EP4592978A1

EP4592978A1 - Money handling system, money handling apparatus, and money handling method

Info

Publication number: EP4592978A1
Application number: EP25150450.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Risa HORITA; Yang Chen
Original assignee: Glory Ltd
Current assignee: Glory Ltd
Priority date: 2024-01-25
Filing date: 2025-01-07
Publication date: 2025-07-30
Also published as: JP2025115214A

Abstract

A money handling system includes: a first money handling apparatus including a storage unit of money; a second money handling apparatus configured to perform money handling using the money dispensed from the first money handling apparatus; a memory storing an inventory for specifying denominations and the quantity of the money in the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus; and a control unit configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit, and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit. The control unit updates the inventory of the first money handling apparatus, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus that has recognized and counted the money dispensed from the first money handling apparatus.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a money handling system, a money handling apparatus, and a money handling method for specifying denominations and the quantity for each denomination of money stored in a money handling apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a money handling apparatus that is configured to store money in a storage unit in the apparatus and performs a depositing process and a dispensing process, has been used. In order to avoid a situation that the dispensing process cannot be performed due to a shortage in the quantity of money in the storage unit and a situation that the depositing process cannot be performed due to an excess in the quantity of money in the storage unit, the money handling apparatus manages the quantity of money for each denomination stored in the storage unit, as an inventory of money. When performing the depositing process or the dispensing process, the money handling apparatus specifies the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of money to be deposited or dispensed, thereby updating and confirming the inventory after the process.
For example, if money, which should be dispensed one by one from the storage unit during the dispensing process, is dispensed in an overlapped manner, the quantity of money in the storage unit becomes unclear and the inventory cannot be confirmed. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-177599 discloses an apparatus that detects multiple transport in which two or more banknotes are overlapped and transported. This apparatus stores the banknotes in the multiple transport into a reject box, and updates the inventory on an assumption that two banknotes have been overlapped and transported together. After updating the inventory, the apparatus performs a reconciliation process of recognizing all the banknotes being stored in the storage unit to check the denominations and the number for each denomination. If the inventory updated based on the assumed number of rejected banknotes is incorrect, the apparatus corrects and confirms the inventory.

SUMMARY

When the inventory becomes unclear in the conventional money handling apparatus, this apparatus performs the reconciliation process to confirm the inventory. However, during the reconciliation process, the money handling apparatus cannot perform other money handling processes such as a depositing process and a dispensing process. If the reconciliation process takes time, a state in which the money handling apparatus cannot be used for its usual purpose such as a depositing process and a dispensing process, may continue for a long time.
The present disclosure has been made in view of the conventional art including the above problem. The present disclosure addresses these issues, as discussed herein, with a money handling system, a money handling apparatus, and a money handling method that confirms the inventory without performing a reconciliation process in the apparatus when the inventory is unclear.
A money handling system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first money handling apparatus including a storage unit that stores money therein, and configured to dispense money from the storage unit; a second money handling apparatus configured to perform money handling by using the money dispensed from the first money handling apparatus; a memory configured to store therein an inventory including information for specifying denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus; and a control unit configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit, and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit. When the second money handling apparatus recognizes and counts the money, and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money that has been dispensed from the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus are specified, the control unit updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus. The memory and the control unit may be included in the first money handling apparatus. Alternatively, the memory and the control unit may be included in an external device communicably connected to the first money handling apparatus and the second money handling apparatus. The storage unit may be a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state. When money has been dispensed from the mixture storage unit, the control unit may set the inventory in an unconfirmed state in which the quantity for each denomination of money being stored in the storage unit cannot be specified. After that, the control unit update the inventory as above to set it in a confirmed state in which the quantity for each denomination can be specified.
The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of this disclosure will be better understood by the following description and the accompanying drawings of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a money handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of the money handling system;
FIG. 3 illustrates a method for using a dispensing unit of a back apparatus;
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an example of a configuration of the back apparatus;
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of a configuration of a front apparatus;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of confirming an inventory in the back apparatus after a change fund for a cash register has been dispensed from the back apparatus;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of confirming an inventory in the back apparatus after a change fund for a front apparatus has been dispensed from the back apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of confirming an inventory in the back apparatus after a change fund for the front apparatus has been dispensed from the back apparatus;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process performed in the back apparatus;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process of the back apparatus with a cassette being a dispensing destination;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process of confirming an inventory in the back apparatus in an unconfirmed state;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process of the back apparatus with a tray being a dispensing destination; and
FIGS. 13A to 13D show an example of data used in the money handling system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a money handling system, a money handling apparatus, and a money handling method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Outline of money handling system]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a money handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The money handling system includes a money handling apparatus 10. The money handling apparatus 10 includes at least one mixture storage unit 11. The money handling apparatus 10 may further include one or more denomination-based storage units 12.
The mixture storage unit 11 is a storage unit that stores therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state. The storage of money in a mixed state in a storage unit refers to a state in which a plurality of denominations of money are stored in a single storage unit and denominations of money fed out from the storage unit cannot be specified. The denomination-based storage unit 12 is a single-denomination storage unit that stores therein a single denomination of money. In the example shown in FIG. 1, money of denomination A and money of denomination B are stored in a mixed state in the mixture storage unit 11. Meanwhile, only money of denomination C is stored in the denomination-based storage unit 12.
A storage-unit inventory 51 shown in FIG. 1 indicates inventory quantities of money being stored in the storage units 11, 12 of the money handling apparatus 10. The money being stored in a storage unit refers to the money that is currently stored in the storage unit. The storage-unit inventory 51 includes information that specifies denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage units 11, 12 of the money handling apparatus 10.
The storage-unit inventory 51 includes a flag that indicates whether or not the quantity of money of each denomination is a confirmed quantity. The flag being "0" indicates that the quantity of money is a confirmed quantity. The flag being "1" indicates that the quantity of money is not confirmed, i.e., the quantity is unconfirmed. The same state may be indicated by using a flag indicating that a reconciliation process is necessary to count the quantity of money since the quantity of the money is unconfirmed. For example, when a predetermined error such as jamming of a banknote in the apparatus has occurred during the dispensing process, the flag may be set to a value indicating that the reconciliation process is necessary. For another example, when a dispensing process is performed and money stored in the mixture storage unit 11 has been dispensed without being recognized, the flag may be set to a value indicating that the reconciliation process is necessary.
In this embodiment, the "confirmed" quantity of money refers to the quantity of money that has been specified in the money handling system, based on the content of money handling performed by the money handling apparatus 10 or another money handling apparatus included in the money handling system. When a dispensing process of dispensing money stored in the denomination-based storage unit 12 has been performed without an error such as jamming, the denomination-based quantity of money in this unit 12 is in the confirmed state. For example, the quantity of money having been determined by the money handling apparatus is the confirmed quantity of money. Meanwhile, the "unconfirmed" quantity of money refers to the quantity of money that cannot be specified in the money handling system. For example, the quantity of money that the money handling apparatus cannot determine, but provisionally deems, becomes the unconfirmed quantity of money. When an error, such as jamming, has occurred during the dispensing process, or when a dispensing process has been performed without recognizing money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, the quantity for each denomination of money in the mixture storage unit 11 becomes in the unconfirmed state.
The example of the storage-unit inventory 51 shown in FIG. 1 indicates that it has been confirmed that Pa pieces of money of denomination A and Pb pieces of money of denomination B are being stored in the mixture storage unit 11. Also, it has been confirmed that Pc pieces of money of denomination C are being stored in the denomination-based storage unit 12.
The money handling apparatus 10 can perform a dispensing process. The money handling apparatus 10 can feed out money one by one from the mixture storage unit 11 and the denomination-based storage unit 12, and dispense the money while counting the quantity of the money. In the dispensing process, money is fed out one by one from at least one of the mixture storage unit 11 and the denomination-based storage unit 12, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.
When receiving an instruction for a dispensing process of dispensing Y pieces of money of denomination C, the money handling apparatus 10 dispenses Y pieces of money from the denomination-based storage unit 12 as shown by a broken-line frame 22 in FIG. 1 (S1). The money handling apparatus 10, which has performed the dispensing process, updates the storage-unit inventory 51 (S3). The quantity of money of denomination C is updated from Pc to (Pc-Y) in a storage-unit inventory 52 after update.
When dispensing money from the denomination-based storage unit 12, the money handling apparatus 10 can update and confirm the storage-unit inventory, based on the dispensed quantity of money. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 52 after update, the flag for the quantity of money of denomination C remains "0" indicating the confirmed state.
In the money handling system of the present embodiment, when receiving an instruction for a dispensing process of dispensing X pieces of money of "denomination A", the money handling apparatus 10 dispenses X pieces of money from the mixture storage unit 11. When receiving an instruction for a dispensing process of dispensing X pieces of money of "denomination B", the money handling apparatus 10 also dispenses X pieces of money from the mixture storage unit 11. When receiving an instruction for a dispensing process of dispensing X pieces of money of "denomination A and denomination B in total", the money handling apparatus 10 also dispenses X pieces of money from the mixture storage unit 11. That is, the money handling apparatus 10, which has received the instruction for the dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit 11, calculates the total of the quantities of money of the respective denominations to be dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, and dispenses money corresponding to the total quantity from the mixture storage unit 11, as indicated by a broken-line frame 21 shown in FIG. 1. The instruction for the dispensing process may not necessarily be performed while specifying the quantity of money for each denomination. The instruction may be performed while specifying how many pieces of money to be dispensed from which storage unit without instructing denominations. For example, upon receiving an instruction to dispense Y pieces of money from the denomination-based storage unit 12 and X pieces of money from the mixture storage unit 11, the money handling apparatus 10 may perform a dispensing process as instructed. In the money handling apparatus 10, information on denominations of money to be stored in the respective storage units is set in advance. For example, the money handling apparatus 10 stores, in a memory, storage unit settings including the information on the denominations of money to be stored in the storage units, which will be described in detail later.
The money handling apparatus 10, which has dispensed money from the mixture storage unit 11, updates the storage-unit inventory 51 (S3). The money handling apparatus 10 can confirm that X pieces of money have been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, but cannot confirm the breakdown of the X pieces of money, i.e., the quantity of dispensed money of denomination A and the quantity of dispensed money of denomination B, because the money is stored in the mixed state in the mixture storage unit 11.
Therefore, the money handling apparatus 10, which has dispensed X pieces of money from the mixture storage unit 11, updates the quantity of money of denomination A from Pa to a deemed quantity Da that is a provisional quantity, and updates the quantity of money of denomination B from Pb to a deemed quantity Db that is a provisional quantity, as shown in the storage-unit inventory 52 after update.
When there is an unconfirmed quantity of money, the money handling apparatus 10 sets a flag (turns on a flag) so as to indicate that the storage-unit inventory is in the unconfirmed state. The money handling apparatus 10, which has dispensed money from the mixture storage unit 11, updates the flag for money of denomination A and the flag for money of denomination B from "0" indicating the confirmed state, to "1" indicating the unconfirmed state, as shown in the storage-unit inventory 52 after update.
The deemed quantities Da, Db being the unconfirmed quantities of money are determined based on settings. For example, the money handling apparatus 10 regards half the quantity X of dispensed money to be money of denomination A, and remaining half the quantity X to be money of denomination B, thereby determining the deemed quantity Da as (Pa-X/2), and deemed quantity Db as (Pb-X/2). Settings for determining the deemed quantities Da, Db may be variable. An example of settings for deemed quantities will be described in detail later.
As shown in FIG. 1, the money handling system traces the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 of the money handling apparatus 10 (S4). When the money has been mechanically handled (S5) after dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10, the money handling system updates and confirms the quantity of money in the unconfirmed state, based on the content of the mechanical handling (S6).
For example, in the case where the money handling apparatus 10 dispenses money from the mixture storage unit 11 into a container, the money in the container is deposited into another money handling apparatus, and this apparatus performs a depositing process to recognize and count the deposited money from the container, the storage-unit inventory 52 is updated based on the result of the recognition and counting in the apparatus.
As shown in a broken-line frame 30 in FIG. 1, if the recognition/counting result is that a breakdown of X pieces of money, which has been dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 and stored in the container, is Xa pieces of money of denomination A and Xb pieces of money of denomination B (X=Xa+Xb), the money handling system updates the storage-unit inventory 52 of the money handling apparatus 10, based on the recognition/counting result. That is, the money handling apparatus 10 specifies the denomination-based quantities of money having been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, based on the result of recognition and counting of the money obtained in the money handling performed by another money handling apparatus. The storage-unit inventory 52 of the money handling apparatus 10 is updated to change the unconfirmed state to the confirmed state, based on the money handling result of another money handling apparatus.
Specifically, as shown in a storage-unit inventory 53 in FIG. 1, the money handling apparatus 10 updates the quantity of money of denomination A from Da to (Pa-Xa), and updates the quantity of money of denomination B from Db to (Pb-Xb). The quantities after update are confirmed quantities since these are obtained based on the quantities Pa, Pb of money of the respective denominations in the storage-unit inventory 51 which have been confirmed before the dispensing process in the money handling apparatus 10, and the quantities Xa, Xb of dispensed money of the respective denominations which have been confirmed through recognition and counting by another money handling apparatus. When the unconfirmed quantities of money have been changed to the confirmed quantities of money, the money handling apparatus 10 resets the flag (turns off the flag) so as to indicate that the storage-unit inventory is in the confirmed state. Therefore, as shown in the storage-unit inventory 53 after update, the flags for denominations A and B are updated from "1" indicating the unconfirmed state to "0" indicating the confirmed state.
As described above, in the money handling system, when the money stored in the mixture storage unit 11 has been dispensed without recognizing denominations, the storage-unit inventory in the money handling apparatus 10 becomes in the unconfirmed state. After that, the storage-unit inventory is updated and changed to the confirmed state based on the result of recognition and counting of the dispensed money obtained by the money handling apparatus. That is, the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 11, which has become unconfirmed due to the dispensing process, is held until the dispensed money is recognized in another money handling such as a depositing process. The storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 11 is updated and confirmed based on the denomination-based quantity obtained through the mechanical recognition performed in the money handling apparatus.
In the money handling system, the storage-unit inventory in the unconfirmed state is confirmed without performing a reconciliation process of checking money remaining in the mixture storage unit 11. Since a reconciliation process for confirming the storage-unit inventory does not need to be performed, it is possible to avoid a situation that the money handling apparatus 10 is performing a reconciliation process and cannot perform another money handling. Thus, the money handling apparatus 10 can be continuously used as usual even after the storage-unit inventory has become unconfirmed.
For example, in a conventional system, if 100 pieces of money have been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 in which a total of 1500 pieces of money of denomination A and money of denomination B are stored in a mixed state, 1400 pieces of money remaining in the mixture storage unit 11 must be recognized and counted during the reconciliation process to confirm the storage-unit inventory. Meanwhile, in the money handling system according to this embodiment, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed by recognizing and counting 100 pieces of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11. Additionally, in the money handling system, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed based on the money recognition/counting result that is obtained not in a reconciliation process, which is required when an error such as jamming occurs, but in ordinary-purpose usage of the money handling apparatus 10 and/or other money handling apparatuses such as a depositing process and a replenishment process. Therefore, in the money handling system, a processing load for confirming the storage-unit inventory is reduced.

(Modifications)

The storage-unit inventory in the money handling apparatus 10 may be confirmed before the recognition/counting results for all the money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 are obtained.
For example, in the case where a total of X pieces of money of denomination A and denomination B are dispensed into a container from the mixture storage unit 11 , and Y pieces of money of denomination C are dispensed into the same container from the denomination-based storage unit 12, the storage-unit inventory 52 may be confirmed before all the money in this container is recognized and counted.
Specifically, in the case where the money in the container is deposited into another money handling apparatus, when the total quantity of money of denomination A and money of denomination B recognized in the depositing process has reached the total quantity X, the breakdown of the quantity of money of denomination A and the quantity of money of denomination B, which constitute the total quantity X, becomes apparent. Even when unrecognized money of denomination C remains in the container at the time when the breakdown has become apparent, in other words, even when the depositing process is not finished, it is possible to update and confirm the storage-unit inventory, based on the quantities of money of denominations A and B. That is, the storage-unit inventory may be confirmed in the middle of the money handling.
In the above example, two denominations of money are mixed and stored in the mixture storage unit 11. However, three or more denominations of money may be mixed and stored. In this case as well, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed by specifying the denomination-based quantities of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 as described above.
In the above example, the money handling apparatus 10 includes the denomination-based storage unit 12 to be compared with the mixture storage unit 11. However, the money handling apparatus 10 may include only the mixture storage unit 11. In the above example, the money handling apparatus 10 includes one mixture storage unit 11. However, the money handling apparatus 10 may include two or more mixture storage units 11. In this case as well, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed by specifying the denomination-based quantities of money dispensed from the mixture storage units 11 as described above.
In the above example, the money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 is recognized and counted in another money handling apparatus. However, the dispensed money may be again deposited in the money handling apparatus 10 to be recognized and counted therein. In this case as well, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed as described above by specifying the denomination-based quantities of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, based on the recognition/counting result obtained in the money handling apparatus 10.
As for another money handling for recognizing and counting the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11, which is performed after the dispensing process by the money handling apparatus 10, the type and the name of this money handling are not limited as long as it is a money handling process in which the denomination-based quantities of the dispensed money can be obtained. For example, another money handling may be a depositing process of recognizing and counting money, and storing the money in a storage unit in a money handling apparatus, or a replenishment process of replenishing a storage unit with recognized and counted money. Another money handling may be a money exchange process of recognizing and counting money, storing the money in a storage unit in a money handling apparatus, and dispensing money of other denominations. Another money handling may be a money handling process, called a "counting process" or the like, in which a money handling apparatus recognizes and counts money received inside the apparatus, and discharges the money to the outside of the apparatus without storing the money in a storage unit.
In the above example, the storage-unit inventory is confirmed after the money handling apparatus 10 has performed one dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit 11. However, the storage-unit inventory may be confirmed after a plurality of times of dispensing processes have been performed. In this case as well, the money handling apparatus 10 waits until the recognition/counting results of all the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 in the plurality of dispensing processes are obtained by another money handling, and specifies the denomination-based quantities of the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 as described above, thereby confirming the storage-unit inventory.
The money handling system may not necessarily include only one money handling apparatus 10, and may include a plurality of money handling apparatuses 10. In this case, for example, each money handling apparatus 10 may be given an apparatus identification number and a container for storing dispensed money may be given a container identification number, and the money handling system may associate the apparatus identification number with the container identification number so as to identify correspondence between each money handling apparatus 10 and money dispensed by the apparatus into each container. Money dispensed from each apparatus can be distinguished based on ID numbers and therefore, the storage-unit inventory in each money handling apparatus 10 can be confirmed by specifying the denomination-based quantities of money dispensed from each money handling apparatus 10 as described above.
In the above example, money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 of the money handling apparatus 10 is recognized and counted by a single time of other money handling to specify denomination-based quantities. However, the money may be recognized and counted by a plurality of times of other money handling to specify denomination-based quantities. For example, in the case where the money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 is recognized and counted through a plurality of times of money handling performed by another money handling apparatus, the money handling apparatus 10 waits until all the dispensed money is processed. After all the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 are handled through the plurality of times of money handling, the denomination-based quantities of the money are specified and the storage-unit inventory is confirmed based on these quantities.
Money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 may not necessarily be recognized and counted by a single money handling apparatus, and may be recognized and counted by a plurality of money handling apparatuses. For example, in the case where a part of money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 is recognized and counted by another money handling apparatus while a remaining part of the dispensed money is recognized and counted by still another money handling apparatus, denomination-based quantities of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit 11 are specified based on the recognition/counting results obtained in the respective money handling apparatuses and then, the storage-unit inventory is confirmed based on the specified denomination-based quantities.
In the case where the money handling apparatus 10 dispenses money into a container, the type of the container is not particularly limited. A cassette container, a bag type container, and a tray type container may be used. In the case where the money handling system acquires container ID numbers to distinguish each container, acquisition of the container ID numbers of the respective containers may be performed using the conventional technique. For example, an operator who performs a dispensing process by operating the money handling apparatus 10 may manually input a container ID number to the apparatus. A container ID number may be inputted by using a reading device, such as a scanner or a camera, to read the container ID number or a graphic code encoding it, which are attached to the container. A container ID number may be acquired from a memory element such as an IC chip storing the container ID number, by using a wired or wireless communication.
Storage and update of the various kinds of information, such as the apparatus ID numbers, the container ID numbers, and the storage-unit inventory, may not necessarily be performed by the money handling apparatus 10, and may be performed by another apparatus included in the money handling system. For example, the money handling system may include a server device, and the server device may perform the storage and update of the information such as the storage-unit inventory.

[Specific example of money handling system]

Specific examples of the money handling apparatus 10 and the money handling system will be described. Although the place where the money handling system is used is not particularly limited, a case where the money handling system is used in a store selling items to customers will be described herein after as an example. Money to be handled in the money handling system may be banknotes, coins, or both banknotes and coins. In a transaction with a customer performed in the store, banknotes and/or coins may be exchanged between the store and the customer. The description will be continued for the case of handling only coins in order to simplify the description.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of a money handling system 1. The money handling system 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes two types of money handling apparatuses 100 and 200. The money handling apparatus 100 is an example of the money handling apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. The money handling apparatus 200 is an example of the other money handling apparatus that handles money dispensed from the money handling apparatus 10 as described with reference to FIG. 1. The money handling system 1 shown in FIG. 2 further includes a cash register 300.
The money handling apparatus 200 and the cash register 300 are installed at a checkout counter in the store, and are used for depositing money paid for items purchased by the customer, and dispensing a change to be returned to the customer, in a transaction with the customer. Meanwhile, the money handling apparatus 100 is installed in, for example, a place called a back office of the store, and is used for dispensing coins called a change fund that is used, as a change for transactions with customers, in the money handling apparatus 200 and the cash register 300. The money handling apparatus 100 may be used for depositing coins collected from the money handling apparatus 200 and the cash register 300. Hereinafter, the money handling apparatus 100 is referred to as a back apparatus 100 and the money handling apparatus 200 is referred to as a front apparatus 200 so as to distinguish them.
The front apparatus 200 and the back apparatus 100 are communicably connected to each other via a network 2. The money handling system 1 may further include a server 3. The server 3 acquires various kinds of information from the front apparatus 200 and the back apparatus 100 via the network 2. The server 3 may perform processes such as storage, update, and confirmation of a storage-unit inventory in the front apparatus 200 and a storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100.
The cash register 300 includes an operation unit and a display unit used for inputting the kinds and prices of items, and a drawer 315 for depositing and dispensing coins. The cash register 300 may include a reading device such as a camera or a scanner for reading item information from a graphic code such as a barcode attached to each item. A cashier operates the cash register 300 including the operation unit, the display unit, the reading device, and the like to confirm a transaction amount with a customer, and then opens the drawer 315 to store coins paid by the customer into the drawer 315. The cashier takes out coins from the drawer 315 and returns it as change coins to the customer according to need.
The front apparatus 200 is connected to an operation/display unit 203 including a touch panel type liquid crystal display device. The front apparatus 200 performs a depositing process for coins paid by the customer and a dispensing process for change coins to be returned to the customer, based on various kinds of information inputted by the operator through the operation/display unit 203. The front apparatus 200 may be connected to a reading device such as a camera or a scanner for reading item information from a graphic code such as a barcode attached to each item. For example, after a transaction amount with a customer has been accepted by using the operation/display unit 203 and the reading device, the front apparatus 200 performs a depositing process of receiving coins paid by the customer in a depositing unit 210, recognizing and counting the coins, and calculating a deposit amount. The front apparatus 200 stores the deposited coins into a storage unit 240 in the apparatus. If the deposit amount exceeds the transaction amount, the front apparatus 200 performs a dispensing process to dispense, from a dispensing unit 220, coins equivalent to a change amount obtained by subtracting the deposit amount from the transaction amount. The operator of the front apparatus 200 may be a customer or a store clerk such as a cashier.
The back apparatus 100 includes an operation/display unit 103 including a touch panel type liquid crystal display device. The back apparatus 100 receives various kinds of information inputted by the operator through the operation/display unit 103, and performs various types of money handling such as a change fund dispensing process, and a depositing process for coins collected from the checkout counter. The operator of the back apparatus 100 is a store clerk, such as a cashier.
As shown in FIG. 2, a depositing unit 110 for receiving deposited coins is disposed at a front portion of the upper surface of a housing of the back apparatus 100. A reject box 191 for rejecting coins that cannot be deposited, and a return unit 192 for returning foreign objects that are put in the depositing unit 110 together with the coins, are disposed at the front surface of the housing of the back apparatus 100. The reject box 191 can be drawn outward from the front surface of the housing so as to be removable from the back apparatus 100. A center portion 190, in the vertical direction, of the housing of the back apparatus 100 can be drawn outward from the front surface of the housing. An overflow box 193 is disposed inside the center portion 190. If the storage unit is full and cannot store coins anymore, the overflow box 193 stores the coins. The overflow box 193 is dismountable from the back apparatus 100 with the center portion 190 being drawn outward from the front surface of the housing.
A dispensing unit 120 is disposed at a lower portion of the front surface of the housing of the back apparatus 100. The dispensing unit 120 can be drawn outward from the front surface of the housing. FIG. 3 illustrates a method for using the dispensing unit 120. As shown in FIG. 3, a cassette 270, which is taken out from the front apparatus 200 through a mounting unit 271 being opened, can be mounted in the dispensing unit 120 drawn outward from the housing of the back apparatus 100. Also, a tray 370, which is taken out from the cash register 300 through the drawer 315 being opened, can be mounted in the dispensing unit 120.
When the dispensing unit 120 in which the tray 370 is mounted has been returned into the housing of the back apparatus 100 and a predetermined operation has been performed through the operation/display unit 103, the back apparatus 100 dispenses a change fund for the cash register 300 into the tray 370. The tray 370 having the change fund stored therein is taken out from the dispensing unit 120 drawn outward from the housing, and is mounted in the drawer 315 of the cash register 300.
When the dispensing unit 120 in which the cassette 270 is mounted has been returned into the housing of the back apparatus 100 and a predetermined operation has been performed through the operation/display unit 103, the back apparatus 100 dispenses a change fund for the front apparatus 200 into the cassette 270. The cassette 270 having the change fund stored therein is taken out from the dispensing unit 120 drawn outward from the housing, and is mounted to the front apparatus 200.

(Example of configuration of back apparatus)

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example of the configuration of the back apparatus 100. FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the back apparatus 100. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a coin handling unit 101 of the back apparatus 100.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the back apparatus 100 includes the coin handling unit 101, a control unit 102, the operation/display unit 103, a memory 104, and a communication unit 105. The operation/display unit 103 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and is used for inputting and displaying various kinds of information regarding coin handling.
The communication unit 105 is used for communicating with external devices via the network 2. The external devices include the front apparatus 200 and the server 3. The memory 104 is a nonvolatile storage device that is used for storing various kinds of information required for operating the back apparatus 100.
The control unit 102 controls the functions and operations of the components constituting the back apparatus 100. The control unit 102 can control the components, based on operations performed through the operation/display unit 103, information received from external devices via the communication unit 105, and the like, with reference to various kinds of information stored in a dedicated memory device or the memory 104. For example, a program corresponding to the control unit 102 is stored in a dedicated memory in advance, and the functions and operations of the control unit 102 are realized when the program is executed by hardware such as a CPU. The control unit 102 controlling the components realizes the functions and operations of the back apparatus 100 described in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, processes and operations of the back apparatus 100 to be realized by the control unit 102 may be described as being performed by the back apparatus 100. According to an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 102 is, for example, one or more general purpose processing circuits such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, and a digital signal processor, or a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
The coin handling unit 101 can perform a plurality of types of coin handling including a depositing process, a dispensing process, and a counting process. The coin handling unit 101 includes the depositing unit 110, the dispensing unit 120, a recognition unit 130, a plurality of storage units 140, transport units 150 (150a, 150b), chutes 160 (160a to 160d), gates 161 (161a to 161c), and a feeding unit 180. As shown in FIG. 4B, the depositing unit 110 is configured to receive a plurality of coins put therein. The depositing unit 110 can be equipped with the cassette 270 so that coins fed out from the cassette 270 are deposited into the depositing unit 110. The transport units 150 include an upper transport unit 150a and a lower transport unit 150b.

(Depositing process in back apparatus)

In a depositing process, coins received in the depositing unit 110 are dropped into the feeding unit 180. The feeding unit 180 can receive a plurality of coins from the depositing unit 110, and feed out the coins one by one to the upper transport unit 150a. The recognition unit 130 recognizes the coins being transported by the upper transport unit 150a. The recognition unit 130 recognizes the denominations of the coins. The recognition unit 130 may recognize authenticity of each coin, and/or fitness indicating a degree of damage of each coin. The recognition unit 130 includes at least one of a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, and an image sensor. The number of deposited coins for each denomination is specified based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 130. Among the recognized coins, a coin that can be deposited is stored in a storage unit 140. A gate 161a provided in the upper transport unit 150a and corresponding to a storage unit 140 is opened to allow the coin to drop into the chute 160a, whereby the coin is stored in the corresponding storage unit 140. FIG. 4B shows only one pair of the gate 161a and the chute 160a, but pairs of the gate 161 and the chute 160 are provided corresponding to the respective storage units 140. In the depositing process, if the storage units 140 are full of coins and a coin recognized as depositbale by the recognition unit 130 cannot be stored therein, this coin is stored in the overflow box 193 from the gate 161c of the upper transport unit 150a through the chute 160c. If there is a coin and/or a foreign object that cannot be fed out from the feeding unit 180, a gate 181 at the bottom surface of the feeding unit 180 is opened to return the coin and the foreign object to the return unit 192.
The storage unit 140 can perform storage of coins, and feeding-out of the stored coins. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the back apparatus 100 includes eight storage units 140. Each storage unit 140 is assigned one or more denominations to be stored therein, and is used as a denomination-based storage unit 140 or a mixture storage unit 140. For example, out of the eight storage units 140, six storage units 140 are each assigned one denomination to be used as denomination-based storage units 140, and two storage units 140 are each assigned two denominations to be used as mixture storage units 140, whereby the back apparatus 100 having only eight storage units 140 can handle ten denominations of coins in each coin handling.

(Dispensing process in back apparatus)

As shown in FIG. 4B, the cassette 270 and the tray 370 are dismountably mounted to the dispensing unit 120. A dispensing process is performed with at least one of the cassette 270 and the tray 370 being mounted to the dispensing unit 120. In the dispensing process of the back apparatus 100, since coins to be dispensed do not pass through the recognition unit 130, no recognition process is performed for the coins.
In the dispensing process, coins to be dispensed are fed out from one or more storage units 140 while being counted one by one. That is, the number of dispensed coins from each storage unit 140 can be confirmed by the apparatus. A coin to be dispensed into the cassette 270 is dropped onto the lower transport unit 150b from a feed-out port 141a of the storage unit 140. FIG. 4B shows one feed-out port 141a, but the feed-out ports 141 are provided corresponding to the respective storage units 140. The lower transport unit 150b transports the coin received from the storage unit 140, and stores the coin into the cassette 270.
Meanwhile, a coin to be dispensed into the tray 370 is fed out from a feed-out port 141b of the storage unit 140, and is stored in the tray 370 through the chute 160d. FIG. 4B shows one feed-out port 141b and one chute 160d, but these units are provided corresponding to the respective storage units 140. The tray 370 of the cash register 300 is divided into a plurality of storage sections by partition plates, and coins can be stored for each denomination in the storage sections. The chutes 160d are provided corresponding to the respective storage sections of the tray 370. A coin dispensed from each storage unit 140 can be stored in a predetermined storage section of the tray 370 through the chute 160d. For example, a storage unit 140 for storing coins of denomination J is connected to a storage section of the tray 370 for storing coins of denomination J through the chute 160, and a storage unit 140 for storing coins of denomination K is connected to a storage section of the tray 370 for storing coins of denomination K through the chute 160. Thus, a coin dispensed from each storage unit 140 can be stored in a predetermined storage section in the tray 370.

(Counting process in back apparatus)

A counting process is performed to specify denominations and the number for each denomination of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140, and to sort the coins for each denomination. In the counting process, coins received in the depositing unit 110 are dropped into the feeding unit 180. The feeding unit 180 feeds out the coins received from the depositing unit 110 one by one to the upper transport unit 150a, and the recognition unit 130 recognizes each coin. Based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 130, denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins received in the depositing unit 110 are specified.
When sorting coins of two denominations for each denomination, out of the coins recognized by the recognition unit 130, coins of one denomination are stored in the reject box 191 from the gate 161b through the chute 160b while coins of the other denomination are stored in the overflow box 193 from the gate 161c through the chute 160c.
When sorting coins of three denominations for each denomination, coins of the first denomination are stored in the reject box 191 from the gate 161b through the chute 160b, and coins of the second denomination and third denomination are stored in the overflow box 193 from the gate 161c through the chute 160c. The coins of the first denomination are taken out from the reject box 191 to empty the reject box 191, and the coins in the overflow box 193 are again put in the depositing unit 110, followed by a predetermined operation performed through the operation/display unit 103. Then, the coins in the depositing unit 110 are fed out from the feeding unit 180, transported by the upper transport unit 150a, and recognized by the recognition unit 130. The coins of the second denomination are stored in the reject box 191 from the gate 161b through the chute 160b, and the coins of the third denomination are stored in the overflow box 193 from the gate 161c through the chute 160c. Thus, the coins of the first to third denominations are sorted for each denomination.
When sorting coins of four or more denominations for each denomination in the counting process, coins of one denomination are stored in the reject box 191 while coins of the other denominations are stored in the overflow box 193, and the coins in the overflow box 193 are again put in the depositing unit 110. By repeating this process, the coins can be sorted for each denomination.

(Example of configuration of front apparatus)

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example of the configuration of the front apparatus 200. FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the front apparatus 200. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a coin handling unit 201 of the front apparatus 200.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the front apparatus 200 includes the coin handling unit 201, a control unit 202, the operation/display unit 203, a memory 204, and a communication unit 205. The operation/display unit 203 includes a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and is used for inputting and displaying various kinds of information regarding coin handling.
The communication unit 205 is used for communicating with external devices via the network 2. The external devices include the back apparatus 100 and the server 3. The memory 204 is a nonvolatile storage device that is used for storing various kinds of information required for operating the front apparatus 200.
The control unit 202 controls the functions and operations of the components constituting the front apparatus 200. The control unit 202 can control the components, based on operations performed through the operation/display unit 203, information received from external devices via the communication unit 205, and the like, with reference to various kinds of information stored in a dedicated memory device or the memory 204. For example, a program corresponding to the control unit 202 is stored in a dedicated memory in advance, and the functions and operations of the control unit 202 are realized when the program is executed by hardware such as a CPU. The control unit 202 controlling the components realizes the functions and operations of the front apparatus 200 described in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, processes and operations of the front apparatus 200 to be realized by the control unit 202 may be described as being performed by the front apparatus 200. According to an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 202 is, for example, one or more general purpose processing circuits such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, and a digital signal processor, or a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
The coin handling unit 201 can perform a plurality of types of coin handling including a depositing process, a dispensing process, a replenishment process, and a reconciliation process. The coin handling unit 201 includes the depositing unit 210, the dispensing unit 220, a recognition unit 230, a plurality of storage units 240, transport units 250 (250a, 250b), chutes 260 (260a to 260c), gates 261 (261a to 261c), and a feeding unit 280. The transport units 250 include an upper transport unit 250a and a lower transport unit 250b.

(Depositing process in front apparatus)

In a depositing process, coins received in the depositing unit 210 are dropped into the feeding unit 280. The feeding unit 280 can receive a plurality of coins from the depositing unit, and feed out the coins one by one to the upper transport unit 250a. The recognition unit 230 recognizes the coins being transported by the upper transport unit 250a. The recognition unit 230 recognizes the denominations of the coins. The recognition unit 230 may recognize authenticity of each coin, and/or fitness indicating a degree of damage of each coin. The recognition unit 230 includes at least one of a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, and an image sensor. The number of deposited coins for each denomination is specified based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 230. Among the recognized coins, a coin that cannot be deposited is returned to the dispensing unit 220 through the chute 260c by opening the gate 261c provided in the upper transport unit 250a. A coin that can be deposited is stored in the storage unit 240. A gate 261a provided in the upper transport unit 250a and corresponding to a storage unit 240 is opened to allow the coin to drop into the chute 260a, whereby the coin is stored in the corresponding storage unit 240. FIG. 5B shows only one pair of the gate 261a and the chute 260a, but pairs of the gate 261 and the chute 260 are provided corresponding to the respective storage units 240.
The storage unit 240 can perform storage of coins, and feeding-out of the stored coins. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the front apparatus 200 includes eight storage units 240. Each storage unit 240 is assigned one or more denominations to be stored therein, and is used as a denomination-based storage unit 240 or a mixture storage unit 240. For example, out of the eight storage units 240, six storage units 240 are each assigned one denomination to be used as denomination-based storage units 240, and two storage units 240 are each assigned two denominations to be used as mixture storage units 240, whereby the front apparatus 200 having only eight storage units 140 can handle ten denominations of coins in each coin handling.
In the depositing process, if the storage units 240 are full and a coin recognized as depositable by the recognition unit 230 cannot be stored therein, this coin can be stored in the cassette 270 from the gate 261b of the upper transport unit 250a through the chute 260b.

(Dispensing process in front apparatus)

In the dispensing process, coins to be dispensed are fed out from one or more storage units 240 one by one, and are dropped onto the lower transport unit 250b. The lower transport unit 250b transports the coins received from the storage unit 240 to the feeding unit 280. For example, after all the coins to be dispensed have been transported to the feeding unit 280, the gate 281 provided at the bottom surface of the feeding unit 280 is opened and the coins in the feeding unit 280 are dropped into the dispensing unit 220 and are dispensed.
If the storage units 240 include the mixture storage unit 240, each coin is recognized by the recognition unit 230 in the dispensing process, and is dispensed after the recognition. In this case, the coins, which have been transported to the feeding unit 280 by the lower transport unit 250b, are fed out by the feeding unit 280 one by one to the upper transport unit 250a, and are recognized by the recognition unit 230. Based on the recognition result, a coin to be dispensed is dropped into the chute 260c from the opened gate 261c and is dispensed from the dispensing unit 220. A coin not to be dispensed is returned to the mixture storage unit 240 from the gate 261a provided in the upper transport unit 250a and corresponding to the storage unit 240 that has fed out the coin, through the chute 260a.

(Replenishment process in front apparatus)

The cassette 270 dismountably mounted to the front apparatus 200 can perform storage of coins and feeding-out of the coins. In a replenishment process of feeding out a change fund stored in the cassette 270 and replenishing a storage unit 240 with the change fund, coins fed out from the cassette 270 one by one are dropped onto the lower transport unit 250b. The lower transport unit 250b transports the coins received from the cassette 270 to the feeding unit 280. The feeding unit 280 feeds out the coins received from the lower transport unit 250b one by one to the upper transport unit 250a. After the recognition unit 230 has recognized the coins being transported by the upper transport unit 250a, the gate 261a corresponding to the storage unit 240 to be replenished with the coins is opened, and the storage unit 240 is replenished with the coins through the chute 260a.
The cassette 270 stores therein a plurality of denominations of coins in a mixed state. Therefore, in the replenishment process, a coin of a denomination not to be used for replenishing the storage unit 240 may be fed out from the cassette 270. The coin of the denomination not for replenishment is recognized by the recognition unit 230, and is returned to the cassette 270 from the opened gate 261b through the chute 260b. In the replenishment process, the process of feeding out coins from the cassette 270, recognizing the coins by the recognition unit 230, storing coins for replenishment into a storage unit 240, and returning coins not for replenishment to the cassette 270, is repeatedly performed until the storage unit 240 is replenished with a predetermined number of coins.

(Reconciliation process in front apparatus)

In a reconciliation process of specifying denominations and the number for each denomination of coins stored in the cassette 270, all the coins in the cassette 270 are fed out and dropped onto the lower transport unit 250b. The lower transport unit 250b transports all the coins received from the cassette 270 to the feeding unit 280. The feeding unit 280 feeds out the coins one by one to the upper transport unit 250a, and the recognition unit 230 recognizes each coin. The recognized coins are returned to the cassette 270 from the opened gate 261b through the chute 260b. After all the coins in the cassette 270 have been fed out to empty the cassette 270, denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins having been stored in the cassette 270 are specified based on the recognition result of the fed-out coins obtained by the recognition unit 230. In the case where the number of coins in a storage unit 240 becomes unconfirmed as well, a reconciliation process of feeding out all the coins stored in the storage unit 240, and recognizing and counting the coins, is performed.

[Example 1 of method for confirming storage-unit inventory]

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of confirming a storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 after a change fund for the cash register 300 has been dispensed from the back apparatus 100. The number of coin denominations constituting the change fund is not limited; however, for the sake of simplicity, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that coins of denomination A and denomination B are being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100 and coins of denomination C are being stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140. In addition, similarly to the storage-unit inventory 51 shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that handling is started from the state in which Pa pieces of coins of denomination A, Pb pieces of coins of denomination B, and Pc pieces of coins of denomination C are being stored in the back apparatus 100, and these numbers Pa, Pb and Pc are in the confirmed state.
The operator of the back apparatus 100 mounts the tray 370, which has been dismounted from the cash register 300, to the dispensing unit 120 of the back apparatus 100. The operator performs, with the operation/display unit 103, a predetermined operation to instruct dispensing of the change fund for the cash register 300. Upon receiving this operation, the back apparatus 100 starts a dispensing process based on change fund setting 403 prepared in advance for the cash register 300, as shown in FIG. 6.
The change fund setting 403 is made so as to dispense Qa pieces of coins of denomination A, Qb pieces of coins of denomination B, and Qc pieces of coins of denomination C. Coins of denomination A and coins of denomination B are being stored in the mixture storage unit 140. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the back apparatus 100 calculates a total number (Qa+Qb) of Qa pieces of coins of denomination A to be dispensed and Qb pieces of coins of denomination B to be dispensed. The back apparatus 100 dispenses coins corresponding to the total number of coins from the mixture storage unit 140 (S11). The back apparatus 100 dispenses the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B into a predetermined storage section of the tray 370 mounted to the dispensing unit 120. The coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B are stored in a predetermined storage section that was empty. The coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B are stored in a mixed state in a single storage section of the tray 370. Alternatively, it can be set that the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B are separately stored by using two sections of the tray 370.
The coins of denomination C are being stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140. The back apparatus 100 dispenses Qc pieces of coins of denomination C from the denomination-based storage unit 140 (S12). The back apparatus 100 dispenses the Qc pieces of coins of denomination C to a predetermined storage section of the tray 370 mounted to the dispensing unit 120. In the tray 370, the coins of the denomination C are stored in a storage section different from the storage section in which the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B are stored.
The back apparatus 100 having finished the dispensing process updates the storage-unit inventory (S13). Since the number of coins of denomination C before the dispensing process is Pc, the number of coins of denomination C becomes (Pc-Qc) in a storage-unit inventory 501 after update. Since the number of coins of denomination C is the confirmed number, a flag for denomination C is not changed and remains "0" indicating the confirmed state.
Meanwhile, as for the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140, the back apparatus 100 can specify that the total number of these dispensed coins is (Qa+Qb), but cannot specify the breakdown of the total number of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 501, the number of coins of denomination A becomes a deemed number Da, the number of coins of denomination B becomes a deemed number Db, and the flags for denominations A and B become "1" indicating the unconfirmed state.
The back apparatus 100 having finished the dispensing process displays, on the screen of the operation/display unit 103, a guidance screen 601 instructing to deposit the coins of denomination A and B, which have been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the predetermined storage section of the tray 370, into the depositing unit 110 (S14).
If coins are being stored in the reject box 191, information instructing to empty the reject box 191 is displayed on the guidance screen 601. Likewise, if coins are stored in the overflow box 193, information instructing to empty the overflow box 193 is displayed on the guidance screen 601. The subsequent handling is performed with the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193 being empty.
Upon checking the guidance screen 601, the operator draws the dispensing unit 120 outward from the front surface of the housing of the back apparatus 100. The operator takes out, from the tray 370, the total (Qa+Qb) pieces of coins of denomination A and coins of denomination B having been dispensed in the previous dispensing process, and puts these coins into the depositing unit 110. For example, when the operator presses a button, which indicates completion of coin movement from the tray 370 to the depositing unit 110, displayed on the guidance screen 601 of the operation/display unit 103, the back apparatus 100 starts a counting process. In the counting process, the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B put in the depositing unit 110 are mechanically recognized (S15).
Specifically, the counting process is performed, whereby the coins put in the depositing unit 110 are recognized by the recognition unit 130, and the number (Ra) of coins of denomination A and the number (Rb) of coins of denomination B are specified. In addition, coins in the depositing unit 110 are sorted for each denomination, whereby Ra pieces of coins of denomination A are stored in the reject box 191, and Rb pieces of coins of denomination B are stored in the overflow box 193 (S16). The reject box 191 and the overflow box 193 are emptied before starting the counting process. Therefore, only coins having dispensed in the previous dispensing process (S11) are sorted and stored in the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193. Specifically, among coins having been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140, only the coins of denomination A are stored in the reject box 191, and only the coins of denomination B are stored in the overflow box 193.
The back apparatus 100 having finished the counting process updates the storage-unit inventory 501 (S17). Since the number of coins of denomination A is Pa and the number of coins of denomination B is Pb before the dispensing process, the number of coins of denomination A becomes (Pa-Ra) and the number of coins of denomination B becomes (Pb-Rb), in a storage-unit inventory 502 after update. The numbers of coins of denominations A and B become the confirmed numbers that are calculated based on the confirmed numbers Pa and Pb, and the numbers Ra and Rb obtained through recognition and counting performed in the back apparatus 100. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 502, the flags for denominations A and B become "0" indicating the confirmed state.
The back apparatus 100 displays, on the screen of the operation/display unit 103, a guidance screen 602 instructing to take out the coins of denomination A from the reject box 191 and the coins of denomination B from the overflow box 193, and store the coins into the tray 370 (S18).
Upon checking the guidance screen 602, the operator takes out the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B from the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193, respectively, and stores the coins into the storage sections of the tray 370 corresponding to the respective denominations. Thus, in the tray 370, Ra pieces of coins of denomination A, Rb pieces of coins of denomination B, and Qc pieces of coins of denomination C, which form the change fund, are stored for each denomination.

[Example 2 of method for confirming storage-unit inventory]

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of confirming a storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 after dispensing a change fund for the front apparatus 200 from the back apparatus 100. The number of coin denominations constituting the change fund is not limited; however, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that coins of denomination A and denomination B are being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100, and coins of denomination C are being stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140. In addition, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that handling is started from the state in which Pa pieces of coins of denomination A, Pb pieces of coins of denomination B, and Pc pieces of coins of denomination C are being stored in the back apparatus 100, and these numbers Pa, Pb and Pc are in the confirmed state.
The operator of the back apparatus 100 mounts the empty cassette 270 to the dispensing unit 120 of the back apparatus 100, and performs, with the operation/display unit 103, a predetermined operation to instruct dispensing of the change fund for the front apparatus 200. Upon receiving this operation, the back apparatus 100 starts a dispensing process based on change fund setting 402 prepared in advance for the front apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. 7.
The change fund setting 402 is made so as to dispense Qa pieces of coins of denomination A, Qb pieces of coins of denomination B, and Qc pieces of coins of denomination C. Coins of denomination A and coins of denomination B are being stored in the mixture storage unit 140. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the back apparatus 100 calculates a total number (Qa+Qb) of Qa pieces of coins of denomination A to be dispensed and Qb pieces of coins of denomination B to be dispensed. The back apparatus 100 dispenses coins corresponding to the total number from the mixture storage unit 140 (S21). The back apparatus 100 dispenses the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B into the cassette 270 mounted to the dispensing unit 120.
The coins of denomination C are being stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140. The back apparatus 100 dispenses Qc pieces of coins of denomination C from the denomination-based storage unit 140 (S22). The back apparatus 100 dispenses the Qc pieces of coins of denomination C into the cassette 270 mounted to the dispensing unit 120. In the cassette 270, the total (Qa+Qb) pieces of coins of denomination A and coins of denomination B, and Qc pieces of coins of denomination C are stored in a mixed state.
The back apparatus 100 having finished the dispensing process updates the storage-unit inventory (S23). Since the number of coins of denomination C before the dispensing process is Pc, the number of coins of denomination C becomes (Pc-Qc) in a storage-unit inventory 511 after update. Since the number of coins of denomination C is the confirmed number, a flag for denomination C is not changed and remains "0" indicating the confirmed state.
Meanwhile, as for the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140, the back apparatus 100 can specify that the total number of the dispensed coins is (Qa+Qb), but cannot specify the breakdown of the total number of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 511, the number of coins of denomination A becomes a deemed number Da, the number of coins of denomination B becomes a deemed number Db, and the flags for denominations A and B become "1" indicating the unconfirmed state.
When the dispensing process has been finished, the operator dismounts the cassette 270 from the dispensing unit 120 of the back apparatus 100, and mounts the cassette 270 to the front apparatus 200 (S24). The front apparatus 200 performs a replenishment process of replenishing a storage unit 240 with the coins in the cassette 270. In the replenishment process, the recognition unit 230 recognizes the coins to be supplied to the storage unit 240. Thus, the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B, having been stored in the cassette 270, can be specified. The replenishment process may be performed at a timing when the cassette 270 is mounted to the front apparatus 200, or a timing when the user performs a predetermined instruction operation for the replenishment. The replenishment process may be performed based on a predetermined schedule, or may be performed when the number of coins stored in at least one storage unit 240 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value. In the replenishment process, all the coins in the cassette 270 may be used for replenishment, or some of the coins in the cassette 270 may be used for replenishment.
After performing at least one replenishment process for replenishing at least one storage unit 240 in the front apparatus 200 with the number (Ra) of coins of denomination A and the number (Rb) of coins of denomination B, when the total number (Ra+Rb) of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B becomes equal to the total number (Qa+Qb) of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B having been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 in the back apparatus 100, the number of the coins of denomination A and the number of the coins of denomination B dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 are confirmed (S25). The Ra pieces of coins of denomination A and the Rb pieces of coins of denomination B, which are supplied to the storage unit 240 in the front apparatus 200, are the breakdown of the total (Qa+Qb) pieces of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100.
The back apparatus 100 acquires information on the recognition/counting result obtained in the front apparatus 200, through the network 2. Based on the acquired information, the back apparatus 100 recognizes that Ra pieces of coins of denomination A and Rb pieces of coins of denomination B have been fed out from the cassette 270. When the total number (Ra+Rb) of the coins recognized in the front apparatus 200 becomes equal to the total number (Qa+Qb) of the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100, the back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory 511 (S26).
Since the number of coins of denomination A is Pa and the number of coins of denomination B is Pb before the dispensing process to the cassette 270, the number of coins of denomination A becomes (Pa-Ra) and the number of coins of denomination B becomes (Pb-Rb), in the storage-unit inventory 512 after update. The numbers of coins of denominations A and B after update are the confirmed numbers that are calculated based on the confirmed numbers Pa and Pb and the numbers Ra and Rb obtained through recognition and counting in the front apparatus 200. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 512, the flags for the denominations A and B become "0" indicating the confirmed state.

[Example 3 of method for confirming storage-unit inventory]

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of confirming a storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 after dispensing a change fund for the front apparatus 200 from the back apparatus 100. In the example shown in FIG. 7, all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100 are recognized in the front apparatus 100 to confirm the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140. However, even when not all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100 into the cassette 270 are recognized by the recognition unit 230 of the front apparatus 200, it is possible to confirm the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140.
The cassette 270, into which the back apparatus 100 has stored the change fund, is mounted to the front apparatus 200, in the same way as those shown in FIG. 7 (S21 to S24). It is assumed that, as shown in FIG. 8, Ta pieces of coins of denomination A and Tb pieces of coins of denomination B are fed out from the cassette 270, and supplied to a storage unit 240 (S31). In this case, the total number (Ta+Tb) of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B supplied to the storage unit 240 in the front apparatus 200 is less than the total number (Qa+Qb) of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 in the back apparatus 100. Therefore, the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B, which have been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 in the back apparatus 100, are still in the unconfirmed state. In other words, at least either the coins of denomination A or the coins of denomination B, which have been dispensed from the back apparatus 100, remain in the cassette 270 and therefore, the number of the dispensed coins for each denomination cannot be specified.
Even in this case, the cassette 270 is dismounted from the front apparatus 200 (S32) as shown in FIG. 8, and a depositing process of mounting the cassette 270 to the depositing unit 110 of the back machine 100 and depositing all the coins in the cassette 270 into the back apparatus 100 is performed (S33), whereby the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 can be confirmed.
In the depositing process in the back apparatus 100, all the coins remaining in the cassette 270 are fed out therefrom and recognized by the recognition unit 130. The recognized coins of denomination A and the recognized coins of denomination B are stored in the mixture storage unit 140 corresponding to these denominations, and the recognized coins of denomination C are stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140 corresponding to the denomination C. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, upon obtaining the recognition/counting result indicating that the number of coins of denomination A is Va, the number of coins of denomination B is Vb, and the number of coins of denomination C is Vc, the back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory 511 shown in FIG. 7 (S34).
In the storage-unit inventory 522 after update, the number of coins of denomination A is (Pa-Ta), the number of coins of denomination B is (Pb-Tb), the number of coins of denomination C is (Pc-Qc+Vc), and all the flags for the denominations A to C become "0" indicating the confirmed state.
Out of the coins of denominations A and B dispensed into the cassette 270 in the previous dispensing process (FIG. 7, S21 and S22), only Ta pieces of coins of denomination A and Tb pieces of coins of denomination B are used for replenishment in the front apparatus 200 (FIG. 8, S31), and the remaining coins are returned to the back apparatus 100 in the depositing process (S33). Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory 522, the number of coins of denomination A is changed from Pa as the number of coins before the dispensing process, to (Pa-Ta), and the number of coins of denomination B is changed from Pb as the number of coins before the dispensing process, to (Pb-Tb). In the back apparatus 100, the storage-unit inventory 522 can be confirmed by acquiring the recognition/counting results (Ta, Tb) of the coins that have been fed out from the cassette 270 in the front apparatus 200 and used for the replenishment process.
For example, before the store is opened, a change fund for the front apparatus 200 is dispensed from the back apparatus 100 and stored in the cassette 270, and the cassette 270 is mounted to the front apparatus 200. The store does business by using the front apparatus 200 while replenishing the storage unit 240 with the coins in the cassette 270. After the store is closed for the day, the cassette 270 is dismounted from the front apparatus 200, and a depositing process of depositing coins remaining in the cassette 270 into the back apparatus 100 is performed, whereby the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 can be confirmed as described above.
Alternatively, in the state in which only some of the coins in the cassette 270 are used for replenishing the storage unit 240 in the front apparatus 200 (S31), the front apparatus 200 may perform a reconciliation process of specifying denominations and the number for each denomination of coins remaining in the cassette 270 to confirm the storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100.
By performing the reconciliation process of checking the coins being stored in the cassette 270 in the front apparatus 200, the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B which remain in the cassette 270 are specified in addition to the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B which have already been fed out from the cassette 270 and used for the replenishment process.
By totalizing the number of coins used for the replenishment process, and the number of coins obtained through the reconciliation process performed on the coins that have not been used for the replenishment process and remained in the cassette 270, the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B, which have been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 in the previous dispensing process in the back apparatus 100, are specified, whereby the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 can be confirmed.
In the case where overflow coins are stored in the cassette 270 as well, the storage-unit inventory can be confirmed. In the case where the front apparatus 200 stores overflow coins, which cannot be stored in a storage unit 240 because the storage unit 240 is full, into the cassette 270 in the depositing process, the front apparatus 200 stores, in the memory 204, denominations and the number for each denomination of the overflow coins stored in the cassette 270.
For example, it is assumed that Wa pieces of overflow coins of denomination A and Wb pieces of overflow coins of denomination B are being stored in the cassette 270 when the depositing process by the back apparatus 100 or the reconciliation process by the front apparatus 200 is performed and coins remaining in the cassette 270 are checked in the process. In this case, the storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100 can be updated and confirmed, based on the numbers Ta and Tb of coins of denominations A and B used for replenishment in the front apparatus 200, and the numbers Va and Vb of coins of denominations A and B obtained by checking the coins in the cassette 270. Specifically, the number of coins of denomination A and the number of coins of denomination B, which are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 in the previous dispensing process of the back apparatus 100, are specified to be (Ta+Va-Wa) and (Tb+Vb-Wb), respectively. These numbers are respectively subtracted from the numbers Pa and Pb of coins of denominations A and B before the previous dispensing process, thereby confirming the storage-unit inventory. In this case, in the storage-unit inventory after update, the number of coins of denomination A becomes (Pa-Ta+Wa) and the number of coins of denomination B becomes (Pb-Tb+Wb).

[Example of flow of coin handling]

An example of a handling flow performed in the money handling system 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 12.

(Dispensing destination determination process)

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process performed in the back apparatus 100. When a dispensing process is started in the back apparatus 100, the back apparatus 100 determines whether a destination of coins is the cassette 270 for the front apparatus 200 or the tray 370 for the cash register 300 (step S101) .
For example, the back apparatus 100 determines the dispensing destination, based on the content of an operation performed through the operation/display unit 103. For example, the back apparatus 100 may automatically determine the dispensing destination such that a sensor provided in the dispensing unit 120 detects either the cassette 270 or the tray 370 having been mounted to the dispensing unit 120.
If the dispensing destination is the cassette 270 (step S101; cassette), the back apparatus 100 performs a dispensing process in which the cassette 270 mounted to the dispensing unit 120 is the dispensing destination (step S102). If the dispensing destination is the tray 370 (step S101; tray), the back apparatus 100 performs a dispensing process in which the tray 370 mounted to the dispensing unit 120 is the dispensing destination (step S103) .

(Dispensing process in back apparatus with cassette being dispensing destination)

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process of the back apparatus 100 in which the destination of dispensed money is the cassette 270. The process shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to the process in step S102 shown in FIG. 9. The back apparatus 100 determines whether or not denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are included in denominations of coins to be dispensed (step S201) .
If the denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are not included in the denominations of coins to be dispensed (step S201; No), the back apparatus 100 dispenses the number of coins, for each denomination, to be dispensed from one or more denomination-based storage units 140, and stores the coins into the cassette 270 (step S202). The back apparatus 100 updates and confirms the storage-unit inventory of the denomination-based storage unit 140, based on the denomination assigned to the denomination-based storage unit 140 having fed out the coins to store in the cassette 270, and the number of coins counted at the time of feeding-out (step S203), and ends the dispensing process.
If the denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are included in the denominations of coins to be dispensed (step S201; Yes), the back apparatus 100 performs storage of the coins dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit 140 into the cassette 270 (step S204) and storage of the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the cassette 270 (step S205).
In step S204, as in step S202, the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination are dispensed from one or more denomination-based storage units 140, and stored in the cassette 270. However, if coins do not need to be dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit 140, the process in step S204 is not performed. That is, the denominations of coins to be dispensed does not include denominations assigned to the denomination-based storage unit 140, the process in step S204 is not performed.
In step S205, a total number of coins, obtained by totalizing the numbers of coins to be dispensed for each denomination from the mixture storage unit 140, are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 and stored in the cassette 270. When coins are to be dispensed from a plurality of mixture storage units 140, each mixture storage unit 140 dispenses a total number of coins obtained by totalizing the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination, and stores the coins into the cassette 270.
The back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory of the denomination-based storage unit 140 and the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 (step S206). As described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 becomes in the unconfirmed state while the storage-unit inventory of the denomination-based storage unit 140 remains in the confirmed state even after update. Therefore, the back apparatus 100 enters a waiting state of waiting until a process for confirming the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 is performed (step S207), and ends the dispensing process to the cassette 270.
The back apparatus 100 in the waiting state traces the coins dispensed into the cassette 270. Upon obtaining the result of recognition and counting performed on the coins in the cassette 270, the back apparatus 100 starts an inventory confirmation process.

(Inventory confirmation process)

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a process of confirming the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140. FIG. 11 shows an inventory confirmation process. The process shown in FIG. 11 is started after step S207 shown in FIG. 10. The back apparatus 100 determines whether or not all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 have been recognized and counted. The back apparatus 100 determines whether or not the inventory in the unconfirmed state becomes confirmable, based on the denomination-based numbers included in the recognition/counting result of the front apparatus 200, and the number of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140.
Specifically, the back apparatus 100 determines whether or not all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the cassette 270 have been recognized by the recognition unit 230 of the front apparatus 200 (step S301).
If all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the cassette 270 in the back apparatus 100 have been recognized by the recognition unit 230 of the front apparatus 200 (step S301; Yes), the back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140, based on the recognition/counting result obtained in the front apparatus 200 (step S303), and ends the process. These processes correspond to the handling described with reference to FIG. 7.
If not all the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the cassette 270 in the back apparatus 100 have been recognized by the recognition unit 230 of the front apparatus 200 (step S301; No), that is, when coins not recognized by the recognition unit 230, among the dispensed coins, remain in the cassette 270, the back apparatus 100 enters a waiting state of waiting until the coins remaining in the cassette 270 are recognized in the front apparatus 200 or the back apparatus 100 (step S302; No).
If the depositing process of depositing the coins, which are not used in the front apparatus 200 and remain in the cassette 270, into the back apparatus 100 has been performed and thereby the coins remaining in the cassette 270 have been recognized by the recognition unit 130 (step S302; Yes), the back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 (step S303), and ends the process. Likewise, when the front apparatus 200 has performed a reconciliation process and thereby the coins remaining in the cassette 270 have been recognized by the recognition unit 230 (step S302; Yes), the back apparatus 100 updates the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 (step S303), and ends the process. These processes correspond to the handling described with reference to FIG. 8.

(Dispensing process in back apparatus with tray being dispensing destination)

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a dispensing process in the back apparatus 100 in which the destination of dispensed money is the tray 370. The process shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the process in step S103 shown in FIG. 9.
In the money handling system 1, the dispensing process of dispensing coins from the mixture storage unit 140 in the back apparatus 100 can be limited to a dispensing process in which the dispensing destination is the cassette 270. That is, when the dispensing process is performed with the tray 370 being the dispensing destination, it can be set that the denominations of coins to be dispensed are limited to denominations assigned to the denomination-based storage units 140 in order to prevent coins from being dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140. If the dispensing process with the tray 370 being the dispensing destination is performed without such a limitation, a counting process may be performed subsequently to the dispensing process to confirm the storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100. It may be selectable, through setting, whether to limit dispensing of coins from the mixture storage unit 140 during the dispensing process in which the tray 370 is the dispensing destination.
The back apparatus 100, which has started the dispensing process with the tray 370 being the dispensing destination, determines whether or not there is a setting for limiting the dispensing source to the denomination-based storage units 140 (step S401).
If the denominations of coins to be dispensed to the tray 370 are limited to the denominations of coins being stored in the denomination-based storage units 140 (step S401; Yes), the back apparatus 100 dispenses the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination from the corresponding denomination-based storage unit 140, and stores the coins into the tray 370 (step S402). The back apparatus 100 updates and confirms the storage-unit inventory of the denomination-based storage unit 140, based on the denomination assigned to the denomination-based storage unit 140 having fed the coins to store in the tray 370, and the number of coins counted at the time of feeding-out (step S411), and ends the dispensing process.
If the money can be dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 to the tray 370, i.e., the dispensing destination of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is not limited to the cassette 270 (step S401; No), the back apparatus 100 determines whether or not the denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are included in the denominations of coins to be dispensed (step S403).
If the denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are not included in the denominations of coins to be dispensed to the tray 370 (step S403; No), the back apparatus 100 dispenses, from the denomination-based storage unit 140, the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination, and stores the coins into the tray 370 (step S402). The back apparatus 100 updates and confirms the storage-unit inventory of the denomination-based storage unit 140, based on the denomination assigned to the denomination-based storage unit 140 having fed out the coins to store in the tray 370, and the number of coins counted at the time of feeding-out (step S411), and ends the dispensing process.
For example, it is assumed that, only one out of eight storage units 140 included in the back apparatus 100 is a mixture storage unit 140 and the remaining seven storage units are denomination-based storage units 140. If a change fund for the cash register 300 consists of only coins of denominations assigned to the denomination-based storage units 140 (step S403; No), the processes in step S402 and S411 are performed.
If denominations of coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140 are included in denominations of coins to be dispensed to the tray 370 (step S403; Yes), the back apparatus 100 performs storage of the coins dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit 140 into the tray 370 (step S404) and storage of the coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 into the tray 370 (step S405). In step S404, as in step S402, the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination are dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit 140, and stored in the tray 370. In step S405, the total number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination from the mixture storage unit 140 are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 and stored in the tray 370. However, if coins do not need to be dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit 140, the process in step S404 is not performed.
The tray 370 is divided into a plurality of storage sections by the partition plates. The tray 370 is used such that coins are stored for each denomination in the storage sections. The coins dispensed from the respective denomination-based storage units 140 are stored for each denomination in the corresponding storage sections in the tray 370. On the other hand, a plurality of denominations of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 are stored in a mixed state in one storage section of the tray 370. After the dispensing process, these coins in the mixed state are taken out from the storage section and sorted for each denomination in a counting process.
Before starting the counting process, the back apparatus 100 determines whether or not a sorting storage unit for sorting and storing coins for each denomination in the counting process is empty (step S406). If the sorting storage unit is not empty (step S406; No), the back apparatus 100 empties the sorting storage unit (step S407).
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193 used for the counting process correspond to the sorting storage unit. When the reject box 191 and/or the overflow box 193 are not empty, the back apparatus 100 displays, through the operation/display unit 103, a screen instructing the operator to empty these boxes. The determination as to whether or not the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193 are empty may be performed based on detection results of sensors provided in the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193 to detect coins in the boxes. For example, it is possible to detect whether or not a coin remains inside the box by irradiating detection light from a light emitter into inside the box, and detecting a change in optical quantity of the detection light received by a light receiver.
After checking that the sorting storage unit is empty (step S406; Yes), the back apparatus 100 starts the counting process. In the counting process, the plurality of denominations of coins having been dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 to the storage section of the tray 370, are put into the depositing unit 110 and recognized by the recognition unit 130 (step S408). The recognized coins are sorted and stored for each denomination in the sorting storage unit (step S409). In the example shown in FIG. 6, the coins are sorted for each denomination by using the reject box 191 and the overflow box 193.
Having finished the counting process, the back apparatus 100 instructs the operator to take out the coins of each denomination from the sorting storage unit and store into the corresponding storage section of the tray 370 (step S410). The back apparatus 100 updates and confirms the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140, based on the recognition/counting result obtained in the counting process (step S411), and ends the process. These processes are performed as described with reference to FIG. 6.

[Example of data used in money handling system]

FIGS. 13A to 13D show a specific example of data used in the money handling system 1. The data shown in FIGS. 13A to 13D are stored in at least any one of the memory 104 of the back apparatus 100, the memory 204 of the front apparatus 200, and the memory of the server 3.
FIG. 13A shows an example of change fund settings for the front apparatus 200 and the cash register 300, and an example of storage unit settings for the back apparatus 100, the front apparatus 200, and the cash register 300.
The back apparatus 100, the front apparatus 200, and the cash register 300 included in the money handling system 1 are distinguished based on device numbers (ID numbers). In the example shown in FIG. 13A, "F001" is the device number of the front apparatus 200, "F002" is the device number of the cash register 300, and "B001" is the device number of the back apparatus 100.
In the change fund setting, denominations and the number for each denomination of coins to be dispensed as the change fund from the back apparatus 100 are registered for each device number. When dispensing the change fund from the back apparatus 100 and storing in the cassette 270, a cassette number as an ID number of the cassette 270 is registered under the item "cassette number" in the change fund setting.
In the example shown in FIG. 13A, as for the front apparatus 200 having the device number "F001", the change fund setting indicates that a change fund including 100 coins of denomination A, 200 coins of denomination B, 300 coins of denomination C, and 300 coins of denomination D is dispensed to the cassette 270 having the cassette number "C001". Since no cassette number is registered for the cash register 300 having the device number "F002", a change fund including 150 coins of denomination A is dispensed to the tray 370.
Even when the money handling system 1 includes a plurality of front apparatuses 200, the front apparatuses 200 are distinguished based on the device numbers, and the cassettes 270 used in the respective front apparatuses 200 are distinguished based on the cassette numbers. Thus, the coins dispensed from the back apparatus 100 to each cassette 270 can be traced based on the device number and the cassette number, and the storage-unit inventory of the mixture storage unit 140 of the back apparatus 100 can be confirmed based on the tracing result.
In the storage unit setting, storage unit numbers (ID numbers) of the storage units included in the back apparatus 100, the front apparatus 200, and the cash register 300, usage types of the storage units, and one or more denominations assigned to each storage unit, are registered. The usage type indicates whether each storage unit is a mixture storage unit or a denomination-based storage unit. The usage type "mixture" indicates that the storage unit is used as a mixture storage unit that stores coins of a plurality of denominations registered under the item "denomination". The usage type "single" indicates that the storage unit is used as a denomination-based storage unit that stores coins of one denomination registered under the item "denomination".
The example shown in FIG. 13A indicates that the storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1" is used as a mixture storage unit 140 that stores coins of denominations "A" and "B" in a mixed state, in the back apparatus 100 having the device number "B001". Also, the example shown in FIG. 13A indicates that the storage units 140 having the storage unit number "2" and "3" are used as denomination-based storage units 140 that store coins of denominations "C" and "D", respectively.
In the depositing process, deposited coins are stored in the corresponding storage unit, based on the denomination recognition result obtained by the recognition unit and the storage unit setting. In the dispensing process, the number of coins to be dispensed are fed out one by one from the storage unit that stores the coins to be dispensed, based on the storage unit setting. In the replenishment process, coins for replenishment are supplied to the storage unit corresponding to the denomination of the coins, based on the storage unit setting.
FIG. 13B shows an example of a storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100 before a change fund dispensing process is performed. The example shown in FIG. 13B indicates that, in the back apparatus 100 having the device number "B001", 600 coins of denomination A and 300 coins of denomination B are stored in a mixed state in the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1". In addition, FIG. 13B indicates that, 800 coins of denomination C are stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "2", and 700 coins of denomination D are stored in the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "3". The item "flag" in the storage-unit inventory indicates whether the number of coins in each storage unit 140 is the confirmed state or the unconfirmed state. The example shown in FIG. 13B indicates that all the numbers of coins in the storage units 140 having the storage unit numbers "1" to "3" are in the confirmed state. The flag in the confirmed state is "0" and the flag in the unconfirmed state is "1" in the above-described example, whereas FIG. 13 shows an example in which these flags are indicated as "confirmed" and "unconfirmed".
FIG. 13C shows an example of a storage-unit inventory after the back apparatus 100 has dispensed a change fund for the front apparatus 200 having the device number "F001", based on the change fund setting shown in FIG. 13A.
Based on the change fund setting for the front apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 13A, the back apparatus 100 dispenses 300 coins of denomination C from the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "2", and dispenses 300 coins of denomination D from the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "3". As a result, the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13B is updated, whereby, as shown in FIG. 13C, the number of coins of denomination C in the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "2" becomes 500 (=800-300) and the number of coins of denomination D in the denomination-based storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "3" becomes 400 (=700-300). In these denomination-based storage units 140, the flags remain "confirmed".
The change fund setting for the front apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 13A is set such that 100 coins of denomination A and 200 coins of denomination B are dispensed. Since the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B are stored in the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1", the back apparatus 100 dispenses 300 (=100+200) coins, i.e., the total of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B, from the mixture storage unit 140. As a result, the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13B is updated as shown in FIG. 13C, and the flags for the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1", i.e., the flag for the coins of denomination A and the flag for the coins of denomination B, become "unconfirmed".
In the storage-unit inventory after the update shown in FIG. 13C, the number of coins of denomination A is updated to the deemed number "Da", and the number of coins of denomination B is updated to the deemed number "Db". The deemed numbers Da and Db are calculated based on settings prepared in advance. The deemed numbers Da and Db are calculated based on the number of coins of each denomination that are deemed to be dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140. FIG. 13D shows an example of deemed dispensed numbers of coins, calculated based on the first to fourth settings.
In the first setting, the deemed dispensed number of coins of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is a number obtained by dividing the number of coins dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 by the number of denominations assigned to the mixture storage unit 140. In the case where a total of 300 coins are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1" that stores the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B, the deemed dispensed number of the coins of denomination A and the coins of denomination B is 150 obtained by dividing the number of the dispensed coins, i.e., "300", by the number of denominations, i.e., "2", as shown in FIG. 13D. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13C, the deemed number Da of coins of denomination A becomes 450 that is obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "150" from "600" before the dispensing, and the deemed number Db of coins of denomination B becomes 150 obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "150" from "300" before the dispensing.
In the second setting, the deemed dispensed number of coins of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is a number obtained by multiplying the number of coins dispensed by a mixing ratio in the mixture storage unit 140 before the dispensing. The mixing ratio is a ratio of the number of coins of each denomination to the number of all coins being stored in the mixture storage unit 140. Based on the pre-dispensing storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13B, the mixing ratio of coins of denomination A is 2/3 (=600/(600+300)), and the mixing ratio of coins of denomination B is 1/3 (=300/(600+300)) in the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1". In the case where a total of 300 coins are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140, the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination A is 200 (=300x2/3) and the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination B is 100 (=300×1/3), as shown in FIG. 13D. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13C, the deemed number Da of coins of denomination A becomes 400 obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "200" from "600" before the dispensing, and the deemed number Db of coins of denomination B becomes 200 obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "100" from "300" before the dispensing.
In the third setting, the deemed dispensed number of coins of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is made equal to the number of dispensed coins. In the case where a total of 300 coins are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1", the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination A and the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination B are each 300 as shown in FIG. 13D. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13C, the deemed number Da of coins of denomination A becomes 300 obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "300" from "600" before the dispensing, and the deemed number Db of coins of denomination B becomes 0 (zero) obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed number of "300" from "300" before the dispensing.
In the fourth setting, the deemed dispensed number of coins of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is made 0 (zero) regardless of the number of dispensed coins. In the case where a total of 300 coins are dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 having the storage unit number "1" as well, the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination A and the deemed dispensed number of coins of denomination B are each 0 (zero) as shown in FIG. 13D. Therefore, in the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13C, the deemed number Da of coins of denomination A remains 600 as before the dispensing, and the deemed number Db of coins of denomination B remains 300 as before the dispensing.
There may be a case where the number of coins in the storage-unit inventory shown in FIG. 13C becomes a negative value. In this case, the deemed number may be set to 0. The deemed number of coins in the mixture storage unit 140 calculated as described above is used for various kinds of coin handling in the back apparatus 100. For example, in the dispensing process performed by the back apparatus 100, determination as to whether or not the number of coins, which need to be dispensed for the dispensing process, can be dispensed from the mixture storage unit 140 is made based on the deemed number of coins in the mixture storage unit 140. For example, in the depositing process performed by the back apparatus 100, determination as to whether or not deposited coins can be stored in the mixture storage unit 140 is made based on the deemed number of coins in the mixture storage unit 140.
The store using the back apparatus 100 may select any of the first to fourth settings to be used for calculation of a deemed number of coins, according to the usage mode of the back apparatus 100. For example, the first setting or the second setting may be selected in the case where the number of coins of each denomination that remain in the mixture storage unit 140, after the dispensing process, is used merely as a guide. The third setting may be selected in order to avoid a situation that the dispensing process cannot be completed because the mixture storage unit 140 becomes empty in the middle of the dispensing process. The fourth setting may be selected in order to avoid a situation that the depositing process cannot be completed because the mixture storage unit 140 becomes full in the middle of the depositing process.

(Modification)

The contents described as modifications with reference to FIG. 1 are also applicable to the specific examples described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 13. The specific examples described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 13 may be modified and performed as described for the modifications with reference to FIG. 1.
In the present embodiment, the storage-unit inventory in the back apparatus 100 is stored in the memory 104 of the back apparatus 100, and the back apparatus 100 performs update and confirmation of the storage-unit inventory. However, the storage-unit inventory may be stored in the server 3, and the server 3 may acquire information on money handling performed in the back apparatus 100 and money handling performed in the front apparatus 200 and perform update and confirmation of the storage-unit inventory. If all the processes related to the storage-unit inventory including storage and update of the storage-unit inventory are performed in the back apparatus 100, the money handling system 1 does not need to include the server 3.
In the present embodiment, an example in which the front apparatus 200 and the cash register 300 are used together with the back apparatus 100 is described. However, the money handling system 1 may not necessarily include the front apparatus 200 or the cash register 300.
In the present embodiment, an example in which the money handling system 1 includes the back apparatus 100, the front apparatus 200, the cash register 300, and the server 3 is described. However, this configuration is functionally schematic, and the configuration of the money handling system 1 is not physically limited to this configuration. The distributed or integrated forms of each device are not limited to the above-described example, and all or some of the forms may be distributed or integrated functionally or physically in any unit depending on various loads, use statuses, or the like.
A money handling system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first money handling apparatus including a storage unit that stores money therein, and configured to dispense money from the storage unit; a second money handling apparatus configured to perform money handling by using the money dispensed from the first money handling apparatus; a memory configured to store therein an inventory information (inventory data) including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus; and a control unit configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit, and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit. When the second money handling apparatus recognizes and counts the money, and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money that has been dispensed from the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus are specified, the control unit updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus. The first money handling apparatus may include the memory and the control unit. An external device communicably connected to the first money handling apparatus and the second money handling apparatus may include the memory and the control unit. The storage unit may be a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state. When money has been dispensed from the mixture storage unit, the control unit may set the inventory in an unconfirmed state in which the quantity for each denomination of money being stored in the storage unit cannot be specified.
In the above configuration, the control unit may update the inventory, based on the recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus when the quantity for each denomination of the money dispensed from the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus is not specified, causing the inventory to be in an unconfirmed state.
In the above configuration, after the first money handling apparatus performs a dispensing process to dispense the money from the storage unit and the inventory becomes in the unconfirmed state, in a case where the first money handling apparatus recognizes and counts the money dispensed from the storage unit in the dispensing process and thereby the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money are specified, the control unit may update the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the first money handling apparatus.
In the above configuration, after the first money handling apparatus performs a dispensing process to dispense the money from the storage unit and the inventory becomes in the unconfirmed state, in a case where the second money handling apparatus recognizes and counts at least a part of the money dispensed from the storage unit in the dispensing process and the first money handling apparatus recognizes and counts at least a part of the money dispensed from the storage unit in the dispensing process, thereby denominations and the quantity for each denomination of all the money dispensed from the storage unit in the dispensing process are specified, the control unit may update the inventory, based on recognition/counting results obtained in the first money handling apparatus and the second money handling apparatus.
In the above configuration, the money handling system may further include a cassette that is mountable/dismountable with respect to the first money handling apparatus and the second money handling apparatus. The first money handling apparatus may dispense and store money into the cassette mounted to the first money handling apparatus, and the control unit may update the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result, obtained in the second money handling apparatus, of the money fed out from the cassette mounted to the second money handling apparatus.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include: a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state; and a denomination-based storage unit configured to store therein a single denomination of money. In the first dispensing process of dispensing and storing money into the cassette, the money may be dispensed from the mixture storage unit and/or the denomination-based storage unit. On the other hand, in the second dispensing process of dispensing money to a dispensing destination other than the cassette, the money may be dispensed from only the denomination-based storage unit.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include: a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state; a denomination-based storage unit configured to store therein a single denomination of money; and a display unit configured to display information. In a dispensing process of dispensing money to a dispensing destination other than the cassette, money dispensed from the mixture storage unit and money dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit may be dispensed in a distinguishable manner, and the display may display information indicating that the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit needs to be recognized and counted.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state. After the first money handling apparatus performs a dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit, and storing the money into the cassette, the control unit may update the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus that has recognized and counted all the money stored in the cassette.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include: a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state; and a denomination-based storage unit configured to store therein a single denomination of money. After the first money handling apparatus performs a dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit and the denomination-based storage unit, and storing the money into the cassette, the control unit may update the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result, obtained in the second money handling apparatus, of the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit among the money stored in the cassette.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state, the memory may further store therein a flag indicating that the inventory is in an unconfirmed state, and the control unit may update the flag so as to indicate that the inventory is in the unconfirmed state, when the first money handling apparatus dispenses money from the mixture storage unit. The memory may store therein a flag indicating whether the inventory is in an unconfirmed state or a confirmed state, and the control unit may update the flag so as to indicate that the inventory is in the unconfirmed state or the confirmed state.
In the above configuration, the first money handling apparatus may include a mixture storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state. In a dispensing process of dispensing money of denominations assigned to the mixture storage unit, the first money handling apparatus may calculate a total quantity of money of the denominations to be dispensed from the mixture storage unit, and feed out the total quantity of money from the mixture storage unit to dispense the money.
In the above configuration, the control unit may divide the total quantity of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit by the number of denominations assigned to the mixture storage unit to calculate a deemed dispensed quantity of money of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit. The control unit may update, in the inventory, the quantity of money of each denomination being stored in the mixture storage unit to a deemed quantity of money obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed quantity from the quantity of money.
In the above configuration, the control unit may multiply the total quantity of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit by a mixing ratio that indicates a ratio of the quantity of money of each denomination to the total quantity of money of all denominations which have been stored in the mixture storage unit before execution of the dispensing process, to calculate a deemed dispensed quantity of money of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit. The control unit may update, in the inventory, the quantity of money of each denomination being stored in the mixture storage unit to a deemed quantity obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed quantity from the quantity of money.
A money handling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a storage unit configured to store money in the apparatus; a memory configured to store therein an inventory including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit; and a control unit configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit, and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit. When another money handling apparatus recognizes and counts the money, and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money that has been dispensed from the storage unit are specified, the control unit acquires information on a recognition/counting result from another money handling apparatus, and updates the inventory based on the information.
A money handling method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: dispensing money from a storage unit provided in a first money handling apparatus and configured to store money therein; recognizing and counting the money dispensed from the storage unit, by a second money handling apparatus, and updating an inventory including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit of the first money handling apparatus, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus.
According to the money handling system, the money handling apparatus, and the money handling method of the present disclosure, even when the inventory of the money handling apparatus is unclear, the inventory can be confirmed without performing a reconciliation process in this money handling apparatus.
Although the embodiments of the money handling system have been described with reference to the drawings, the system and apparatuses according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above embodiments. Various improvements, changes, and corrections may be made based on the knowledge of those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the purpose of the above description.

Claims

A money handling system (1), comprising:
a first money handling apparatus (10, 100) including a storage unit (11, 140) that stores money therein, and configured to dispense money from the storage unit (11, 140);

a second money handling apparatus (200) configured to perform money handling by using the money dispensed from the first money handling apparatus (10, 100);

a memory (104) configured to store therein an inventory including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit (11, 140) of the first money handling apparatus (10, 100); and

a control unit (102) configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit (11, 140), and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140), wherein

when the second money handling apparatus (200) recognizes and counts the money, and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money that has been dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) of the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) are specified, the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200).
The money handling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on the recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200) when the quantity for each denomination of the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) of the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) is not specified, causing the inventory to be in an unconfirmed state.
The money handling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein
after the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) performs a dispensing process to dispense the money from the storage unit (11, 140) and the inventory becomes in the unconfirmed state,

in a case where the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) recognizes and counts the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) in the dispensing process and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money are specified,

the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the first money handling apparatus (10, 100).
The money handling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein
after the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) performs a dispensing process to dispense the money from the storage unit (11, 140) and the inventory becomes in the unconfirmed state,

in a case where the second money handling apparatus (200) recognizes and counts at least a part of the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) in the dispensing process and the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) recognizes and counts at least a part of the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) in the dispensing process, such that denominations and the quantity for each denomination of all the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) in the dispensing process are specified,

the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on recognition/counting results obtained in the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) and the second money handling apparatus (200).
The money handling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising
a cassette (270) that is mountable/dismountable with respect to the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) and the second money handling apparatus (200), wherein

the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) dispenses and stores money into the cassette (270) mounted to the first money handling apparatus (10, 100), and

the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result, obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200), of the money fed out from the cassette (270) mounted to the second money handling apparatus (200).
The money handling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes:
a mixture storage unit(11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state; and

a denomination-based storage unit (12, 140) configured to store therein a single denomination of money, wherein

in a first dispensing process of dispensing and storing money into the cassette (270), the money is dispensed from at least one of the mixture storage unit (11, 140) and the denomination-based storage unit (12, 140), and

in a second dispensing process of dispensing money to a dispensing destination other than the cassette (270), the money is dispensed from only the denomination-based storage unit (12, 140) .
The money handling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes:
a mixture storage unit (11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state;

a denomination-based storage unit (12, 140) configured to store therein a single denomination of money; and

a display unit (103) configured to display information, wherein

in a dispensing process of dispensing money to a dispensing destination other than the cassette (270), money dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) and money dispensed from the denomination-based storage unit (12, 140) are dispensed in a distinguishable manner, and

information indicating that the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) needs to be recognized and counted is displayed on the display unit (103).
The money handling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes a mixture storage unit (11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state, and

after the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) performs a dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit (11, 140), and storing the dispensed money into the cassette (270),

the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200) that has recognized and counted all the money stored in the cassette (270).
The money handling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes:
a mixture storage unit (11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state; and

a denomination-based storage unit (12, 140) configured to store therein a single denomination of money, and

after the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) performs a dispensing process of dispensing money from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) and the denomination-based storage unit (12, 140), and storing the money into the cassette (270),

the control unit (102) updates the inventory, based on a recognition/counting result, obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200), of the money dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) among the money stored in the cassette (270).
The money handling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes a mixture storage unit (11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state,

the memory (104) further stores therein a flag indicating that the inventory is in an unconfirmed state, and

the controller updates the flag so as to indicate that the inventory is in the unconfirmed state, when the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) dispenses money from the mixture storage unit (11, 140).
The money handling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein
the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) includes a mixture storage unit (11, 140) configured to store therein a plurality of denominations of money in a mixed state, and

in a dispensing process of dispensing money of denominations assigned to the mixture storage unit (11, 140), the first money handling apparatus (10, 100) calculates a total quantity of money of the denominations to be dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140), and feeds out the total quantity of money from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) to dispense the money.
The money handling system (1) according to claim 11, wherein
the control unit (102),

divides the total quantity of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) by the number of denominations assigned to the mixture storage unit (11, 140) to calculate a deemed dispensed quantity of money of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140), and

updates, in the inventory, the quantity of money of each denomination being stored in the mixture storage unit (11, 140) to a deemed quantity of money obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed quantity from the quantity of money.
The money handling system (1) according to claim 11, wherein
the control unit (102),

multiplies the total quantity of money dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140) by a mixing ratio that indicates a ratio of the quantity of money of each denomination to the total quantity of money of all denominations which have been stored in the mixture storage unit (11, 140) before the dispensing process, to calculate a deemed dispensed quantity of money of each denomination dispensed from the mixture storage unit (11, 140), and

updates, in the inventory, the quantity of money of each denomination being stored in the mixture storage unit (11, 140) to a deemed quantity obtained by subtracting the deemed dispensed quantity from the quantity of money.
A money handling apparatus (10, 100), comprising:
a storage unit (11, 12, 140) configured to store money in the apparatus;

a memory (104) configured to store therein an inventory including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit (11, 12, 140); and

a control unit (102) configured to update the inventory, based on denomination information set on the storage unit (11, 12, 140), and the quantity of the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 12, 140), wherein

when another money handling apparatus (200) recognizes and counts the money, and the denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money that has been dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140) are specified, the control unit (102) acquires information on a recognition/counting result from another money handling apparatus (200), and updates the inventory based on the information.
A money handling method, comprising:
dispensing money from a storage unit (11, 12, 140) provided in a first money handling apparatus (10, 100) and configured to store money therein;

recognizing and counting the money dispensed from the storage unit (11, 140), by a second money handling apparatus (200), and

updating an inventory including information that can specify denominations and the quantity for each denomination of the money being stored in the storage unit (11, 140) of the first money handling apparatus (10, 100), based on a recognition/counting result obtained in the second money handling apparatus (200).