De La Rue Systems Ltd.

Graham H Hilton

Barry J Curl

In an optical detection system for detecting a feature located at a predetermined lateral position on a banknote, for example, the banknote is moved along a flow path and a series of light receivers are arranged transversely across that portion of the flow path which the feature is expected to occupy, so that different ones of the light receivers will respond to the feature in the banknote depending on the lateral offset of the banknote at that portion of the flow path. The margins of the note are utilized in the detection system to gate the said light receivers so that for any position of lateral offset of the banknote only that light receiver which responds to the said feature of the banknote will produce an effective output signal. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, two sets of fibre optics are used to effect this gating, one set having its first ends (S1 to S5) opposite a light source at one margin of the sheet and its other ends (F1 to F5) adjacent the above mentioned light receivers (F1' to F5'). The said light receivers are constituted by first ends of the second set of fibre optics, the other ends (D1 to D5) of which provide light output for a detector at the other margins of the notes. An electronic gating system is also disclosed (FIG. 2).

Optical detection system for features on a sheet or web

Banknote sorter

A method of detecting the condition of a rectangular sheet (8), comprising feeding the sheet, e.g. by belts (2, 4), through a checking station (adjacent to II--II), the direction of feeding (6) being along the length or the width of the sheet; deflecting, e.g. by stationary guide rails (10a, 12a), a portion of a side edge of the sheet at the checking station relatively to the remainder of a zone of the sheet (8) lying adjacent to a line through the checking station transverse to the direction of feeding, the direction of deflection of the deflected portion being orthogonal to the line and to the direction of feeding, so that the deflected portion is stretched along the direction of feeding; and subjecting the deflected portion to a beam of radiation directed from means (14a) towards sensing means (16a) and intercepted by the deflected portion, whereby any substantial tear from the side edge into the deflected portion will be opened, and will be revealed by the sensing means receiving radiation through the opened tear.

Detecting the condition of a sheet

Apparatus is disclosed for determining the degree of stiffness of a sheet, for example a banknote, the stiffness being indicative of the condition of the banknote. The banknote (4) is drawn around a bobbin-shaped drum (1) by means of a pair of belts (2, 3) which grip a central portion of the banknote. The inner belt (2) drives or is driven by the central portion of the drum (1). The concave shape of the drum (1) imparts a curvature to the banknote in an axial plane, while the banknote is simultaneously curved in an orthogonal plane as it is wrapped around the drum. As the banknote passes around the drum it emits an audible noise which is picked up by a microphone (5). The amplitude of the microphone signal (7) is proportional to the crispness of the banknote and is indicative of the age of the banknote.

Apparatus for detecting the condition of a sheet

The invention relates to cassettes adapted to contain stacks of banknotes particularly for use with banknote handling apparatus. An object of the invention is to provide a cassette which has identification means to enable the apparatus to recognize a particular denomination of banknotes contained in the cassette. In the drawing (FIG. 1) the cassette has a device 9 on the side of the casing panel 3 to identify the denomination of the banknotes contained in the cassette. The device 9 is encoded to enable an associated sensing means mounted on the handling machine to interpret the encoded information. The encoding device may be for example, magnetic or mechanical, or it may be electromechanical. The specification describes a number of different examples of coding devices including binary devices using magnets, LED devices etc.

Cassette for banknotes

The invention relates to a cassette particularly for bank notes. The object of the invention is to provide a cassette which will give an indication if it is tampered with. The cassette has a shutter which can be opened to remove the contents and mechanism to move the shutter from a first position to a second position when actuated by an external actuator means. When the external actuator is removed the mechanism automatically returns the shutter to the first position. Means are provided to prevent further movement of the shutter after it has returned to the first position. In the drawings (FIG. 5), shutter 12 is actuated by rods 30 acting against the tension of spring 26. The shutter is held against movement by latch 44 engaging bar 24. When key 57 is turned through 180.degree., end 51 of bar 50 lifts latch 44 against spring pressure to allow shutter 12 to be opened by rods 30. Bar 50 is held in this position by engagement of rod 46 in slots 52, but is released as the shutter opens and spring 54 returns bar 50 to position shown in FIG. 5. When shutter is closed latch 44 holds it closed and the shutter cannot be opened again thus indicating that it has been used once, or tampered with.

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Lovedean, United Kingdom

Graham H Hilton