Apparatus, method and assembly for checking value documents, in particular bank notes, and value-document processing system

Abstract

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 transmission signals, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals. From the transmission signals an edge course of the value document is derived and a rectangle is approximated to the edge course. By comparing the edge course of the transmission image with the rectangle, the presence of a foreign object such as an adhesive tape, can be ascertained.

Claims

1. An apparatus for checking value documents comprising: a sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a value document and for generating a transmission image of the value document comprising transmission signals corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the value document, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals; the evaluation device is configured for ascertaining an edge course of the value document on the basis of the transmission signals; approximating a rectangle to the edge course of the value document; checking whether the value document has a foreign object on a basis of any differences between the edge course of the value document ascertained from the transmission signals and the rectangle approximated to the edge course of the value document.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edge course comprising a plurality of first edge points which correspond to the edge of the value document and the rectangle comprising a plurality of second edge points forming the rectangle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation device is configured for comparing the position of at least one of the first edge points with the position of at least one of the second edge points in order to ascertain a spatial distance between the respective first and the second edge point and/or an area between the first and the second edge points, with the positions of those first and second edge points being compared with each other that are mutually corresponding points along the edge of the value document; and checking on the basis of the spatial distance and/or the area whether a foreign object, is present in the region of the edge of the value document.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the evaluation device is configured for comparing the spatial distance with at least one pre-specified distance comparison value, and/or the area with at least one pre-specified area comparison value, and, if the distance exceeds the distance comparison value and/or the area exceeds the area comparison value, for affirming the presence of a foreign object and otherwise negating the presence of a foreign object.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one distance comparison value/area comparison value corresponds to a distance value/area value ascertained on the basis of at least one value document on which no foreign object is located.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is configured for comparing the transmission signals of the transmission image with at least one threshold value in order to distinguish the transmission signals in an image area of the value document from the transmission signals in a background area surrounding the image area of the value document.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, the evaluation device is configured for selecting a plurality of first edge points from those image points of the transmission image lying on the border between the image area of the value document and the background area of the value document and for ascertaining the positions of a plurality of the first edge points therefrom.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is configured for ascertaining the edge course of the value-document from the transmission signals by means of edge detection and for ascertaining the positions of a plurality of the first edge points therefrom.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is configured for approximating the rectangle to the edge course of the value document by fitting four straight lines to the edge course of the value document, under the constraint that the four straight lines form a rectangle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation device is configured for fitting the four straight lines forming a rectangle to the edge course of the value document by means of linear regression analysis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation device is configured for iteratively approximating the four straight lines to the edge course of the value document until the deviation of the rectangle formed by the four straight lines from the edge course is minimal.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation device is configured for ascertaining a distance value for the spatial distance between the respective first edge point and the respective second edge point which corresponds to the respective first edge point along the edge of the value document, said distance value representing a measure of the spatial distance of the respective first edge point from the respective second edge point.

13. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation device is configured for: respectively ascertaining a distance value for a plurality of pairs of a first and a second edge point corresponding to the respective first edge point along the edge of the value document; and checking whether a pre-specified minimum number of pairs of edge points exceeds the distance comparison value; and if the distance value exceeds the distance comparison value for at least a pre-specified minimum number of pairs of edge points, affirming the presence of a foreign object and otherwise negating the presence of a foreign object.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation device is configured for respectively ascertaining a distance value for a plurality of pairs of a first and a second edge point corresponding to the respective first edge point along the edge of the value document; and ascertaining a number of distance values that are greater than the distance comparison value; and carrying out the check of whether the value document has a foreign object on the basis of a comparison of the ascertained number of distance values that are greater than the distance comparison value with a pre-specified minimum number of distance values.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one distance value is the Euclidean distance between a first and a second edge point in each case.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured for spatially resolved capture of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the value document.

17. A value-document processing system having at least one apparatus for processing value documents, and having an apparatus for checking value documents according to claim 1.

18. A method for checking value documents, having the following steps: using a sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a value document and for generating corresponding transmission signals; using an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals generated by the sensor; wherein the evaluation device is configured for ascertaining an edge course of the value document on the basis of the transmission signals; approximating a rectangle to the edge course of the value document; checking whether the value document has a foreign object on a basis of any differences between the edge course of the value document ascertained from the transmission signals and the rectangle approximated to the edge course of the value document.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the edge course comprising a plurality of first edge points which correspond to the edge of the value document and the rectangle comprising a plurality of second edge points forming the rectangle.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the evaluation device compares the position of at least one of the first edge points with the position of at least one of the second edge points in order to ascertain a spatial distance between the respective first and the second edge point and/or an area between the first and the second edge points, with the positions of those first and second edge points being compared with each other that are mutually corresponding points along the edge of the value document; and checks on the basis of the spatial distance and/or the area whether a foreign object, is present in the region of the edge of the value document.

21. An assembly for checking value documents comprising: a sensor for capturing an electromagnetic radiation transmitted by a value document and for generating a transmission image of the value document comprising transmission signals corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the value document, and an evaluation device for checking whether the value document has a foreign object taking into account the transmission signals; the evaluation device is configured for ascertaining an edge course of the value document on the basis of the transmission signals; approximating a rectangle to the edge course of the value document; checking whether the value document has a foreign object on a basis of any differences between the edge course of the value document ascertained from the transmission signals and the rectangle approximated to the edge course of the value document.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and possibilities of application of the present invention will result from the following description in connection with the figures. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1 an example of a schematic construction of a value-document processing system;

(3) FIG. 2 an example of a value document in the form of a bank note;

(4) FIG. 3 an example of a transmission image of the bank note shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 an example of the transmission edge course ascertained from the transmission image;

(6) FIG. 5 a rectangle fitted to the transmission edge course;

(7) FIG. 6 a superimposition of the transmission edge course of FIG. 4 and the rectangle of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 a first example of the course of distance values ascertained from first and corresponding second edge points along the edge course; and

(9) FIG. 8 a second example of the course of distance values ascertained from first and corresponding second edge points along the edge course.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic construction of a value-document processing system 1 having an input pocket 2 in which a stack of value documents, in particular bank notes 3, to be processed is supplied, and a singler 8 from which the respectively lowermost bank note of the inputted stack is grasped and delivered to a transport device 10rendered only schematically in the chosen representationwhich conveys the bank note to a sensor device 20 in transport direction T.

(11) The sensor device 20 comprises in the represented example a first, second and third sensor 21, 22, 23 which are respectively preferably configured as a so-called line-scan cameras and capture light emanating from the bank note by means of sensor elements arranged along a line, in particular in the visible and/or infrared and/or ultraviolet spectral region, and convert it into corresponding sensor signals.

(12) In the represented example, the first and second sensors 21, 22 capture light remitted, i.e. diffusely and/or directionally reflected, by the front side or back side of the bank note and convert it into corresponding remission signals. The third sensor 23 located in the region of the front side of the bank note, however, captures the light transmitted through the bank note, said light being emitted by a light source 24, obliquely impinging on the bank note and passing through it, and converts it into corresponding second sensor signals. Due to the light from the light source 24 impinging on the bank note obliquely, the third sensor captures a so-called dark-field transmission image, in which the bank note appears light and its surroundings or background dark. The first and second sensors 21, 22 are also designated remission cameras, and the third sensor 23 is also designated a transmission camera. The two remission cameras 21, 22 are not necessary for the present invention, however, they are usually used in addition to the transmission sensor 23, for example to check the denomination and authenticity of bank notes.

(13) Preferably, the line with the sensor elements of the transmission sensor 23 extends substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction T of the bank notes, so that there is obtained upon each readout operation of the sensor line of the transmission sensor 23 a transmission signal course, along the sensor line, which corresponds to an intensity course of the light that is transmitted through the bank note in a direction extending perpendicularly to the transport direction T.

(14) The transmission signals generated by transmission sensor 23 of the sensor device 20, in particular the corresponding transmission signal course, is relayed to a control device 50 as well as an evaluation device 51. The evaluation device 51 can be contained in the control device 50 or else form a unit separate from the control device 50.

(15) In the evaluation device 51 the transmission signals of transmission sensor 23 as well as the remission signals of the first and second sensors 21, 22, possibly after preprocessing, are drawn on for checking the bank note, with statements being derived from the respective sensor signals about different properties of the respective bank note, such as authenticity or condition of the bank note, in particular degree of soiling, wear, defects and the presence of foreign objects, such as adhesive tape and other stickers, but also paper clips and staples. Soiling, wear and defects can be recognized from the remission image and/or transmission image using known evaluation methods, and the presence of foreign objects using the evaluation according to the invention.

(16) Depending on the properties of the respective bank note that are ascertained in the evaluation device 51, the transport device 10 as well as the gates 11 and 12 along the transport line are controlled by the control device 50 such that the bank note is fed to one of a plurality of output pockets 30 and 31 and deposited there. For example, bank notes in good condition, in particular having no foreign objects such as adhesive tape, are deposited in a first output pocket 30, while bank notes in poor condition, e.g. bank notes with adhesive tape, are deposited in a second output pocket 31. Reject bank notes are deposited in a further pocket (not shown).

(17) The reference number 13 at the end of the represented transport line in intended to indicate that further output pockets and/or other devices can be provided, for example for storing or destroying bank notes. If for example the check of a bank note shows that it does not meet certain condition criteria with regard to soiling, wear, defects or the presence of foreign objects, it can be fed directly to a shredder for destruction.

(18) The value-document processing system 1 further comprises, in the represented example, an input/output device 40 for inputting of data and/or control commands by an operating person, for example by means of a keyboard or a touchscreen, and outputting or display of data and/or information about the processing operation, in particular about the respectively processed bank notes.

(19) The value-document processing system 1 shown by way of example is especially suitable for checking value documents for the presence of foreign objects, such as adhesive tape and other stickers, which will be explained more closely hereinafter.

(20) FIG. 2 shows an example of a value document in the form of a bank note 3represented only very schematically in the present casebearing adhesive tape 4 which projects slightly beyond the edge of the bank note 3 in the represented example. For illustrative reasons, the adhesive tape 4 protrudes beyond the edge of the bank note 3 in a clearly visible manner. However, the following comments also apply accordingly to adhesive tape or other comparable foreign objects on the bank note 3 that are flush with the edge of the bank note 3.

(21) The adhesive tape 4 can in principle be any kind of adhesive tape, such as adhesive tape that is transparent and/or clear and/or matt and/or light-transmissive only in the checked spectral region.

(22) The bank note 3 shown in FIG. 2 has a deformation 5 in the region of its lower right corner, which has been represented in enlarged form in the present example again for illustrative reasons, and can have different causes, such as a cut edge of the bank note 3 that is imperfect for manufacturing reasons or a distortion caused by the transport of the bank note 3 in a bank-note processing system. In the represented example, the deformation 5 is represented as a projection relative to the rest of the course of the lower cut edge of the bank note 3. However, the following comments also apply accordingly to other kinds of deviations of the outer shape of the bank note 3 from the conventional rectangular bank-note shape.

(23) FIG. 3 shows an example of a transmission image 3 of the bank note 3 shown in FIG. 2. The transmission image 3 represented here is preferably a so-called dark-field transmission image, which is obtained by light being emitted from the light source 24 (see FIG. 1), and impinging on the bank note 3, obliquely, i.e. at an angle clearly different from 90, with regard to the area of the transmission camera 23. The light passing through the bank note 3 is captured by the transmission camera 23 and converted into corresponding transmission signals which compositely yield the transmission image 3. The light passing by the bank note 3 and passing by the transmission camera 23 leads to the transmission image 3 of the bank note 3 appearing against a substantially completely dark background 6 in the transmission recording shown here.

(24) The transmission image 3 of the bank note 3 shows a region 4 having an elevated brightness relative to the dark background 6, which is due to the fact that the light impinging on the bank note 3 is scattered and/or refracted by the adhesive tape 4 towards the transmission camera 23 andunlike the illumination light passing by the transmission camera 23is captured by the transmission camera 23. In the transmission image 3 of the bank note 3 there is further to be recognized a region 5 corresponding to the deformation 5.

(25) After the recording of the transmission image 3 of the bank note 3, the course of the edge of the transmission image 3 is ascertained from the transmission image 3, e.g. by comparing the transmission signals in the region of the image 3 and the background 6 with a threshold value. In so doing, transmission signals whose level exceeds the pre-specified threshold value are associated with the transmission image 3, while transmission signals undershooting the pre-specified threshold value are associated with the background 6.

(26) Subsequently, an edge detection is carried out on the transmission recording, by which a course VT, comprising a plurality of edge points T(x, y) of the edge of the transmission image 3 of the bank note 3 is respectively ascertained, said course being represented by way of example in FIG. 4. The represented edge course VT of the transmission image 3 shows a region 5 corresponding to the deformation 5 at the edge of the bank note 3 as well as a region 4 corresponding to the position of the adhesive tape 4.

(27) Subsequently, a rectangle VR is fitted to the edge course VT of the transmission image 3. This can be done by fitting four straight lines to the four sides of the edge course VT. Thereby, the four straight lines are iteratively approximated to the edge course VT until the deviation of the rectangle (formed by the four straight lines) from the edge course VT is minimal. The fitting is done under the constraint that the four straight lines form a rectangle, i.e. there is an angle of 90 between all neighboring lines. Thereby or alternatively, a linear regression analysis can be used for the fitting. The fitting results in the rectangle VR shown in FIG. 5, comprising a plurality of edge points R(x, y) forming the rectangle.

(28) FIG. 6 shows a superimposition of the edge course VT of FIG. 4 and the fitted rectangle VR of FIG. 5. The edge course VT of transmission image 3 deviates from the rectangle VR in the region 5 corresponding to the deformation 5 at the edge of the bank note 3 and in the region 4 corresponding to the position of the adhesive tape 4.

(29) Starting out from the edge course VT and the rectangle VR brought almost entirely into coincidence, a distance value D is then respectively computed for one or more pairs of edge points T(x, y) of the transmission image and edge points R(x, y) of the rectangle VR, said value representing a measure of the distance between the first edge points T(x, y) from the corresponding second edge points R(x, y). For example, there is computed as a distance value D the so-called Euclidean distance between the respective two points T(x, y) and R(x, y) as follows:
D={square root over ((x.sub.Tx.sub.R).sup.2+(y.sub.Ty.sub.R).sup.2)}

(30) where x.sub.T and y.sub.T represent the coordinates of the first edge point T(x, y), and x.sub.R and y.sub.R the coordinates of the second edge point R(x, y).

(31) In principle it is possible to compute one or more distance values D only in certain portions along the edge course VT and the rectangle VR. However, it is preferred to determine the distance values D for many or all pairs of first and second edge points T(x, y), R(x, y) along the edge courses VT and the rectangle VR in order to be able to recognize any adhesive tape on the bank note with especially high reliability.

(32) FIG. 7 shows a first example of the course of distance values D ascertained from first and second edge points T(x, y) and R(x, y), along the y direction of the upper edge of the obtained transmission image 3 of the bank note 3. Additionally, FIG. 7 shows the distance comparison value A which was ascertained in advance on the basis of bank notes having no adhesive tape or similar foreign objects. The distance comparison value A can be chosen in dependence on the measuring accuracy of the image recording. For example, a length of 1, 2 or 3 pixel sizes of the transmission image can be employed as a distance comparison value A. The distance values D exceeding the distance comparison value A in one region along the y direction, one can infer a significant deviation of the edge course VT of the transmission image in comparison to the rectangle VR, and thus one can infer, that an adhesive tape 4 is located on the bank note 3 in this region.

(33) In comparison, FIG. 8 shows a second example of the course of distance values D ascertained from first and second edge points T(x, y) and R(x, y), along the y direction on the lower edge of the obtained transmission image 3 of the bank note 3. In the region of the deformation 5 of the bank note 3 the distance values D are slightly increased, but unlike in the region of the adhesive tape 4, the distance values D ascertained in the region of the deformation 5 do not exceed the distance comparison value A. Thus, one can infer that no adhesive tape is located at this place on the bank note 3.

(34) Using the hereinabove described method, or using the corresponding apparatus, one can thus distinguish in a simple and reliable manner whether an adhesive tape is located in an edge region of the bank note.