Abstract:
A method of controlling banknotes provides for acquiring a first image of a banknote having two successive prints; determining a relative deviation of the prints; determining deformation of the banknote; forming a second image as a function of the relative deviation, of the deformation, and of a third and fourth image characteristic of the respective successive prints; and emitting an error signal when the luminance values of the first image are outside first ranges relating to luminance values of the second image, or when the relative deviation is outside a second range.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a method of controlling banknotes.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    As is known, banknotes are made from a sheet of such a size as to contain several finished banknotes, and which comprises watermarked regions and/or metal bands, and is fed along a given path along which it undergoes various printing steps, each involving a different printing technique.  
           [0003]    The most common printing steps are offset printing, by which images normally representing a coloured background are printed; intaglio or copperplate printing, for printing faces of famous people and numbers representing the value of the banknote; and printing of the serial numbers. Offset printing is performed on both faces of the sheet with no alignment with the edge of the sheet, which therefore cannot be used as a reference by which to acquire the coordinates of offset printed details.  
           [0004]    Intaglio printing is performed at high pressure using a plate, and deforms the paper so that the plate is inclined, and the intaglio print itself possibly misaligned, with respect to the offset print. Intaglio printing is performed on one or both faces of the sheet, and may comprise a number of successive prints, each of which may be misaligned with respect to the offset or other intaglio prints. Any deviation of the various successive prints comprises translation along an X axis, translation along a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis, and rotation, all of which are also caused, as stated, by deformation of the sheet in the course of printing steps at different pressures.  
           [0005]    Once offset and intaglio printed, the sheet is quality controlled to determine acceptable deviations of the successive prints, and to assign each banknote a pass signal. The serial numbers are then printed on the respective passed banknotes, and the sheet is cut into individual banknotes.  
           [0006]    Quality control is frequently performed manually by a checker, and consists in visual inspection to ensure the offset and intaglio prints do not deviate too far from an ideal value, and that there are no colouring errors, i.e. over- or underinked regions, or blurring.  
           [0007]    Alternatively, quality control may now also be performed automatically using a television camera, which assigns each pixel a luminance value characteristic of a given surface of the banknote corresponding with the pixel, and compares each luminance value with a respective acceptance range. Automatic control is complicated by numerous factors, foremost of which is determining acceptance ranges enabling accurate control of both colouring and relative deviations, which in turn is complicated by the luminance of each pixel depending on various factors, such as the printed region partly occupying the surface corresponding to the pixel, and the type of ink and paper used.  
           [0008]    Determining the acceptance ranges is further complicated by relative deviations of up to a millimeter in the various prints being considered acceptable, and by effective colour control requiring the use of television cameras of such definition that each pixel corresponds to a banknote portion of 0.125×0.125 square millimeters. In relation to the size of the surface assigned to each pixel, an acceptable deviation of one millimeter therefore means the luminance value of each pixel may vary within a very wide range. That is, the surface corresponding to each pixel may be either fully inked or have no ink at all, particularly when the surface portion in question is located at the edge of a figure or number, thus calling for a wide acceptance range. On the other hand, however, a wide acceptance range would fail to provide for effective control by possibly passing banknotes which should be rejected.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling banknotes, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.  
           [0010]    According to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling banknotes comprising a first print and a second print, said first and second prints being effected at different stages; the method comprising the steps of acquiring a first image of the banknote; comparing said first image with a second image; calculating a relative deviation between the first print and the second print of said banknote; and emitting an error signal in the event the luminance values of the first image fail to fall within respective first acceptance ranges of the luminance values of the second image, or said relative deviation fails to fall within a second acceptance range; said method being characterized by comprising the further steps of calculating deformation of the banknote; and forming said second image as a function of the relative deviation, of the deformation, of a reference third image of the first print, and of a reference fourth image of the second print.  
           [0011]    The method according to the present invention is particularly advantageous by enabling colour control of the banknotes with none of the errors caused by relative deviation of the first and second prints and by deformation of the banknote. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view, with parts removed for clarity, of a device implementing the method according to the invention;  
         [0014]    FIGS.  2  to  4  show images used to implement the method according to the invention;  
         [0015]    FIGS.  5  to  7  show larger-scale views of portions of respective FIGS.  2  to  4 ;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the method according to the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 shows an image used to implement the method according to the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 shows a larger-scale view of a portion of the FIG. 9 image. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    Number  1  in FIG. 1 indicates a device for controlling banknotes  2  printed on a sheet  3 . Control device  1  comprises a television camera  4  for picking up one banknote  2  at a time and generating a discrete, digitized grey-tone television signal which is transmitted to an image memory  5 . Image memory  5  stores the images of banknotes  2  in the form of a matrix of dots or so-called pixels P, each of which is assigned a value Vb related to the grey level, i.e. the luminance reflected by a surface corresponding to pixel P. Each pixel P corresponds to a 0.125 mm square of banknote  2 , and value Vb represents a mean value of the luminance of the square.  
         [0020]    Image memory  5  is connected to a processing unit  6 , which comprises an image processing section, i.e. an image processor, and a logic section, and which provides for processing and comparing the image of banknote  2  with a given specimen banknote BC. For which purpose, processing unit  6  is connected to a specimen memory  7  structured according to the method of generating one or more specimen banknotes BC, as described later on. Processing unit  6  also comprises an input  8  by which processing unit  6  receives external data and commands, and an output  9  by which processing unit  6  supplies a signal S indicating acceptance or rejection of the controlled banknote  2 .  
         [0021]    Banknote  2  is produced using a known method comprising the steps of advancing sheet  3 , which is sized to contain a number of banknotes  2 ; printing, in one printing step, the graphic portion of the image representing the background of each banknote  2 , and which is commonly referred to as the offset print O; printing, in one printing step, the dark image and the numbers indicating the value of each banknote  2 , and which is commonly referred to as the intaglio or copperplate print I; controlling the quality of the printing; printing serial numbers on respective accepted banknotes  2 ; and cutting banknotes  2  from sheet  3 .  
         [0022]    Besides acquiring the images of the fully printed banknotes  2 , i.e. comprising offset print O and intaglio print I, device  1 , before commencing control, acquires a reference image  10  of offset print O without intaglio print I (FIG. 2), and a reference image  11  of intaglio print I without offset print O (FIG. 3), and stores in specimen memory  7  the characteristic luminance values VOp and VIp of all the pixels P of respective images  10  and  11 .  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 2, image  10  is referenced to a Cartesian reference system  12  comprising an X axis and a Y axis, and is divided into eight regions  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 . As shown in FIG. 3, image  11  is also referenced to Cartesian reference system  12 , and is divided into eight regions  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 , which substantially correspond to respective regions  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  of image  10 .  
         [0024]    Number  29  in FIG. 4 indicates an image of banknote  2  referenced to Cartesian reference system  12  and divided into eight regions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 , which substantially correspond to respective regions  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  of image  10 , and to respective regions  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  of image  11 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 5, 6,  7  show enlargements of respective regions  13 ,  21 ,  30  of respective images  10 ,  11 ,  29 . Three characteristic, distinguishable elements  38 ,  39 ,  40  of offset print O are selected in region  13 , and the respective characteristic coordinates XO1, YO1, XO2, YO2, XO3, YO3 calculated with respect to reference system  12 ; and three characteristic, distinguishable elements  41 ,  42 ,  43  of intaglio print I are selected in region  21 , and the respective characteristic coordinates XI1, YI1, XI2, YI2, XI3, YI3 calculated with respect to reference system  12 . In actual fact, three characteristic elements of offset print O are selected for each region  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  of image  10  and for each region  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  of image  29 ; and three characteristic elements of intaglio print I are selected for each region  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  of image  11  and for each region  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  of image  29 . For the sake of brevity, however, the following description will be limited to regions  13 ,  21 ,  30 .  
         [0026]    The FIG. 8 block diagram shows, schematically, the steps in the control of banknote  2 . In detail, control commences with a block  44 , which represents the step of acquiring image  29  of a banknote  2 . At this step, for each pixel P, camera  4  supplies image memory  5  with values Xp and Yp of the respective coordinates with respect to reference system  12 , and the characteristic luminance value Vb of pixel P.  
         [0027]    The next block  45  divides image  29  into the eight regions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  shown in FIG. 4. Which dividing step comprises determining eight groups of characteristic elements, each group comprising three characteristic elements of offset print O and three characteristic elements of intaglio print I; and acquiring the coordinate values of all the characteristic elements. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 relative to region  30 , coordinate values XO1b, YO1b, XO2b, YO2b, XO3b, YO3b of characteristic elements  38 ,  39 ,  40  of offset print O, and coordinate values XI1b, YI1b, XI2b, YI2b, XI3b, YI3b of characteristic elements  41 ,  42 ,  43  of intaglio print I are acquired.  
         [0028]    For each region, block  46  determines the deviations between all the characteristic elements of offset print O of image  29  and offset print O of image  10 ; and, similarly, determines the deviations of all the characteristic elements of intaglio print I of image  29  and intaglio print I of image  11 . That is, as regards regions  13  and  30 , the following operations are performed:  
         [0029]    DXO1=XO1−XO1b (element  38 )  
         [0030]    DYO1=YO1−YO1b (element  38 )  
         [0031]    DXO2=XO2−XO2b (element  39 )  
         [0032]    DYO2=YO2−YO2b (element  39 )  
         [0033]    DXO3=XO3−XO3b (element  40 )  
         [0034]    DYO3=YO3−YO3b (element  40 )  
         [0035]    As a function of the coordinates listed above, the angular deviations of offset print O are also calculated in the form of angular coefficients:  
         [0036]    DBO12=(XO2−XO1)/(YO2−YO1)−(XO2b−XO1b)/(YO2b-YO1b)  
         [0037]    DBO13=(XO3−XO1)/(YO3−YO1)−(XO3b−XO1b)/(YO3b−YO1b)  
         [0038]    DBO23=(XO3−XO2)/(YO3−YO2)−(XO3b−XO2b)/(YO3b−YO2b)  
         [0039]    As regards intaglio print I, and with reference to regions  21  and  30 , the following operations are performed:  
         [0040]    DXI1=XI1−XI1b (element  41 )  
         [0041]    DYI1=YI1−YI1b (element  41 )  
         [0042]    DXI2=XI2−XI2b (element  42 )  
         [0043]    DYI2=YI2−YI2b (element  42 )  
         [0044]    DXI3=XI3−XI3b (element  43 )  
         [0045]    DYI3=YI3−YI3b (element  43 )  
         [0046]    DBI12=(XI2−XI1)/(YI2−YI1)−(XI2b−XI1b)/(YI2b−YI1b)  
         [0047]    DBI13=(XI3−XI1)/(YI3−YI1)−(XI3b−XI1b)/(YI3b−YI1b)  
         [0048]    DBI23=(XI3−XI2)/(YI3−YI2)−(XI3b−XI2b)/(YI3b−YI2b)  
         [0049]    Block  47  calculates the relative deviations DXR, DYR and DBR between offset print O and intaglio print I of banknote  2  as a function of the above absolute deviations. In addition to relative deviations DXR, DYR and DBR, block  47  also calculates the deformation DDR of region  30  as a function of all the above absolute deviations and according to a known function not indicated in the present disclosure.  
         [0050]    Block  48  compares relative deviations DXR, DYR and DBR with respective acceptance ranges LR and BR. That is, relative deviations DXR and DYR are compared with a limit range LR normally equal to one millimeter; and relative angular deviation DBR is compared with a limit range BR expressed in the form of an angular coefficient. If values DXR, DYR and DBR all fall within respective ranges LR and BR, a signal S=YES is emitted. Conversely, if at least one of values DXR and DYR is outside a respective range of limit ranges LR and BR, a signal S=NO is emitted indicating rejection of the banknote  2  in question, by comprising at least one unacceptable characteristic, and the control cycle goes back to block  44  to control the next banknote  2 . Signal S=YES, on the other hand, indicates the banknote  2  in question is acceptable as regards deviation and deformation, and the control cycle goes on to block  49  to analyze further parameters.  
         [0051]    Block  49  forms virtual images, that is, eight specimen regions  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57 , which, when grouped in a predetermined order, correspond respectively with the eight regions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  of image  29  of banknote  2 , and define the virtual image  58  of specimen banknote BC in FIG. 9.  
         [0052]    With reference to FIG. 10, region  50 , which corresponds with region  30  of image  29 , is formed as a function of the luminance values of pixels P of respective regions  13  and  20  of offset print O and intaglio print I, and as a function of relative deviations DXR, DYR and DBR and of relative deformation DDR, so that, for each pixel P, the deviations in offset print O and intaglio print I in region  50  equal those in the corresponding region  30  of image  29  of banknote  2 . In block  49 , the above operation is performed for each region  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  as a function of respective regions  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  of the offset print O image, as a function of respective regions  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  of intaglio print I, and as a function of the respective relative deviations and deformations. That is, each pixel P in virtual region  50  is assigned a luminance value Vp as a function of luminance values VOp and VIp, which are added taking into account relative deviations DXR, DYR, DBR and deformation DDR.  
         [0053]    In block  59 , regions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37  are compared with respective regions  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  to determine whether, for corresponding pixels P, the difference between luminance values Vb and Vp falls within respective acceptance ranges R. If this condition is met for all the pixels P in all of regions  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 , banknote  2  is passed. Conversely, if at least one of the differences is outside the respective acceptance range R, banknote  2  is rejected.  
         [0054]    This marks the end of the control cycle, which then goes back to block  44  to control the next banknote  2 .  
         [0055]    The method described provides for controlling deviation of offset print O and intaglio print I separately from the colouring or inking, to prevent deviation and deformation from affecting colour control and vice versa, and is particularly accurate by taking into account not only axial and angular deviations, but also deformation of sheet  3 . Deformation control calls for dividing the image into regions to assume deformation within each region is linear and so calculate deformation over the whole region. If banknote  2  is relatively small, deformation may be assumed to be linear over the whole of banknote  2 , so that dividing the image into regions is less significant, and the whole of banknote  2  may be considered one region.