Bill validator with bar code detector

• US 5,420,406 A
• Filed: 12/28/1993
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Cash Machine Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Cash Machine Company Limited
• Inventors: Izawa, Hikaru, Ohya, Toitsu, Fujita, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): PITTS, HAROLD I
• Application Number:
  US08/174,397
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/468, 235/381, 235/480, 235/454, 235/449, 235/493
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0043 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A bill validator which may validate bills and bar coded documents is provided. A central processing unit of the bill validator comprises discriminator means for receiving outputs of sensor means for detecting magnetic or optical feature of the bills; and bar code detector for photoelectrically converting bar code pattern printed on a document. The discriminator means comprise an bar code comparator for receiving outputs of the optical sensors to detect bar code printed on a document; a magentic pattern memory for storing predetermined magnetic patterns; and bar code memory for storing predetermined bar code patterns. The bar code comparator compares bar code signals read out through optical sensors from the document with bar code signals stored in the bar code memory after or before the discriminator means decides whether the document is a genuine bill or not. When the bar code comparator detects coincidence of the bar code signals from the optical sensors and bar code memory, it generates coincident signal to supply a drive signal to the meter control circuit of the conveyor means in order to transport the bill to the outlet.

Claims

1. A bill validator, comprising:

conveyor means for transporting a bill inserted from an inlet to an outlet along a passageway;

sensor means positioned in the vicinity of said passageway for detecting a magnetic or optical feature of the bill;

a bar code detector means for photoelectrically converting bar code pattern printed on a document inserted into said inlet into electric signals, said bar code detector means connected with a discriminator means;

said discriminator means for receiving signals from said sensor means to generate outputs in order to drive said conveyor means when said discriminator means detects a predetermined magnetic or optical pattern for a genuine bill, wherein said discriminator means comprises a bar code memory for storing predetermined bar code patterns and a bar code comparator for comparing bar code signals read out through said bar code detector means with bar code signals stored in said bar code memory, after or before said discriminator means decides whether said document is a genuine bill, said bar code comparator generating a drive signal to said conveyor means to transport said document to said outlet when said bar code comparator detects coincidence of said bar code signals from said sensor means and bar code memory.

2. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes magnetic and optical sensors positioned in vicinity of said passageway for detecting magnetic and optical features of the bill.

3. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes infrared sensor which generates permeation pattern of infrared ray passing through said documents.

4. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes optical sensors positioned adjacent to said inlet of the bill validator.

5. The bill validator of claim 2 wherein said discriminator means includes a ferrous detector by receiving outputs of said magnetic sensor to detect ferrous component of said bill.

6. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said bar code detector includes two bar code sensors positioned in parallel relation to each other for detecting bar code printed on one or both of front and back surfaces of said document.

7. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said discriminator means includes a bill memory for storing predetermined magnetic or optical patterns;

a bill comparator for comparing or optical signals read out through said sensor means with bill pattern signals stored in said bill memory, said bill comparator generating a drive signal to said conveyor means to transport said bill to said outlet when said bill comparator detects coincidence of said bill pattern signals from said sensor means and bill memory.

8. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said optical sensor produces outputs which are used for validation of a bill.

9. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said bar code memory and said bar code comparator are provided in said discriminator means.

10. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said discriminator means detects bar code detection of whether or not the document is a genuine bill.

11. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said discriminator means detects bar code detection of whether or not the document is a genuine bill.

12. The bill validator of claim 1 further comprising a motor encoder for generating pulses to detect exact position of said document within said passage.

13. The bill validator of claim 1 further comprising means for invalidating said document which i considered not valid.

14. The bill validator of claim 1 wherein said sensor means includes at least an inlet sensor capable of detecting overlapped bills from the amount of light passing through the bill.