FRAUD DETECTION

Abstract

A system for detection of fraud attempts in reverse vending machine, which includes one radiation emitting device for illuminating a food or beverage container being received by the reverse vending machine, one radiation detection device configured to detect radiation reflected at and/or transmitted through and/or emitted from the food or beverage container in response to the illumination, one processing unit configured to: receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from the at least one radiation detecting device; analyze the information to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and upon determination of the existence of the additional radiation classify the food or beverage container as fraudulent; as well as a reverse vending machine provided with such a system and a corresponding method.

Claims

1. A method for detecting fraud in a Reverse Vending Machine System, the Reverse Vending Machine System having at least one radiation emitting device, a radiation detecting device and at least one processing unit, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a food or beverage container, which carries a validation mark and a background around said validation mark wherein said validation mark is a security mark or a barcode, which security mark is configured to be read by use of barcode decoding, and/or by use of character recognition and/or letter recognition and/or pattern recognition; illuminating the surface of said food or beverage container with radiation comprising wavelengths within the wavelength range of optical radiation, which radiation is emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device, which contains said validation mark; detecting radiation being emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently reflected at said food or beverage container, and/or radiation being emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently transmitted at said food or beverage container, and/or detecting radiation emitted from said food or beverage container in response to said illumination with said radiation detecting device; transmitting information corresponding to the detected radiation from said radiation detecting device to said at least one processing unit; at said at least one processing unit: analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation emitted from said background, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting information corresponding to the detected radiation to said processing unit is performed only when detecting radiation comprising wavelengths outside the wavelength range received from valid food and beverage containers, and said step of determine the existence of additional radiation emitted from said background is equal to receiving information from said radiation detecting device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing information representing at least one classified wavelength spectrum to said processing unit, each of said at least one classified wavelength spectrum being classified as valid or invalid; and wherein said step of detecting radiation comprises registering a wavelength spectrum; said step of transmitting information corresponding to the detected radiation to said processing unit comprises transmitting information representing said registered wavelength spectrum to said processing unit; and said step of determine the existence of additional radiation emitted from said background comprises comparing said information corresponding to the registered wavelength spectrum to said at least one classified wavelength spectrum, and based on this comparison identifying any existence of additional radiation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation from said background, does not include comparing information representing a spatially resolved image of the container surface to information representing a predetermined image of a valid security marking or validation mark.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein at said processing unit a further test is performed comprising the steps of: identifying a validation area on said container, which validation area contains said validation mark and a background around said validation mark; performing a reading operation on the validation mark contained in said validation area by use of barcode decoding, and/or by use of character recognition and/or letter recognition and/or pattern recognition; upon a successful reading of the validation mark classify said food or beverage container as potentially valid.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of determining additional radiation emitted from said background comprises detecting a fraudulent material present on said food or beverage container, and which fraudulent forms the background to said validation mark and optionally is selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic foils, metal foils, textiles, bulk plastic or combinations of the same.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation emitted from said background comprises the step of determining that the received radiation exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

8. A system for fraud detection in a Reverse Vending Machine, said system comprises: at least one radiation emitting device configured to emit radiation within the wavelength range of optical radiation for illuminating an area of said a food or beverage container being received by said reverse vending machine, which area contains a validation mark and a background around said validation mark, wherein said validation mark is a security mark and/or a barcode; at least one radiation detection device configured to detect radiation emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently reflected at said food or beverage container, and/or emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently transmitted through said food or beverage container and/or detecting radiation emitted from said food or beverage container in response to said illumination by said radiation detecting device; at least one processing unit in communication with said at least one radiation detecting device, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to: receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; identify a validation area on said container, which validation area contains said validation mark and said background around said validation mark; analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation emitted from said background, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers; and upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent; read the validation mark contained in said validation area by use of barcode decoding, and/or by use of character recognition and/or letter recognition and/or pattern recognition, and optionally; upon a successful reading of the validation mark classify said food or beverage container as potentially valid.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one radiation emitting device emits radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range, and wherein optionally said radiation emitting device emits radiation only within said one or more wavelength ranges.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said additional radiation originates from a fraudulent material present on said food or beverage container, wherein said fraudulent material preferably forms the background to said validation mark, and wherein said fraudulent material optionally is one or more elements selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic foils, metal foils, textiles, bulk plastic or combinations of the same.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein validation mark is present on said fraudulent material, and which fraudulent material covers or replaces an original barcode or original security marking provided on said food or beverage container, or otherwise alters the appearance of said food or beverage container.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein said additional radiation comprises radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range and/or fluorescent radiation.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein said food or beverage container is provided with a barcode or security mark, and said radiation detection device is configured to receive light reflected at, or in the vicinity of, said barcode or security mark; and/or configured to receive light emitted at, or in the vicinity of, said barcode or security mark.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein said radiation detection device is configured to detect radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range.

15. A system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to: upon determination of the non-existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as valid or potentially valid.

16. A system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one processing unit comprises at least a first and a second processing unit; and wherein said first and second processing units are configured to in cooperation perform said steps of: receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers; and upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.

17. A Reverse vending machine provided with a system for fraud detection according to claim 8.

18. A Reverse vending machine according to claim 17, wherein said at least one processing unit comprises a processing circuitry, and a first portion of said processing circuitry is arranged inside the housing of the reverse vending machine and a second portion of said processing circuitry is arranged outside the housing of the reverse vending machine; and wherein said first and second portions of said processing circuitry are configured to in cooperation perform said steps of: receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers; and upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0122] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the system according to at least one example embodiment of the present invention.

[0123] FIG. 2 shows camera images of recorded fluorescence from a food or beverage container according to at least on example embodiment of the invention.

[0124] FIG. 3 shows spectrum from fraudulent materials

[0125] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for fraud detection according to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

[0126] FIG. 5 shows in perspective view, an example of a reverse vending machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0127] In the present detailed description, embodiments of a system for fraud detection in a reverse vending machine are discussed. It should be noted that this by no means limits the scope of the invention, which is also applicable in other circumstances for instance with other types or variants of systems for fraud detection shown in the appended drawings. Further, that specific components are mentioned in connection to an embodiment of the invention does not mean that those components cannot be used to an advantage together with other embodiments of the invention.

[0128] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary reverse vending machine having; object supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit 3; detector device 4; receipt printer activated with a button 7, and safety apparatus 8. When returning an item it is inserted into the unit through an opening in the housing of the reverse vending machine.

[0129] FIG. 1a shows an exemplary system 100 for fraud detection in a reverse vending machine. The system 100 for validation of a food or beverage container 102 comprises a radiation emitting device 104 and a radiation detection device 110. Further, the system 100 comprises a processing unit (not shown in the figure).

[0130] The food or beverage container 102 is may be out of a variety of material, such as glass, or different kinds of metal or different kinds of plastic. The food or beverage container 102 may be placed on a receptacle mounted in the reverse vending machine, which is configured to support the receptacle when it is illuminated.

[0131] The radiation emitting device 104 may be a source for ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation and/or infra red radiation. The radiation emitting 104 device may for example be an UV-LED source. Further, the system 100 can include a plurality of radiation emitting devices 104.

[0132] The radiation detection device 110 may a single photodiode, several diodes and/or a pixilated sensor. According to one example, the radiation detector may views a portion of the container, which portion may optionally fully encircle the container in at least one plane. In FIG. 1a the circle 102 is shown that fully encircles the container in one plane. Alternatively, the portion only partly encircles the container in at least one plane. Element 114 in FIG. 1b partly encircles the container in two planes.

[0133] The processing unit may be located at the same or different locations. The processing unit receives information from the radiation detection device and analyzes that information in order to determine if the food or beverage container 102 brought to the reverse vending machine is valid or fraudulent. The system 100 may be mounted in a reverse vending machine either as a unit or separately. Further, the system 100 may include other optical devices/tools, such as optical filters, in order to further improve the fraud detection.

[0134] FIG. 1b is showing the same system 100 as FIG. 1a. In addition to the parts discussed in connection to FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b further shows a fraudulent material 114 being placed on the food or beverage container 102. By illuminating the fraudulent material by the radiation emitting device 104 an additional radiation is being received at the radiation detection device 110. The processing unit connected to the system 100 analysis information detected at the radiation detection device and determine if the food or beverage container 102 is valid or fraudulent.

[0135] FIG. 2a shows a camera image which shows the fluorescent signal from a valid food or beverage container.

[0136] FIG. 2b shows a camera image which shows the fluorescent signal from a fraudulent food or beverage container, the fraudulent food or beverage container being provided with bleached paper and irradiated with UV-radiation, in this example 385 nm. The text CHEAT was written on the bleached paper with an Edding 2000 permanent marker. If compared to FIG. 2a the detected radiation from the fraudulent container is more than 10 times higher than the detected radiation from the valid container. Such additional radiation due to the fraudulent material is the base for rejection or classifying the container as invalid.

[0137] The combined spectrum of scattered and fluorescent light for each wavelength is shown in FIG. 3. This data was collected by illuminating a sheet of commercial-grade printer paper at close range, and collecting the scattered light with an optical fiber leading to a spectrometer. The spectra are normalized so that source peaks have equal height. Fraction of signal in the fluorescence band is 87% for 365 nm, 80% for 385 nm, 56% for 405 nm.

[0138] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 300 for fraud detection in a reverse vending machine. An appropriate system for performing the method is described in connection with FIG. 1 above. Of course, other systems may be used to perform this exemplary method.

[0139] The first step 302 of the method 300 comprises receiving a food or beverage container. The used container may be received by a receptacle mounted in the reverse vending machine, which is configured to support at least during the steps in of the method presented here. The next step 304 comprises illuminating the surface of the food or beverage container. The radiation emitting device illuminates the surface of the container directly on or close to the barcode and/or the security marking placed on the surface of the container. The next step 306 comprises detecting radiation which has been reflected and/or emitted from the surface of the container. The reflected radiation can be reflected at and/or in the surface. The emitted radiation can e.g. be fluorescence. The next step 308 comprises the transferring information from the radiation detection device to the processing unit. The next step 310 comprises analyzing of the information in the processing unit. The analyzing of the information being transferred from the radiation detection device does not include pattern recognition. The analyzed results in the next step 312. This step 312 includes determining if there is an existence of fraudulent material 312a or determining if there is a non-existence of fraudulent material 312b. The flowing step 314 comprises classifying if the food or beverage container as fraudulent 314a or valid 314b.

[0140] It is of course understood that variations to the shown embodiment may be effected and still be within the scope of the invention. The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

ITEMIZED LIST OF EMBODIMENTS

[0141] Item 1 A system (100) for fraud detection in a Reverse Vending Machine (1), said system comprises: [0142] at least one radiation emitting device (104) configured to emit radiation (106) within the wavelength range of optical radiation for illuminating a food or beverage container (102) being received by said reverse vending machine, [0143] at least one radiation detection device (110) configured to detect radiation (108) emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently reflected at said food or beverage container, and/or emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently transmitted through said food or beverage container and/or detecting radiation emitted from said food or beverage container in response to said illumination by said radiation detecting device; [0144] at least one processing unit (115) in communication with said at least one radiation detecting device, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to: [0145] receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; [0146] analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and [0147] upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.

[0148] Item 2. A system according to item 1, wherein said at least one radiation emitting device emits radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range, and

[0149] wherein optionally said radiation emitting device emits radiation only within said one or more wavelength ranges.

[0150] Item 3. A system according to any one of said preceding items, wherein said additional radiation originates from a fraudulent material (114) present on said food or beverage container.

[0151] Item 4. A system according to item 3, wherein said fraudulent material is one or more elements selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic foils, metal foils, textiles, bulk plastic or combinations of the same.

[0152] Item 5. A system according to item 3 or 4, wherein a barcode or security marking is present on said fraudulent material, and which fraudulent material covers or replaces an original barcode or original security marking provided on said food or beverage container, or otherwise alters the appearance of said food or beverage container.

[0153] Item 6. A system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said additional radiation comprises radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range and/or fluorescent radiation.

[0154] Item 7. A system according to any of the preceding items, wherein [0155] said food or beverage container is provided with a barcode or security mark, and [0156] said radiation detection device is configured to receive light reflected at, or in the vicinity of, said barcode or security mark; and/or configured to receive light emitted at, or in the vicinity of, said barcode or security mark.

[0157] Item 8. A system according to any of the preceding items, wherein said radiation detection device is configured to detect radiation within one or more wavelength ranges selected from a group consisting of the ultraviolet range, the visible range and the infrared range.

[0158] Item 9. A system according to any of the preceding items, wherein said at least one processing unit is further configured to: upon determination of the non-existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as valid or potentially valid.

[0159] Item 10. A system according to any of the preceding items, wherein said at least one processing unit comprises at least a first and a second processing unit;

[0160] and [0161] wherein said first and second processing units are configured to in cooperation perform said steps of: [0162] receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; [0163] analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and [0164] upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.

[0165] Item 11. A method (300) for detecting fraud in a Reverse Vending Machine System, the Reverse Vending Machine System having at least one radiation emitting device, a radiation detecting device and at least one processing unit, the method comprising the steps of: [0166] receiving (302) a food or beverage container; [0167] illuminating (304) the surface of said food or beverage container with radiation comprising wavelengths within the wavelength range of optical radiation, which radiation is emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device; [0168] detecting radiation (306) being emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently reflected at said food or beverage container, and/or radiation being emitted from said at least one radiation emitting device and subsequently transmitted at said food or beverage container, and/or detecting radiation emitted from said food or beverage container in response to said illumination with said radiation detecting device; [0169] transmitting information (308) corresponding to the detected radiation from said radiation detecting device to said at least one processing unit; [0170] at said at least one processing unit: [0171] analyzing said information (310) corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and [0172] upon determination (312a) of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent (314a).

[0173] Item 12. A method according to item 11, wherein [0174] said step of transmitting information corresponding to the detected radiation to said processing unit is performed only when detecting radiation comprising wavelengths outside the wavelength range received from valid food and beverage containers, and [0175] said step of determine the existence of additional radiation is equal to receiving information from said radiation detecting device.

[0176] Item 13. A method according to item 11 or 12, further comprising the step of: [0177] providing information representing at least one classified wavelength spectrum to said processing unit, each of said at least one classified wavelength spectrum being classified as valid or invalid; and wherein [0178] said step of detecting radiation comprises registering a wavelength spectrum; [0179] said step of transmitting information corresponding to the detected radiation to said processing unit comprises transmitting information representing said registered wavelength spectrum to said processing unit; and [0180] said step of determine the existence of additional radiation comprises comparing said information corresponding to the registered wavelength spectrum to said at least one classified wavelength spectrum, and based on this comparison identifying any existence of additional radiation.

[0181] Item 14. A method according to any of items 11-13, wherein said step of analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, does not include comparing information representing a spatially resolved image of the container surface to information representing a predetermined image of a valid security marking.

[0182] Item 15. A Reverse vending machine provided with a system for fraud detection according to any one of items 1-10.

[0183] Item 16. A Reverse vending machine according to item 15, wherein said at least one processing unit comprises a processing circuitry, and a first portion of said processing circuitry is arranged inside the housing of the reverse vending machine and a second portion of said processing circuitry is arranged outside the housing of the reverse vending machine; and wherein said first and second portions of said processing circuitry are configured to in cooperation perform said steps of: [0184] receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from said at least one radiation detecting device; [0185] analyzing said information corresponding to the detected radiation to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and [0186] upon determination of the existence of said additional radiation classify said food or beverage container as fraudulent.