Methods and devices for verifying the authenticity of sheet-type products

Ultraviolet light is used for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, whereby the ultraviolet light transmitted, i.e. pervading the sheet material to be checked, is used for checking authenticity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP02/13941, filed Dec. 9, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Methods and apparatuses for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,463 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,103, for example. Known methods and apparatuses are based on the finding that the paper used for bank notes has special properties because it is produced from cotton, on the one hand, and contains no optical brighteners, on the other hand. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light there is thus no fluorescence effect, i.e. short-wave, ultraviolet light is not converted to longer-wave, visible light. Moreover, a relatively great portion of ultraviolet light is reflected by the surface of the bank note to be evaluated. Forgeries can therefore be recognized if they are irradiated with ultraviolet light for evaluation and the optical brighteners thereby result in longer-wave, visible light. With certain forgeries it has turned out, however, that there is no conversion of short-wave, ultraviolet light to longer-wave, visible light. In these cases a forgery can be recognized, however, when the ultraviolet light reflected by the forgery is examined. If the amount of reflected ultraviolet light should fall below a first, lower threshold value or exceed a second, upper threshold value, a forgery is likewise present, since the amount of reflected ultraviolet light is normally only within a certain range with authentic bank notes.

Known methods and apparatuses for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light have the disadvantage, however, that forgeries cannot be recognized if they have no fluorescence effect and the evaluation of the amount of reflected ultraviolet light also fails to yield a clear statement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem of the present invention is therefore to specify methods and apparatuses for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light which permit a more reliable distinction between forgeries and authentic bank notes.

In a first consideration, the invention starts out from the use of ultraviolet light for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, whereby the ultraviolet light transmitted, i.e. permeating the sheet material to be checked, is used for checking authenticity.

The advantage of the invention is in particular to be seen in the fact that, departing from methods and apparatuses known from the prior art, not only the surface of the sheet material to be checked which is exposed to the ultraviolet light used for the check, but rather the total material, i.e. the total thickness, of the sheet material to be examined interacts with the ultraviolet light. The effects on the ultraviolet light used for the check are therefore considerably more pronounced, so that the check of the ultraviolet light transmitted by the sheet material permits forgeries to be recognized even in cases which were hitherto not distinguishable from authentic sheet material, since the differences in the quantities of transmitted ultraviolet light are considerably more pronounced between forgeries and authentic sheet material.

In a second consideration, the invention likewise starts out from the use of ultraviolet light for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, whereby the ultraviolet light transmitted, i.e. permeating the sheet material to be checked, is used for checking authenticity. In addition to the ultraviolet light, however, at least one further light of a different wavelength is used, whereby the further light transmitted, i.e. permeating the sheet material to be checked, is likewise used for checking authenticity, for which purpose the transmitted ultraviolet light and the transmitted further light are set in a mutual relation.

The advantage of the invention according to the second consideration is in particular to be seen in the fact that, departing from methods and apparatuses known from the prior art, the check can be done almost independently of any soiling of the sheet material to be examined, since the effects arising from soiling on the light passing through the sheet material are the same or have a defined relation for both the ultraviolet light and the further light. When the transmitted ultraviolet light and the transmitted further light are set in a mutual relation, the effects due to soiling cancel out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a first embodiment of an apparatus for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light. In the following description it will be assumed that the sheet material is bank notes. The bank notes BN are transported by a transport system (not shown) in a transport direction T past a sensor20and a light source21. It is possible that the bank notes BN are transported along their long side or along their short side. The light source21produces light which is suitable for checking the authenticity of the bank notes BN and is in the ultraviolet range, i.e. has a wavelength below 400 nm. The light source21can produce the ultraviolet light directly, or a filter23passing only ultraviolet light can be provided. The ultraviolet light permeates the bank note BN at a place15which sweeps over the total length or width (depending on the selected type of transport) of the bank note BN during transport of the bank note BN in the transport direction T. The transmitted ultraviolet light is detected by the sensor20. The sensor20can be sensitive only to the ultraviolet light produced by the light source21, or a filter22only passing corresponding ultraviolet light to the sensor20can be provided. The light source21used can be for example one or more UV light-emitting diodes. It is equally possible to use for example one or more fluorescent tubes producing ultraviolet light. At the place of the filters22and23, further optical systems such as lenses can be provided in addition to or instead of the filters22and23to obtain for example a special focusing at the place15or at the sensor20.

To check the authenticity of the bank notes BN, the light source21emits ultraviolet light with a wavelength under 400 nm. Since during transmission of the ultraviolet light through the bank note BN most of the ultraviolet light is absorbed in the material of the bank note BN, there was hitherto no attempt to use the measurement of the ultraviolet light transmitted by the bank note BN as a criterion for checking the authenticity of the bank note BN. It was noticed, however, that—precisely because of the great influence on the ultraviolet light when passing through the bank note BN, i.e. because of the great absorption that occurs—the evaluation of the transmitted ultraviolet light has particularly good informative power about the material of the particular bank note BN checked and thus about its authenticity.

Despite the small quantity of ultraviolet light available after transmission on the side of the sensor21, better distinction between authentic bank notes BN and forgeries is possible since the relative differences between authentic bank notes BN and forgeries are very great.

Forgeries made of normal paper without an optical brightener, i.e. paper produced from wood, have the best permeability to ultraviolet light. If the forgeries consist of paper produced from cotton like authentic bank notes, the forgeries have poor permeability to ultraviolet light, since such paper as a rule contains added substances which absorb the ultraviolet light to imitate the lack of brightener known in authentic bank notes.

Therefore, bank notes BN can be distinguished reliably from forgeries if the quantity of transmitted ultraviolet light detected by the sensor20is above a lower threshold value and below an upper threshold value. If the sensor20detects a quantity of ultraviolet light which is above the upper threshold value, a forgery made of normal paper (wood) is present, while if the quantity of ultraviolet light detected by the sensor20is below the lower threshold value, a forgery made of bank note paper (cotton) is present.

Since the effect on the ultraviolet light is particularly great in case of transmission, as described above, forgeries can be reliably distinguished from authentic bank notes since the threshold values used are very far apart. The described effects occur for bank notes from all currencies examined hitherto; any deviations can be compensated by a suitable choice of threshold values.

For evaluating the quantities of transmitted ultraviolet light determined by the sensor20, an evaluation unit10with a connected memory11is provided. The evaluation unit10can be formed for example by a microprocessor with a connected memory11, whereby the memory11can have a volatile and a nonvolatile area. The nonvolatile area of the memory11stores in particular the above-mentioned threshold values. To permit the measurements from the sensor20to be processed by the evaluation unit10, an analog/digital converter is provided for example in the sensor20for converting the analog output signal of the sensor20to a digital value.

The evaluation unit10compares the values from the sensor20with the threshold values, thereby checking the authenticity of the bank note BN. Depending on the result of the check, the evaluation unit10identifies the bank note BN as authentic or as a forgery. This identification can be used for the further processing of the bank note BN, e.g. to control the above-mentioned transport system, thereby making it possible to separate forgeries from authentic bank notes. For this purpose the forgeries are transported to a special output pocket, for example.

For evaluation of the values of the sensor20by the evaluation unit10there are different procedures that can be used. For example, an average can be produced by the evaluation unit10from all the values produced while the bank note BN is transported past the sensor20, and said average compared with the threshold values. It is equally possible to determine at least one pattern for the bank notes to be checked and to store it in the memory11. In this case the values produced while the bank note BN is transported past the sensor20are checked for agreement with the pattern to determine the authenticity of the bank note BN. A further possibility is to examine only certain areas of the bank note BN, e.g. areas without printing, and to compare them with threshold values.

A further improvement in authenticity testing can be obtained if a further sensor30which can detect light in the visible range, i.e. with a wavelength greater than 400 nm, is provided on the side of the light source21. If the sensor30should also be able to detect light with a smaller wavelength, a filter32not permeable to these light components can be provided. If a forgery containing an optical brightener is present, the ultraviolet light of the light source21is converted by a fluorescence effect to visible light which is detected by the sensor30. To permit the signal of the sensor30to be processed by the evaluation unit10, the sensor30contains an analog/digital converter which converts the sensor signal to a digital value. If the digital value exceeds a predetermined threshold value for brightener measurement which is stored in the memory11, a forgery is recognized by the evaluation unit10.

FIG. 2shows a second embodiment of an apparatus for checking the authenticity of sheet material, in particular bank notes, by means of ultraviolet light. The second embodiment according toFIG. 2is built up essentially like the first embodiment according toFIG. 1. The function of the apparatus according to the second embodiment likewise corresponds essentially to the function of the apparatus according to the first embodiment. However, the apparatus additionally has on the side of the sensor20for ultraviolet light a second light source31which produces light in a visible range, i.e. with a wavelength greater than 400 nm. Should the second light source31have shorter-wave components, a filter33can be provided which does not pass them.

As described above in connection withFIG. 1, the first light source21and the first sensor20serve the purpose of checking the authenticity of bank notes by means of transmitted, ultraviolet light. The second sensor30which detects light in the visible range and is disposed on the side of the first light source21producing ultraviolet light serves the purpose—as described—of detecting the presence of optical brighteners.

Additionally the second sensor30is used for detecting the transmitted light of the second light source31for visible light. If a forgery with optical brightener contained in the paper is present, the fluorescence effect produces a relatively large amount of visible light so that the above-described threshold value for brightener measurement is exceeded. If the fluorescence effect does not occur, only a considerably smaller amount of visible light is present which is below the threshold value for brightener measurement. This light is from the second light source31and was transmitted by the bank note BN. From the second sensor30the corresponding values which are digitized by an analog/digital converter are passed to the evaluation unit10and set by the evaluation unit10in a relation with the values of the first sensor20, e.g. by division of the values of the first sensor20by the values of the second sensor30. Before the division of the values or instead of the division, a special correction of another mathematical relation can also be effected, which results from the same kind of influence on the visible light and the ultraviolet light.

This procedure permits compensation of any soiling of the bank notes BN to be checked, since the above-described effects on the light upon transmission by the bank note are not changed by soiling. Soiling instead causes a reduction of the transmitted light quantity, both for the light of the first light source21and for the light of the second light source31. The soiling of bank notes can therefore be compensated if the values of the first sensor20are set in a relation with the values of the second sensor30, as described. Suitable threshold values or patterns must in this case of course be provided for the check and stored in the memory11. The threshold values are obtained by means of authentic bank notes by setting values of the first sensor20in a relation with values of the second sensor30.

Since the soiling of the bank notes can have strong local fluctuations, it has proved especially expedient that first and second sensors20and30evaluate the bank note BN at the same place15.

Ideally, the wavelength of the second light source31is chosen—as described—so that the second sensor30already present for detecting optical brighteners can be used for detecting the transmitted light, for example in such a way that the light is in the blue range. It is equally possible to choose another wavelength to compensate soiling effects, however. In particular, the wavelength of the second light source31and the second sensor30can also be smaller than the wavelength of the first light source21and the first sensor20. In this case, however, a further sensor (not shown) must be provided on the side of the first light source21to permit a check of the presence of optical brighteners.

To compensate effects like aging, soiling or temperature fluctuations which affect the sensors20,30or the light sources21,31, it can be provided that a calibration is carried out in the gaps between bank notes BN to be checked. Reference values stored in the memory11are thus compared by the evaluation unit10with the values of the sensors20,30. If deviations appear, the evaluation unit10can readjust the light sources21,31for example. Calibration can also be carried out by means of separate monitor receivers (not shown), i.e. sensors receiving the light of the light sources21,31. If the monitor receivers detect deviations, readjustment is effected.

Besides the described embodiments, diverse variations are conceivable. In particular, the arrangement of the sensors and/or light sources can be changed.

Likewise, further optical systems such as lenses can be provided at the place of the filters22,23,32and33in addition to or instead of the filters22,23,32and33, for example to obtain a special focusing at the place15or the sensors.

Further changes result from the use of several sensors20,30and associated light sources21,31to permit measurements to be carried out in several tracks. One can also provide so many adjacent or overlapping tracks here to permit an all-over check of the bank note.

A further variation is possible if the light sources21or31emit not only light below or above 400 nm, but light of a limited spectral range. The first light source21can e.g. emit light in a range of 350-400 nm, while the further light source31emits light in a range of 400-450 nm. In this case the sensors20or30and/or the filters22,23,32,33can be adapted accordingly.

In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus, a lock-in amplifier is provided for amplifying output signals, before the analog/digital conversion thereof, at least one of the sensors20,30. Lock-in ampliflers are used in the measurement and processing of very weak analog signals, whereby the signal background is suppressed very strongly. With a lock-in amplifier the modulated output signal of a sensor is amplified and demodulated in a synchronous detector with a normalized reference signal of the same modulating frequency. In a lowpass the high-frequency components are then filtered out. The result obtained is a signal which is proportional to the amplitude of the amplified emitted fluorescent light (sensor30) or the reflected ultraviolet light (sensor20). Since the use of a lock-in amplifier is suitable in particular for amplifying very weak analog signals, it can measure very weak light with high precision. This is of advantage particularly when the intensity of the light source diminishes in the course of its service life and consequently the fluorescent light excited in the bank note to be checked or the ultraviolet light transmitted becomes weaker.

The present invention is especially suitable for bank note processing machines, e.g. for sorting and/or counting machines and/or money accepting machines.