Paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus

Abstract

In a paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus including a conveying path to convey a bill, a line sensor including a plurality of light sensor elements arranged on the conveying path in a string in a conveying width direction, and an identifying module to identify the paper sheet on the basis of a binary image produced by the line sensor by reading the paper sheet, the direction of arranging the sensor elements is inclined with respect to the conveying width direction of the conveying path.

1 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus, comprising: 
 a conveying path for conveying a paper sheet;    a line sensor including a plurality of sensor elements arranged on the conveying path in a string in a conveying width direction indicating a direction of width of the conveying path; and    identifying means for identifying the paper sheet on the basis of image data produced by the line sensor by reading the paper sheet, wherein    the direction of arranging the sensor elements is inclined with respect to the conveying width direction of the conveying path.    
   
   
       2 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination of the sensor elements of the line sensor with respect to the conveying width direction is more than a skew allowance angle allowed for the paper sheet to incline on the conveying path.  
   
   
       3 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the paper sheet includes a paper sheet in a shape of a rectangle, the apparatus further comprising: 
 inclination angle calculating means for calculating an inclination angle indicating an angle of inclination of the paper sheet with respect to the conveying width; and    outer contour detecting means for detecting an outer contour of the paper sheet according to the inclination angle thus calculated.    
   
   
       4 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the paper sheet includes a paper sheet in a shape of a rectangle, the apparatus further comprising: 
 inclination angle calculating means for calculating an inclination angle indicating an angle of inclination of the paper sheet with respect to the conveying width; and    outer contour detecting means for detecting an outer contour of the paper sheet according to the inclination angle thus calculated.    
   
   
       5 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the line sensor is disposed to cover almost entirely the conveying width of the conveying path.  
   
   
       6 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the line sensor is disposed to cover almost entirely the conveying width of the conveying path.  
   
   
       7 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the line sensor is disposed to cover almost entirely the conveying width of the conveying path.  
   
   
       8 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a rotary encoder for generating a pulse at a fixed period corresponding to a speed of conveying the paper sheet;    a frame memory for obtaining image data from the line sensor at timing synchronized with the pulse and holding the image data therein; and    image processing means for processing the image data held in the frame memory.    
   
   
       9 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a rotary encoder for generating a pulse at a fixed period corresponding to a speed of conveying the paper sheet;    a frame memory for obtaining image data from the line sensor at timing synchronized with the pulse and holding the image data therein; and    image processing means for processing the image data held in the frame memory.    
   
   
       10 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a rotary encoder for generating a pulse at a fixed period corresponding to a speed of conveying the paper sheet;    a frame memory for obtaining image data from the line sensor at timing synchronized with the pulse and holding the image data therein; and    image processing means for processing the image data held in the frame memory.    
   
   
       11 . A paper sheet identifying and checking apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a rotary encoder for generating a pulse at a fixed period corresponding to a speed of conveying the paper sheet;    a frame memory for obtaining image data from the line sensor at timing synchronized with the pulse and holding the image data therein; and    image processing means for processing the image data held in the frame memory.