Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux

Nippon Conlux Co., Ltd.

Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Coinco

Eiji Itako

Yukichi Hayashi

Masahiro Yasuhara

Jun Yamada

Genzo Yoshizawa

Tsunehiro Aso

Kunio Iwakawa

Mitsugu Mikami

Kenji Nishiumi

Yoshikazu Mori

Yasuyuki Kimura

Masanori Tanaka

Ichiro Fukuda

Yukio Ito

Satoru Tsurumaki

Futoshi Houjo

Seiji Takamatsu

Toru Kassara

A sheet recognizing device and method for precisely checking the authentication of a sheet by performing recognition of color and watermark of a sheet and detecting the subtle characteristic of a hue ink printed on one side of the sheet. The sheet recognizing device comprises first and third light sources for projecting light at predetermined angles to a sheet, a second light source for projecting light from a vertical direction, first and second light-receiving elements for receiving light at angles at which the hues of the hue ink printed area originated from the lights from the first and second light sources are different, a third light-receiving element opposed to the second light source with the sheet interposed therebetween, first computing means for computing a first color tone depending on the hue ink printed area on the basis of the light-reception outputs from the first light-receiving element due to the light from the first light source and from the second light-receiving element due to the light from the third light source, second computing means for computing a second color tone independent of the hue ink printed area on the basis of the light-reception outputs from the first light-receiving element due to the light from the second light source and from the third light-receiving element due to the light from the third light source, whereby the sheet is checked on the basis of the computation results by the first and second computing means.

Sheet recognizing device and method

A banknote identifying machine and method for testing a banknote for genuineness stably without being affected by a sensor or contamination on the banknote. Transmission photosensorsare moved over a banknote to be tested to scan the banknote with a light beam along reading lines L to obtain patterns of an amount of transmitted light through the banknote (FIGS.() and()). Patterns () of an amount of transmitted light corresponding to watermark portions are evaluated with maximum values () of patterns of an amount of transmitted light corresponding to ordinary design portions other than the watermarks to determine whether or not there is any watermark in the banknote and to authenticate it.

Banknote identifying machine and banknote identifying method

An automatic vending machine which is highly reliable and which does not require any complicated operations when performing sales using a non-contact IC card, and a sales method therefor are provided. When a non-contact IC card is held up for a first time against an automatic vending machine in standby mode, monetary amount information on the card is displayed on a display section without any monetary amount information being extracted from the card, whereupon the lamps of product selection buttons corresponding to products which are available for sale are illuminated. After a product has been selected, the non-contact IC card is held up for a second time, whereupon payment processing is performed such that the monetary amount information on the card is updated.

Automatic vending machine and sales method thereof

In quantitatively detecting light permeated through or reflected from a paper sheet in order to detect optical characteristics of the paper sheet, an optical paper sheet checking apparatus detects with stability and optimum precision. The optical paper sheet checking apparatus comprises a plurality of optical sensors which output signals obtained by optically detecting a pattern of a paper sheet, the optical sensors comprising light emitting elements and light-receiving elements; a driving unit which supplies a current to the light emitting elements in the plurality of optical sensors in accordance with a control signal; and a controlling unit which, while the paper sheet is not in a predetermined position, (a) supplies a maximum current having a predetermined value to the light emitting elements and thereafter supplies the control signal to the driving unit so as to decrease the supply of current, (b) determines and stores optimum values for each of the plurality of optical sensors, the optimum value being the value of current supplied when the output voltage of the light-receiving elements has changed by a predetermined value in proportion to its value at the maximum current, (c) when the paper sheet is at the predetermined position, supplies the control signal to the driving unit based on each of the optimum values which have been stored, and (d) selectively extracts the detected signals from the optical sensors and outputs detected data representing the pattern of the paper sheet.

Optical paper sheet checking apparatus having an automatic adjustment function

Detected data for a plurality of predetermined positions on a particular bill to be identified are each converted into relative-value data to a minimum value of the detected data for the individual positions, to extract a characteristic pattern of designs printed on the bill. The relative-value data are normalized by use of a relative value standard average to provide adjusted sample data. Then, for each of the positions, a distance value indicating how many times a difference of the adjusted sample data from the standard average is greater than a standard deviation (namely, standardization variable) is evaluated, to effect further normalization. The bill is then identified by judging whether or not the thus-normalized adjusted sample data, i.e., distance value for each of the positions, falls within a predetermined determination-standard-value range. Further, the distance values for the individual positions may be summed up to provide a totalized distance value, and the totalized distance value may be compared to a predetermined determination standard value to identify the bill. Provision of an approximate denomination table achieves increased identification accuracy in relation to two or more denominations that are approximate to each other. By previously setting determination standard data in relation to a particular denomination for which false bills may be frequently encountered, such false bills can be eliminated reliably with increased efficiency.

Paper-like piece identifying method and device

The invention provides a money sorting method and unit that can detect such a counterfeit as foreign money for which material, outer diameter and other features are very similar to a genuine coin, and that can decrease damage caused by the continuous trial of entry of counterfeit money. Sensors detect the material of a coin entered from a coin entry section, and at the same time, the outer diameter of the coin is detected by three sensors with a highly accurate method utilizing time ratio, pattern on the surface of the rolling coin is detected by converting output of the sensors to a basic pattern, and genuineness of the entered coin is judged based on these detection results. Detection detects features of the money entered from the money entry section based on output of the feature sensor, comparison judges whether the entered money is genuine or counterfeit, and if the entered money is a counterfeit, the counterfeit money is returned and at the same time an acceptance prohibition timer is activated, and while the acceptance prohibition timer is operating, acceptance is rejected whether the entered money is genuine or counterfeit.

Money screening method and unit

A coin handling mechanism includes a counter for counting coins incoming and outgoing to and from a cassette-type coin storage tube. In response to detection of temporary detachment of the cassette during collection of the stored coins from the tube, the counted value of the counter is initially set to a predetermined value. Then, in response to activation of a predetermined switch during next collection of the stored coins from the tube, a determination is made as to whether the current value of the counter is greater than the initially-set predetermined value. If so, a specific number of the coins corresponding to a difference between the current value and the initially-set predetermined value are automatically paid out from the tube, but if not, the cassette is temporarily detached for manual supply of a necessary number of additional coins to the tube without the stored coins being paid out from the tube. This way, the management to prestore a predetermined quantity of coins in the coin storage tube can be performed in a simplified manner during collection of the stored coins and supply of additional coins from and to the coin storage tube.

System and method for managing quantity of stored coins

A papers discriminating device which improves the accuracy in true or false judgment of imitation papers which are made by pasting parts of genuine papers on other papers. To a conventional process, a process is added in which the colors and shades of paper detected by a sensor are taken and analyzed by a CPU, the number of peaks of the entire shades and characteristic parts of the paper is examined for truth or falsehood by the CPU on the basis of the number of peaks of the shades, a ratio of peak level difference, and a combination pattern of the peak position and peak level.

Paper discriminating device including peak counting and analysis

A sensor section for obtaining identification data from a bill passing through a bill transfer path can selectively be mounted in a plurality of positions on the body of a bill identifying apparatus. The sensor section is mounted in one of the mounting positions, and a certain region of the bill passing through the transfer path is sensed by means of a sensor section to obtain identification data. When the use of forged bill is identified by the bill identifying apparatus, or after the machine has been used for a predetermined time, the mounting position of the sensor section is changed to another one. Thereupon, the sensor section senses other region of the bill passing through the transfer path to obtain identification data. Thus, the sensor section can easily cope with the use of the counterfeit bill even if the bill identifying apparatus is designed to be capable of sensing only a part of the whole area of the bill.

Bill identifying apparatus and a bill identifying method

An apparatus for identifying a paper currency. Before the front end of the currency is detected by optical sensors, the output signal (DATA1) from the optical sensors is stored in a first storage device. When the rear end of the currency subsequently passes across the sensors and the currency is no longer detected by the sensors, the output signal (DATA3) from the sensors is stored in a second storage device. If any currency-withdrawing device such as cord or tape is not attached to the currency, the DATA1 is equal to the DATA3 because these two kinds of data indicate the state in which nothing is present in the currency conveyance passageway. If such a currency-withdrawing device is attached to the currency, light from light-emitting devices is blocked or reflected by the cord or tape, thus varying the DATA3. However, the DATA1 is not affected. As a result, the DATA1 becomes unequal to the DATA3. In this way, attachment of the withdrawing device to the currency can be detected according to the results of detection made by the optical sensors, i.e., DATA1 and DATA3.

Currency-identifying apparatus

In a vending machine for which both money and a prepaid card can be used, a writing-instruction switch is provided for controlling of amount information into the card. When the writing-instruction switch has been actuated, the amount of inserted money and the credited value of the card are added up and the sum is written into the card for renewing its credited value. In this manner, it becomes possible to additionally renew the amount recorded in the prepaid card. Further, an amount selector may be provided for selecting an amount to be added to a prepaid card. On condition that money of an amount not smaller than the amount selected by the amount selector has been inserted, the selected amount and the recorded amount of the card are added up for renewing the recorded amount of the card. Thus, it becomes possible to write a desired amount into an already issued prepaid card.

Vending system capable of renewing record of a prepaid card

A card puncher for punching as a yardstick of use a card for getting coupon tickets on and used as tickets on omibuses and electric trains, and a method of controlling the card puncher. Data on a target quantity of conveyance of the card correponding to a position where the card is punched is stored in memory. A card conveyer is driven to convey the card by a quantity corresponding to data on the target quantity of conveyance stored in the memeory. A quantity of coast of the card after the drive of the card conveyer is teminated is measured. If the sum of the target quantity of conveyance and the measured quantity of coast of the card is within a predetermined allowable limit, the card is punched. If otherwise, data on the target quantity of conveyance in the memory is corrected such that the sum falls within the predetermined allowable limit, the card is returned to a position where the punching starts and the punching operation is retried.

Puncher and method of controlling the puncher

A printed paper dispensing apparatus for dispensing a predetermined number of printed papers in the form of bank notes, tickets or the like printed matter and a method of controlling the foregoing apparatus. In a case where a required number of bank notes move past abnormal bank note detecting sensors without abnormal bank notes detected thereby so that they are placed one above another in a layered structure on a belt conveyer, all the bank notes on the belt conveyer are conveyed to a dispensing outlet port after a predetermined period of time elapses after the last bank note has moved past the abnormal bank note detecting sensors. In a case where an abnormality is detected with the respective bank notes while they are placed on the belt conveyer in that way, the bank notes are introduced into an abnormal bank note receiving portion. Further, the bank notes on the belt conveyer are inched slightly in the direction opposite to the dispensing outlet port before they are conveyed to the dispensing outlet port in order to prevent the bank notes from standing upright on the belt conveyor.

Printed paper dispensing apparatus and method of controlling said

An automatic vending machine is provided which has a continuous sale controller for continuously selling a plurality of products within a total amount of coins inserted therein for a single purchase. Until the outstanding balance becomes zero single sale operations are stored in a single sale operation memory. When a count of a counter reaches a reference number while the single sale operations are being stored, a reference number detector generates an output. The regular sales price supplied from a product sales price generator to the continuous sale controller is updated to a discount price when an output is generated from the reference number detector.

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Sakado, Japan

Eiji Itako