EP1267311A1

EP1267311A1 - Barcoded banknote and associated apparatus for processing such a banknote

Info

Publication number: EP1267311A1
Application number: EP01305113A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kam Fu Wong; Hoi Keung Wong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2002-12-18

Abstract

Barcoding is a mature and widely used technology in recognition systems with different applications, including identification of merchandise. The present invention proposes to apply barcoding to bank-notes and this, coupled with the necessary technologies in counterfeit detection, should make bank-note recognition easier and more reliable. The invention propose the use of such bank-notes with suitably adapted bank-note processing machines, including vending machines, cash registers, bank-note counters, bank-note sorters and deposit machines and the like. This is expected to provide a less costly but still reliable means of automatically checking denominations of bank-notes and the detection of counterfeit bank-notes.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to bank-notes and to apparatus for processing bank-notes, such as vending machines, bank-note counters, bank-note deposit machines and bank-note sorting machines.
Currently, the known mechanisms for recognising the denomination of a bank-note and for detecting counterfeit banknotes in bank-note processing machines are very complicated. These known mechanisms use image comparison and/or scanning technology and/or other optical detection, which means comparing the data collected when the bank-note is passing through the machines with data in a database. Because of the complexity involved in recognising bank-notes, including their denomination, using the aforesaid technologies, the cost of the machines is quite high. This precludes the use of such technologies for every day applications, such as cash registers in supermarkets and retails stores.
This invention aims to provide a bank-note the denomination of which is easily recognisable by machines, including but not limited to machines such as vending machines, currency deposit machines and bank-note counters. The invention also aims to provide a bank-note processing machine which is able to recognise the denomination of such a bank-note.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a bank-note characterised in that at least one barcode is printed on at least one designated area on the bank-note to denote the denomination and/or the authenticity of the bank-note.
The barcoding is machine recognisable and different bar codes are, of course, used for each denomination. In addition, the barcoding can also be used as one of the security features on the bank-note.
In another aspect, the invention provides a bank-note processing machine having a barcode reader installed therein.
The bank note acceptor adding additional counterfeit detectors and/or dispenser and/or safe may become a vending machines or money exchange machines or deposit machines etc.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURES 1 to 3 show in diagrammatic outline three different barcoded bank-notes embodying the invention;
FIGURE 4 shows a sample barcode for a designated bank-note denomination;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a bank-note accepting machine embodying the invention;
FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a change dispensing machine embodying the invention connected to a point of sales system;
FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of a combined money exchanging machine and bank-note accepting machine embodying the invention;
FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of a vending machine embodying the invention;
FIGURE 9 is a schematic representation of a change dispensing machine embodying the invention;
FIGURE 10 indicates an exemplary location for printing a security code on a bank-note embodying the invention; and
FIGURE 11 shows one example of a security code for a bank-note embodying the invention.
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, a first exemplary barcoded bank-note shown in Figure 1 is printed on both sides with barcodes at the two locations marked A. The barcode represents the denomination of the bank-note. The locations A can be at selected positions anywhere on the bank-note. The locations A and the bar codes themselves can be of any size. However, the bar codes printed on the bank-note may conveniently be chosen to be comparable to the bar code printed on merchandises for easy handling by machines.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, barcodes are printed at two locations on each side of the bank-note to enable convenient feeding and reading of the bank-note by machine in all four possible orientations of the bank-note. Figure 2, on the other hand, shows an embodiment in which barcodes are printed at only one location on one or both sides of the bank-note.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a barcode is printed only at location A and the bank-note is divided into two sections B and C using different colours on both sides. The different colous help to indicate the direction in which the bank-note should be fed to a machine to ensure that the bar code at location A can be read by the machine.
Figures 1 to 3 merely show some examples of a barcoded bank-note. It will be appreciated, however, that there are many different ways of printing a bank-note with barcoded denominations and security features. However, as long as a barcode is printed on the bank-note as an indication of the denomination of the bank-note and/or to provide a security feature, it becomes a bar-coded bank note embodying the invention.
A barcoded bank-note embodying the invention may be printed with a barcode which is invisible under normal sunlight, the barcode being made in such as watermark on the banknote and becoming visible when illuminated by special light such as light from a fluorescent, ultraviolet or infrared lamp. The barcoded bank-notes illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 may be provided with such normally invisible barcodes. Thus, barcoded banknotes embodying the invention can be of three kinds. A first kind has only visible barcodes and a second kind has only barcodes that are usually invisible and can be seen under special light. The third kind is a combination of the first and second kinds, i.e. there are visible barcodes and invisible barcodes on one banknote.
In the following examples of bank-note processing machines embodying the invention, any of the above mentioned kinds of barcoded banknotes may be used. For watermark barcoded banknotes, setting fluorescent lamps in the devices and equipments are included.
Figure 4 shows an example of a barcode which may be printed on a bank-note embodying the invention. In fact, however, the bank-note issuer could use any type of barcode. The barcode of Figure 4 is divided into three sections namely D, E and F. The section E represents the denomination of the bank-note, while the sections D & F are starting and ending codes, such as country codes etc. For example, section D section may represent the issuing country, section F may represent a serial number of the bank-noteand section E may represent the value of the bank-note, i.e. 20 dollars, 100 dollars etc.
Figure 5 shows one example of a bank-note accepting machine for accepting barcoded bank-notes embodying the invention. The illustrated bank-note accepting machine comprises a bank-note feeder and transport module 1, a bank-note authentication module 2, a barcode reader 3, a central processing unit (CPU) 4 and a display unit 5.
A bank-note fed into the bank-note accepting machine is transported all the way throught the machine by the feeder and transport module 1, which can be a belt-driven transport or any other type of transport suitable for transporting bank-notes. As the bank-note passes through the bank-note authentication module 2, counterfeit detectors installed in the module check that the bank-note is genuine and the barcode reader 3 simultaneously reads and authenticates the barcode on the bank-note to determine the denomination of the bank-note. Output signals from the module 2 and reader 3 corresponding to data derived from the bank-note are send to the CPU 4 for further processing. The final result is then displayed on the display unit 5.
For example, the CPU stores the corresponding barcode for each denomination and the data collected by the barcode reader 3 is compared with the stored denominations file to determine the denomination of a bank-note passing through the reader 3. The value of the bank-notes checked and counted by the machine is displayed on display unit 5.
This bank-note accepting machine may be incorporated in products for point-of-sales operations for retailer stores, government agents and banks etc.
Figure 6 shows a point-of-sale money change dispensing machine which includes a merchandise recognition reader 8 that can be a barcode reader or other scanner (8) for determining the identity and sales value of a product, a central processing unit CPUB 6, a display 7 and a change dispenser 9. For example, if the change dispenser is used in a supermarket, a cashier first scans the barcode on the merchandise purchased using the reader 8 to send information to the CPUB 6 to update the stock and accounting systems. The cashier then keys in the amount in bank notes received from the customer to the CPUB 6, the accounting system calculates and displays the net balance, if any, owing to the customer and the change is dispensed from the money change dispenser to the customer.
With this money change dispenser connecting to the sales, stock and accounting system of the supermarket, the cashiers can work more efficiently and accurately and the management can have on-line information regarding the cash position of each and every cashier in the store. Of course, this machine can be used for other applications as well.
Figure 7 shows an example of a change dispensing machine for barcoded bank-notes embodying the invention. The bank-note changing machine comprises a bank-note feeder and transport module 1, a bank-note authentication module 2, a the barcode reader 3, a central processing unit CPUA 4, a display unit 5, a merchandise recognition reader 8 and a money change dispenser.
Figure 7 shows a machine featuring the combined the functions of the barcoded bank-note accepting machine of Figure Sand the point-of-sale change dispensing machine of Figure 6. Such a machine can fully automated the process of validating barcoded bank-notes, point-of-sale accounting and the dispensing of change in stores, restaurant, supermarkets and the like. The potential for application is huge.
Figure 8 shows a self-service vending machine which adds a merchandise dispensing unit 10, such as a cold drink dispenser, cigarette dispenser or the like to the machine shown in Figure 6. The user of the Figure 8 machine can feed in a barcoded bank-notewhich the system will check. If the bank-note is validated the machine will then dispense the merchandise purchased and give the required change back to the customer.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary money change dispenser consisting of compartments for different denominations of bank-notes and coin dispensers. The change money is dispensed as instructed by the CPU of Figure 8 onto the stacker shown on the right hand side of the dispenser.
Barcoded bank-notes in accordance with the present invention can be further developed as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, where some secret codes or any graphical codes, as indicated in Figure 11 on a designated area of the bank-note to denote its denomination and currency to enhance security. The code printed is specially designed so that it is not visually readable but can be decoded by a computer device and or special equipment for currency and or denomination recognition. To employ such codes and graphics to represent currency and or denominations should make counterfeiting bank note more difficult.
Barcoding is a mature and widely used technology in recognition systems with different applications, including identification of merchandise. The proposal of the present invention to apply barcoding to bank-notes, coupled with the necessary technologies in counterfeit detection, should make bank-note recognition easier and more reliable. The invention propose the use of such bank-notes with suitably adapted bank-note processing machines, including vending machines, cash registers, bank-note counters, bank-note sorters and deposit machines and the like. This is expected to provide a less costly but still reliable means of automatically checking denominations of bank-notes and the detection of counterfeit bank-notes.
It is envisaged that, with the anticipated popularity of the barcoded bank-notes proposed by the present invention, the different machines describe herein will be widely used with unlimited applications and market potential.

Claims

A bank-note characterised in that at least one barcode is printed on at least one designated area (A) on the bank-note to denote the denomination and/or the authenticity of the bank-note.
A barcoded bank-note according to claim 1, wherein the barcode comprises starting (D) and ending codes (F) and a denomination and/or authenticity code.
A barcoded bank-note according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bank-note has different colours on different areas (B, C) of the bank-note.
A barcoded bank-note according to any preceding claim, wherein the barcode is normally invisible in sunlight but is visible in light of another wavelength.
A bank-note processing machine having a barcode reader (3) installed therein.
A barcoded bank-note accepting machine,comprising: feeding means (1) for accepting and transporting a bank-note throught the machine; authenticating means (2) for authenticating security features of a barcoded bank-note and delivering a warning signal upon detection of a suspected counterfeit bank-note; barcode reading means (3) to read and authenticate the barcode on the bank-note; a processing means (4) for receiving and processing output signals from the authenticating means and the barcode reading means; a display for displaying the value of the bank-note and its authenticity.
A point-of sale transaction processing system for recognising and calculating the amount due for merchandise purchased and for dispensing change for the amount paid, which system comprises: merchandise recognising means (8) for recognising and pricing an irtem of merchandise; processing means (6) for storing information, receiving data from the merchandise recognising means and for calculating any change to be paid to a customer; a display unit (7) for displaying details of a sales transaction; and change dispensing means (9) for dispensing change to the customer automatically in response to a control signal from the processing means.
An automatic change dispensing system for barcoded bank-notes, comprising a bank-note accepting machine according to claim 6 in combination with a point of sale transaction processing system according to claim 7, which system is capable of validating bank-notes received and dispensing any change to the customer.
An automatic vending machine using barcoded bank-notes comprising an automatic change dispensing system according to claim 8 in combination with a merchandise dispensing unit for dispensing purchased merchandise and change upon detection and validation of bank-notes inserted by a customer.
A bank-note having at least one designated area on the surface in which a symbol or icon is placed, the symbol or icon representing the issuing country and value of the bank-note, the bank-note being identifiable and its value being readable by secret codes decodable by specialized or non specialized machines.