Abstract:
An item handling system comprises an item processing device having input and output stations, a transport system for transporting items from the input station to the output station(s), one or more detectors for sensing one or more respective characteristics of items transported from the input to the output stations, and a communication device coupled with the or each detector for transmitting signals related to the output of the or each detector. 
     A remote monitoring device includes a processor, and a communication device for receiving signals transmitted by the communication device of the item processing device, the processor being adapted to monitor the received signals and to generate an output related to the items being transported.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an item handling system, for example for counting or sorting documents or coins. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The invention is primarily concerned with systems for handling documents of value such as banknotes but is also applicable to other types of document such as tokens, cheques, postal orders, tickets and the like as well as coins. 
     Many products exist for counting and sorting documents such as the De La Rue 2800 machine. In these machines, the documents are loaded into an input station, transported past one or more detectors which sense respective characteristics of the documents and then, depending upon the outcome of the characteristics which are detected, the documents are fed to an appropriate one of the output stations. In some circumstances, the transport may be stopped on the detection of a particular type of document and where this facility is provided, it is possible to utilize a single output station. Thus, for example, in the case of banknotes, these can be sorted on the basis of denomination, series, fitness, authenticity and the like into different output stations. Alternatively, a particular type of document such as a particular denomination or series can be outsorted with all other documents being fed to a cull station or the machine may simply be stopped on detecting such a document. 
     One problem with these types of handling system is the need to incorporate into each system complex software and hardware to enable the characteristics to be determined. Thus, typically, the detectors will sense certain characteristics of an item such as reflectance or transmittance and these properties will then be processed by an on-board processor to determine the denomination of the item being transported. This information is then used by the on-board processor to control the further transport of the item (as described above) and also to increment appropriate counters with the value of the item so that ultimately a total value can be obtained of the batch which has been processed. A further problem exists in that to provide the required range of machine operating modes and recognition, validation and authentication processes, the facilities for the operator to switch between processes requires more memory and less user friendly operator interfaces facilities. Alternatively, it involves more regular updating of machines with new operating configurations, new recognition pattern/authentication details etc. and operators to be regularly updated with the changes to the machines operating facilities. This requires either physically changing memory chips or individually reprogramming resident memory in each machine, a time consuming operation. Additionally, features such as error reporting, machine performance logging, throughput, operator performance and auditing required by the users are contributing to the problems. Furthermore, whilst the requirements exist to make the machines more sophisticated there exists at the same time the requirements that the sizes of sorting/counting machines are maintained or made smaller. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, an item handling system comprises: 
     a) an item processing device having input and output stations, a transport system for transporting items from the input station to the output station(s), one or more detectors for sensing one or more respective characteristics of items transported from the input to the output stations, and a communication device coupled with the or each detector for transmitting signals related to the output of the or each detector; and, 
     b) a remote monitoring device including a processor, and a communication device for receiving signals transmitted by the communication device of the item processing device, the processor being adapted to monitor the received signals and to generate an output related to the items being transported. 
     We have devised a new type of item handling system in which the item processing device is significantly simplified as compared with present day devices, some or all of the signal processing being transferred to the remote monitoring device. This has a number of advantages. Firstly, the item processing devices themselves have a much simpler and cheaper construction since it is not necessary to provide a full on-board processing capability on each device. Secondly, it allows an operator to utilize the item processing device from a remote location which may often be more convenient. Thirdly, in some situations, more than one item processing device can be linked to the same remote monitoring device again leading to significant flexibility. 
     Likewise, more than one remote monitoring device can be linked with one processing device. In addition it provides a potentially sophisticated interface with world wide communication networks to enable it to receive suitably addressed updated information such as programme and memory content updates from anywhere in the world and to send out suitably addressed information concerning such items as sheet processing rates, serial numbers, magnetic or optical readable information, image processing, OCR information, batch auditing, machine performance, faults occurring etc. to anywhere in the world. With the allocation of each mobile to an operator, i.e. identified with an operator, the source of data downloaded to each item processing device can be identified, just as data from each item processing device is identified. A significant advantage from using the hand held portable remote monitoring device exists in the facility to connect the item processing device(s) to the network only when they are required. 
     The distribution of intelligence between the item processing device and the remote monitoring device can be varied in a number of ways. In the simplest approach, the signals output by the or each detector are transmitted in substantially raw form to the remote monitoring device for further processing. These signals may undergo some preprocessing within the item processing device, for example to remove noise and to convert to digital form. However, all intelligence, particularly relating to the determination of features such as authenticity, denomination and fitness are carried out by the remote monitoring device processor. 
     In a second approach, some analysis of the signals from the detector(s) is carried out by a processor provided in the item processing device. Thus, the item handling device processor may perform an initial analysis of the detector output and generate corresponding output signals for transmission to the remote monitoring device. This initial analysis may comprise, in the case of documents, a pattern matching or correlation algorithm in which signals representing transmittance or reflectance properties of pixels of each document define test data which is then matched with sets of prestored data representing master patterns. The outcome of this correlation process which will simply provide for each set of prestored data a measure of the similarity existing between it and the test data is then supplied to the remote monitoring device which uses the measures of similarity to classify (identify by best fit) the document. The advantage of this is that the amount of data transmitted is reduced but with the penalty that some on-board processing is required by the document processing device. 
     The remote monitoring device can in some cases simply receive signals from the item processing device, analyse them and provide an output which is stored or displayed. For example, in the case of banknotes, the remote monitoring device may increment a count of the total value or number of banknotes being transported. In a preferred approach, however, the remote monitoring device processor is adapted to respond to the received signals to carry out a predetermined analysis so as to determine information about each item and to provide a corresponding output control signal which is supplied to the item processing device. Thus, the remote monitoring device not only receives signals from the item processing device but in response to them sends control signals to the item processing device. These control signals may be used to activate one or more diverters within the transport system or to halt operation of the device when, for example, an unrecognisable item is being transported. They may also be used to activate an indication, for example an illumination or audible signal, to the local operator about the status of the machine. 
     The item processing device and remote monitoring device may be connected via a hard wired system but preferably they communicate via a wireless link such as an infrared link. In addition, or alternatively, communication between them could be achieved via one or more of the Internet, cable, satellite, or telephone networks. 
     The remote monitoring device may comprise a desktop computer such as a PC but conveniently comprises a handheld, portable device such as a laptop computer, palm computer, PDA, a mobile telephone with on-board processing capability which can then be carried by the operator, or Internet physical or virtual server. 
     As previously mentioned above, although each item handling system may comprise an item processing device and a corresponding remote monitoring device, it is also possible to provide a plurality of item processing devices and a single remote monitoring device which can communicate with each item processing device. This enables a single operator conveniently to control the plurality of item processing devices simultaneously. This will typically involve the machine being provided with a unique address contained in its memory, and the machine responding to instructions transmitted from the palm computer or other remote monitoring device so addressed. Likewise, information sent from the machine will be identified as coming from that machine. The plurality of item processing devices handled may be of different types, for example single pocket document counters and two or three pocket document sorters. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some examples of document handling systems will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of the system; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the primary transport components of a first example of the counter/sorter shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the non-mechanical components in the counter/sorter of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the primary components in the palm device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3 but of a second example; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but of a second example; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but for use with the FIG. 6 example; and 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a further example of a sorter. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the overall system comprises a counter or sorter  100  which is linked with a palm computing device  150  via a communications link  160 . In turn, the palm computing device  150  is coupled via a link  170  with a gateway PC  180  which in turn is linked to a central cash monitoring facility  190  via a link  200 . 
     The counter  100  is shown in more detail in FIG.  2  and includes an input hopper  2  mounted beneath an inlet opening  3  in an enclosure  1  which comprises upper and lower parts  1   a ,  1   b  normally screwed together. Contained within the enclosure  1  is an internal chassis assembly (not shown for clarity) which itself has side members between which the sheet feeding and transport components to be described herein, are mounted. Two conventional feed wheels  5  are non-rotatably mounted on a shaft  7 , which is rotatably mounted to the chassis assembly, and have radially outwardly projecting bosses  6  which, as the feed wheels rotate, periodically protrude through slots in the base of the hopper  2 . 
     A pair of stripper wheels  15  are non-rotatably mounted on a drive shaft  16  which is rotatably mounted in the chassis assembly. Each stripper wheel  15  has an insert  17  of rubber in its peripheral surface. Shaft  16  is driven clockwise by a motor  200  (FIG. 3) to feed notes individually from the bottom of a stack of notes placed in the hopper  2 . 
     Transversely in alignment with, and driven from the circumferential peripheral surface of the stripper wheels  15 , are pressure rollers  30  which are rotatably mounted on shafts  31  spring based towards the stripper wheels  15 . Downstream of the wheels  15  is a pair of transport rollers  19  non-rotatably mounted on a shaft  20  rotatably mounted in the chassis assembly. Shaft  20  is driven clockwise from a second motor  210  (FIG. 3) to transport the note in the transport arrangement, in conjunction with pairs of pinch rollers  21  and double detector rollers  23 , into stacking wheels  27  and hence output hopper  105 . Pinch rollers  21 , rotatably mounted on shafts  22  spring based towards the transport rollers  19 , transversely align with rollers  19  and are driven by the peripheral surface of the rollers  19 . The double detector rollers  23 , rotatably mounted on shafts  24  are in alignment with the transport rollers  19 , and are essentially caused to rotate by the note passing between the adjacent peripheral surfaces of the rollers  19  and  23 . 
     Situated between the pressure rollers  30  and pinch rollers  21  are separator roller pair  25 , non-rotatably mounted on shaft  26  adjustably fixed to a top moulding assembly  32 , having a circumferential peripheral surface which is nominally in alignment with the peripheral circumferential surface of, but transversely separated from, the stripper wheels  15 . 
     Also forming part of the top moulding assembly  32 , is a curved guide surface  8  extending partly around the circumference of the rollers  15 ,  19  which, when the top moulding is lifted allows the operator access to the note feed and transport path so that a note jam can be cleared. A surface  37  provides note guiding from the end of the curved guide surface  8  to the conventional stacking wheels  27 . 
     The drive motor  200  continuously drives the drive shaft  16 , and, via a belt and pulley arrangement from shaft  16 , the auxiliary drive shaft  7  rotating the feed wheel  5 . Drive shaft  20 , rotating the transport rollers  19 , is driven by the other drive motor  210 . A further pulley and belt arrangement (not shown) between shaft  20  and shaft  28 , on which the stacking wheels  27  are non-rotatably mounted, provides the drive to the stacking wheels  27 . 
     A guide plate  9  extends as a continuation of the base of the hopper  2  towards the nips formed between the transport rollers  19  and the double detector rollers  23 . 
     A linear photodiode array  50  is mounted adjacent to the transport path. This extends across the full length of the banknotes (transverse to the feed direction), so as to detect light originating with a light source (not shown) reflected off the facing surface of banknotes as they pass beneath the detector. (Other known detectors could be used which, for example, only scan a portion or portions of the banknotes. Also, one or more detectors may be provided for determining transmittance, thickness, size etc. of the banknotes.) The array  50  is coupled with an on-board processor  220  which samples the photodiode outputs regularly. 
     In this example, the sampled photodiode output signals are temporarily stored by the microprocessor  220  and then fed, typically in digital form, to a communications device  230  which includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting the signals to the palm computing device  150  and an infrared receiver. 
     Typically, also, signals from the double detect rollers  23  will be output by the communications device  230  although in some cases the microprocessor  220  could itself respond to those signals, for example to stop one or both the drive motors  200 ,  210 . In that event, the microprocessor  220  would issue a warning signal via the communications device  230  to the palm computing device  150  to alert the operator. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a typical construction for the palm computing device  150  which includes a communications device  240  having both an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver. The receiver will receive signals issued by the transmitter of the device  230  and feed them to a microprocessor  250 . The microprocessor  250  will then carry out a pattern matching algorithm of a conventional type utilizing prestored master pattern data in a memory  260  in order to identify the banknote currently being fed by the counter  100 . This may involve a simple pixel to pixel comparison with one or more prestored patterns or a more complex system, for example based on a neural network as described in more detail in WO 00/26861. 
     Assuming that the microprocessor  250  can identify the denomination of the banknote being fed, it will increment a value count appropriately and typically also arrange for this incremented count to be displayed on a LCD display  270 . If the microprocessor  250  is unable to recognise the denomination of the banknote then it will issue an error signal via the communication device  240  to the communication device  230  of the counter  100 . The microprocessor  220  will respond to this error signal to stop at least the drive motor  200  to prevent further banknotes being fed. The microprocessor  250  will also display an error message on the display  270 . 
     The microprocessor  250  may also determine other information about the banknotes such as authenticity and/or fitness depending upon the information which it receives from the counter  100 . 
     The palm computing device  150  also has a key pad  280  to enable the operator to enter control commands of a conventional nature via the palm computing device to the counter  100  and/or to input the values of notes whose denomination could not be determined by the apparatus. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of counter in which an additional memory  290  is provided. This is intended to store sets of data representing master patterns or other data required for pattern analysis which can be performed by the microprocessor  220 . However, the microprocessor  220  will do no more than calculate a measure of similarity between the document under test and each set of data representing the master patterns and these results will be transmitted to the palm computing device  150 . The microprocessor  250  will then compare each measure of similarity with each of the others to select the “best match” and then utilize a look-up table or the like to determine the denomination corresponding to the identified pattern so that it can increment a count appropriately. 
     The counter  100  shown in FIG. 2 has a single output hopper  105 . The invention is also applicable, however, to counters/sorters having multiple output hoppers and FIG. 6 illustrates such an example with two output hoppers. The FIG. 6 counter  300  has an input hopper  401  having a base  402  with an aperture  403 , through which a high friction portion  404  of a nudger wheel  405  can project. The base  402  optionally has a second aperture  406  in alignment with a barcode reader  407  for reading data on note separators. Bank notes are supported in a stack on the base  402  against a front wall  426 , and are fed intermittently by rotation of the nudger roller  405  into a nip  408 , between a high friction feed roller  409  and a separator, counter rotating roller  410 . The nudger  405  and roller  409  are driven by a motor  200  (not shown). The documents pass through pinch rollers  411 ,  412  into a pattern detection region  413  in which a sensor  414  scans the bank note as it is fed and passes information back to a microprocessor  220  (FIG.  7 ). Each bank note is then fed through pinch rollers  416 ,  417  onto a drive belt  418  which conveys the bank note around various rollers  419  to a diverter  420 . At least one of the rollers is driven by a motor  210  (not shown). The position of the diverter  420  is controlled by the microprocessor  220 , so that bank notes are guided either towards an output pocket  421 , where they are stacked using a rotating stacking wheel  422  in a conventional manner, or to a reject bin  423 . 
     As can be seen, the bank notes are stacked on the base  402  and are urged forward against the front wall  426 . A small gap  427  is provided at the base of the front wall, through which individual bank notes and separators can be nudged. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 7, the counter operating components are modified to include the ability for the microprocessor  220  to control the diverter  420 . Consequently, when the palm computing device  150  receives signals from the counting device which it determines indicate that a banknote denomination cannot be ascertained, it sends the appropriate error signal back to the counting device and the microprocessor  220  responds by actuating the diverter  420  so that the banknote is diverted into the cull pocket  423 . Of course, there may be other reasons for diverting banknotes as in conventional sorters. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a further counter  500  based generally on the De La Rue 3700 sorter. This comprises an input hopper  502  into which a stack of notes is placed, a pair of output pockets  503 ,  504  into which banknotes are sorted and a cull pocket  505 . As with the previous examples, this sorter  500  will interface with a palm computing device  150  (not shown) for the purposes of control of the manner in which banknotes are sorted into the pockets  503 ,  504  and  505 . 
     Banknotes are fed from the input hopper  502  along a transport path  506  through a detector area  507  which obtains image information from the banknotes. This image information is temporarily stored and then transmitted to the palm computer  150  for analysis. The palm computer then issues a control signal to the microprocessor (not shown) of the sorter so as to control one of the diverters  508 ,  509  to feed the banknote into an appropriate one of the pockets  503 ,  504  respectively or to allow the banknotes to be transported to the cull pocket  505 . 
     The communication link  160  is described above as an infrared link. However, other forms of link could also be used including a hard wired link, or links via the Internet, cable, satellite or telephone network. Of course, where the palm computing device  150  issues control signals, these links must enable data to be communicated sufficiently quickly to be processed and for a control signal to be issued before the current banknote has reached the transport point at which the controlled action has to be effected or it has been transported to the output hopper. 
     The palm computing device  150  may operate in a stand alone manner with the counter/sorter  100 ,  300 . As mentioned above, it will typically include a stored pattern set and will also include other configuration and accounting software. 
     Conveniently, however, the palm computing device  150  can communicate via a communications device  400  with the gateway PC  180 . Again, this is via the link  170  which may be of any of the types already mentioned above. The gateway PC  180  enables updated pattern set data to be transmitted to the palm computing device and also can receive audit information and the like from the device  150 . 
     Finally, information from the gateway PC  180  can be uploaded to a central cash location via the link  200  which again may be of any of the types mentioned above to enable various cash management and other auditing processes to be undertaken. 
     One particular advantage of linking the palm computing device  150  with gateway PC  180  is that where there are a number of such palm computing devices, the gateway PC  180  can supply master pattern data and the like to all the palm computing devices relatively automatically.