Image detector for bank notes

• US 20040240722A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laurel Precision Machines Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Laurel Precision Machines Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kasai, Toshio, Zenki, Tomoyoshi, Tsuji, Keiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/137
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/121 Apparatus characterised by sensor details
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/181 Testing mechanical properties or condition, e.g. wear or tear G07D7/16 takes precedence

Abstract

An object is to provide an image detector for bank notes which enables the cost to be lowered. Accordingly this has: a light emitting device 31 (31X) which is arranged facing an image detection sensor 24 (24X), and which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note on a bank note transportation path 12, and detects light of the light which has transmitted through the bank note with an image detection sensor 24 (24X); a light emitting device 27 (27X) which is provided on the same side as the image detection sensor 24 (24X), which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note S, and detects light of the light which is reflected from the bank note with the image detection sensor 24 (24X); an image detection sensor 24 (24Y) provided on the opposite side to the image detection sensor 24 (24X); and a third light emitting device 27 (27Y) provided on the same side as the second image detection sensor 24 (24Y), which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges towards the bank note S, and detects light of the light which is reflected from the bank note S with the image detection image detection sensor 24 (24Y).

Claims

1. An image detector for bank notes comprising:

a first image detection sensor;

a first light emitting device which is arranged facing said first image detection sensor with a bank note transportation path therebetween, and which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on said bank note transportation path, and detects light of said light which has transmitted through said bank note, with said first image detection sensor;

a second light emitting device which is provided on the same side of said bank note transportation path as said first image detection sensor, which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on said bank note transportation path, and detects light of said light which is reflected from said bank note, with said first image detection sensor;

a second image detection sensor provided on an opposite side of said bank note transportation path to said first image detection sensor; and

a third light emitting device provided on the same side of said bank note transportation path as said second image detection sensor, which irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges towards a bank note transported on said bank note transportation path, and detects light of said light which is reflected from said bank note, with a second image detection image detection sensor.

2. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first acquisition control device which emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said first light emitting device at respective different timings, and emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said second light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to said first light emitting device, and takes in to a first image memory region, a plurality of image data detected by said first image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device; and

a second acquisition control device which emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said third light emitting device at respective different timings, and takes in to a second image memory region, a plurality of image data detected by said second image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of said third light emitting device.

3. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 2, wherein said first acquisition control device and second acquisition control device overlap the detection timing of the image of said first image detection sensor with the detection timing of the image of said second image detection sensor.

4. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 1, further comprising:

a single acquisition control device which emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said first light emitting device at respective different timings, and emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said second light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to said first light emitting device, and also emits light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from said third light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device, and takes in to an image memory region, a plurality of image data detected by said first image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of said first light emitting device and said second light emitting device, and a plurality of image data detected by said second image detection sensor, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of said third light emitting device.

5. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 1, wherein said first light emitting device, said second light emitting device, and said third light emitting device each irradiate light of two different wavelengths regions.

6. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 5, wherein said first light emitting device, said second light emitting device, and said third light emitting device each irradiate any two lights of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light.

7. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 1, wherein said first light emitting device, said second light emitting device, and said third light emitting device each irradiate lights of three different wavelength regions.

8. An image detector for bank notes according to claim 7, wherein said first light emitting device, said second light emitting device, and said third light emitting device each irradiate visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

9. A method of image detection for bank notes, comprising:

arranging a first light emitting device so as to face a first image detection sensor with a bank note transportation path therebetween, wherein the first light emitting device irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on the bank note transportation path, and detects light of the light which has transmitted through the bank note, with the first image detection sensor;

providing a second light emitting device on the same side of the bank note transportation path as the first image detection sensor, wherein the second light emitting device irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on the bank note transportation path, and detects light of the light which is reflected from the bank note, with the first image detection sensor;

locating a second image detection sensor on an opposite side of the bank note transportation path to the first image detection sensor; and

providing a third light emitting device on the same side of the bank note transportation path as the second image detection sensor, wherein the third light emitting device irradiates light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges towards a bank note transported on the bank note transportation path, and detects light of the light which is reflected from the bank note, with a second image detection image detection sensor.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the first light emitting device at respective different timings;

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the second light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting device;

receiving a plurality of image data detected by the first image detection sensor, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device;

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the third light emitting device at respective different timings; and

receiving a plurality of image data detected by the second image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the third light emitting device.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the first light emitting device at respective different timings;

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the second light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting device;

emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the third light emitting device at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device; and

receiving a plurality of image data detected by the first image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device, and a plurality of image data detected by the second image detection sensor, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the third light emitting device.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first light emitting device, the second light emitting device, and the third light emitting device each irradiate light of two different wavelengths regions.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first light emitting device, the second light emitting device, and the third light emitting device each irradiate any two lights of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first light emitting device, the second light emitting device, and the third light emitting device each irradiate lights of three different wavelength regions.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first light emitting device, the second light emitting device, and the third light emitting device each irradiate visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

16. An image detecting device for bank notes comprising:

first light emitting means, which are arranged facing a first image detection sensor with a bank note transportation path therebetween, for irradiating light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on the bank note transportation path, and detecting light of the light which has transmitted through the bank note, with the first image detection sensor;

second light emitting means, which are provided on the same side of the bank note transportation path as the first image detection means, for irradiating light of a plurality of different wavelengths ranges towards a bank note which is transported on the bank note transportation path, and detecting light of the light which is reflected from the bank note, with the first image detection means;

second image detection means provided on an opposite side of the bank note transportation path to the first image detection means; and

third light emitting means provided on the same side of the bank note transportation path as the second image detection means, for irradiating light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges towards a bank note transported on the bank note transportation path, and detecting light of the light which is reflected from the bank note, with a second image detection sensor.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the first light emitting means at respective different timings;

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the second light emitting means at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting means;

means for receiving a plurality of image data detected by the first image detection means, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the first light emitting means and the second light emitting means; and

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the third light emitting means at respective different timings; and

means for receiving a plurality of image data detected by the second image detection sensor, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the third light emitting means.

18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the first light emitting means at respective different timings;

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the second light emitting means at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting means;

means for emitting light of a plurality of different wavelength ranges from the third light emitting means at respective different timings which are also different timings to the first light emitting means and the second light emitting means; and

means for receiving a plurality of image data detected by the first image detection sensor respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the first light emitting means and the second light emitting means, and a plurality of image data detected by the second image detection sensor, respectively synchronized with the light emissions of the third light emitting means.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the first light emitting means, the second light emitting means, and the third light emitting means each irradiate light of two different wavelengths regions.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the first light emitting means, the second light emitting means, and the third light emitting means each irradiate any two lights of visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light.