EP2110352A1 - Paper money feeder - Google Patents
Paper money feeder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2110352A1 EP2110352A1 EP07708210A EP07708210A EP2110352A1 EP 2110352 A1 EP2110352 A1 EP 2110352A1 EP 07708210 A EP07708210 A EP 07708210A EP 07708210 A EP07708210 A EP 07708210A EP 2110352 A1 EP2110352 A1 EP 2110352A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- kicker
- banknote
- roller
- kicker roller
- rollers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000012840 feeding operation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007723 transport mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/063—Rollers or like rotary separators separating from the bottom of pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/0676—Rollers or like rotary separators with two or more separator rollers in the feeding direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/50—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material
- B65H2404/53—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material with particular mechanical, physical properties
- B65H2404/531—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material with particular mechanical, physical properties particular coefficient of friction
- B65H2404/5311—Surface with different coefficients of friction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1912—Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a banknote feeding apparatus adapted for feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, and particularly relates to the banknote feeding apparatus which can feed various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes, one by one, stably.
- a banknote handling machine which can sort the banknotes deposited from a customer, for each kind thereof, and then store them therein, has been known.
- the banknotes, when deposited in the machine are first received in a hopper. Then, the banknotes received in the hopper are fed to the interior of the banknote handling machine, one by one, by the banknote feeding apparatus.
- the conventional banknote feeding apparatus comprises a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the hopper and adapted for feeding the banknotes, one by one, successively, a gate roller (or reversal roller) provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate roller and the feed roller, and a kicker roller provided just below the hopper and adapted for kicking one banknote, present at the lowest layer of the banknotes stored in the hopper, toward the feed roller.
- various kinds of banknotes of each country in the world such as yen banknotes, dollar banknotes, euro banknotes and the like, can be selected as objects to be stored in the banknote handling machine.
- the size of each banknote should differ, for each kind thereof. Therefore, in some cases, there is a risk that the kicking operation for the banknotes due to the kicker roller may not be performed, one by one, stably.
- each banknote kicked by the kicker roller may tend to be advanced obliquely relative to a normal feed direction thereof.
- the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2522467 has been known.
- the banknote feeding apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2522467 is configured to feed each banknote in such a manner that the banknote is grasped between a pair of belts or between one belt and one roller.
- the size of each banknote should differ, for each kind thereof, when the various kinds of banknotes as described above are fed by the apparatus. This makes it difficult to feed the banknotes, one by one, stably.
- the present invention was made in light of the above problems. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new banknote feeding apparatus, which can feed various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes, one by one, stably.
- the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention is adapted for feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, through a feed opening of the banknote storage unit, and comprises: a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the feed opening of the banknote storage unit and adapted for feeding out the banknotes, one by one, successively, through the feed opening toward the exterior of the banknote storage unit; a gate unit provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate unit and the feed roller; a first kicker roller configured to be in contact with a surface of one banknote of the plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit and adapted for kicking the one contacted banknote toward the gate part, the first kicker roller being further configured to be continuously rotated and having an outer-circumferential length set greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus, and further having a high friction unit adapted for kicking each bank
- the second kicker roller adapted for additionally kicking each banknote toward the feed roller is provided, in addition to the first kicker roller adapted for directly kicking the banknote toward the feed roller, and the length of the outer circumference of the first kicker roller is set greater than the length in the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus.
- the first kicker roller and second kicker roller are respectively configured to be continuously rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the banknote storage unit, the kicking operation for such banknotes toward the feed roller can be securely performed.
- the diameter of the first kicker roller is approximately the same as the diameter of the second kicker roller, wherein the first kicker roller and second kicker roller are arranged, respectively, in positions such that the first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with the second kicker roller, when seen in an axial direction of the first kicker roller, without any interference between the first kicker roller and the second kicker roller in the axial direction of the first kicker roller.
- each banknote can be brought into contact with both of the first and second kicker rollers, in a flattened condition, even in the case in which relatively small-sized banknotes are stored in the banknote storage unit. Accordingly, the second kicker roller can be utilized for supporting the kicking operation for the banknotes.
- the first kicker roller is provided in a plural number along a common shaft, wherein the positions, in which the plurality of first kicker rollers are arranged, are set, respectively, such that, when assuming that the banknote having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus is divided into a pair of left and right regions, with respect to an imaginary central line defined along the feed direction of the banknotes, such a pair of left and right regions of the banknote having the smallest size and stored in any given position of the banknote storage unit can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively.
- the pair of left and right regions of the banknote having any given size can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively corresponding to the regions.
- the kicking operation for the banknotes due to such first kicker rollers can securely prevent each banknote from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relative to a normal feed direction thereof (i.e., a direction vertical to the axial direction of the feed roller). Therefore, the feeding speed of the banknotes can also be highly elevated.
- three first kicker rollers are provided, wherein one of the three first kicker rollers is located corresponding to a central position of the banknote storage unit in a direction along the shaft of the first kicker rollers, and wherein the other two of the three first kicker rollers are respectively located in positions that are symmetrical about the first kicker roller located corresponding to the central position of the banknote storage unit.
- each second kicker roller is arranged along a common shaft, while each second kicker roller is located between each adjacent pair of the first kicker rollers, wherein the first kicker rollers and second kicker rollers are arranged, respectively, in positions such that each first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller, when seen in the axial direction of the first kicker roller.
- each second kicker roller can support the kicking operation for the banknotes, even in the case in which each banknote is located in any given position of the banknote storage unit. Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the banknote storage unit, the kicking operation for the banknotes toward the feed roller can be performed more securely.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the banknote handling machine 100 related to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the banknote handling machine 100 comprises a hopper 101, two reject units 102, an operation unit 103, a first general display unit 104, a second general display unit 105, four stacking units 106 and four individual display units 107.
- the hopper 101 is configured such that a plurality of banknotes can be placed thereon, in a stacked condition, by an operator.
- the banknotes once stored in the hopper 101 will be fed to the interior of the banknote handling machine 100 by the banknote feeding apparatus 10 as will be described later.
- Each reject unit 102 can serve to discharge the banknote, when this banknote fed from the hopper 101 is a rejected banknote (e.g., a counterfeit banknote or the like).
- a lower one of the two reject units 102 may be used for discharging each counterfeit banknote or the like, while the upper reject unit 102 may be used for storing therein each banknote excluded from ones to be sorted although it has been recognized by a recognition unit 220 as will be described below.
- the operation unit 103 includes input keys for inputting instructions of the operator therein.
- the first general display unit 104 and second general display unit 105 are respectively provided for displaying predetermined data (e.g., graphic data or the like).
- Each stacking unit 106 is configured to stack therein the banknotes fed from the hopper 101 due to the banknote feeding apparatus 10, for each attribute (e.g., denomination or the like) of the banknotes.
- Each individual display unit 107 is provided corresponding to each stacking unit 106, and is configured to display the number of banknotes stacked in the corresponding stacking unit 106. While the two reject units 102, four stacking units 106 and four individual display units 107 are respectively depicted in Fig. 1 , each number of these components can be altered without any limitation.
- Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing general internal construction of the banknote handling machine 100 shown in Fig. 1 , and is intended in particular to illustrate a transport system and a sensor system thereof.
- a transport path 201 configured for transporting each banknote to each stacking unit 106 from the hopper 101 is provided in the banknote handling machine 100.
- the transport path 201 is composed of several belt transport mechanisms combined with one another.
- Various sensors 202 to 214 are provided along the transport path 201.
- the sensor 202 provided on the side of an outlet of the hopper 101 and the sensor 203 provided on the side of an inlet of the recognition unit 220 as will be described later can serve to detect whether or not each banknote is securely taken in the transport path 201, respectively.
- the recognition unit 220 provided along the transport path 201 is composed of various detection units, and serves to detect fitness, authentication, denomination, orientation, face/back and the like of each banknote taken therein from the hopper 101. More specifically, the recognition unit 220 includes a sensor 204 composed of, for example, a transparent sensor, wherein the sensor 204 is adapted for detecting the denomination, authentication and the like of each banknote, by the light transmission.
- each diverter 231 is configured to feed each banknote that cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 220 or banknote that is excluded from ones to be sorted although it has been recognized by the recognition unit 220, to each corresponding reject unit 102.
- the sensors 205, 206 can serve to detect that each banknote is fed from each diverter 231 to each corresponding reject unit 102, respectively.
- each banknote selected as one to be sorted is detected, about its transported condition, by the sensor 207, and then further transported through the transport path 201.
- three diverters 232 to 234 are further provided in series.
- Each diverter 232 to 234 can serve to feed each banknote, which has been fed from the diverter 231 toward each corresponding one of the four stacking units 106 according to, for example, the denomination or the like of the banknote.
- each banknote that has been recognized, about the denomination or the like thereof, by the recognition unit 220 is stored in a suitable one of the four stacking unit 106.
- the sensors 208 to 214 can serve to detect whether or not the sorting operation for the banknotes from the transport path 201 to each stacking unit 106 is appropriately performed, respectively. Further, the storage condition of the banknotes in each stacking unit 106 is detected by each corresponding residue detection sensor 221 to 224.
- the banknote feeding apparatus 10 is configured to feed the banknotes stored in the hopper 101, one by one, to the transport path 201 in the banknote handling machine 100.
- Fig. 3 is a side view showing the construction of the banknote feeding apparatus 10
- Fig. 4 is a top view when the banknote feeding apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is seen from above.
- Fig. 4 is intended to illustrate each positional relationship between feed rollers 12, first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18.
- the hopper 101 configured for storing therein the banknotes to be fed by the banknote feeding apparatus 10 will be described.
- the hopper 101 is composed of a bottom plate 101a and a side plate 101b, and is configured to store therein the banknotes, while the banknotes are stacked on the bottom plate 101a.
- a feed opening 101c is provided to a bottom portion of the hopper 101, such that the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 can be fed to the outside from the feed opening 101c.
- the bottom plate 101a is slightly inclined downward, relative to a horizontal plane, as one goes toward the feed opening 101c. In accordance with this inclination, the side plate 101b extends obliquely upward.
- the banknote feeding apparatus 10 comprises the first kicker rollers 16, each provided to be in contact with a surface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality of banknotes stored in the stacked condition in the hopper 101, the second kicker rollers 18, each located upstream relative to the first kicker rollers 16 in a feed direction of the banknotes (i.e., a direction depicted by arrows in Figs. 3, 4 ), and the feed rollers 12, each located downstream relative to the first kicker rollers 16 in the feed direction of the banknotes and adapted for feeding each banknote kicked by the first kicker rollers 16.
- gate rollers (or reversal rollers) 14 are provided to be opposed to the corresponding feed rollers 12, thereby forming a gate part between each gate roller 14 and each feed roller 12.
- the banknotes kicked out by the first kicker rollers 16 can be fed to the transport path 201, one by one, through the feed opening 101c and gate parts.
- the feed rollers 12 include a pair of left and right rollers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 , each having a rubber 12a partly provided to an outer circumference thereof. Namely, each banknote kicked by the first kicker rollers 16 through the feed opening 101c will be fed out by the rubbers 12a at the gate parts.
- One common shaft 13 is provided for the pair of left and right feed rollers 12. This shaft 13 is configured to be continuously rotated by a stepping motor 15.
- the gate rollers 14 include a pair of left and right rollers, each provided to be opposed to each corresponding feed roller 12, as shown in Fig. 3 .
- a rubber is provided to an outer circumference of each gate roller 14.
- the gate part is formed between each gate roller 14 and each corresponding feed roller 12. This gate part is formed into a gap corresponding to the thickness of one banknote.
- each gate roller 14, as shown in Fig. 3 is usually provided to be rotated, intermittently, in a direction reverse to the feed direction of the banknotes.
- each gate roller 14 With such intermittent reverse rotation of each gate roller 14, the whole outer-circumferential face of the gate roller 14 can be utilized, evenly, for forming the gate part. Therefore, uneven wear of the gate roller 14 can be successfully prevented.
- this banknote when only one banknote is fed to the gate part between each gate roller 14 and each corresponding feed roller 12, this banknote can be fed to the transport path 201 by the feed roller 12.
- gate rollers 14 can serve to prevent the second and later banknotes from being fed through the gate part together with the first banknote (in an overlapped condition).
- Each first kicker roller 16 is provided to be in contact with the surface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality of banknotes stored in the stacked condition in the hopper 101 as shown in Fig. 3 , and is configured to be continuously rotated in a direction depicted by an allow in Fig. 3 .
- a shaft 17 is commonly provided to the first kicker rollers 16, such that the shaft 17 of the first kicker rollers 16 can be rotated together with the shaft 13 of the feed rollers 12, due to an interlock mechanism (not shown).
- the shaft 17 of the first kicker rollers 16 can be continuously rotated together with the shaft 13.
- each first kicker roller 16 has a high friction unit 16a partly provided in an outer circumference thereof for kicking each banknote. Therefore, once each first kicker roller 16 is rotated and the high friction unit 16a thereof is in contact with the banknote of the lowest layer in the hopper 101, this banknote will be kicked out toward the feed rollers 12.
- three first kicker rollers 16 are provided to the single shaft 17.
- One of the three first kicker rollers 16 is located corresponding to a central position of the hopper 101 in a direction along the shaft 17 (or lateral direction in Fig. 4 ).
- the other two first kicker rollers 16 are respectively located in positions that are laterally symmetrical about the first kicker roller 16 located corresponding to the central position of the hopper 101.
- Fig. 5 shows a positional relationship between one banknote 20 having the smallest size (e.g., one five-euro banknote) and present at the lowest layer in the hopper 101, the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18.
- the banknote 20 having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed by the banknote feeding apparatus 10 is divided into a pair of left and right regions 21, 22, with respect to an imaginary central line 20a defined along the feed direction (i.e., the direction depicted by an arrow in Fig. 5 ) of the banknotes.
- the three first kicker rollers 16 are positioned, respectively, such that the pair of left and right regions 21, 22 of the banknote 20 stored in any given position of the hopper 101 can be securely in contact with the first kicker rollers 16, respectively.
- each banknote 20 kicked by the kicker rollers 16 will be kicked by the corresponding kicker rollers 16, respectively.
- the feeding speed of each banknote can be highly elevated up to, for example, 850 sheets of banknotes per minute.
- one of the three first kicker rollers 16 is located, corresponding to the central position of the hopper 101.
- the pair of left and right regions 21, 22 of the banknote can be securely kicked by the central first kicker roller 16 and either one of the other left and right first kicker rollers 16, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5 .
- the feeding operation due to such first kicker rollers 16 can securely prevent each banknote kicked by these rollers 16 from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relative to the normal feed direction of the banknote.
- the second kicker rollers 18 are located upstream relative to the first kicker rollers 16 in the feed direction, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3 .
- Each second kicker roller 18 is configured to be continuously rotated in a direction depicted by an arrow in Fig. 3 .
- a single shaft 19 is provided commonly to the second kicker rollers 18, such that the shaft 19 of the second kicker rollers 18 can be rotated together with the shaft 13 of the feed rollers 12, due to an interlock mechanism (not shown).
- the shaft 19 of the second kicker rollers 18 can be continuously rotated together with the shaft 13.
- each second kicker roller 18 has a low friction unit 18a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof.
- the coefficient of friction of the low friction unit 18a is lower than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit 16a of each first kicker roller 16. Therefore, when a banknote is in contact with each second kicker roller 18, such a banknote can be always kicked toward the feed rollers 12 due to the low friction unit 18a.
- the peripheral velocity of each second kicker roller 18 is approximately the same as the peripheral velocity of each first kicker roller 16.
- each second kicker roller 18 is approximately the same as that of each first kicker roller 16, and is, for example, about 40mm.
- the outer-circumferential lengths of each first kicker roller 16 and second kicker roller 18 are respectively set longer than the length in the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size (e.g., the 500-euro banknote) of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus 10.
- the reason for setting the diameters of each kicker roller 16 and 18 at about 40mm will be described.
- various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are assumed as the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 of the banknote handling machine 100.
- the 500-euro banknote having a lateral length of 160mm and a feed direction length of 82mm can be mentioned.
- a space of at least 40mm is ensured, between one first 500-euro banknote and a following 500-euro banknote, respectively placed on the transport path 201.
- each 500-euro banknote is 82mm, it is preferred that a distance of about 122mm is ensured between a distal end of one 500-euro banknote and the distal end of the following 500-euro banknote. Therefore, it is preferred that the outer-circumferential length of each first kicker roller 16 operated for kicking each banknote toward the feed rollers 12 is also set at about 122mm. For this reason, the diameter of each first kicker roller 16 is set at about 40mm.
- each second kicker roller 18 is located between each adjacent pair of the first kicker rollers 16.
- the positional relationship between the shaft 17 of the first kicker rollers 16 and the shaft 19 of the second kicker rollers 18 is defined, such that each first kicker roller 16 can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 (see Fig. 3 ).
- each first kicker roller 16 when seen in the direction along the shaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 will be discussed.
- the diameters of each first kicker roller 16 and second kicker roller 18 are set at approximately 40mm. Therefore, if each first kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17 thereof, is not alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 (or if each first kicker roller 16 is spaced away, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17 thereof, from each second kicker roller 18), the banknote having a considerably small size cannot be in contact with both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18, in some cases, in a flattened and non-curved condition.
- such a small-sized banknote stored in the hopper 101 will be in contact with both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18, in an undesirably curved and downwardly projected form, thus being likely to cause some failure or error upon the feeding operation due to the first kicker rollers 16.
- the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 are respectively located such that each first kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18, the distance between each first kicker roller 16 and each second kicker roller 18 is reduced. Therefore, even in the case of feeding such a small-sized banknote as described above, the banknote can be in contact with both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18, in a suitably flattened and non-curved condition.
- the banknote present at the lowest layer will be in contact with the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18.
- the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 are continuously rotated, respectively, in the direction depicted by the arrows, at substantially the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, each time the first kicker rollers 16 make one rotation, respectively, one banknote is kicked toward the feed rollers 12, due to the high friction units 16a of the respective first kicker rollers 16. Meanwhile, the second kicker rollers 18 support this kicking operation for the banknote, by using the low friction units 18a thereof, respectively.
- the second kicker rollers 18 can kick the banknote toward the feed rollers 12, thereby to return the banknote to its original position.
- each banknote fed to the feed rollers 12 by the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 will be further fed to the transport path 201, due to the rubber 12a of each feed roller 12, at the gate parts formed between the feed rollers 12 and the gate rollers 14.
- the banknotes stored in the hopper 101 in the stacked condition can be transported, one by one, to the interior of the banknote handling machine 100.
- the first rollers 16, each having the high friction unit 16a partly provided in the outer circumference thereof for kicking each banknote, and the second kicker rollers 18, each located upstream relative to the first rollers 16 in the feed direction of the banknote, are provided.
- each second kicker roller 18 has the low friction unit 18a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof, wherein the coefficient of friction of the low friction unit 18a is smaller than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit 16a of each first kicker roller 16.
- These kicker rollers 16, 18 are respectively configured to be rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity.
- each first kicker roller 16 is set greater than the feed-direction length of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed by the banknote feeding apparatus 10.
- the second kicker rollers 18 that can support the kicking operation for the banknotes are provided, in addition to the first kicker rollers 16 respectively provided for directly kicking the banknotes toward the feed rollers 12, while these kicker rollers 16, 18 are configured to be rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, even when various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the hopper 101, the kicking operation for the banknotes toward the feed rollers 12 can be securely performed.
- each banknote stored in the hopper 101 is considerably shifted away from the feed rollers 12, such a shifted banknote can be fed toward the feed rollers 12, due to the second kicker rollers 18, each rotated continuously at the peripheral velocity approximately the same as that of each first kicker roller 16. Therefore, the failure or error can be successfully prevented, upon the kicking operation for each banknote toward the feed rollers 12 by using such kicker rollers 16, 18. Additionally, even when each banknote is not in contact with the high friction unit 16a of each first kicker roller 16, the low friction part 18a provided over the whole outer circumference of each continuously rotated second kicker roller 18 can always push such a banknote toward the kicker rollers 12. Thus, this banknote pushed toward the feed rollers 12 can be securely kicked by the high friction unit 16a of each first kicker roller 16.
- each first kicker roller 16 is substantially the same as the diameter of each second kicker roller 18, while the coordinates of the position of each first kicker roller 16 is different from the coordinates of the position of each second kicker roller 18, in the direction along the shaft 17 of the first kicker rollers 16. Furthermore, when seen in the direction along the shaft 17, the first kicker rollers 16 and second kicker rollers 18 are respectively arranged, such that each first kicker roller 16 can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18. This can reduce the distance between the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18.
- each banknote can be securely brought into contact with both of the first kicker rollers 16 and the second kicker rollers 18, while being well flattened. Therefore, the second kicker rollers 18 can be utilized for supporting the kicking operation for the banknotes.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a banknote feeding apparatus adapted for feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, and particularly relates to the banknote feeding apparatus which can feed various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes, one by one, stably.
- Conventionally, a banknote handling machine, which can sort the banknotes deposited from a customer, for each kind thereof, and then store them therein, has been known. In such a banknote handling machine, the banknotes, when deposited in the machine, are first received in a hopper. Then, the banknotes received in the hopper are fed to the interior of the banknote handling machine, one by one, by the banknote feeding apparatus.
- The conventional banknote feeding apparatus comprises a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the hopper and adapted for feeding the banknotes, one by one, successively, a gate roller (or reversal roller) provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate roller and the feed roller, and a kicker roller provided just below the hopper and adapted for kicking one banknote, present at the lowest layer of the banknotes stored in the hopper, toward the feed roller.
- It is preferred that various kinds of banknotes of each country in the world, such as yen banknotes, dollar banknotes, euro banknotes and the like, can be selected as objects to be stored in the banknote handling machine. In this case, in the banknote feeding apparatus as described above, when such various kinds of banknotes of each country in the world are stored in the hopper, the size of each banknote should differ, for each kind thereof. Therefore, in some cases, there is a risk that the kicking operation for the banknotes due to the kicker roller may not be performed, one by one, stably. In addition, in the case in which relatively small-sized banknotes are stored in the hopper and only one kicker roller is provided for kicking such banknotes, each banknote kicked by the kicker roller may tend to be advanced obliquely relative to a normal feed direction thereof.
- As another conventional banknote feeding apparatus, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No.
2522467 2522467 - The present invention was made in light of the above problems. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new banknote feeding apparatus, which can feed various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes, one by one, stably.
- The banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention is adapted for feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, through a feed opening of the banknote storage unit, and comprises: a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the feed opening of the banknote storage unit and adapted for feeding out the banknotes, one by one, successively, through the feed opening toward the exterior of the banknote storage unit; a gate unit provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate unit and the feed roller; a first kicker roller configured to be in contact with a surface of one banknote of the plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit and adapted for kicking the one contacted banknote toward the gate part, the first kicker roller being further configured to be continuously rotated and having an outer-circumferential length set greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus, and further having a high friction unit adapted for kicking each banknote and partly provided in the outer circumference of the first kicker roller; and a second kicker roller provided upstream relative to the first kicker roller in the feed direction of the banknotes, the second kicker roller being configured to be continuously rotated, at approximately the same peripheral velocity as that of the first kicker roller, and having a low friction unit having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit of the first kicker roller and provided over the whole outer circumference of the second kicker roller.
- According to this banknote feeding apparatus, the second kicker roller adapted for additionally kicking each banknote toward the feed roller is provided, in addition to the first kicker roller adapted for directly kicking the banknote toward the feed roller, and the length of the outer circumference of the first kicker roller is set greater than the length in the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus. Moreover, the first kicker roller and second kicker roller are respectively configured to be continuously rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the banknote storage unit, the kicking operation for such banknotes toward the feed roller can be securely performed. More specifically, even in the case in which the position of each banknote stored in the banknote storage unit is considerably shifted away from the feed roller, such a shifted banknote can be fed toward the feed roller by the second kicker roller continuously rotated at approximately the same peripheral velocity as that of the first kicker roller. Therefore, a failure or error can be prevented, upon the kicking operation for each banknote toward the feed roller by using such kicker rollers. Additionally, even when each banknote is not in contact with the high friction unit of the first kicker roller, the low friction part provided over the whole outer circumference of the continuously rotated second kicker roller can always push the banknote toward the feed roller. Thus, such a banknote pushed toward the feed roller will be securely kicked by the high friction unit of the first kicker roller.
- In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that the diameter of the first kicker roller is approximately the same as the diameter of the second kicker roller, wherein the first kicker roller and second kicker roller are arranged, respectively, in positions such that the first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with the second kicker roller, when seen in an axial direction of the first kicker roller, without any interference between the first kicker roller and the second kicker roller in the axial direction of the first kicker roller. With such configuration, a distance between the first kicker roller and the second kicker roller can be reduced, thus each banknote can be brought into contact with both of the first and second kicker rollers, in a flattened condition, even in the case in which relatively small-sized banknotes are stored in the banknote storage unit. Accordingly, the second kicker roller can be utilized for supporting the kicking operation for the banknotes.
- In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that the first kicker roller is provided in a plural number along a common shaft, wherein the positions, in which the plurality of first kicker rollers are arranged, are set, respectively, such that, when assuming that the banknote having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus is divided into a pair of left and right regions, with respect to an imaginary central line defined along the feed direction of the banknotes, such a pair of left and right regions of the banknote having the smallest size and stored in any given position of the banknote storage unit can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively. With this configuration, the pair of left and right regions of the banknote having any given size can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively corresponding to the regions. Thus, the kicking operation for the banknotes due to such first kicker rollers can securely prevent each banknote from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relative to a normal feed direction thereof (i.e., a direction vertical to the axial direction of the feed roller). Therefore, the feeding speed of the banknotes can also be highly elevated.
- In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that three first kicker rollers are provided, wherein one of the three first kicker rollers is located corresponding to a central position of the banknote storage unit in a direction along the shaft of the first kicker rollers, and wherein the other two of the three first kicker rollers are respectively located in positions that are symmetrical about the first kicker roller located corresponding to the central position of the banknote storage unit. With such configuration, since one of the three kicker rollers is located corresponding to the central position of the banknote storage unit, the pair of left and right regions of each banknote can be securely kicked by the central first kicker roller and either one of the left and right first kicker rollers, respectively, even in the case in which the banknote is located in any given position of the banknote storage unit. Accordingly, this feeding operation for the banknotes due to such first kicker rollers can prevent, more securely, each banknote from being advanced in an unduly oblique state relative to the normal feed direction thereof.
- In the banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that two second kicker rollers are arranged along a common shaft, while each second kicker roller is located between each adjacent pair of the first kicker rollers, wherein the first kicker rollers and second kicker rollers are arranged, respectively, in positions such that each first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller, when seen in the axial direction of the first kicker roller. In this case, each second kicker roller can support the kicking operation for the banknotes, even in the case in which each banknote is located in any given position of the banknote storage unit. Therefore, even in the case in which various kinds of banknotes respectively having different sizes are stored in the banknote storage unit, the kicking operation for the banknotes toward the feed roller can be performed more securely.
-
-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a banknote handling machine comprising a banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention. -
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing general internal construction of the banknote handling machine shown inFig. 1 . -
Fig. 3 is a side view showing construction of the banknote feeding apparatus according to the present invention. -
Fig. 4 is a top view when the banknote feeding apparatus shown inFig. 3 is seen from above. -
Fig. 5 is an illustration showing a state, in which a pair of left and right regions of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the banknotes stored in a hopper, are respectively kicked by first kicker rollers respectively corresponding to the regions. - Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to the drawings. It should be construed that this embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but is merely intended to describe and show one preferred example thereof.
- First, referring to
Figs. 1 and2 , general construction of a banknote handling machine provided with a banknote feeding apparatus of the present invention will be discussed. -
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of thebanknote handling machine 100 related to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFig. 1 , thebanknote handling machine 100 comprises ahopper 101, tworeject units 102, anoperation unit 103, a firstgeneral display unit 104, a secondgeneral display unit 105, fourstacking units 106 and fourindividual display units 107. - The
hopper 101 is configured such that a plurality of banknotes can be placed thereon, in a stacked condition, by an operator. The banknotes once stored in thehopper 101 will be fed to the interior of thebanknote handling machine 100 by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 as will be described later. Eachreject unit 102 can serve to discharge the banknote, when this banknote fed from thehopper 101 is a rejected banknote (e.g., a counterfeit banknote or the like). For instance, a lower one of the tworeject units 102 may be used for discharging each counterfeit banknote or the like, while theupper reject unit 102 may be used for storing therein each banknote excluded from ones to be sorted although it has been recognized by arecognition unit 220 as will be described below. - The
operation unit 103 includes input keys for inputting instructions of the operator therein. The firstgeneral display unit 104 and secondgeneral display unit 105 are respectively provided for displaying predetermined data (e.g., graphic data or the like). Eachstacking unit 106 is configured to stack therein the banknotes fed from thehopper 101 due to thebanknote feeding apparatus 10, for each attribute (e.g., denomination or the like) of the banknotes. Eachindividual display unit 107 is provided corresponding to eachstacking unit 106, and is configured to display the number of banknotes stacked in thecorresponding stacking unit 106. While the tworeject units 102, fourstacking units 106 and fourindividual display units 107 are respectively depicted inFig. 1 , each number of these components can be altered without any limitation. -
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing general internal construction of thebanknote handling machine 100 shown inFig. 1 , and is intended in particular to illustrate a transport system and a sensor system thereof. - As shown in
Fig. 2 , atransport path 201 configured for transporting each banknote to eachstacking unit 106 from thehopper 101 is provided in thebanknote handling machine 100. Usually, thetransport path 201 is composed of several belt transport mechanisms combined with one another.Various sensors 202 to 214 are provided along thetransport path 201. Thesensor 202 provided on the side of an outlet of thehopper 101 and thesensor 203 provided on the side of an inlet of therecognition unit 220 as will be described later can serve to detect whether or not each banknote is securely taken in thetransport path 201, respectively. Therecognition unit 220 provided along thetransport path 201 is composed of various detection units, and serves to detect fitness, authentication, denomination, orientation, face/back and the like of each banknote taken therein from thehopper 101. More specifically, therecognition unit 220 includes asensor 204 composed of, for example, a transparent sensor, wherein thesensor 204 is adapted for detecting the denomination, authentication and the like of each banknote, by the light transmission. - On the downstream side relative to the
recognition unit 220 in thetransport path 201, twodiverters 231 are provided in series. Eachdiverter 231 is configured to feed each banknote that cannot be recognized by therecognition unit 220 or banknote that is excluded from ones to be sorted although it has been recognized by therecognition unit 220, to eachcorresponding reject unit 102. Thesensors diverter 231 to eachcorresponding reject unit 102, respectively. Meanwhile, each banknote selected as one to be sorted is detected, about its transported condition, by thesensor 207, and then further transported through thetransport path 201. On the downstream side relative to thediverters 231 in thetransport path 201, threediverters 232 to 234 are further provided in series. Eachdiverter 232 to 234 can serve to feed each banknote, which has been fed from thediverter 231 toward each corresponding one of the four stackingunits 106 according to, for example, the denomination or the like of the banknote. In this way, each banknote that has been recognized, about the denomination or the like thereof, by therecognition unit 220 is stored in a suitable one of the four stackingunit 106. Thesensors 208 to 214 can serve to detect whether or not the sorting operation for the banknotes from thetransport path 201 to each stackingunit 106 is appropriately performed, respectively. Further, the storage condition of the banknotes in each stackingunit 106 is detected by each correspondingresidue detection sensor 221 to 224. - Next, construction of the
banknote feeding apparatus 10 provided in thebanknote handling machine 100 shown inFigs. 1 and2 will be detailed, with reference toFigs. 3 and 4 . Thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 is configured to feed the banknotes stored in thehopper 101, one by one, to thetransport path 201 in thebanknote handling machine 100.Fig. 3 is a side view showing the construction of thebanknote feeding apparatus 10, andFig. 4 is a top view when the banknote feeding apparatus shown inFig. 3 is seen from above. In particular,Fig. 4 is intended to illustrate each positional relationship betweenfeed rollers 12,first kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18. - First, referring to
Fig. 3 , thehopper 101 configured for storing therein the banknotes to be fed by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 will be described. Thehopper 101 is composed of abottom plate 101a and aside plate 101b, and is configured to store therein the banknotes, while the banknotes are stacked on thebottom plate 101a. As shown inFig. 3 , afeed opening 101c is provided to a bottom portion of thehopper 101, such that the banknotes stored in thehopper 101 can be fed to the outside from thefeed opening 101c. Thebottom plate 101a is slightly inclined downward, relative to a horizontal plane, as one goes toward thefeed opening 101c. In accordance with this inclination, theside plate 101b extends obliquely upward. - As shown in
Figs. 3 and 4 , thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 comprises thefirst kicker rollers 16, each provided to be in contact with a surface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality of banknotes stored in the stacked condition in thehopper 101, thesecond kicker rollers 18, each located upstream relative to thefirst kicker rollers 16 in a feed direction of the banknotes (i.e., a direction depicted by arrows inFigs. 3, 4 ), and thefeed rollers 12, each located downstream relative to thefirst kicker rollers 16 in the feed direction of the banknotes and adapted for feeding each banknote kicked by thefirst kicker rollers 16. In addition, gate rollers (or reversal rollers) 14 are provided to be opposed to thecorresponding feed rollers 12, thereby forming a gate part between eachgate roller 14 and eachfeed roller 12. With such configuration, the banknotes kicked out by thefirst kicker rollers 16 can be fed to thetransport path 201, one by one, through thefeed opening 101c and gate parts. - The
feed rollers 12 include a pair of left and right rollers, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4 , each having arubber 12a partly provided to an outer circumference thereof. Namely, each banknote kicked by thefirst kicker rollers 16 through thefeed opening 101c will be fed out by therubbers 12a at the gate parts. Onecommon shaft 13 is provided for the pair of left andright feed rollers 12. Thisshaft 13 is configured to be continuously rotated by a steppingmotor 15. - The
gate rollers 14 include a pair of left and right rollers, each provided to be opposed to eachcorresponding feed roller 12, as shown inFig. 3 . A rubber is provided to an outer circumference of eachgate roller 14. As described above, the gate part is formed between eachgate roller 14 and eachcorresponding feed roller 12. This gate part is formed into a gap corresponding to the thickness of one banknote. Thus, the banknotes kicked out by thefirst kicker rollers 16 can be fed through gate parts, while being restricted one by one. More specifically, eachgate roller 14, as shown inFig. 3 , is usually provided to be rotated, intermittently, in a direction reverse to the feed direction of the banknotes. With such intermittent reverse rotation of eachgate roller 14, the whole outer-circumferential face of thegate roller 14 can be utilized, evenly, for forming the gate part. Therefore, uneven wear of thegate roller 14 can be successfully prevented. In this case, when only one banknote is fed to the gate part between eachgate roller 14 and eachcorresponding feed roller 12, this banknote can be fed to thetransport path 201 by thefeed roller 12. However, when two or more banknotes are fed to the gate part while being overlapped one on another,gate rollers 14 can serve to prevent the second and later banknotes from being fed through the gate part together with the first banknote (in an overlapped condition). - Each
first kicker roller 16 is provided to be in contact with the surface of one banknote present at the lowest layer of the plurality of banknotes stored in the stacked condition in thehopper 101 as shown inFig. 3 , and is configured to be continuously rotated in a direction depicted by an allow inFig. 3 . More specifically, ashaft 17 is commonly provided to thefirst kicker rollers 16, such that theshaft 17 of thefirst kicker rollers 16 can be rotated together with theshaft 13 of thefeed rollers 12, due to an interlock mechanism (not shown). Thus, when theshaft 13 of thefeed rollers 12 is rotated by the steppingmotor 15, theshaft 17 of thefirst kicker rollers 16 can be continuously rotated together with theshaft 13. Additionally, as shown inFig. 3 , eachfirst kicker roller 16 has ahigh friction unit 16a partly provided in an outer circumference thereof for kicking each banknote. Therefore, once eachfirst kicker roller 16 is rotated and thehigh friction unit 16a thereof is in contact with the banknote of the lowest layer in thehopper 101, this banknote will be kicked out toward thefeed rollers 12. - As shown in
Fig. 4 , threefirst kicker rollers 16 are provided to thesingle shaft 17. One of the threefirst kicker rollers 16 is located corresponding to a central position of thehopper 101 in a direction along the shaft 17 (or lateral direction inFig. 4 ). The other twofirst kicker rollers 16 are respectively located in positions that are laterally symmetrical about thefirst kicker roller 16 located corresponding to the central position of thehopper 101. -
Fig. 5 shows a positional relationship between onebanknote 20 having the smallest size (e.g., one five-euro banknote) and present at the lowest layer in thehopper 101, thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18. Now, as shown inFig. 5 , assume that thebanknote 20 having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 is divided into a pair of left andright regions central line 20a defined along the feed direction (i.e., the direction depicted by an arrow inFig. 5 ) of the banknotes. In this case, the threefirst kicker rollers 16 are positioned, respectively, such that the pair of left andright regions banknote 20 stored in any given position of thehopper 101 can be securely in contact with thefirst kicker rollers 16, respectively. - Therefore, even in the case in which the banknotes having any given size are stored in the
hopper 101, the pair of left andright regions kicker rollers 16, respectively. This can successfully prevent eachbanknote 20 kicked by thekicker rollers 16 from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relative to a normal feed direction thereof (i.e., the direction depicted by an arrow inFig. 5 ). Accordingly, the feeding speed of each banknote can be highly elevated up to, for example, 850 sheets of banknotes per minute. Additionally, as described above, one of the threefirst kicker rollers 16 is located, corresponding to the central position of thehopper 101. Therefore, even in the case in which each banknote is located in any given position of thehopper 101, the pair of left andright regions first kicker roller 16 and either one of the other left and rightfirst kicker rollers 16, respectively, as shown inFig. 5 . Thus, the feeding operation due to suchfirst kicker rollers 16 can securely prevent each banknote kicked by theserollers 16 from being advanced in an unduly oblique state, relative to the normal feed direction of the banknote. - The
second kicker rollers 18 are located upstream relative to thefirst kicker rollers 16 in the feed direction, respectively, as shown inFig. 3 . Eachsecond kicker roller 18 is configured to be continuously rotated in a direction depicted by an arrow inFig. 3 . More specifically, asingle shaft 19 is provided commonly to thesecond kicker rollers 18, such that theshaft 19 of thesecond kicker rollers 18 can be rotated together with theshaft 13 of thefeed rollers 12, due to an interlock mechanism (not shown). Thus, when theshaft 13 of thefeed rollers 12 is rotated by the steppingmotor 15, theshaft 19 of thesecond kicker rollers 18 can be continuously rotated together with theshaft 13. Additionally, as shown inFig. 3 , eachsecond kicker roller 18 has alow friction unit 18a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof. The coefficient of friction of thelow friction unit 18a is lower than the coefficient of friction of thehigh friction unit 16a of eachfirst kicker roller 16. Therefore, when a banknote is in contact with eachsecond kicker roller 18, such a banknote can be always kicked toward thefeed rollers 12 due to thelow friction unit 18a. In addition, the peripheral velocity of eachsecond kicker roller 18 is approximately the same as the peripheral velocity of eachfirst kicker roller 16. - The diameter of each
second kicker roller 18 is approximately the same as that of eachfirst kicker roller 16, and is, for example, about 40mm. In this case, the outer-circumferential lengths of eachfirst kicker roller 16 andsecond kicker roller 18 are respectively set longer than the length in the feed direction of the banknote having the largest size (e.g., the 500-euro banknote) of the banknotes to be fed out by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10. Now, the reason for setting the diameters of eachkicker roller hopper 101 of thebanknote handling machine 100. For instance, as the banknote having the largest size, the 500-euro banknote having a lateral length of 160mm and a feed direction length of 82mm can be mentioned. In this case, for continuously feeding such 500-euro banknotes by using thebanknote feeding apparatus 10 while securely performing recognition about each banknote by therecognition unit 220 after the banknote is fed out, it is preferred that a space of at least 40mm is ensured, between one first 500-euro banknote and a following 500-euro banknote, respectively placed on thetransport path 201. Namely, because the length in the feed direction of each 500-euro banknote is 82mm, it is preferred that a distance of about 122mm is ensured between a distal end of one 500-euro banknote and the distal end of the following 500-euro banknote. Therefore, it is preferred that the outer-circumferential length of eachfirst kicker roller 16 operated for kicking each banknote toward thefeed rollers 12 is also set at about 122mm. For this reason, the diameter of eachfirst kicker roller 16 is set at about 40mm. - As shown in
Fig. 4 , twosecond kicker rollers 18 are provided to thesingle shaft 19. In the direction along the shaft 19 (or in the lateral direction inFig. 4 ), the coordinates of the position of eachfirst kicker roller 16 is different from the coordinates of the position of eachsecond kicker roller 18. Specifically, eachsecond kicker roller 18 is located between each adjacent pair of thefirst kicker rollers 16. When seen in the direction along the shaft 19 (e.g., when seen in the left direction inFig. 4 ), the positional relationship between theshaft 17 of thefirst kicker rollers 16 and theshaft 19 of thesecond kicker rollers 18 is defined, such that eachfirst kicker roller 16 can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 (seeFig. 3 ). Now, the reason that eachfirst kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along theshaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternately overlapped with eachsecond kicker roller 18 will be discussed. As described above, the diameters of eachfirst kicker roller 16 andsecond kicker roller 18 are set at approximately 40mm. Therefore, if eachfirst kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along theshaft 17 thereof, is not alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller 18 (or if eachfirst kicker roller 16 is spaced away, when seen in the direction along theshaft 17 thereof, from each second kicker roller 18), the banknote having a considerably small size cannot be in contact with both of thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18, in some cases, in a flattened and non-curved condition. In other words, such a small-sized banknote stored in thehopper 101 will be in contact with both of thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18, in an undesirably curved and downwardly projected form, thus being likely to cause some failure or error upon the feeding operation due to thefirst kicker rollers 16. However, in this embodiment, since thefirst kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18 are respectively located such that eachfirst kicker roller 16, when seen in the direction along theshaft 17 thereof, is partly and alternately overlapped with eachsecond kicker roller 18, the distance between eachfirst kicker roller 16 and eachsecond kicker roller 18 is reduced. Therefore, even in the case of feeding such a small-sized banknote as described above, the banknote can be in contact with both of thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18, in a suitably flattened and non-curved condition. - Next, the operation and effect of the
banknote feeding apparatus 10 as described above will be discussed, with reference toFigs. 3 through 5 . - As shown in
Fig. 3 , when the banknotes having various sizes are stored in thehopper 101, in the stacked condition, the banknote present at the lowest layer will be in contact with thefirst kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18. At this time, thefirst kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18 are continuously rotated, respectively, in the direction depicted by the arrows, at substantially the same peripheral velocity. Therefore, each time thefirst kicker rollers 16 make one rotation, respectively, one banknote is kicked toward thefeed rollers 12, due to thehigh friction units 16a of the respectivefirst kicker rollers 16. Meanwhile, thesecond kicker rollers 18 support this kicking operation for the banknote, by using thelow friction units 18a thereof, respectively. For instance, even when the position of each banknote stored in thehopper 101 is considerably shifted away from thefeed rollers 12 and hence such a banknote is not in contact with thefirst kicker rollers 16, thesecond kicker rollers 18 can kick the banknote toward thefeed rollers 12, thereby to return the banknote to its original position. - Thereafter, each banknote fed to the
feed rollers 12 by thefirst kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18 will be further fed to thetransport path 201, due to therubber 12a of eachfeed roller 12, at the gate parts formed between thefeed rollers 12 and thegate rollers 14. In this way, the banknotes stored in thehopper 101 in the stacked condition can be transported, one by one, to the interior of thebanknote handling machine 100. - As described above, according to the
banknote feeding apparatus 10 of this embodiment, thefirst rollers 16, each having thehigh friction unit 16a partly provided in the outer circumference thereof for kicking each banknote, and thesecond kicker rollers 18, each located upstream relative to thefirst rollers 16 in the feed direction of the banknote, are provided. Additionally, eachsecond kicker roller 18 has thelow friction unit 18a provided over the whole outer circumference thereof, wherein the coefficient of friction of thelow friction unit 18a is smaller than the coefficient of friction of thehigh friction unit 16a of eachfirst kicker roller 16. Thesekicker rollers first kicker roller 16 is set greater than the feed-direction length of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed by thebanknote feeding apparatus 10. In this manner, thesecond kicker rollers 18 that can support the kicking operation for the banknotes are provided, in addition to thefirst kicker rollers 16 respectively provided for directly kicking the banknotes toward thefeed rollers 12, while thesekicker rollers hopper 101, the kicking operation for the banknotes toward thefeed rollers 12 can be securely performed. More specifically, even when the position of each banknote stored in thehopper 101 is considerably shifted away from thefeed rollers 12, such a shifted banknote can be fed toward thefeed rollers 12, due to thesecond kicker rollers 18, each rotated continuously at the peripheral velocity approximately the same as that of eachfirst kicker roller 16. Therefore, the failure or error can be successfully prevented, upon the kicking operation for each banknote toward thefeed rollers 12 by usingsuch kicker rollers high friction unit 16a of eachfirst kicker roller 16, thelow friction part 18a provided over the whole outer circumference of each continuously rotatedsecond kicker roller 18 can always push such a banknote toward thekicker rollers 12. Thus, this banknote pushed toward thefeed rollers 12 can be securely kicked by thehigh friction unit 16a of eachfirst kicker roller 16. - In addition, the diameter of each
first kicker roller 16 is substantially the same as the diameter of eachsecond kicker roller 18, while the coordinates of the position of eachfirst kicker roller 16 is different from the coordinates of the position of eachsecond kicker roller 18, in the direction along theshaft 17 of thefirst kicker rollers 16. Furthermore, when seen in the direction along theshaft 17, thefirst kicker rollers 16 andsecond kicker rollers 18 are respectively arranged, such that eachfirst kicker roller 16 can be partly and alternately overlapped with eachsecond kicker roller 18. This can reduce the distance between thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18. As such, even when the banknotes having a relatively small size are stored in thehopper 101, each banknote can be securely brought into contact with both of thefirst kicker rollers 16 and thesecond kicker rollers 18, while being well flattened. Therefore, thesecond kicker rollers 18 can be utilized for supporting the kicking operation for the banknotes.
Claims (5)
- A banknote feeding apparatus adapted for feeding a plurality of banknotes stored in a banknote storage unit, one by one, through a feed opening of the banknote storage unit, the banknote feeding apparatus comprising:a feed roller provided in the vicinity of the feed opening of the banknote storage unit and adapted for feeding out the banknotes, one by one, successively, through the feed opening toward the exterior of the banknote storage unit;a gate unit provided to be opposed to the feed roller, thereby forming a gate part between the gate unit and the feed roller;a first kicker roller configured to be in contact with a surface of one banknote of the plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit and adapted for kicking the one contacted banknote toward the gate part, the first kicker roller being further configured to be continuously rotated and having an outer-circumferential length set greater than a length in a feed direction of the banknote having the largest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus, and further having a high friction unit adapted for kicking each banknote and partly provided in the outer circumference of the first kicker roller; anda second kicker roller provided upstream relative to the first kicker roller in the feed direction of the banknotes, the second kicker roller being configured to be continuously rotated, at approximately the same peripheral velocity as that of the first kicker roller, and having a low friction unit having a coefficient of friction lower than the coefficient of friction of the high friction unit of the first kicker roller and provided over the whole outer circumference of the second kicker roller.
- The banknote feeding apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the diameter of the first kicker roller is approximately the same as the diameter of the second kicker roller, and
wherein the first kicker roller and second kicker roller are arranged, respectively, in positions such that the first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with the second kicker roller, when seen in an axial direction of the first kicker roller, without any interference between the first kicker roller and the second kicker roller in the axial direction of the first kicker roller. - The banknote feeding apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the first kicker roller is provided in a plural number along a common shaft, and
wherein the positions, in which the plurality of first kicker rollers are arranged, are set, respectively, such that, when assuming that the banknote having the smallest size of the banknotes to be fed out by the banknote feeding apparatus is divided into a pair of left and right regions, with respect to an imaginary central line defined along the feed direction of the banknotes, such a pair of left and right regions of the banknote having the smallest size and stored in any given position of the banknote storage unit can be kicked out by the first kicker rollers, respectively. - The banknote feeding apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein three first kicker rollers are provided,
wherein one of the three first kicker rollers is located corresponding to a central position of the banknote storage unit in a direction along the shaft of the first kicker rollers, and
wherein the other two of the three first kicker rollers are respectively located in positions that are symmetrical about the first kicker roller located corresponding to the central position of the banknote storage unit. - The banknote feeding apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein two second kicker rollers are arranged along a common shaft, while each second kicker roller is located between each adjacent pair of the first kicker rollers, and
wherein the first kicker rollers and second kicker rollers are arranged, respectively, in positions such that each first kicker roller can be partly and alternately overlapped with each second kicker roller, when seen in the axial direction of the first kicker roller.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2007/052186 WO2008096426A1 (en) | 2007-02-08 | 2007-02-08 | Paper money feeder |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2110352A1 true EP2110352A1 (en) | 2009-10-21 |
EP2110352A4 EP2110352A4 (en) | 2012-02-08 |
Family
ID=39681345
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP07708210A Withdrawn EP2110352A4 (en) | 2007-02-08 | 2007-02-08 | Paper money feeder |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100090393A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2110352A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4680302B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101631733A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008096426A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011086155A1 (en) * | 2010-01-14 | 2011-07-21 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Apparatus for handling value documents |
EP2518697B1 (en) | 2009-12-21 | 2016-07-27 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet processing device and paper sheet processing method |
CN105984737A (en) * | 2015-12-11 | 2016-10-05 | 北京航天斯达科技有限公司 | Single paper separation device for stacked paper |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5518552B2 (en) * | 2010-04-13 | 2014-06-11 | ローレル精機株式会社 | Banknote handling equipment |
CN103080986B (en) * | 2010-09-01 | 2016-06-01 | 光荣株式会社 | Paper processing device and bank note treatment device |
CN103171849B (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2015-09-09 | 路海英 | The roller medicine outlet device of automation Chinese medicine pharmacy |
JP5704104B2 (en) * | 2012-03-28 | 2015-04-22 | 沖電気工業株式会社 | Paper sheet conveying device and paper sheet handling device |
JP6000669B2 (en) | 2012-06-08 | 2016-10-05 | グローリー株式会社 | Paper sheet feeding device |
CN103413373A (en) * | 2013-07-04 | 2013-11-27 | 河北工程大学 | Paper feeding separation device |
KR101801771B1 (en) | 2015-08-17 | 2017-12-29 | 기산전자(주) | Apparatus for controlling feed rate of banknote and method thereof |
CN105346750B (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2017-12-15 | 山东中医药大学 | A kind of quick Wrap device of particulate matter |
CN108734853A (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2018-11-02 | 山东新北洋信息技术股份有限公司 | Paper money detaching mechanism, coin case and bank note treatment device |
EP3489911B1 (en) * | 2017-11-22 | 2022-07-13 | Frama AG | Device for franking flat mail items transported individually or from a stack on a processing line |
JP7245460B2 (en) * | 2018-09-13 | 2023-03-24 | ローレルバンクマシン株式会社 | Paper sheet handling equipment |
CN114633570B (en) * | 2022-03-31 | 2023-08-29 | 广东法斯邦智能科技实业有限公司 | Paper feeding mechanism of digital printing equipment |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4653742A (en) * | 1984-06-29 | 1987-03-31 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Sheets separating and feeding apparatus |
US20060103066A1 (en) * | 2002-06-03 | 2006-05-18 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Device for separating sheet-type products |
WO2006125559A1 (en) * | 2005-05-21 | 2006-11-30 | Aci-Ecotec Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for the separation of substrates from a stack |
Family Cites Families (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3506258A (en) * | 1967-10-06 | 1970-04-14 | Measurement Research Center In | Document feeding mechanism |
JPS5534194Y2 (en) * | 1976-02-04 | 1980-08-13 | ||
US4715593A (en) * | 1985-12-02 | 1987-12-29 | Godlewski Edward S | Stack-supporting bottom feed conveyor |
JPS62183642U (en) * | 1986-05-12 | 1987-11-21 | ||
US5098078A (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1992-03-24 | Omron Corporation | Continuous paper let-out apparatus |
US5172898A (en) * | 1990-07-05 | 1992-12-22 | Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Paperboard feeding apparatus |
JP2522467Y2 (en) | 1990-12-19 | 1997-01-16 | グローリー工業株式会社 | Belt separation prevention device in paper sheet transport mechanism |
JPH07179233A (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1995-07-18 | Omron Corp | Paper sheet delivery device |
JP3880671B2 (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 2007-02-14 | グローリー株式会社 | Bill feeding device |
JP3560223B2 (en) * | 1998-09-17 | 2004-09-02 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Paper sheet separation and feeding device |
JP3868641B2 (en) * | 1998-11-20 | 2007-01-17 | 富士通株式会社 | Paper feeding mechanism |
DE10008135A1 (en) * | 2000-02-22 | 2001-08-23 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Friction wheel separator for banknotes has friction members on separator roller and friction regions of retaining device provided with suitable coefficients of friction |
US20010035602A1 (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2001-11-01 | Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc. | Mail piece feeder for vertically orientated mail pieces and having reversible retard rollers |
JP2001344635A (en) * | 2000-06-02 | 2001-12-14 | Birukon Kk | Machine and method for identifying and counting paper sheets |
US7140607B2 (en) * | 2002-10-18 | 2006-11-28 | Diebold Self-Service Systems Division Of Diebold, Incorporated | Cash dispensing automated banking machine with note unstacking and validation |
GB2400365B (en) * | 2003-03-24 | 2006-06-28 | Int Currency Tech | Banknote dispenser |
-
2007
- 2007-02-08 CN CN200780050994A patent/CN101631733A/en active Pending
- 2007-02-08 EP EP07708210A patent/EP2110352A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-02-08 US US12/449,204 patent/US20100090393A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-02-08 JP JP2008556946A patent/JP4680302B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-02-08 WO PCT/JP2007/052186 patent/WO2008096426A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4653742A (en) * | 1984-06-29 | 1987-03-31 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Sheets separating and feeding apparatus |
US20060103066A1 (en) * | 2002-06-03 | 2006-05-18 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Device for separating sheet-type products |
WO2006125559A1 (en) * | 2005-05-21 | 2006-11-30 | Aci-Ecotec Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for the separation of substrates from a stack |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO2008096426A1 * |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2518697B1 (en) | 2009-12-21 | 2016-07-27 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet processing device and paper sheet processing method |
EP2518697B2 (en) † | 2009-12-21 | 2022-08-10 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet processing device |
WO2011086155A1 (en) * | 2010-01-14 | 2011-07-21 | Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh | Apparatus for handling value documents |
CN103026390A (en) * | 2010-01-14 | 2013-04-03 | 德利多富国际有限责任公司 | Apparatus for handling value documents |
CN103026390B (en) * | 2010-01-14 | 2016-06-08 | 德利多富国际有限责任公司 | For operating the equipment of valuable bills |
CN105984737A (en) * | 2015-12-11 | 2016-10-05 | 北京航天斯达科技有限公司 | Single paper separation device for stacked paper |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2008096426A1 (en) | 2010-05-20 |
EP2110352A4 (en) | 2012-02-08 |
JP4680302B2 (en) | 2011-05-11 |
US20100090393A1 (en) | 2010-04-15 |
WO2008096426A1 (en) | 2008-08-14 |
CN101631733A (en) | 2010-01-20 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2110352A1 (en) | Paper money feeder | |
EP2110792B1 (en) | Sheets processing machine | |
US8708327B2 (en) | Paper sheet handling machine | |
US6705470B2 (en) | Two belt bill facing mechanism | |
US20100207319A1 (en) | Paper sheet handling machine | |
US20040099580A1 (en) | Document feeder and method | |
US8348272B2 (en) | Sheets counting device | |
US8961275B2 (en) | Coin depositing and dispensing machine | |
US8246036B2 (en) | Paper sheet handling machine | |
JP6198929B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing equipment | |
JPH09282521A (en) | Deciding method for number of paper sheets, paper sheet handling device and automated cash transaction device | |
JP6738953B2 (en) | Paper processing equipment | |
JP6371375B2 (en) | Paper sheet processing equipment | |
US10580245B2 (en) | Coin processing apparatus | |
KR100990113B1 (en) | Bill insert structure for bill counting device | |
JP2009211572A (en) | Banknote processor and money processing machine | |
JP4832901B2 (en) | Coin processing mechanism and coin storage and dispensing device | |
US11727744B2 (en) | Paper sheet storage apparatus and paper sheet handling apparatus | |
US20210398380A1 (en) | Coin feeding device | |
JP2001155212A (en) | Received coin separation/feed mechanism for coin processor | |
JP2010026684A (en) | Paper money processing device and money processing unit | |
JP2017151558A (en) | Coin processor | |
CN112598845A (en) | Coin sorting device | |
KR20190054035A (en) | Long-edge feeding banknote counter and method thereof processing different kind of paper sheet | |
JP2009093302A (en) | Bill counter |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20090817 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20120111 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: G07D 9/00 20060101ALI20120104BHEP Ipc: B65H 3/06 20060101AFI20120104BHEP |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20150901 |