JP5091593B2 - Banknote handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a banknote processing apparatus including a skew correction mechanism that accurately aligns banknotes with respect to a banknote recognition unit.

  In general, a banknote processing apparatus identifies the validity of a banknote inserted by a user from a banknote insertion slot, and provides various products and services according to the banknote value determined to be valid, for example, a game It is incorporated in game media lending machines installed in the venue, or vending machines and ticket machines installed in public places. Such a banknote processing apparatus includes a banknote transport mechanism that transports banknotes inserted into a banknote insertion slot, an operation device such as a banknote identification unit that determines (also referred to as authenticity determination) the effectiveness of a banknote being transported, and these Control means for driving and controlling the operating equipment is provided.

  By the way, the banknote identification unit is configured to read the banknote in the transport state with an identification sensor such as a line sensor, and compare the output with regular data stored in advance to determine the validity. In order to read the bills at a uniform level, the bills can be conveyed in an accurate state (correcting the inclination of the bill in the conveyance direction, hereinafter referred to as skew correction) without skewing. Required. Further, depending on the type of banknote, the width may be different, and in order to ensure reading accuracy, it is necessary to feed the banknote to the banknote recognition unit in a state of being accurately positioned (centering or the like).

As described above, for example, a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a banknote processing apparatus including a skew correction mechanism that positions a banknote in an accurate state with respect to a banknote recognition unit. In this known technique, a pair of movable pieces having a substantially U-shaped cross section are provided along the bill conveyance path so as to regulate both side edges of the bills to be conveyed, and the alignment pieces are driven to approach each other. I am trying to move it in the direction you want. And if a pair of movable piece driven in the direction which mutually approaches by a matching motor touches both sides of a bill, and a deformation resistance force of a bill becomes larger than holding torque of a matching motor, a step-out or a slip will arise in a matching motor For this reason, the pair of movable pieces are prevented from moving, and thereby the center of the banknote is aligned with the center of the transport path (skew is also removed).
JP 2002-279487 A

  According to the skew correction mechanism described above, the movable pieces that come into contact with both side edges of the conveyed banknote are driven so as to approach each other until the alignment motor is stepped out or slipped. As a result, a bill conveyance error may occur.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a banknote processing apparatus including a skew correction mechanism that can reduce the possibility of damage of banknotes and position and skew correct banknotes. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention described in claim 1 is configured such that a base driven in a central direction of a banknote transport path through which a banknote is transported by a driving source and a center direction of the banknote transport path. A bill processing apparatus having a skew correction mechanism that corrects an inclination of a bill in a conveying direction, and a movable piece that is supported by the base and regulates a side edge of the bill to be conveyed. A spring that urges toward the center of the transport path, the base is driven toward the center of the bill transport path, and the movable piece comes into contact with a side edge of the banknote to counteract the bill against the drive source; When a load due to force is applied, the base is movable with respect to the movable piece against the urging force of the spring.

  According to the banknote processing apparatus having the above configuration, when a banknote is inserted into a banknote insertion slot provided in the apparatus body, the banknote is conveyed to the skew correction mechanism. In this state, the base of the skew correction mechanism is driven toward the central direction of the banknote transport path through which banknotes are transported, and the movable piece supported by the base via a spring is also a side edge of the banknotes. It comes to hit. And when the movable piece abuts against the side edge of the bill and the load due to the reaction force of the bill is applied to the drive source, the base is movable relative to the movable piece against the biasing force of the spring, That is, it can move toward the center side of the bill. The movable piece applied to the side edge of the bill during the movement of the base does not move in the central direction of the bill conveyance path, and performs skew correction on the bill. In this way, since the movable piece supported movably on the base via the spring is applied to the side edge of the banknote and skew correction is performed, the load on the banknote is reduced, and the banknote is subjected to folds, wrinkles, etc. It is possible to easily align the centers without generating them.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the said movable piece is provided with the plate-shaped control wall which contacts the side edge of the banknote conveyed.

  In such a structure, the contact area | region with respect to the movable piece of a banknote becomes an inner surface part of a plate-shaped control wall. In other words, the contact of the movable piece to the bill side edge becomes a plate-like regulation wall, and there is no portion that comes into contact with the upper surface of the side region along the bill conveyance direction (the movable piece is described in Patent Document 1 described above). Therefore, the contact area of the movable piece with respect to the banknote is reduced, so that damage to the banknote can be effectively suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that at least one of a front end position and a rear end position of the restriction wall is provided with a protrusion protruding upward from the upper edge of the restriction wall.

  In such a configuration, when the banknote skew is removed, the banknote does not run over the regulation wall of the movable piece, and the banknote can be reliably aligned with the center of the banknote transport path.

  According to the present invention, when a banknote is positioned and skew-corrected, a banknote processing apparatus that does not damage the banknote is obtained.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 6 are views showing the configuration of the banknote handling apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the opening / closing member opened with respect to the main body frame of the apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power transmission unit of the apparatus main body, FIG. 4 is a right side view schematically showing the transport path of the bill inserted from the insertion slot, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a left side view showing a schematic configuration of a driving source and a driving force transmission mechanism for driving the banknote transport mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a power transmission mechanism for driving a pressing plate disposed in the banknote storage unit. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of these.

  The banknote handling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is configured to be incorporated into various gaming machines such as a slot machine, for example, and is provided in the apparatus main body 2 and the apparatus main body 2 to stack and store a large number of banknotes. A banknote storage unit (banknote storage stacker; safe) 100 that can be used. In this case, the banknote storage unit 100 may be detachable from the apparatus main body 2. For example, by pulling the handle 101 provided on the front surface in a state where a lock mechanism (not shown) is released, It can be removed from the apparatus main body 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus main body 2 includes a main body frame 2A and an opening / closing member 2B configured to be opened / closed with respect to the main body frame 2A with one end portion as a rotation center. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body frame 2 </ b> A and the opening / closing member 2 </ b> B, when the opening / closing member 2 </ b> B is closed with respect to the main body frame 2 </ b> A, a gap through which bills are conveyed to the opposite portions (banknote conveying path 3) Is formed, and the bill insertion slot 5 is formed on the front exposed side of both so as to coincide with the bill transport path 3. The bill insertion slot 5 has a slit-like opening so that it can be inserted into the apparatus main body 2 from the short side of the bill.

  In the apparatus main body 2, a banknote transport mechanism 6 that transports banknotes along the banknote transport path 3, an insertion detection sensor 7 that detects a banknote inserted into the banknote insertion slot 5, and an insertion detection sensor 7. A banknote reading means 8 that is installed on the downstream side and reads information on a banknote in a conveying state, a skew correction mechanism 10 that accurately positions and conveys the banknote with respect to the banknote reading means 8, and a banknote is a skew correction mechanism. And a control means 200 (control circuit board 200A; for controlling driving of the bill transport mechanism 6, bill reading means 8 and skew correction mechanism 10 described above) (See FIG. 12).

Hereafter, each above-mentioned structural member is demonstrated in detail.
The banknote conveyance path 3 extends from the banknote insertion slot 5 toward the back side, is bent so as to incline downward on the rear side, and is finally bent in the vertical direction. Is formed. In the banknote transport path 3, a discharge port 3a for discharging the banknotes to the banknote storage unit 100 is formed, and the banknotes discharged from the banknote transport path 3 are sent to the introduction port 103 of the banknote storage unit 100 in the vertical direction. .

  The banknote transport mechanism 6 is a mechanism that enables the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 5 to be transported along the insertion direction and allows the banknote in the inserted state to be transported back toward the banknote insertion slot 5. The banknote transport mechanism 6 is driven by a motor 13 that is a drive source installed in the apparatus main body 2 and is rotated by the motor 13, and is disposed in the banknote transport path 3 at predetermined intervals along the banknote transport direction. Conveying roller pairs (14A, 14B), (15A, 15B), (16A, 16B), and (17A, 17B) are provided.

  The pair of transport rollers is installed so that a part thereof is exposed in the banknote transport path 3, and the transport rollers 14 </ b> B, 15 </ b> B, 16 </ b> B, and 17 </ b> B installed on the lower side of the banknote transport path 3 are all driven by the motor 13. The conveying rollers 14A, 15A, 16A, and 17A installed on the upper side are pinch rollers that are driven with respect to these rollers. In addition, the conveyance roller pair (14A, 14B) that first clamps the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot 5 and transports it to the back side is located at the center position of the banknote transport path 3 as shown in FIGS. About the conveyance roller pairs (15A, 15B), (16A, 16B), and (17A, 17B) that are installed at one place and are sequentially arranged on the downstream side thereof, along the width direction of the banknote conveyance path 3, Two places are installed at predetermined intervals.

  Moreover, about the conveyance roller pair (14A, 14B) arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the above-mentioned banknote insertion slot 5, normally, the upper conveyance roller 14A is in the state spaced apart from the lower conveyance roller 14B. When the insertion detection sensor 7 detects this insertion, the upper transport roller 14A is driven toward the lower transport roller 14B to sandwich the inserted bill. The upper transport roller 14A is driven and controlled by a drive source 70 (see the block diagram of FIG. 12) so as to contact / separate the transport roller 14B. The drive source 70 can be configured by a motor, a solenoid, or the like, and is installed in the opening / closing member 2B.

  When the skew correction mechanism 10 (to be described later) performs processing (skew correction processing) for eliminating the inclination of the inserted banknote and aligning it with the banknote reading means 8, the upper transport roller 14A is When the load on the banknote is released away from the transport roller 14B and the skew correction process is completed, the upper transport roller 14A is driven again toward the lower transport roller 14B to pinch the banknote.

  Conveying rollers 14B, 15B, 16B and 17B installed on the lower side of the banknote conveying path 3 are, as shown in FIG. 5, a motor 14 and a pulley 14C installed at the end of the driving shaft of each conveying roller. , 15C, 16C and 17C. That is, a drive pulley 13A is installed on the output shaft of the motor 13, and the pulleys 14C, 15C, 16C and 17C installed at the end portions of the drive shafts of the respective transport rollers are connected to the drive pulley 13A. The drive belt 13B is wound around. A tension pulley is engaged with the drive belt 13B at an appropriate position to prevent looseness.

  With the configuration described above, when the motor 13 is driven forward, the transport rollers 14B, 15B, 16B, and 17B are driven forward in synchronization, transport the bills in the insertion direction, and the motor 13 is driven in reverse. Then, the said conveyance rollers 14B, 15B, 16B, and 17B are reversely driven synchronously, and convey a banknote toward the banknote insertion slot 5 side.

  The insertion detection sensor 7 generates a detection signal when a bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 5 is detected. In the present embodiment, the pair of conveyance rollers 14A and 14B and a skew correction mechanism 10 to be described later are provided. It is installed between. The insertion detection sensor 7 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, for example, a retroreflective photosensor, but may be composed of a mechanical sensor.

  The movable piece passage detection sensor 12 generates a detection signal when it detects that the tip of the bill has passed the movable piece constituting the skew correction mechanism 10, and is upstream of the bill reading means 8. Is installed. The movable piece detection sensor 12 is also composed of an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor, like the insertion detection sensor.

  The banknote reading means 8 reads the banknote information of a banknote conveyed in a state where the skew is removed by the skew correction mechanism 10 and determines its validity (authenticity). Specifically, for example, it can be configured by a line sensor that reads a bill by irradiating light from both sides of the bill to be conveyed and detecting the transmitted light and reflected light with a light receiving element. In the figure, a line sensor is shown, and an optical signal read by this line sensor is photoelectrically converted and compared with a genuine note data stored in advance to identify the authenticity of a bill to be conveyed. .

  The banknote storage part 100 that stores the banknotes is configured to be detachable with respect to the apparatus main body 2, and sequentially stacks and stores banknotes identified as authentic by the above-described banknote reading means 8.

  As shown in FIG.4 and FIG.6, the main body frame 100A which comprises the banknote accommodating part 100 is comprised by the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the banknote sent through the above-mentioned inlet 103 is sequentially in the inside, A stacking plate 105 and a biasing means (biasing spring) 106 for biasing the mounting plate 105 toward a pressing plate 115 to be described later are provided.

  In the main body frame 100 </ b> A, a pressing standby unit 108 is provided so as to wait and hold the falling bill as it is, so as to continue to the introduction port 103. A pair of regulating walls 110 (only one of them is shown in FIG. 4 and omitted in FIG. 6) 110 is arranged on both sides of the pressing standby unit 108 on the side of the mounting plate so as to extend in the vertical direction. ing. The pair of regulating walls 110 is configured such that when the bills are sequentially stacked on the placement plate 105 and the placement plate 105 is urged by the urging means 106, both sides of the uppermost bill are applied. It plays the role of stably holding the stacked banknotes.

  In addition, a press plate 115 is provided in the main body frame 100 </ b> A to press the bill that has fallen from the introduction port 103 to the press standby unit 108 toward the placement plate 105. The pressing plate 115 is configured to have a size that can pass through the space between the pair of regulating walls 110, and a position (pressing position) that enters the space and presses the bill against the placing plate 105; It is reciprocated between a position (initial position) where the pressing standby unit 108 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the pressing plate 115 is reciprocally driven as described above via the pressing plate driving mechanism 120 disposed in the main body frame 100A. The pressing plate drive mechanism 120 includes a pair of link members 115a and 115b whose both ends are pivotally supported by the pressing plate so that the pressing plate 115 can be reciprocated in the direction of arrow A. 115b is connected in an X-shape, and the opposite ends of each are pivotally supported by a movable member 122 installed so as to be movable in the vertical direction (arrow B direction). A rack is formed on the movable member 122, and a pinion 124A constituting the pressing plate driving mechanism 120 is engaged with the rack.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the pinion 124 </ b> A is connected to a housing part side gear train 124 that constitutes the pressing plate driving mechanism 120. In this case, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a drive source (motor 20) and a main body side gear train 21 that sequentially meshes with the motor 20 are disposed in the apparatus main body 2. When the bill housing part 100 is attached to the apparatus main body 2, the main body side gear train 21 is connected to the housing part side gear train 124. That is, the above-described pressing plate 115 is provided in the apparatus main body 2 via the pressing plate driving mechanism 120 (link members 115a and 115b, the movable member 122, the housing portion side gear train 124), and the main body side gear train 21. The motor 20 reciprocates in the direction of arrow A.

  Next, the above-described skew correction mechanism 10 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the skew correction mechanism, FIG. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of springs installed between the movable piece and the base, and FIG. ) Is a front view of the skew correction mechanism viewed from the bill insertion slot side, FIG. 9B is a rear view of the skew correction mechanism viewed from the opposite side, FIG. 10 is a plan view of the skew correction mechanism, and FIG. 11 (a) and FIG. 11 (b) are diagrams showing configurations of the base sensor and the movable piece sensor portion shown in FIG. 10, respectively.

  The skew correction mechanism 10 is installed on the surface portion of the banknote transport path 3 in which a banknote is transported in the main body frame 2A of the apparatus main body 2. In FIG. 7, the direction indicated by the arrow is the bill insertion direction, and the skew correction mechanism 10 of the present embodiment is installed symmetrically about the bill conveyance path so as to abut against both side edges of the bill to be inserted. A pair of movable pieces 30A, 30B. These movable pieces 30A and 30B are installed on a pair of bases 31A and 31B that approach / separate each other in the central direction of the bill conveyance path with respect to the main body frame 2A.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the movable pieces 30A and 30B and the bases 31A and 31B will be described. In the following description, since these members have a bilaterally symmetric structure, only one component member (the movable piece 30A and the base 31A on the left side when viewed from the insertion direction) will be described exclusively. Further, regarding the movable pieces 30A and 30B and the bases 31A and 31B, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  On the base 2D integrated with the main body frame 2A, two guide members 33A and 33B extending in a direction orthogonal to the banknote transport direction at a predetermined interval along the banknote transport direction are installed. The guide member 33A is installed such that the base 31A can move in the axial direction, and the guide member 33B is installed so that the base 31B can move in the axial direction.

  In this case, the base 31A is formed so as to extend along the guide member 33A, and the guide member 33A is inserted into the insertion holes formed in the pair of flanges 31a and 31b so that the guide member 33A is inserted. It is installed so as to be movable in the axial direction. Further, the base 31A is bent at a right angle toward the guide member 33B so that the base 31A can move stably when moving along the guide member 33A, and is also held by the guide member 33B. ing. In FIG. 9B, the flange of the part held with respect to the guide member 33B of the base 31A is indicated by reference numeral 31c. The base 31B is also formed to extend along the guide member 33B with the same structure, and the guide member 33B is inserted through the insertion holes formed in the pair of flanges 31a and 31b. The guide member 33A is bent at a right angle toward the guide member 33A and is held with respect to the guide member 33A. Similarly, in FIG. 9A, the flange of the part held with respect to the guide member 33A of the base 31B is denoted by reference numeral 31c.

  The movable piece 30A has a flat surface 30a facing the back surface of the banknote transport path 3, and a plate-shaped regulation wall 30b formed on the side edge of the flat surface 30a and in contact with the side edge of the banknote to be transported. Is formed. The restriction wall 30b is formed with protrusions 30d protruding upward from the upper edge 30c of the restriction wall at the front end position and the rear end position in the bill conveyance direction.

  The movable piece 30A having the shape as described above is supported by the base 31A with a spring 38 interposed so that the movable piece 30A can move relative to the base 31A. Specifically, the movable piece 30A is formed with an extending portion 30e extending toward the axial center side of the guide member 33A, and the guide member 33A is formed at the end of the extending portion 30e. A flange 30f having an insertion hole for insertion is formed. And between this flange 30f and the flange 31a formed in the said base 31A, the spring 38 which urges | biases movable piece 30A toward the center direction of a banknote conveyance path is interposed.

  A flange 30g having an insertion hole through which the guide member 33A is inserted is formed on the outer side in the axial direction of the movable piece 30A. In this case, since the movable piece 30A is biased toward the central direction of the banknote conveyance path by the spring 38, the flange 30g of the movable piece 30A is, as shown in FIG. It is in a state of being in contact with a flange 31a formed on the base 31A.

  Further, the movable piece 30A is formed with a flange 30h having an insertion hole through which the guide member 33B is inserted so as to be supported by the guide member 33B. As shown in FIG. 9B, the flange 30h is disposed so as to be outside the flange 31c formed on the base 31A in the axial direction. As described above, the movable piece 30A is Since the spring 38 is biased toward the center of the bill conveyance path, the flange 30h of the movable piece 30A is in a state of being in contact with the flange 31c formed on the base 31A. Yes.

  And base 31A, 31B which supported movable piece 30A, 30B so that relative movement was possible as mentioned above is a banknote conveyance path by the drive source 40 arrange | positioned by base 2D integrated with main body frame 2A. It is driven so that it can approach each other toward the center of and can be separated from the center. In the present embodiment, the drive source 40 is configured by a motor, and the bases 31A and 31B are driven via a power transmission mechanism (a gear train 41 that sequentially meshes with a drive gear 40a installed on the output shaft of the motor). Is done. Specifically, the pinion 42 which is the final gear of the gear train 41 is disposed at an intermediate position between the above-described guide members 33A and 33B, and the base stand so as to face each other with respect to the pinion 42. A rack 31f formed on 31A and 31B meshes. That is, when the motor 40 is driven forward, the bases 31A and 31B are moved in directions close to each other via the pinion 42 and the rack 31f, and when the motor (drive source) 40 is driven reversely, The bases 31A and 31B are moved in directions away from each other via the pinion 42 and the rack 31f.

  Note that when the bases 31A and 31B are moved, a drive source other than those described above, for example, a solenoid or a linear motor may be used.

  As described above, when the base 31A is driven toward the center of the banknote transport path by the motor 40, the movable piece 30A is moved along the banknote transport path by the biasing force of the spring 38 interposed therebetween. It is moved toward the center. And if base 31A moves toward the center direction of a banknote conveyance path, the control wall 30b of movable piece 30A will contact | abut with the side edge of a banknote, and, thereby, the load by the reaction force of a banknote will be applied to the motor 40. Become. In this case, the base 31A can move further toward the center of the banknote conveyance path with respect to the movable piece 30A against the urging force of the spring 38.

  Specifically, the biasing force of the spring 38 described above is set to such an extent that it is smaller than the reaction force of the bills conveyed between the movable pieces 30A and 30B and can move the bills toward the center of the bill conveyance path. It is preferable. That is, as will be described later, when the banknote skew is removed, the bases 31A and 31B are driven so as to approach each other while the banknote is positioned between the movable pieces 30A and 30B. At this time, since the movable pieces 30A and 30B abut against the side edges of the bills, the bills are bent so as to bend, and thereby the reaction force is applied to the movable pieces 30A and 30B. . By setting the urging force of the spring 38 as described above, the possibility of bending the banknotes by the movable pieces 30A and 30B is reduced, and further, the banknotes are moved in the center direction (as aligned with the center). Can be moved).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the skew correction mechanism 10 includes a base detection sensor 50 that detects the positions of the bases 31A and 31B, and a movable piece that detects the positions of the movable pieces 30A and 30B. A detection sensor 51 is installed. In this case, as described above, since the base and the movable piece are structured to move symmetrically, the base detection sensor 50 detects the left base 31A, and the movable piece detection sensor. 51 detects the right movable piece 30B.

  The said base detection sensor 50 is installed in the outer side of the banknote conveyance path of base 2D, and is comprised as an optical sensor with which the light emission part and the light-receiving part faced. When the fixed piece 31m is screwed to the base 31A, and the sensor passage part 31n formed integrally with the fixed piece enters the detection part of the base detection sensor 50 by the movement of the base 31A in the separating direction. The predetermined position of the base 31A is detected. In this case, the base detection sensor 50 detects the position where the base 31A is farthest from the center of the bill conveyance path (position moved to the maximum width; predetermined position).

  The movable piece detection sensor 51 is installed on the intermediate side of the bill conveyance path of the base 2D, and is configured as an optical sensor in which a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are opposed to each other. A fixed piece 30m is screwed to the movable piece 30B, and a sensor passing portion 30n formed integrally with the fixed piece is moved by the movement of the base 31B in the central direction of the bill conveyance path. When entering and leaving, a predetermined position of the movable piece 30B is detected. In this case, the movable piece detection sensor 51 detects the position where the movable piece 30B is closest to the center of the bill conveyance path (position moved to the minimum width; predetermined position).

  Next, control means for controlling the driving of the above-described banknote transport mechanism 6, banknote reading means 8, and skew correction mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control means 200 is provided with a control circuit board 200A for controlling the operation of each driving device described above. On this control circuit board, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210 constituting a bill recognition means and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 212 and RAM (Random
Access Memory) 214 and a reference data storage unit 216 are mounted.

  The ROM 212 includes a motor 13 for driving the above-described banknote transport mechanism, a motor 20 for driving a pressing plate, a drive source 70 for driving the transport roller 14A so as to contact / separate toward the transport roller 14B, and a skew drive mechanism. 10 stores various programs such as an operation program of various driving devices such as a motor 40 for driving the base in 10, a genuineness determination program for a banknote read by the banknote reading means 8, and permanent data. Generates a control signal according to the program stored in the ROM 212, inputs / outputs signals to / from the various drive devices described above via the I / O port 220, and controls the drive of the various drive devices.

  Further, detection signals from the insertion detection sensor 7, the movable piece passage detection sensor 12, the base detection sensor 50, and the movable piece detection sensor 51 are input to the CPU 210 via the I / O port 220. Based on these detection signals, drive control of various drive devices is performed.

  The RAM 214 stores data and programs used when the CPU 210 operates, and the reference data storage unit 216 stores reference data used when determining the authenticity of a banknote, for example, a genuine banknote. Various data (for example, data relating to shading, data relating to transmitted light and reflected light when infrared rays are projected onto banknotes) acquired from the entire printing area are stored as reference data. The reference data is stored in the dedicated reference data storage unit 216. However, it may be stored in the ROM 212.

  The CPU 210 is connected with a banknote reading detection sensor (for example, a line sensor) 80 constituting the banknote reading means 8 via the I / O port 220. The read bill reading data is compared with the reference data stored in the reference data storage unit 216, and a bill authenticity determination process is executed.

  In addition, although the control means 200 which controls operation | movement of the banknote processing apparatus mentioned above is mounted on one control circuit board 200A, it may be disperse | distributed and arrange | positioned on another control circuit board according to a function. good.

  Next, the banknote processing operation in the banknote processing apparatus 1 executed by the control means 200 described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  When the operator inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 5, the transport roller pair (14A, 14B) installed in the vicinity of the bill insertion slot is in a separated state in the initial state (see ST25 and ST54 described later). That is, since the operator is not configured to feed the banknotes to the nip portion of the transport roller pair (14A, 14B), the operator can easily insert even a banknote with a hook. When insertion of the banknote is detected by the insertion detection sensor 7 (ST01), the drive source 70 described above is driven to move the upper conveyance roller 14A so as to contact the lower conveyance roller 14B. Thereby, the inserted banknote is pinched by the transport roller pair (14A, 14B) (ST02).

  Next, the skew correction mechanism 10 performs a conveyance path opening process (ST03). This conveyance path opening process is executed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in this conveyance path opening process, the pair of bases 31A and 31B are first moved in a direction away from each other by driving the motor 40 in the reverse direction (ST100). Next, when the base detection sensor 50 detects that the bases 31A and 31B have moved to a predetermined position (maximum width position) (ST101), the reverse drive of the motor 40 is stopped (ST102). By this conveyance path opening process, the pair of movable pieces 30A and 30B are moved to the outside of the banknote conveyance path together with the base, and the banknote can enter the pair of movable pieces 30A and 30B. In the previous stage of ST03, the banknote transport path 3 is in a closed state by a transport path closing process (ST14, ST55) to be described later. Thus, the banknote transport path 3 is closed before the banknote is inserted. Thus, for example, it is possible to prevent a device such as a line sensor from being damaged by inserting a plate-like member from a banknote insertion slot for illegal purposes.

  In this state, the bill conveyance motor 13 is driven forward (ST04). A bill is transported into the apparatus by a pair of transport rollers (14A, 14B), and when the movable piece passage detection sensor 12 disposed downstream of the skew correction mechanism 10 detects the leading end of the bill, the bill transport motor. Is stopped (ST05, ST06). At this time, the banknote is located between the pair of movable pieces 30A and 30B that are widened to the maximum width.

  Subsequently, the drive source 70 described above is driven, and the pair of transport rollers (14A, 14B) in a state of sandwiching the bill is separated (ST07). At this time, the bill is not subjected to any load.

  Then, skew correction processing is performed in this state (ST08). In the skew correction process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the pair of bases 31A and 31B are moved in a direction approaching each other by driving the motor 40 described above to rotate forward (ST110). The bases 31A and 31B are moved so that the movable pieces 30A and 30B supported by the bases 31A and 31B have the minimum banknote width (for example, width 62 mm) registered in the reference data storage unit in the control means. It is executed until. FIG. 19 shows a state where the pair of movable pieces 30A, 30B are moved in the direction of the arrow by the movement of the pair of bases 31A, 31B toward each other and are attached to both side edges of the banknote M.

  The banknote skew correction processing at this time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Before the skew correction process is performed, the banknote is located between the movable pieces 30A and 30B opened to the left and right. In this state, by driving the motor 40 described above in the normal direction, the pair of bases 31A and 31B move in a direction in which they approach each other (direction of arrow (1)). At this time, the pair of movable pieces 30A and 30B are integrally moved toward the center of the bill conveyance path by the biasing force of the spring 38 interposed between the bases 31A and 31B (arrow (2). ) Direction). And the control walls 30b of movable piece 30A, 30B contact | abut with the side edge of a banknote by the movement of base 31A, 31B, respectively. Thereby, although the load by the reaction force of the banknote is applied to the motor 40, the bases 31A and 31B further resist the biasing force of the spring 38 and further the banknote against the movable pieces 30A and 30B. It moves toward the center of the conveyance path (direction of arrow (1)).

  At this time, the bill is moved so as to be aligned in the center direction by the movable pieces 30A and 30B applied to both sides, the skew is corrected, and the bill is positioned so as to have an accurate center position. As described above, the movement of the pair of bases 31A and 31B is executed until the pair of movable pieces 30A and 30B reaches the minimum width of the banknote registered in the reference data storage unit in the control unit. As indicated by the dotted line 20 of FIG. 20, although there is a possibility that the banknote is formed with a curve in which the center region swells, the skew is corrected by the pair of movable pieces and is accurately positioned at the center position.

  As described above, the urging force of the spring 38 is the reaction force of the bill conveyed between the movable pieces 30A and 30B (when the pair of movable pieces abuts against the side edges of the bill and the bill is bent). Is less than the reaction force that occurs in the central direction of the banknote conveyance path, the possibility of folding the banknotes by the movable pieces 30A and 30B is reduced, and the banknotes are centered. It is possible to move (to move to align with the center). That is, as described above, the degree of curving is reduced, thereby reducing the possibility of bending the banknote or damaging the edge of the banknote. In addition, since the motor driven for skew correction is not configured to step out as in the prior art, the load on the motor can be reduced and the possibility of failure is reduced.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned structure, the contact area | region with respect to the movable pieces 30A and 30B of a banknote becomes the inner surface part of the plate-shaped control wall 30b. As described above, the contact of the movable pieces 30A and 30B with respect to the bill side edge is a plate-like regulation wall portion, and the upper edge 30c is formed with protruding portions that come into contact with the surfaces of both sides of the bill. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress damage to the banknote.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, since the protrusions 30d that protrude upward from the upper edge 30c of the restriction wall are provided at the front end position and the rear end position of the restriction wall 30b, the skew correction process is executed. The bills do not run over the regulation walls 30b of the movable pieces 30A and 30B, and the bills can be reliably aligned with the center of the bill conveyance path.

  When the skew correction process as described above is completed, the conveyance path opening process is subsequently executed (ST09). This is accomplished by moving the pair of bases 31A and 31B away from each other in the maximum width position by driving the motor 40 in the reverse direction as shown in the flowchart of FIG. ST102).

  Subsequently, the drive source 70 described above is driven, the upper transport roller 14A is moved so as to come into contact with the lower transport roller 14B, and the bill is held between the transport roller pair (14A, 14B) (ST10). Thereafter, the bill conveyance motor 13 is driven to rotate forward to convey the bill toward the inside of the apparatus, and when the bill passes the bill reading means 8, a bill reading process is executed (ST11, ST12).

  And if the banknote conveyed passes the banknote reading means 8, and the trailing end of a banknote is detected by the movable piece passage detection sensor 12 (ST13), the closing process of a banknote conveyance path will be performed (ST14). . In the present invention, this process is not necessarily a necessary process, but by performing such a banknote conveyance path closing process, it is possible to effectively prevent an operator from pulling out banknotes for illegal purposes. It becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to prevent the operator from erroneously inserting additional banknotes.

  That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18, after the trailing edge of the banknote is detected by the movable piece passage detection sensor 12, the motor 40 described above is driven to rotate forward, so that the pair of bases 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B are It moves in the direction approaching each other (ST120). Next, when the movable piece detection sensor 51 detects that the movable pieces 30A and 30B have moved to a predetermined position (minimum width position) (ST121), the forward rotation drive of the motor 40 is stopped (ST122). By this conveyance path closing process, the pair of movable pieces 30A, 30B has been moved to the minimum width position (width 52 mm) narrower than the width of any banknote that can be inserted, thereby effecting the withdrawal and additional insertion of banknotes. I try to prevent it.

  When the banknote reading means 8 reads data up to the trailing edge of the banknote together with the above-described closing process of the banknote conveyance path, the banknote transport motor 13 is driven by a predetermined amount, and the banknote is moved to a predetermined position (escrow position; banknote reading means 8). At this time, the control means 200 executes a bill authenticity determination process (ST15 to ST18).

  In the authenticity determination process of ST18 described above, if it is determined that the banknote is a genuine note (ST19; Yes), the operator's input is accepted (ST20). This is because the operator receives a service (for example, a reception process associated with the start of the game in the case of a game device), a reception operation for pressing the reception button, and a return for the inserted banknote to be returned. This corresponds to the process of pressing a button.

  And if operation which receives provision of various services is input (ST21; Yes), the motor 13 for banknote conveyance will be forward-rotated, and a banknote will be conveyed toward the banknote accommodating part 100 (ST22). Thereafter, when it is detected that the banknote has been transferred to the banknote storage unit 100 (transferred to the pressing standby unit 108 via the introduction port 103) (ST23), the forward rotation of the banknote transport motor 13 described above is performed. While stopping the drive, the drive source 70 described above is driven to separate the pair of transport rollers (14A, 14B) sandwiching the bills, and a series of processing ends (ST24, ST25).

  Thereafter, the motor 20 for driving the above-described pressing plate 115 is driven, and the banknote transferred to the pressing standby unit 108 is pressed against the placing plate 105 to execute the banknote accommodation process.

  In ST19 of the above processing procedure, when it is determined that the banknote is not a genuine note, or when the return button is pressed by the operator (ST21; No), the transport of ST100 to ST102 shown in the flowchart of FIG. A road opening process is executed (ST50), and the bases 31A and 31B are moved to the maximum width position. In this state, the banknote transport motor 13 is driven in reverse to transport the banknote waiting at the escrow position toward the banknote insertion slot 5 (ST51). Then, when the insertion detection sensor 7 detects the rear end of the bill returned toward the bill insertion slot 5, the reverse drive of the bill transport motor 13 is stopped and the drive source 70 described above is driven to The conveying roller pair (14A, 14B) that is in a state of being sandwiched is separated (ST52 to ST54). Thereafter, the conveyance path closing process of ST120 to ST122 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 18 is executed (ST55), and the bases 31A and 31B are moved in the directions approaching each other, and the series of processes is completed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to above-described embodiment, It is possible to implement various deformation | transformation. In the skew correction mechanism of the banknote handling apparatus in the above-described embodiment, the base and the movable piece are provided in a pair on the left and right sides so as to come into contact with both side edges of the banknote to be carried in, but contact with either one of the side edges, The other may be configured to abut against a regulation wall provided in the bill conveyance path of the apparatus main body.

  Further, the drive source for driving the various drive members described above or the power transmission mechanism from the drive source is merely an example, and can be modified as appropriate. Moreover, the structure which the banknote accommodating part 100 mentioned above is not installed in the banknote processing apparatus may be sufficient.

  The banknote handling apparatus of the present invention can be incorporated into various apparatuses that provide goods and services by inserting banknotes, for example.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the banknote processing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, and is a perspective view which shows the whole structure. The perspective view which shows the state which opened the opening-and-closing member with respect to the main body frame of an apparatus main body. The perspective view which shows the structure of the power transmission part of an apparatus main body. The right view which showed roughly the conveyance path | route of the banknote inserted from an insertion port. The left view which shows schematic structure of the drive source for driving a banknote conveyance mechanism, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The figure which shows schematic structure of the power transmission mechanism for driving the press board arrange | positioned by a banknote accommodating part. The perspective view which shows the whole structure of a skew correction mechanism. The figure which shows the arrangement | positioning aspect of the spring installed between a movable piece and a base. (A) is the front view of the skew correction mechanism seen from the bill insertion slot side, (b) is the rear view which looked at the skew correction mechanism from the opposite side. The top view of a skew correction mechanism. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the base sensor and movable piece sensor part which are each shown by FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control means which controls the drive of a banknote conveyance mechanism, a banknote reading means, and a skew correction mechanism. The flowchart (the 1) explaining the processing operation | movement of the banknote in the banknote processing apparatus of this embodiment. The flowchart (the 2) explaining the processing operation | movement of the banknote in the banknote processing apparatus of this embodiment. The flowchart (the 3) explaining the processing operation | movement of the banknote in the banknote processing apparatus of this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the skew correction cancellation | release process procedure. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a skew correction operation processing procedure. The flowchart explaining a conveyance path closing process procedure. The top view which shows the state in which a pair of movable piece contacted the both-sides edge of the banknote. It is a front view of the skew correction mechanism seen from the bill insertion slot side, and is a view showing a state in which the skew is removed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Banknote processing apparatus 2 Apparatus main body 3 Banknote conveyance path 5 Banknote insertion slot 6 Banknote conveyance mechanism 8 Bill reading means 10 Skew correction mechanism 30A, 30B Movable piece 30b Control wall 31A, 31B Base 38 Spring 40 Drive source 100 Bill storage part 200 Control means

Claims (3)

A base driven in the central direction of the banknote transport path in which banknotes are transported by a drive source;
A movable piece that is movable in the central direction of the bill conveyance path and is supported by the base and regulates a side edge of the bill to be conveyed;
In the banknote processing apparatus having a skew correction mechanism for correcting the inclination of the banknote in the conveyance direction,
A spring for urging the movable piece toward the center of the bill conveyance path;
When the base is driven toward the center of the banknote conveyance path and the movable piece comes into contact with a side edge of the banknote and a load is applied to the drive source due to the reaction force of the banknote, the base is A bill processing apparatus, which is movable with respect to the movable piece against an urging force.   The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable piece includes a plate-shaped regulation wall that contacts a side edge of a banknote to be conveyed.   The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion protruding upward from an upper edge of the restriction wall is provided at at least one of a front end position and a rear end position of the restriction wall.

Images