided which comprises a rotator with a slit and being rotatably attached to the bill validator, the slit being capable of aligning with a passageway when the rotator is in an initial position; a driving device for rotating the rotator; and a validator control circuit for judging authenticity of the bill by outputs of detective sensors and for controlling the driving device. The validator control circuit produces outputs to operate the driving device and thereby to rotate the rotator so as to wind some pulling string connected to the bill around the rotator after the bill passes the slit of the rotator, and the circuit evaluates the rotation rate of the rotator, and detects the unauthorized pulling string.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a bill handling device, in particular to a bill validator capable of preventing unauthorized extraction of a bill by a pulling means such as a string or tape connected to the bill conveyed into the bill validator, and the invention is also directed to a method for detecting the pulling means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For example, Japanese Utility Model Disclosure No. 63-89181 discloses a device for preventing extraction of a bill contained in a bill validator. In such an anti-extraction device, as shown in
FIGS. 18 and 19
, a bill is inserted from an inlet
207
into a space between a pair of side walls
202
and
203
on a frame
201
, and then carried by belts
211
and rollers
212
between protrusions
209
formed on the frame
201
and protrusions
210
formed on a plate
205
. When the bill passes the protrusions
209
and
210
, it is slightly deformed however, whose deformation is limited within a range that does not prevent transportation of the bill. If a wrong attempt is made to outwardly withdraw the bill through the inlet
207
by pulling a string such as a fishing line connected to the bill after the bill passes an outlet
208
, the engagement of the bill with the protrusions
209
and
210
is effective to inhibit extraction of the bill.
Disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Disclosure No. 7-20790 is an anti-extraction device of another type with a stopper which extends into a passageway of a bill validator, but is mounted rotatably away from the passageway in response to a validating signal of the bill validator. This anti-extraction device is very effective to prevent pulling of the bill since the stopper does not rotate away from the passageway unless a genuine bill is transported toward an outlet.
However, the anti-extraction device of
FIGS. 18 and 19
cannot detect any pulling means such as a string or tape connected to the bill. Moreover, it is very difficult to provide the protrusions
209
and
210
of their increased extension length because such long protrusions
209
and
210
would make obstacle to transportation of the bill by belts
211
due to engagement of the bill and the protrusions
209
and
210
. Therefore, the prior art bill validator is inconveniently subject to unauthorized extraction of bills by strongly pulling a fishing line connected to the bill. In addition, there would be a fear that bills may be damaged by the protrusions
209
and
210
during the transportation even if they can perfectly bar extraction of bills. Accordingly, unauthorized extraction of bills cannot be detected even by the anti-extraction device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Disclosure No. 7-20790.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a bill validator for detecting a pulling means by rotating a rotator after the bill is moved through the rotator in the bill validator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bill validator with a rotator rotatably attached to a passageway to wind a pulling means around the rotating rotator to bar unauthorized extraction of a bill.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bill validator capable of preventing unauthorized extraction of a bill.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bill validator with a rotator which can certainly be stopped in position to resist prohibited extraction of a bill.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for and a bill validator with a rotator for detecting a pulling means connected to the bill by rotating the rotator after receiving the bill and measuring rotation rate of the rotator to prevent unauthorized extraction of the bill.
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a bill validator with a rotator and driving device of the rotator which can be prevented from being damaged by inertial force of the rotator motor when the rotator is stopped in position.
A bill validator according to the present invention comprises a case (
2
); a passageway (
3
) formed in the case (
2
) to guide a bill; a conveyer (
6
) for transporting the bill inserted from an inlet (
4
) formed at one end of the passageway (
3
) through the passageway (
3
) to an outlet (
5
) formed at the other end of the passageway (
3
); and a detective sensor (
34
,
35
) disposed adjacent to the passageway (
3
). The bill validator comprises a rotator (
40
) rotatably mounted on the bill validator, the rotator (
40
) being formed with a slit (
41
) in alignment with the passageway (
3
) when the rotator (
40
) is in an initial position; a driving device (
70
) for rotating the rotator (
40
); and a validator control circuit (
50
) for judging authenticity of the bill by outputs from the detective sensor (
34
,
35
). The validator control circuit (
50
) produces outputs to operate the driving device (
70
) to rotate the rotator (
40
) so as to wind around the rotator (
40
) the pulling means connected to the bill which has passed through the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
). In the embodiment of the present invention, the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
) has a tapered surface (
46
) to guide the bill.
A method for detecting a pulling means of a bill according to the present invention comprises the steps of: transporting the bill inserted from an inlet (
4
) along a passageway (
3
) by a conveyor (
6
), picking up outputs produced by a detective sensor (
34
,
35
) attached along the passageway (
3
) during transportation of the bill, and moving the bill through a slit (
41
) of a rotator (
40
) rotatably disposed on the passageway (
3
); judging authenticity of the bill by a validating means and transporting by the conveyer means (
6
) the bill considered genuine to a stacking device (
80
) for stacking; after the bill passes through the passageway (
3
), rotating the rotator (
40
) from the initial position of the slit (
41
) in alignment with the passageway (
3
) by a certain angular range and measuring comparative rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
); and comparing the comparative rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
) with a regular reference rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
), and detecting existence of the pulling means when the comparative rotation rate is slower or the rotation time is longer than the reference one.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the method may further comprise any one of the steps of rotating the rotator (
40
) to the initial position wherein the slit (
41
) is in alignment with the passageway (
3
) at the moment a bill is inserted into the inlet (
4
); previously storing the regular reference rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
) rotated by the certain angular range in an unloaded condition without transportation of a bill; positioning the rotator (
40
) in the initial position while preventing rotation of the rotator (
40
) from the initial position in one direction; detecting the initial position of the rotator (
40
) with the slit (
41
) in alignment with the passageway (
3
); measuring width of a pulse generated from an encoder (
77
) connected with a rotator motor (
71
) for rotating the rotator (
40
); and measuring a time interval between pulses generated from the encoder (
77
) connected with the rotator motor (
71
) for rotating the rotator (
40
) to evaluate rotation time of the rotator (
40
).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises: measuring pulse width or time interval between pulses generated from the encoder (
77
) connected with the rotator motor (
71
) for rotating the rotator (
40
) by a certain angular range to previously evaluate the unloaded reference rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
) before the bill is transported; storing the previously measured reference rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
); transporting a bill inserted from the inlet (
4
) along the passageway (
3
), validating the bill during the transportation, and then discharging the bill from the outlet (
5
) of the passageway (
3
); then rotating the rotator (
40
) by a certain angular range and measuring width of pulses and time intervals of pulses generated from the encoder (
77
) connected with the rotator motor (
71
) to then evaluate a comparative rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
); storing the evaluated comparative rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
); and comparing the reference and comparative rotation rates or times to detect existence of the pulling means when the comparative rotation rate or time is greater than the unloaded reference rotation rate or time over a certain range. The method may further comprise detecting existence of the pulling means when the comparative rotation time of the rotator (
40
) for the predetermined angular range is longer than the unloaded reference rotation time of the rotator (
40
) over a certain period of time.
The bill validator according to this invention comprises a cover (
47
) for enclosing the rotator (
40
). In an embodiment of the invention, at least a stepped portion (
44
) is formed in the rotator (
40
) in accordance with shape of the cover (
47
). After a bill is transported through the detective sensor (
34
,
35
) and the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
) by the conveyer (
6
), the rotator (
40
) is rotated to wind around the rotator (
40
) the pulling means connected to the bill such as string, thread or tape and thereby to prevent unauthorized extraction of the bill.
In this case, rotation of the rotator (
40
) forcibly squeezes the pulling means into a slight clearance (
47
a
) between the rotator (
40
) and the cover member (
47
) so that the pulling means exerts the resisting force against rotation of the rotator (
40
) and rotation of the rotator (
40
) is slowed down. Accordingly, in comparing the reference rotation rate or rotation time of the rotator (
40
) in a certain angular range in a regular or unloaded condition without the pulling means with the comparative rotation rate or time of the rotator (
40
) in the connected condition of the pulling means with the bill, the bill validator can detect the pulling means wound around the rotator (
40
) because of the comparative slower rotation rate or longer rotation time of the rotator (
40
) due to the existence of the pulling means.
The bill validator according to the present invention further comprises a lever (
60
) rotatably mounted on a shaft (
62
) with a roller (
61
) rotatably attached on one end of the lever (
60
); a spring (
63
) for resiliently urging the roller (
61
) toward an outer surface of the rotator (
40
); and a position sensor (
66
) for detecting rotation of the lever (
60
). The validator control circuit (
50
) produces outputs to operate the driving device (
70
) to rotate the rotator (
40
) for certain period of time after the bill passes the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
). The roller (
61
) on the lever (
60
) is brought into a notch (
65
) formed on a periphery of the rotator (
40
) which thereby is positioned in the initial position where the slit (
41
) is in alignment with the passageway (
3
), and as the rotator (
40
) can rotate in only one direction so that the pulling means cannot be removed from the rotator (
40
) even by forcibly rotating the rotator (
40
) from the initial position.
The rotator (
40
) is drivingly connected with the driving device (
70
) and rotatable in a certain angular range relative to the driving device (
70
), and immediately after the roller (
61
) is brought into the arcuate notch (
65
) formed on the outer surface of the rotator (
40
), elasticity of the spring (
63
) increases the rotation rate of the rotator (
40
) which is then rotated faster than the driving device (
70
) to form an angular gap (
48
) between the preceding rotator (
40
) and driving device (
70
). When the roller (
61
) is fully positioned within the arcuate notch (
65
), the complete setting of the roller (
61
) in the notch (
65
) mechanically stops rotation of the rotator (
40
). Therefore, the position sensor (
66
) detects the lever (
60
) in the initial position to generate an electric signal to the validator control circuit (
50
) which thereby ceases outputs to the rotator motor (
71
) to stop the operation of the driving device (
70
). After the rotator motor (
71
) is stopped, the driving device (
70
) continues to rotate under its own inertia power which is gradually decreased during rotation of the driving device (
70
) along the angular gap (
48
) to reduce impact force of the driving device (
70
) on the rotator (
40
). Also, the rotator (
40
) is certainly returned to and settled in the initial position to bring the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
) into alignment with the passageway (
3
).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the driving device (
70
) comprises a rotator motor (
71
), and a gear (
45
) drivingly connected with the rotator motor (
71
), and the rotator (
40
) and gear (
45
) are rotatably mounted on the same shaft; and the rotator (
40
) and the gear (
45
) are rotatable relative to each other by a certain angular range. The gear (
45
) includes a pair of projections (
45
a
); and the rotator (
40
) includes a pair of arcuate notches (
40
a
) for receiving the projections (
45
a
) therein.
The case (
2
) comprises a front housing (
2
a
) for covering the detective sensor (
34
,
35
); and a rear housing (
2
b
) positioned in the vicinity of the front housing (
2
a
) so that the front housing (
2
a
) includes a front passage (
3
a
) of the passageway (
3
), and the rear housing (
2
b
) includes a rear passage (
3
b
) of the passageway (
3
) adjacently to the front passage (
3
a
). The rotator (
40
) and the driving device (
70
) are disposed in one of the front and rear housings (
2
a,
2
b
). The rear housing (
2
b
) is detachably attached to the front housing (
2
a
).
In a standby condition before a bill is inserted into the inlet (
4
), the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
) is retained unconformable from the passageway (
3
) to prevent unauthorized insertion of some tool from the inlet (
4
) and prohibited extraction of the bill. After the bill is transported through the slit (
41
) of the rotator (
40
) and the outlet sensor (
36
), the rotator (
40
) is rotated to detect existence of the pulling means by the outlet sensor (
36
). When the outlet sensor (
36
) detects the pulling means, the validator control circuit (
50
) produces a warning signal to an alarm device (
80
).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional view taken along line I—I of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view taken along line II—II of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of a bill validator according to the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a partially enlarged view of FIG.
1
.
FIGS. 5
a
-
5
e
indicates sequential views showing an operational relationship between a lever and a rotator.
FIGS. 6
a
-
6
e
indicates sequential views showing an operational relationship between the rotator and a gear of a driving device.
FIG. 7
is a block chart of the bill validator of microcomputer according to this invention.
FIG. 8
is a flow chart indicating an operational sequence of the validator control circuit shown in FIG.
5
.
FIG. 9
is an electric circuit of the bill validator according to this invention which comprises discrete elements.
FIG. 10
is an operational timing chart of a outlet sensor, rotator motor and position sensor.
FIG. 11
is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 12
is a cross-sectional view of the driving device according to another embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 13
is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 11
and connected with a stacker device.
FIG. 14
is a cross-sectional view of the rotated rotator shown in FIG.
13
.
FIG. 15
is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotator according to another embodiment.
FIG. 16
is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotator with the driving device in another embodiment.
FIG. 17
is a side elevation of gear trains in the driving device according to another embodiment.
FIG. 18
is a perspective view of a prior art validator.
FIG. 19
is a side elevation of the validator shown in FIG.
18
.
BEST MODES FOR EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the bill validator comprises a case
2
and a passageway
3
formed in a case
2
to guide a bill. The passageway
3
is formed between an inlet
4
provided at one end of the case
2
and an outlet
5
provided at the other end of the case
2
. A conveyer means
6
for conveying a bill along the passageway
3
comprises a conveyer motor
7
, a pinion
9
attached to an output axis
8
of the conveyer motor
7
, an intermediate large gear
10
connected with the pinion
9
, an intermediate small gear
12
connected with an axis
11
of the intermediate large gear
10
, a drive gear
13
connected with the intermediate small gear
12
, and a drive pulley
15
connected with an axis
14
of the drive gear
13
. A drive belt
16
is wound around the drive pulley
15
, each pulley portions of three rollers
17
,
18
and
19
, and a pulley
20
. A portion of the drive belt
16
is downwardly detoured by the pulley
20
. The drive belt
16
is resiliently pushed for stretch by a tension pulley
21
. One end of a support lever
22
is rotatably attached to the frame
2
by an axis
22
a,
and the tension pulley
21
is rotatably attached to the other end of the support lever
22
. Wound around the axis
22
a
is a torsion spring
23
, one end of which is attached to the support lever
22
, and other end of the torsion spring
23
is attached to a pin
24
. The support lever
22
is resiliently urged by the torsion spring
23
to give tension which resiliently inwardly urges the drive belt
16
. Pushing rollers
25
to
27
are rotatably disposed opposite respectively to the rollers
17
to
19
to sandwich a bill between the rollers
17
,
18
,
19
and rollers
25
to
27
in order to surely transport the bill toward the outlet
5
along the passageway
3
.
A conveyer encoder
30
is attached to the output axis
8
of the conveyer motor
7
, and comprises a disk
31
formed with a plurality of notches
32
on the periphery at constant angular intervals. The conveyer encoder
30
comprises a photo-coupler (not shown) for detecting light through the notches
32
and producing outputs to the validator control circuit
50
of microcomputer shown in FIG.
7
. The validator control circuit
50
measures outputs of the photo-coupler per unitary time to detect number of revolution and rotation rate of the conveyer motor
7
.
The validator control circuit
50
comprises, not shown but, a discriminating means for receiving an output of optical detective sensor
34
and magnetic sensor
35
to judge authenticity of a bill so that the discriminating means produces outputs to rotate a rotator motor
71
upon receiving an output of the outlet sensor
36
when it judges the bill genuine, and to adversely rotate the conveyer motor
7
and to return the bill to the inlet
4
when it judges the bill false; a pulse generator for generating regular pulses; a memory means for storing reference and comparative rotation times and rates of the rotator
40
by counting number of regular pulses from the pulse generator during rotation of the rotator
40
before and after transportation of the bill; and a comparing means for comparing the reference and comparative rotation times and rates of the rotator
40
stored in the memory means before and after transportation of the bill to generate a warning output when the comparative rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
after transportation of the bill exceed the unloaded reference rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
before the transportation of the bill over a predetermined range.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, an inlet sensor
33
is attached in the vicinity of the inlet
4
adjacent to the passageway
3
to detect a bill inserted from the inlet
4
. Also, an optical detective sensor
34
and a magnetic detective sensor
35
are attached behind the inlet sensor
33
, an outlet sensor
36
is attached in the vicinity of the outlet of the passageway
3
. For instance, the inlet sensor
33
may comprise a photo-coupler of a light-emitting diode and a phototransistor. The optical detective sensor
34
may be of a photo-coupler which has a light-emitting means and light sensitive means, the light emitting means producing an infrared ray, and the light sensitive means capable of receiving the light reflected on a surface of a bill or penetrating the bill to detect an optical pattern (optical characteristics) of a bill. The magnetic detective sensor
35
may be of a magnetic head or a Hall sensor for detecting a magnetic component (magnetic characteristics) of ink printed on a bill. The optical and magnetic detective sensors
34
,
35
produce outputs to the validator control circuit
50
. The outlet sensor
36
includes a rotatably pivoted bend lever
37
and a photo-coupler
38
attached adjacent to the bend lever
37
. A bill transported through the passageway
3
contacts one end of the bend lever
37
which is then rotated by the bill so that the other end of the bend lever
37
interrupts or penetrates light of the photo-coupler
38
. Thus, the photo-coupler
38
of the outlet sensor
36
can detect passage of the front and rear edges of the bill to forward outputs to the validator control circuit
50
. Not shown but, a stacker device is provided adjacent to the outlet
5
to accumulate in order bills discharged from the outlet
5
in a layered condition.
The rotator
40
is rotatably mounted between the roller
18
and the outlet sensor
36
and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the passageway
3
. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the rotator
40
comprises a stem
42
of a generally cylindrical shape formed with a plurality of stepped portions
44
on the periphery; a slit
41
formed longitudinal of the cylindrical shape in the stem
42
; a pair of shafts
43
coaxially provided at both ends of the stem
42
; and an one-way clutch
43
a disposed between the stem
42
and one of the shafts
43
. A pair of cover members
47
are provided to surround a circumstance of the stem
42
since each of the cover members
47
has compensatory shape with stepped portions
44
of the stem
42
. These cover members
47
are positioned in vertically spaced relation to each other not to obstruct the passageway
3
. A small clearance
47
a
of about 0.5 mm is formed between the rotator
40
and cover members
47
, and stepped portions
44
are formed to prevent jamming of the bill which may enter the clearance
47
a
into stick during transportation of the bill through the passageway
3
. The rotator
40
is rotated by a driving device
70
only in a clockwise direction in
FIG. 2
by one-way clutch
43
a
to release an arcuate notch
65
from a roller
61
, but to inhibit rotation of the rotator
40
in the counterclockwise direction.
When the slit
41
is in alignment with the passageway
3
, a bill can be transported through the passageway
3
and the slit
41
toward the outlet
5
. The slit
41
includes tapered surfaces
46
converging or narrowing in the transporting direction. The tapered surfaces
46
permit to smoothly guide a bill through the slit
41
along the passageway
3
toward the outlet
5
without jamming and for smooth transportation, and facilitate removal of the stem
42
from a mold when it is made of resin. Both ends of the shaft
43
are rotatably supported on corresponding bearings
43
a.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 5
a
, the rotator
40
is formed with an arcuate notch
65
on the periphery to receive a roller
61
of a lever
60
rotatably supported on a shaft
62
at the generally central portion when the rotator
40
is in the initial position. The roller
61
is rotatably supported at one end
60
a
of the lever
60
via an axis
61
a.
One end
63
a
of a spring
63
is connected with around the other end
60
b
of the lever
60
, and the other end
63
b
of the spring
63
is connected with the case
2
. The spring
63
resiliently urges the lever
60
for rotation around the shaft
62
to always bring the roller
61
into contact with an outer surface of the rotator
40
and thereby to engage the roller
61
with the arcuate notch
65
. Mounted in the vicinity of the other end
60
b
of the lever
60
is a position sensor
66
of non-contact type such as a photo-coupler to detect the roller
61
in engagement with the arcuate notch
65
or the rotating condition of the lever
60
. When the roller
61
is received in the arcuate notch
65
, the other end
60
b
of the lever
60
interrupts light of the position sensor
66
which therefore produces an output “
0
”. When the rotator
40
rotates, the roller
61
comes out of the notch
65
so that the end
60
b
of the lever
60
is simultaneously moved away from the position sensor
66
which then produces an output “
1
”.
To rotate the rotator
40
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, the driving device
70
comprises a rotator motor
71
; a pinion
72
mounted on an output shaft of the rotator motor
71
; a large gear
73
engaged with the pinion
72
; a small gear
75
secured on a shaft
74
of the large gear
73
; a middle gear
76
engaged with the small gear
75
and a gear
45
attached to a shaft
43
of the rotator
40
. When the rotator motor
71
is driven to rotate the rotator
40
, the roller
61
of the lever
60
comes out of the notch
65
against elasticity of the spring
63
. Therefore, the arcuate notch
65
is disengaged from the roller
61
against elasticity of the spring
63
to rotate the lever
60
around the shaft
62
in the clockwise direction in FIG.
2
.
As shown in
FIG. 6
a
, the rotator
40
comprises a pair of arcuate notches
40
a
, and connecting portions
40
b
formed at both ends of the notches
40
a
. A gear
45
is formed with a pair of projections
45
a
received in the corresponding notches
40
a
of the rotator
40
. The projections
45
a
extend in the axial direction of the gear
45
and are positioned within the notches
40
a
for relative rotation in a certain angular range.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, input terminals of the validator control circuit
50
are connected with the inlet sensor
33
, optical detective sensor
34
, magnetic detective sensor
35
, outlet sensor
36
and position sensor
66
. Output terminals of the validator control circuit
50
are connected with the conveyer motor
7
, conveyor encoder
30
, rotator motor
71
, rotator encoder
77
and alarm device
80
. Attached to the output axis of the rotator motor
71
is the rotator encoder
77
which has a disk
78
formed with a plurality of notches
79
at certain angular intervals. The rotator encoder
77
includes a photo-coupler not shown for detecting interruption of light from the photo-coupler through the notches
79
to generate outputs to the validator control circuit
50
. The validator control circuit
50
counts outputs from the photo-coupler of the rotary encoder
77
per unitary time to detect the number of rotation and the rotation rate of the rotator motor
71
.
Operation of the validator control circuit
50
shown in
FIG. 7
is described hereinafter in connection with FIG.
8
.
When processing of the validator control circuit
50
moves from Step
100
to
101
, it is on standby detecting whether a bill is inserted into the inlet
4
. In the standby condition before a bill is inserted into the inlet
4
, the slit
41
of the rotator
40
is retained substantially perpendicular to the passageway
3
for unconformity from the passageway
3
as shown in FIG.
4
. When the bill is inserted into the inlet
4
at the end of the passageway
3
, the inlet sensor
33
detects insertion of the bill to generate an output to the validator control circuit
50
. Then, in Step
102
, the validator control circuit
50
forwards outputs to drive the conveyer motor
7
and thereby transport the bill along the passageway
3
, and in Step
103
, the circuit
50
also activates the optical and magnetic detective sensors
34
,
35
. After that, the validator control circuit
50
gives rise to outputs to drive the rotator motor
71
in Step
104
, and then decides whether the position sensor
66
is turned ON in Step
105
. As the roller
61
of the lever
60
comes into engagement with the arcuate notch
65
of the rotator
40
by virtue of elasticity of the spring
63
, the position sensor
66
can detect engagement of the roller
61
with the arcuate notch
65
to produce an output to the validator control circuit
50
. After the position sensor
66
is turned ON, the validator control circuit
50
ceases to rotate the rotator motor
71
and rotator encoder
77
in Step
106
. As the roller
61
is properly engaged with the notch
65
, the rotator
40
is in the initial position where the slit
41
is perfectly aligned with the passageway
3
. In step
107
, the memory means stores information of rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
required for one revolution in response to outputs from the rotator encoder
77
. Subsequently, the bill is carried through the passageway
3
and the slit
41
of the rotator
40
to the outlet
5
.
When the bill passes the optical and magnetic detective sensors
34
,
35
during travel along the passageway
3
, the validator control circuit
50
receives outputs from the optical and magnetic detective sensors
34
,
35
to determine authenticity of the transported bill (in Step
108
). When the validator control circuit
50
determines that the bill is genuine in view of the optical and magnetic characteristics, it watches in Step
109
whether the outlet sensor
36
detects passage of the bill. When the front edge of the bill passes the outlet sensor
36
, it rotates the bend lever
37
so that the photo-coupler
38
of the outlet sensor
36
produces an output representative of detection of the bill's front edge upon rotation of the lever
37
. In addition, after the rear edge of the bill passes the outlet sensor
36
, the bend lever
37
returns to the initial position due to its own weight so that the photo-coupler
38
produces an output upon passage of the bill's rear end. Once the outlet sensor
36
detects passage of the bill in Step
109
in this way, operation of the conveyer motor
7
is stopped in Step
110
because the bill completely passes through the outlet sensor
36
and the outlet
5
.
After the bill passes the outlet
5
and outlet sensor
36
, and the conveyer motor
7
has stopped rotation, the validator control circuit
50
produces an output to the rotator motor
71
to rotate the rotator
40
one revolution in Step
111
. In Step
112
, the validator control circuit
50
watches whether the rotator
40
has rotated one revolution, and when it rotates a whole angle of 360 degrees, the position sensor
66
detects the rotation position of the lever
60
and produces an output to stop rotation of the rotator motor
71
. The unloaded rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
required for one revolution are stored as reference in the memory means in Step
107
, and after packing of the bill in the stacker device, the rotator
40
is rotated again one revolution in Step
112
to detect comparative rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
, and then comparison is made between the comparative rotation time and rate with the reference rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
. Thus, the comparing process needs the further rotation of the rotator
40
in Step
112
.
When the bill passes the outlet sensor
36
which then detects completion of the bill's passage, the outlet sensor
36
produces an output as shown in
FIG. 10
, and thereby the validator control circuit
50
produces an output to rotate the rotator motor
71
so that the projections
45
a
of the gear
45
rotate the rotator
40
in contact with the connecting portion
40
b
of the rotator
40
as shown in
FIG. 6
b
. At this time, as shown in
FIG. 5
b
, the roller
61
is radially outwardly moved against elasticity of the spring
63
, and simultaneously, the other end
60
b
of the lever
60
is moved away from the position sensor
66
which then generates an output “
1
”. When the rotator
40
is further rotated with the notch
65
just before the roller
61
as shown in
FIGS. 5
c
and
6
c
, the roller
61
pushes an edge of the notch
65
in the rotational direction by virtue of elasticity of the spring
63
. Accordingly, when the roller
61
goes into the notch
65
as shown in
FIG. 5
d
, the rotator
40
rotates faster than the gear
45
as shown in
FIG. 6
d
to form an angular gap
48
between the projection
45
a
of the gear
45
and the connecting portion
40
b
. In the initial condition shown in
FIG. 5
d
, the position sensor
66
changes its output from “
1
” to “
0
” (
FIG. 10
) to thereby stop operation of the rotator motor
71
. In this case, the rotating driving device
70
including the rotator motor
71
, large gear
73
and middle gear
76
, provides the inertial force which is decreased after the rotator motor
71
is stopped and during rotation of the projection
45
a
along the angular gap
48
so that the rotator
40
can certainly be retained in the initial position as shown in
FIG. 5
a
because the projections
45
a
do not produce large impact force on the connecting portions
40
b
due to formation of the angular gap
48
, and the projections
45
a
may stop in spaced relation to the connecting portion
40
b
of the rotator
40
with the angular gap
48
as shown in
FIGS. 5
e
and
6
e
. In this way, the rotator
40
can be surely brought into the initial position wherein the slit
41
is registered with the passageway
3
.
Next, the validator control circuit
50
determines whether the pulse width of the rotator encoder
77
is in a predetermined time interval (in Step
113
) and whether the comparative rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
required for one revolution are in datum ranges (in Step
114
) in comparing with the reference rotation time and rate stored in Step
107
.
If some pulling means such as string, thread or tape is connected with the bill transported through the outlet
5
as shown in
FIG. 4
, it extends through the passageway
3
and the slit
41
of the rotator
40
so that when the rotator
40
is rotated one revolution in Step
112
, the pulling means is wound around the rotator
40
entering the clearance
47
a
between the rotator
40
and the cover members
47
. When the pulling means is sandwiched between the rotator
40
and the cover member
47
, it offers resistance to rotation of the rotator
40
so that irregular pulses may be generated from the rotator encoder
77
, or rotation rate of the rotator
40
may be slowed down relative to the unloaded reference rotation rate before transportation of the bill. Consequently, when the pulse width of the rotator encoder
77
is not in a predetermined range of time length in Step
113
, or when the rotation time of the rotator
40
required for one revolution is not in a datum range in Step
114
set based on the reference rotation time stored in Step
107
, the validator control circuit
50
decides that some pulling means is connected with the bill, and forwards a warning signal to the alarm device
80
a
for activation in Step
125
, and the stage moves to Step
126
. The pulling means wound around the periphery of the rotator
40
can be removed by opening the case
2
and then rotating the rotator
40
. When the pulse width of the rotator encoder
77
is in the predetermined range of time length in Step
113
, or when the rotation time of the rotator
40
required for one revolution is in the datum range in Step
114
set based on the reference rotation time stored in Step
107
, the validator control circuit
50
decides that no pulling means is connected with the bill, and the stage goes to Step
115
.
Subsequently, in Step
115
, the rotator motor
71
is operated to rotate the rotator
40
by 0.75 (¾) revolution, and when the validator control circuit
50
determines that the rotator
40
has rotated for a certain period of time to ¾ revolution in Step
116
, the operation of the rotator motor
71
is stopped in Step
117
. In this case, the slit
41
of the rotator
40
is kept perpendicular to the passageway
3
to shut the passageway
3
by the rotator
40
in order to prevent unauthorized insertion of some tool or prohibited extraction of the bill from the stacker device. In Step
118
, the validator control circuit
50
observes whether the outlet sensor
36
is kept ON or not. If the bill has been accumulated in the stacker device, the outlet sensor
36
is kept OFF, however, if the bill is disposed adjacent to the sensor
36
due to the extraction by the pulling means, the validator control circuit
50
decides that the bill is extracted by the pulling means and produces a waning signal in Step
125
because the outlet sensor
36
is kept ON in Step
118
despite passage of the bill through the outlet sensor
36
. When the outlet sensor
36
is in the OFF condition in Step
118
, the bill is accumulated in the stacker device in Step
119
and the processing moves to Step
126
.
When the validator control circuit
50
does not find the bill genuine in Step
109
, it stops rotation of the conveyer motor
7
and adversely rotates it in Steps
120
and
121
to return the bill to the inlet
4
. When the inlet sensor
33
is switched OFF in Step
122
, the validator control circuit
50
stops driving of the conveyor motor
7
(in Step
123
) for complete discharge of the bill (in Step
124
) to go to Step
126
.
FIG. 7
shows another embodiment of the validator control circuit
50
composed of discrete circuits. When the inlet sensor
33
detects insertion of the bill, the pulse shaping circuit
130
such as one-shot multivibrator switches a RJS flip-flop
131
to the SET condition to drive the rotator motor
71
through an OR gate
132
. Since the rotator encoder
77
provides an AND gate
140
with pulses during rotation of the rotator motor
71
, a first counter
142
counts number of pulses from the pulse generator
141
while the rotator encoder
77
produces an ON pulse. Thus, the first counter
142
measures regular pulses from the pulse generator
141
to evaluate the pulse width of each pulse generated from the rotator encoder
77
and thereby to determine the real time change in rotation rate of the rotator
40
. The first counter
142
also measures the total rotation time of the rotator motor
71
necessary for one revolution of the rotator
40
. A discriminating circuit
143
receives outputs from the optical and magnetic detective sensors
34
,
35
to judge whether the bill has the predetermined optical or magnetic characteristics. When the discriminating circuit
143
considers the bill genuine, it produces an output from the OK terminal, and in this case, when the outlet sensor
36
produces an output through a pulse shaping circuit
144
, an AND gate
145
is turned ON and an R/S flip-flop
146
is set. When the rotator encoder
77
produces an ON pulse, a second counter
148
counts number of pulses generated from the pulse generator
141
through an AND gate
147
by output of the R/S flip-flop
146
. The second counter
148
counts regular pulses for unitary time from the pulse generator
141
after the bill passes the slit
41
to evaluate the pulse width of each pulse generated from the pulse generator
141
and thereby to determine the real time change in rotation rate of the rotator
40
. The second counter
148
also measures the total rotation time of the rotator motor
71
necessary for one revolution of the rotator
40
after the bill passes the slit
41
. When the rotator
40
rotates one revolution, the position sensor
66
produces an output so that a pulse forming circuit
133
produces an output to reset the R/S flip-flop
146
and thereby to stop rotation of the rotator motor
71
. A comparing means
150
compares the unloaded reference rotation rate and total rotation time of the rotator
40
stored in the first counter
142
before transportation of the bill with the comparative rotation rate and total rotation time of the rotator
40
stored in the second counter
148
after transportation of the bill. When the comparative rotation rate and total rotation time of the rotator
40
stored in the second counter
148
are not in a predetermined datum range set based on the reference rotation rate and total rotation time of the rotator
40
stored in the first counter
142
, the comparing means
150
produces an output to operate the alarm device
80
. When the discriminating circuit
143
cannot regard the bill as genuine, it produces an output from the NG terminal to set a R/S flip-flop
149
in order to adversely rotate the conveyer motor
7
. When the bill is returned to the inlet
4
and the inlet sensor
33
produces an output, the R/S flip-flop
149
is reset.
While
FIGS. 1 and 4
illustrate an example of the detective sensors
34
,
35
positioned in a front housing
2
a
of the case
2
with a front passage
3
a
of the passageway
3
, it is not always necessary to dispose the rotator
40
or the driving device
70
in the front housing
2
a
, instead, it is also possible to locate them anywhere in the case
2
or in the passageway
3
to the stacker device for stacking the bill discharged from the case
2
. For example, the rotator
40
or the driving device
70
may be provided in a connecting portion between the case
2
and the stacker device.
FIGS. 12
to
18
show examples of a rear housing
2
b
adjacent to the front housing
2
a
wherein the rear housing
2
b
contains the rotator
40
, driving device
70
and a rear passage
3
b
adjacent to the front passage
3
a
. The rear housing
2
b
is detachably attached to the front housing
2
a
by a suitable hook means.
In an embodiment shown in
FIGS. 11
to
17
, the rotator
40
is provided in the rear housing
2
b
, and the outlet sensor
36
and an end sensor
39
for detecting an end of the bill are provided behind the rotator
40
. The rear passage
3
b
extends through the slit
41
of the rotator
40
backward of the outlet sensor
36
. A guide member
3
c
extends forward from the rear housing
2
b
for connection with the front passage
3
a
in the front housing
2
a
to form an entrance of the rear passage
3
b
for the smooth passageway
3
. As shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14
, provided rearward of the outlet sensor
36
is a stacker device
80
with the end sensor
39
to detect the position of the bill
90
when packing it in the stacker device
80
. When the bill is transported into the inner end of the passageway
3
beyond the outlet sensor
36
, it produces no detection signal without pulling means connected with the bill
90
.
In Step
119
of
FIG. 8
, the validator control circuit
50
judges whether the outlet sensor
36
is ON or not. When the bill is put in the stacker device
80
, the outlet sensor
36
indicates the OFF output, but when a pulling means
91
is connected with the bill
90
as shown in
FIG. 14
for extraction, the pulling means
91
or the bill
90
extends through or is disposed adjacent to the outlet sensor
36
so that it produces the ON output in Step
119
to the validator control circuit
50
which therefore recognizes the extraction of the bill by the pulling means
91
and produces a warning signal in Step
125
. When the outlet sensor
36
produces the OFF output, the routine comes to Step
126
.
The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and may be modified in various ways. For example, Step
112
measures rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
for one revolution, however, the rotator
40
may be rotated by a given or predetermined angular range to detect the pulling means. Also, in the preceding embodiments, the memory means stores the reference rotation time and rate of the rotator
40
for one revolution in Step
107
, and the rotator
40
is rotated one revolution in Step
112
to evaluate the comparative rotation time of the rotator
40
for comparison with the reference rotation time and rate stored in Step
107
. However, the pulse width and rotation time of the rotator
40
may be compared in Step
113
and
114
with a reference pulse width and reference rotation time previously installed by programming without processing in Step
107
.
A plurality of arcuate notches
65
may be formed with the rotator
40
. In lieu of the rotator
40
and the notches
40
a
, the gear
45
may be formed with arcuate notches, or the projections
45
a
formed on the gear
45
of the driving device
70
may be in engagement with projections formed with the rotator
40
for projection to projection contact.
Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 17
, the small gear
75
may be directly meshed with the gear
45
attached to the shaft
43
of the rotator
40
in the driving device
70
of the rotator motor
71
and the large gear
73
without the middle gear
76
.
POSSIBILITY OF THE INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION
As mentioned above, the present invention can realize clear detection of a pulling means connected with a bill and wound around the rotator to surely prevent unauthorized extraction of the bill and prohibited access to the bill validator. Moreover, the rotator can be certainly stopped in position to prevent extraction of the bill, and at the moment the rotating rotator is stopped in position, the rotator can be prevented from damage which may be resulted by inertial force of the rotator motor.
Claims
- 1. A bill validator comprising a case:a passageway formed in said case to guide a bill; a conveyor for transporting said bill inserted from an inlet formed at one end of said passageway through said passageway to an outlet formed at the other end of said passageway; a detective sensor disposed adjacent to said passageway; a rotator formed with a slit in alignment with said passageway when said rotator is in an initial position; a driving device for rotating said rotator; a validator control circuit for receiving outputs from said detective sensor to judge authenticity of the bill and control said driving device so as to rotate said rotator and wind around said rotator a pulling means connected to said bill which has passed said slit of said rotator; and a lever with a roller resiliently urged toward said rotator for returning said rotator to the initial position.
- 2. A bill validator of claim 1, further comprising an encoder drivingly connected to said driving device for detecting the rotation rate of said rotator; anda cover member attached for surrounding said rotator; wherein said lever permits to position said rotator in the initial position and to rotate said rotator only in a direction.
- 3. A bill validator of claim 1, further comprising a shaft for rotatably supporting said lever which has an end for rotatably holding said roller;a spring for resiliently urging said roller toward an outer surface of said rotator; and a position sensor for detecting rotation of said lever; wherein said driving device is drivingly connected with said rotator through an angular gap for relative rotation; said validator control circuit produces outputs to operate the driving device to rotate said rotator for a certain period of time after the bill passes through the slit of the rotator.
- 4. A bill validator of claim 2, further comprising a shaft for rotatably supporting said lever which has an end for rotatably holding said roller;a spring for resiliently urging said roller toward an outer surface of said rotator; and a position sensor for detecting rotation of said lever; wherein said driving device is drivingly connected with said rotator through an angular gap for relative rotation; said validator control circuit produces outputs to operate the driving device to rotate said rotator for a certain period of time after the bill passes through the slit of the rotator.
- 5. A bill validator of claim 1, wherein said driving device comprises a rotator motor, and a gear drivingly connected with said rotator motor; said rotator and gear are rotatably mounted on a same shaft with an angular gap for relative rotation of said rotator relative to said gear.
- 6. The bill validator of claim 5, wherein said gear includes a pair of projections; and said rotator includes a pair of arcuate notches for receiving said projections.
- 7. The bill validator of claim 1, wherein said case comprises a front housing which includes said detective sensor and a front passage of said passageway; and a rear housing positioned in the vicinity of said front housing; said rear housing including a rear passage of said passageway adjacently to said front passage;said rotator and said driving device are disposed in one of said front and rear housings.
- 8. A bill validator of claim 7, wherein said rear housing is detachably attached to said front housing.
- 9. A bill validator of claim 1, wherein said slit of said rotator is kept uncomfortable from said passageway before the bill is inserted into said inlet.
- 10. A bill validator of claim 1, wherein an outlet sensor detects existence of said pulling means by rotation of said rotator after the bill is transported through said slit of said rotator and said outlet sensor.
- 11. A bill validator of claim 10, wherein said validator control circuit produces a warning signal to an alarm device when said outlet sensor detects said pulling means.
- 12. A method for detecting pulling means of a bill comprising the steps of:transporting said bill inserted from an inlet along a passageway by a conveyor, picking up outputs produced by a detective sensor attached along said passageway during transportation of said bill and moving said bill through a slit formed in a rotator which is rotatably disposed along said passageway; judging authenticity of said bill by a validator control circuit and transporting by said conveyor said bill considered genuine to a stacking device for packing; after said bill passes through said passageway, rotating said rotator from the initial position of said slit in alignment with the passageway by a certain angular range and measuring the comparative rotation rate or time of said rotator by measuring. one of (1) a width of a pulse or (2) a time interval between pulses generated from an encoder connected with a rotator motor for rotating said rotator; and comparing the comparative rotation rate of time of said rotator with a reference rotation rate or time to detect existence of the pulling means when the comparative rotation rate is slower or the comparative rotation time is no longer.
- 13. A method of claim 12 further comprising:measuring pulse width or time interval between pulses generated from said encoder connected with said rotator motor for rotating said rotator by the certain angular range to previously evaluate the unloaded reference rotation rate or time of said rotator before said bill is transported; storing the previously evaluated reference rotation rate or time of said rotator; transporting a bill inserted from an inlet along said passageway, validating said bill during the transportation, and then discharging said bill from an outlet of said passageway; rotating said rotator by the certain angular range and measuring width of pulses and time intervals of pulses generated from said encoder connected with said rotator motor to then evaluate the comparative rotation rate or time for said rotator; storing the evaluated comparative rotation rate or time of said rotator; and comparing the reference and comparative rotation rates or times of said rotator to detect existence of the pulling means when the comparative rotation rate is smaller than the reference rotation rate over a certain range or when the comparative rotation time is greater than the reference rotation time over a certain range.
- 14. A method of claim 12, further comprising detecting existence of said pulling means when the comparative rotation time of said rotator is longer than the unloaded reference rotation time of said rotator over a certain period of time.
PCT Information
| Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
| PCT/JP97/02437 |
|
WO |
00 |
3/12/1999 |
3/12/1999 |
| Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
| WO99/04373 |
1/28/1999 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
| 4037703 |
Michaud et al. |
Jul 1977 |
|
| 4348656 |
Gorgone et al. |
Sep 1982 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 602775 |
Jun 1994 |
EP |
