Paper sheet processing apparatus and paper sheet processing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10002484-B2
Application number	US-201715472544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a paper sheet processing system capable of preventing a large number of wrong paper bills put in a paper sheet processing apparatus at one time from being exchanged with clean money. A bill processing apparatus sends information on a total amount of the bills supplied to the bill processing apparatus incorporated in a gaming machine and the number of games played by a player counted by a counter to a management server. The management server compares the total amount with a predetermined amount and if the total amount is higher than the predetermined amount, compares the counted number of games with a predetermined number. If the counted number of games is smaller than the predetermined number, the management server sends a report signal to a management apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A paper sheet processing system comprising:
a paper sheet processing apparatus configured to read a paper sheet inserted therein, and send data including information on a monetary amount of the inserted paper sheet;
a storage unit configured to store a total monetary amount calculated from the information on the monetary amount of the inserted paper sheet and sent from the paper sheet processing apparatus, a predetermined monetary threshold, and a predetermined threshold number of games;
a counter configured to count a number of games played at the gaming machine during a gaming session subsequent to the insertion of the paper sheet and prior to a cashout operation;
a detector configured to detect the cashout operation from the gaming machine; and
a determination unit configured to, in response to detection of the cashout operation from the gaming machine at the detector,
compare the total monetary amount with the predetermined monetary threshold stored in the storage unit,
compare the number of games played at the gaming machine during the gaming session with the predetermined threshold number of games, and
determine whether the inserted paper sheets are authentic based on the results of the comparisons.

2. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit is further configured to calculate a rate of change between the total monetary amount inserted and a monetary amount remaining at the time of the cashout operation, and determine whether the inserted paper sheets are authentic based on the results of the comparisons and a result of the calculation.

3. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the a paper sheet processing apparatus obtains image data of the paper sheet inserted therein and sends it to the storage unit, and
wherein the storage unit is further configured to store predetermined paper sheet identification information, and
wherein the determination unit is configured to extract a same type of paper sheet identification information as the predetermined paper sheet identification information from identification information included in the image data sent from the paper sheet processing apparatus, compare the extracted identification information with the predetermined identification information, and determine whether the inserted paper sheet is authentic.

4. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the paper sheet processing apparatus includes:
an imaging device configured to obtain a facial image of a supplier of an inserted paper sheet and acquire supplier image data; and
a line sensor configured to scan identification information on the paper sheet inserted into the paper sheet processing apparatus,

wherein the storage unit is configured to store the supplier image data acquired by the imaging device and the identification information read by the line sensor, and when the determination unit determines that the paper sheet inserted in the paper sheet processing apparatus is not authentic, associate the supplier image data acquired by the imaging device with the identification information read by the line sensor.

5. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the inserted paper sheet comprises one of a currency bill or a ticket including a bar code.

6. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the paper sheet processing apparatus reads a plurality of paper sheets successively inserted therein and sends image data including information on a monetary amount of the plurality of inserted paper sheets; and
the storage unit stores a total monetary amount calculated from the information on the monetary amount of the plurality of paper sheets inserted and sent from the paper sheet processing apparatus; and,
the counter counts the number of games played at the gaming machine during the gaming session subsequent to the insertion of the plurality of paper sheets and prior to the cashout operation; and
the determination unit, in response to detection of the cashout operation from the gaming machine at the detector:
compares the total monetary amount with the predetermined monetary threshold stored in the storage unit, and
when the total monetary amount is less than the predetermined monetary threshold, the cashout operation proceeds, and
when the total monetary amount is greater than or equal to the predetermined monetary threshold, the determination unit compares the number of games played during the gaming session with the predetermined threshold number of games.

7. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 6 , wherein
when the number of games played during the gaming session is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold number of games, the cashout operation proceeds, and
when the number of games played during the gaming session is less than the predetermined threshold number of games, the determination unit calculates a rate of change in total monetary amount remaining at the time of the cashout operation, as compared to the total amount inserted.

8. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 7 , wherein
when the rate of change calculation satisfies predetermined criteria, the cashout operation proceeds, and
when the rate of change calculation does not satisfy the predetermined criteria, a potential wrongdoing is determined and the authenticity of one or more of the plurality of inserted paper sheets is verified.

9. The paper sheet processing system according to claim 8 , wherein if a potential wrongdoing is determined, an image of a supplier of one or more of the plurality of the inserted paper sheet is retained.

10. A paper sheet processing system comprising:
a paper sheet processing apparatus;
a gaming machine; and
a server,
the paper sheet processing apparatus including:
a reading unit configured to read a paper sheet inserted through an insertion slot;
a verification unit configured to verify the inserted paper sheet using information on the inserted paper sheet read by the reading unit; and
a control unit configured to calculate a total monetary amount of a plurality of successively inserted paper sheets and send data corresponding to each of the plurality of inserted paper sheets,

the gaming machine including:
a storage unit configured to store the total monetary amount sent from the paper sheet processing apparatus, a predetermined monetary threshold, and a predetermined threshold number of games;
a counter configured to count number of games played at the gaming machine during a gaming session subsequent to the insertion of the plurality of paper sheets and prior to a cashout operation;
a detector configured to detect the cashout operation from the gaming machine; and
a control unit configured to calculate a monetary amount remaining to be cashed out, and send to the server, a result of the calculation, a count value of the number of games played during the gaming session, and a detection signal of cashout, and

the server including a determination unit configured to, in response to the detection of the cashout operation from the gaming machine at the detector, compare the total monetary amount with the predetermined monetary threshold stored in the storage unit, compare the count value of the number of games played during the gaming session with the predetermined threshold number of games, calculate a rate of change in monetary amount at the time of the cashout operation based on the total monetary amount and the monetary amount remaining, and determine whether the plurality of inserted paper sheets are authentic in accordance with results of the comparisons and a

Assignees

• Universal Entertainment Corp

Inventors

• Takeda Kengo

Classifications

• G07D11/16

  Handling of valuable papers (within containers G07D11/13) · CPC title

• G07D7/12

  Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• B65H2557/23

  Recording or storing data · CPC title

• B65H7/02

  by feelers or detectors · CPC title

• G07D11/20 Primary

  Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling · CPC title