Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

Method and systems of automated document processing described herein include activating in sequence a plurality of illumination modules of an illumination source to illuminate a document, where the plurality of illumination modules are located at different positions relative to the document. The document can be imaged each time the document is illuminated by an illumination module to provide a plurality of images. A shadow profile of the document can be obtained based on the plurality of images. One or more of a boundary of the document and presence of a fastener attached to the document can be identified using the shadow profile. Any fasteners present may be removed using a robot arm.

A sensor includes a first element part having a first member and a first element. The first member is a acoustic tubular waveguide and extends along a first direction. The acoustic tubular waveguide includes a first opening and a second opening. A direction from the second opening toward the first opening is along the first direction. The first element includes a vibratile first membrane, and a first supporter supporting the first membrane. The second opening is between the first opening and the first membrane in the first direction. The sensor may be a Piezoelectric Micro electro mechanical systems Ultrasonic Transducer and may be used for inspecting paper and/or resin including detecting thickness of a fed through banknote and/or the presence of foreign matter thereon such as tape. An optical element may alternatively measure the vibration of a membrane from acoustic through transmission instead of an acoustic receiver.

A paper sheet handling apparatus includes: a displacement amount detector that includes a pressing part intended to press a paper sheet against a transporting face of a paper sheet transporting path and having an initial position at which the pressing part is not in contact with the transporting face of the paper sheet transporting path, the displacement amount detector detecting a displacement amount of displacement of the pressing part from the initial position in a direction perpendicular to the transporting face, the pressing part being displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing between the transporting face and the pressing part; a reference displacement amount storage; a paper sheet thickness storage; and a tape thickness threshold storage.

A paper sheet handling apparatus includes: a displacement amount detector that includes a pressing part intended to press a paper sheet against a transporting face of a paper sheet transporting path and having an initial position at which the pressing part is not in contact with the transporting face of the paper sheet transporting path, the displacement amount detector detecting a displacement amount of displacement of the pressing part from the initial position in a direction perpendicular to the transporting face, the pressing part being displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing between the transporting face and the pressing part; a reference displacement amount storage; a paper sheet thickness storage; and a tape thickness threshold storage.

An apparatus and method for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and a value-document processing system having at least one sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation. Transmitted by a value document and generating corresponding first sensor signals and for capturing an electromagnetic radiation remitted by the value document and generating corresponding second sensor signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object. In particular adhesive tape, taking into account the first and second sensor signals which correspond to the electromagnetic radiation respectively transmitted or remitted in the region of the edge of the value document. The apparatus and method prevent a deformation in the region of the edge of a value document from being identified as a foreign object.

A method and device for non-contact detection of a thin medium (5) is disclosed. The device comprises a light source (1), an optical splitter (2), a reference plane (3), a linearly arrayed photoelectric detector (6), a signal processing module (4) and the thin medium (5). The method involves the following steps: acquiring time for targeted light which is emitted by the light source (1) and reflected by the thin medium (5) to the linearly arrayed photoelectric detector (6), and acquiring time for reference light which is emitted by the light source (1) and reflected by the reference plane (3) to the linearly arrayed photoelectric detector (6); according to the acquired time that the targeted light and the reference light arrive at the linearly arrayed photoelectric detector (6), computing a first optical path and a second optical path corresponding to the targeted light and the reference light respectively, and acquiring quantity of bright fringes and dark fringes of interference fringes according to a predetermined computing manner by the signal processing module (4); conducting difference comparison between the quantity of the bright fringes and dark fringes of the interference fringes and the quantity of the bright fringes and dark fringes of standard interference fringes according to the predetermined manner, and if the value of the comparison result is larger than the predetermined threshold value, determining that the foreign matters are positioned on the thin medium (5). The detection method and device solves the technical problems that precision is low and measuring wavelength is long caused by an existing mechanical thickness measuring device, an infrared detector and an ultrasonic detector used to detect the foreign substance on the surface of the thin medium.

A bill discrimination apparatus and method using a radio frequency (RF) signal that includes a transmission antenna radiating the radio frequency (RF) signal; a reception antenna receiving the RF signal from the transmission antenna; and a control unit providing the RF signal to the transmission antenna, and detecting a thickness of a bill, a state of the bill, or a presence of a foreign object on the bill based on a voltage of the RF signal transmitted through the bill and received by the reception antenna when the bill is between the transmission antenna and the reception antenna. The RF signal has a preset, specific frequency.

An inspection device of the present invention includes: THz wave irradiation unit for irradiating a specimen with THz waves; a THz wave sensing unit for detecting transmitted waves or reflected waves of the THz waves emitted to the specimen; and an information processing unit for acquiring intensity distribution of the transmitted waves of the reflected waves of the specimen from the intensity data of the transmitted waves or the reflected waves of the specimen irradiated with the THz waves, wherein the information processing unit acquires 2-dimensional intensity distribution of the transmitted waves or reflected waves, and detects whether a foreign matter is adhering to the specimen by comparing the intensity distribution obtained when the specimen without attachment of the foreign matter is detected and the intensity distribution obtained when the specimen is detected at the time of inspection. The specimen is a sheet of paper, for example.

The present invention is provided with: a heat source unit; a heat detection unit that detects the intensity of light of a prescribed wavelength obtained from paper sheets in which heat provided from the heat source unit is stored; and a control unit that detects, on the basis of the intensity of the light of the prescribed wavelength obtained from the paper sheets, a repaired paper sheet which has been repaired with a repair member.