GB2584138A

GB2584138A - A banknote validator

Info

Publication number: GB2584138A
Application number: GB1907279.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robinson John
Original assignee: Innovative Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Innovative Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-23
Filing date: 2019-05-23
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-23
Also published as: GB201907279D0; GB2584138B

Abstract

A banknote validator comprises a banknote input aperture 4 interconnected to a banknote output aperture via a banknote transport conduit 6, with a banknote transport direction 4A, 5A being defined as the direction from the banknote input aperture 4 to the banknote output aperture. The banknote validator includes a light sensor arrangement 9, 10 proximal to, and downstream of, the banknote output aperture, in the banknote transport direction. The light sensor arrangement preferably comprises a light transmission window 9, which directs a light beam 20 from a light source to a light reception window 10, associated with a photodiode. The light sensor is operable to detect the passage of a trailing edge of a banknote from the banknote output aperture. The output aperture may have flared output mouth section having upper and lower lips. The lips may have a plurality of barbed or tine elements 11 arranged across the lips which project into the output aperture, in the transport direction. The barbs or tines prevent retraction of a banknote in the direction opposite the transport direction by capturing the trailing edge of the banknote. A further light sensor arrangement may be provided in the transport conduit 6.

Description

A Banknote Validator The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for receiving banknotes, vouchers, coupons and the like. Specifically, the present invention relates to a banknote validator configured to check the authenticity and value of a received banknote. It should be noted that the term 'banknote' is non-limiting and used here to mean any item of paper currency, bill, voucher, ticket, card or sheet that may have a value, monetary or otherwise, or may be used to convey information.

There are many conventional ways in which a banknote may be validated and authenticated, and there are numerous types of banknote validators known in the art.

One such example of a banknote validator is disclosed in EP-B-2,827,307. Here, the banknote validator comprises a moulded two-part housing. The two parts of the housing are hingedly attached; a first housing section includes a banknote receiving slot, and a second housing section includes a banknote exit slot. The banknote validator includes a conveyance mechanism for transportation of a received banknote.

When the two-part housing is in a closed position, the banknote validator of EP-B-zo forms a continuous banknote path between the banknote receiving slot and the banknote exit slot. The banknote path traverses a banknote sensing means configured to validate a passing banknote by optical interrogation of banknote features in a known manner. In operation, a banknote egressing from the banknote exit slot is received by an adjunct apparatus such as a banknote storage container, banknote stacking device, or the like.

Two distinct problems arise with the banknote validator disclosed in EP-B-2,827,307.

Firstly, the banknote sensing means cannot detect when an exiting banknote has completely cleared the exit slot. Therefore, it is not possible to ascertain the instance when the trailing edge of the banknote is no longer within the confines of the validator housing.

A second problem exists in that if the banknote under investigation by the banknote validator includes some form of a fraudulent attachment, such as a string or tape connected to the trailing edge of the banknote, it is still possible, despite optical detection of the attachment, to withdraw the banknote from the validator after valid authentication has been registered by the sensing means. This may be achieved by a user tugging on the string, tape etc., and pulling the banknote in a reverse direction through the banknote path, such that the banknote exits the banknote validator via the banknote receiving slot.

The present invention seeks to address the aforementioned problems existing with conventional banknote validators.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a banknote validator as defined in claim 1.

Preferably, the light sensor arrangement is configured to project a detection light beam in a direction orthogonal to the banknote transport direction so as to detect the egress of a trailing edge of a banknote from the banknote aperture.

Preferably, the banknote aperture forms a throat of a flared output mouth section, the flared output mouth section being delimited by a first lip portion and a second lip portion. Advantageously, the first lip portion or the second lip portion includes a light sensor receiver window for receiving the detection light beam.

The flared output mouth section may include a plurality of barb elements projecting substantially in the banknote transport direction, and the plurality of barb elements is arranged to hinder the retraction of a banknote in a direction opposite to the banknote transport direction by capturing the retreating trailing edge of the banknote.

Preferably, the plurality of barb elements is formed as a series of tines distributed laterally within the flared output mouth section in a direction transverse to the banknote transport direction. The series of tines are disposed and distributed along an exposed surface of the second lip portion, and the second lip portion is disposed proximal to the underside of a banknote when travelling in the banknote direction.

Advantageously, each tine of the series of tines comprises an arcuate element protruding from the second lip portion.

Preferably, the light sensor arrangement includes a light transmitter element disposed proximal to the flared output mouth section, and the light transmitter element is located on a validator housing outer surface in a position disposed opposite the light sensor receiver window.

Preferably, the banknote transport conduit includes, at a position in the banknote transport direction upstream from the banknote output aperture, a further light sensor arrangement, the further light sensor arrangement comprises a light transmitter disposed at a position lateral to the banknote transport conduit and opposite to a corresponding light receiver.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a banknote validator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a close-up detail of the ear face of the banknote validator of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a righthand side sectional view along the line A-A shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the sectional view of Figure 3 including a banknote including a fraudulent attachment; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the banknote validator of Figure 1 showing the transport mechanism; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a PCB of the banknote validator of Figure 1; and Figures 7A to 7D show various alternatives of the light sensor arrangement of the banknote validator of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a banknote validator 1 is formed from a compact, generally 20 box-shaped housing 2. The housing comprises, inter alia, a front face 3A and an opposing rear face 3B. Typically, the front face 3A is hingedly attached to the rear face 3B, enabling the housing 2 to be opened for internal inspection and maintenance.

The rear face 3B of the housing 2 includes an output mouth 7 from which a validated banknote may egress. Similarly, the front face 3A of the housing 2 includes an input mouth 8 for receiving a banknote to be validated (see Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3 shows a banknote input direction 4A and a banknote output direction 5A. The output mouth 7 delimits a rectangular horn-shaped cavity 7A that diverges rearward in the output direction 5A from an output aperture 5. The output aperture 5 delimits the rearward extent of a transport conduit 6. The transport conduit 6 interconnects the output mouth 7 with the input mouth 8 via an input aperture 4. The input mouth 8 delimits a similar horn-shaped cavity which diverges from the input aperture 4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the horn-shaped cavity 7A formed between the output mouth 7 and the output aperture 5 includes a plurality of barbs 11 distributed in a direction transverse to the output direction 5A across the interior of the horn-shaped cavity 7A. The barbs 11 are disposed on a lower surface 7' of the cavity 7A and project rearwardly in the output direction 5A.

The rear face 3A includes a light transmission window 9 and an opposing light 20 reception window 10. Tn the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 7, the light reception window 10 is disposed on an upper surface 7" of the horn-shaped-cavity 7A.

With reference to Figure 6, the light transmission window 9 is interconnected to optical electronics (not shown) disposed on a PCB 14 via a light conduit 12. Although 25 not shown, the light reception window 10 is also interconnected to optical electronics on the PCB 14. The transmission of light emitted from a source, an LED for example, along light conduits to be sensed by a photodiode, or the like, is well known in the art and will not be discussed further here.

As shown in Figure 3, light 20 is transmitted from the light transmission window 9 to 5 the light reception window 10 in a direction perpendicular to the banknote output direction 5A. The light path 20 is at a position in the output direction 5A that is downstream from the rearmost extent of the barbs 11. In operation, the leading edge of an exiting banknote will break the light path 20. The light path will remain broken until the trailing edge of the exiting banknote has passed. At this instance the light 10 signal will again reach the PCB 14, and onboard electronics will register that a banknote has exited the banknote validator 1 and cleared the rearward most extremity of the output mouth 7.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, each barb 11 comprises a tine projecting from the is lower surface 7' of the horn-shaped cavity 7A. Each barb 11 has a substantially arcuate upper surface 15A, and a lower surface 15B which forms a niche 11' between the barb 11 and the lower surface 7' of the cavity 7A.

Figure 4 depicts a situation in which a fraudulent attempt is being made to withdraw a validated banknote 16. Withdrawal of the banknote 16 is being attempted by pulling in a direction 17A on a tape or string 17 attached to the trailing edge of the banknote 16. The trailing edge of the banknote 16 has previously traversed and passed the light path 20, thus the validator 1 has registered the banknote 16 as a received and stored genuine banknote.

As shown, the trailing edge of the banknote 16 has been pulled in a reverse direction until it has reached, and been snagged by, the barbs 11. Further withdrawal of the banknote 16 is therefore prevented by the trailing edge of the banknote 16 being trapped in the niches 11' formed between the barbs 11 and lower surface 7' of the cavity 7A. Advantageously, the reversing trailing edge of the banknote 16 will have again broken the light path 20 (not shown), and this event will therefore have been detected by electronics onboard the PCB 14 to provide an alert of the fraudulent activity.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the banknote validator incorporates a set of transport wheels 13 configured for gripping and transporting a received banknote from the input aperture 4 to the output aperture 5. Such transport wheels are typically motor-driven and are well known in the art, consequently no further details of the transport wheels 13, or the associated drive mechanism, is considered necessary.

The banknote validator 1 includes a PCB 14 on which are mounted control electronics, light emitting diodes and corresponding light sensors. In the example embodiment, a light output device (not shown), such as an LED for example, transmits light down a light conduit 12 to emerge from a light transmission window 9. The light emitted from the light transmission window 9 is received by light reception window 10 (not shown). The light path between the light transmission window 9 and the light reception window 10 is only obstructed when a banknote is present.

Alternative light sensor arrangements will now be discussed with reference to Figures 25 7A to 7D. The term light sensor arrangement refers to the combination of a light transmission window and light reception window.

Figure 7A shows a configuration in which the light transmission window 9A is positioned on the rear face 313 of the banknote validator 1 at a position opposite the corresponding light reception window 10A, but set back, in a direction parallel with the banknote output direction 5A, with respect to a rearward extent of the lower surface 7' of the horn-shaped cavity 7A.

Figure 7B shows a configuration in which the light transmission window 9B and the light reception window 10B are positioned on respective surfaces of the rear face 3B that are flush with one another. Here, the rearward extent of the lower surface 7' is 10 coplanar with the corresponding upper surface of the horn-shaped cavity 7B.

Figure 7C shows a configuration in which the light transmission window 9C and the light reception window 10C are positioned on respective surfaces of the rear face 3B that are flush with one another. Here, the barbs 11 protrude from the rear surface 3A 15 of the banknote validator and are not positioned within the horn-shaped cavity 7C.

Figure 7D shows a configuration in which the light transmission window 9D and the light reception window 10D are positioned on respective surfaces of the rear face 3B that are flush with one another. Here, the barbs 11 protrude from the rear surface 3A of the banknote validator, and the output aperture 5 opens directly to the exterior of the banknote validator. In this embodiment there is no horn-shaped cavity.

The reader should be aware that the positions of the light transmission window and light reception window can be reversed in each of the above discussed configurations.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A banknote validator comprising: a banknote input aperture interconnected to a banknote output aperture via a banknote transport conduit, a banknote transport direction being defined as the direction from the banknote input aperture to the banknote output aperture; wherein the banknote validator includes a light sensor arrangement proximal to, and downstream in the banknote transport direction of, the banknote output aperture.
2. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light sensor arrangement is configured to project a detection light beam in a direction orthogonal to the banknote transport direction so as to detect the egress of a trailing edge of a banknote from the banknote aperture.
3. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the banknote aperture forms a throat of a flared output mouth section, the flared output mouth section being delimited by a first lip portion and a second lip portion.
4. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first lip portion or the second lip portion includes a light reception window for receiving the detection light beam.
5. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flared output mouth section includes a plurality of barb elements projecting substantially in the banknote transport direction.
6. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of barb elements is arranged to hinder the retraction of a banknote in a direction opposite to the banknote transport direction by capturing the retreating trailing edge of the banknote.
7. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 5 or claims 6, wherein the plurality of barb elements is formed as a series of tines distributed laterally within the flared output mouth section in a direction transverse to the banknote transport direction.
8. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the series of tines are disposed and distributed along an exposed surface of the second lip portion, the 10 second lip portion being the lip portion disposed proximal to the underside of a banknote when travelling in the banknote direction.
9. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 8, wherein each tine of the series of tines comprises an arcuate element protruding from the second lip portion.
10. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light sensor arrangement includes a light transmission window disposed proximal to the flared output mouth section.
11. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the light transmission window is located on a validator housing outer surface in a position disposed opposite the light reception window.
12. A banknote validator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the banknote transport conduit includes, at a position in the banknote transport direction upstream from the banknote output aperture, a further light sensor arrangement, the further light sensor arrangement comprises a light transmitter disposed at a position lateral to the banknote transport conduit and opposite to a corresponding light receiver.