Granted Patent B2

US 10,082,476 · App. 14/136,735 · Granted Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. Apparatus for determining at least one parameter associated with at least one media item, further comprising:

a support member mounted along a transport path and including two pairs of non-electrically conductive spaced-apart elongate members;

a first electrical contact element affixed to a first pair of the spaced-apart elongate members and a further electrical contact element affixed in a spaced apart relationship to a second pair of the spaced-apart elongate members, each electrical contact element including a contact portion for engaging the at least one banknote on the transport path and each electrical contact element formed to act as a leaf spring to bias the at least one banknote against the transport path and apply a compression force to the at least one banknote to ensure a positive electrical contact by the contact portion with the at least one banknote for sensing thereof, and each electrical contact element being curved and adapted to prevent snagging of the at least one banknote as the at least one banknote passes against the electrical contact elements;

wherein at least one electrical characteristic associated with a pathway between the first and further electrical contact elements is indicative of at least one parameter of at least one banknote in contact with and extending between the first and further electrical contact elements.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises a moisture content of the at least one banknote.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical characteristic comprises electrical resistance.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a processor configured to determine the electrical resistance of at least one banknote extending between the first and further electrical contact elements.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a change of the electrical resistance relative to a predetermined threshold resistance.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising an electrical circuit comprising at least one resistor of known resistance connected in series with the first and the further electrical contact elements.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to measure an output voltage of the electrical circuit to determine the electrical resistance of the at least one banknote responsive to a known input voltage of the electrical circuit and the known resistance of the at least one resistor.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a unity-gain buffer.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a power source.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein one or more of the electrical circuit and processor is mounted to the contact support.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first and the further electrical contact elements are locatable on a first side of the at least one banknote to determine the electrical resistance across or along the at least one banknote.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first electrical contact element is locatable on a first face of the at least one banknote and the further electrical contact element is locatable on a further face of the at least one banknote to measure the electrical resistance through the at least one banknote.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pathway between the first and further electrical contact elements is arranged substantially in parallel with a direction of travel of the at least one banknote.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least a contact portion of each electrical contact element for contacting the at least one banknote is substantially curved in the direction of travel of the at least one banknote.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and the further electrical contact elements each comprise a roller.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and the further electrical contact elements are fixed in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the at least one banknote.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and the further electrical contact elements are biased towards the at least one banknote.

18. A banknote processing module comprising apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .

19. A method of determining at least one parameter associated with at least one banknote, comprising:

determining at least one electrical characteristic associated with a pathway between a first electrical contact element and a further electrical contact clement supported in a spaced apart relationship via a non-electrically conductive contact support, wherein determining further includes applying a compressive force by each electrical contact to the at least one banknote located between the first electrical contact element and the pathway and between the further electrical contact and the pathway with each electrical contact acting as a leaf spring biasing the at least one banknote against the pathway ensuring a positive electrical contact with the at least one banknote for sensing thereof and each electrical contact being curved and adapted to prevent snagging of the at least one banknote as the at least one banknote passes against the electrical contact elements;

wherein the at least one electrical characteristic is indicative of at least one parameter of at least one banknote in contact with and extending between the first and the further electrical contact elements.

20. A method of determining at least one parameter associated with at least one banknote, comprising:

determining at least one parameter associated with at least one banknote when the at least one banknote contacts and extends between a first electrical contact element and a transport path and between a second electrical contact element and the transport path, the first and second electrical contact elements being spaced apart and each of the first and second electrical contact elements being held between first and second pairs of non-electrically conductive supports, and being generally U-shaped to minimize surface area contact with the at least one banknote to prevent snagging of the at least one banknote as the at least one banknote passes against the electrical contact elements.

21. Apparatus for determining at least one parameter associated with at least one media item, further comprising:

a first electrical contact element and a further electrical contact element supported in a spaced apart relationship via a contact support, each electrical contact element affixed to an elongated member and each electrical contact element formed to act as a leaf spring to bias a contact portion of each electrical contact element towards the at least one banknote and apply a compression force to the at least one banknote to ensure a positive contact with the at least one banknote for sensing thereof, and each electrical contact element being curved and adapted to prevent snagging of the at least one banknote as the at least one banknote travels past the electrical contacts;

wherein electrical resistance between the first and further electrical contact elements is indicative of at least one parameter of at least one banknote in contact with and extending between the first and further electrical contact elements;

an electrical circuit comprising at least one resistor of known resistance connected in series with the first and the further electrical contact elements; and

a processor configured to determine the electrical resistance of at least one banknote extending between the first and further electrical contact elements, to determine a change of the electrical resistance relative to a predetermined threshold resistance, and to measure an output voltage of the electrical circuit to determine the electrical resistance of the at least one banknote responsive to a known input voltage of the electrical circuit and the known resistance of the at least one resistor.

22. Apparatus for determining at least one parameter associated with at least one media item, further comprising:

a support member including two pairs of spaced-apart elongate members mounted along a transport path;

a first electrical contact element affixed to a first pair of the spaced-apart elongate members and a further electrical contact element affixed in a spaced apart relationship to a second pair of the spaced-apart elongate members, each electrical contact element including a contact portion for engaging the at least one banknote on the transport path and each electrical contact element formed to act as a leaf spring to bias the at least one banknote against the transport path and apply a compression force to the at least one banknote to ensure a positive electrical contact by the contact portion with the at least one banknote for sensing thereof, and each electrical contact element being curved adapted to prevent snagging of the at least one banknote as the at least one banknote passes against the electrical contact elements;

wherein electrical resistance between the first and further electrical contact elements is indicative of at least one parameter of at least one banknote in contact with and extending between the first and further electrical contact elements;

an electrical circuit comprising at least one resistor of known resistance connected in series with the first and the further electrical contact elements; and

a processor configured to determine the electrical resistance of at least one banknote extending between the first and further electrical contact elements, to determine a change of the electrical resistance relative to a predetermined threshold resistance, and to measure an output voltage of the electrical circuit to determine the electrical resistance of the at least one banknote responsive to a known input voltage of the electrical circuit and the known resistance of the at least one resistor.

Assignments (10)