GB2402801A

GB2402801A - Bank-note authentication apparatus accommodating notes of different widths

Info

Publication number: GB2402801A
Application number: GB0411060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yukio Ito; Tadashi Hatamachi
Original assignee: Nippon Conlux Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Conlux Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-21
Filing date: 2004-05-18
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-18
Also published as: CN1573819A; JP4281085B2; DE102004024962B4; DE102004024962A1; GB0411060D0; GB2402801B; CN1319031C; JP2004348354A

Abstract

In bank-note processing apparatus in which notes of different widths can be inserted to be transferred along a transfer path past authentication means 32 to a stacking device, there are plural of insert slots (Fig. 1) corresponding to the widths of the different notes. Each insert slot leads to respective guide grooves 6, 7 for guidance of the side edges of the note of the corresponding width along the transfer path whilst the centre portion of each note, across its width, follows the same path 8. The number of vertically-stacked guide grooves 6, 7 corresponds to the number of different widths of notes to be processed. The accurate guidance of the notes also ensures reliable functioning of the note stacker (Figs 7 to 9).

Description

A BILL PROCESSING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bill processing apparatus disposed insides of vending machines, money-changing machines, game machines or the like, and particularly relates to a bill processing apparatus for storing a plurality of bills having different widths in a stacker.

2. Description of the Related Art

A bill processing apparatus, which guides bills inserted therein through an insert slot along a bill transfer path, identifies the authenticity of the bills during the guiding of the bills, and further guides authentic bills toward a stacker disposed at a downstream of the bill transfer path to eventually store the bills into the stacker, is generally installed in vending machines, money-changing machines, game machines or the like (hereinafter referred to as "vending machines or the like").

Such conventional bill processing apparatus includes bill processing apparatus of a type that is capable of processing plural types of bills, and more specifically bill processing 2 0 apparatus of a type that is capable of processing a plural types of bills having different widths.

The conventional bill processing apparatus of this type typically comprises a bill insert slot, a bill transfer path that is disposed to communicate with the bill insert slot and a stacker disposed at the downmost stream of the bill transfer path.

2 5 Among these components, the bill insert slot typically has an inlet width that is slightly wider than the the widest width of the bills having different widths. Further, the bill transfer path typically has a width which is slightly wider than the widest width of the bills having different bill widths. In addition, an identification sensor for identifying an authenticity of a bill is disposed in a midway of the bill transfer path.

3 0 In the conventional bill processing apparatus having such structure, when a bill having a certain width is inserted therein from the bill insert slot and a tip of the inserted bill is guided to the upstream of the bill transfer path, the bill is further guided toward the downstream of the bill transfer path along the bill transfer path by driving a bill transferring means comprising a transfer belt. When the bill guided along the bill transfer path reaches the identification sensor, the identification sensor identifies whether the bill of a certain width is an authentic bill or not. When the bill is identified as an authentic bill, the the bill transferring means is continued to be driven to further guide the bill toward the downstream of the bill transfer path, and thereafter, the bill is stored within the stacker by an action of a bill pressing means On the other hand, when the bill is identified as a false bill by the aforementioned identification sensor, the false bill is guided toward the upstream of the bill transfer path by reversely driving the bill transferring means to eventually return the bill out through the bill insert slot.

The conventional bill processing apparatus conducting such operations receives bills having different widths through the same single bill insert slot, guides the bills along the same bill transfer path and identifies the authenticity of each of the bills by using the same identification sensor, and thereafter, stores the various types of bills that are identified as authentic within the same stacker.

In other words, the conventional bill processing apparatus employs one common bill insert slot, one common bill transfer path and one common identification means for processing a plurality types of bills having different width, and is designed to store various 2 0 types of authenticated bills within one common stacker.

As stated above, the bill insert slot of the conventional bill processing apparatus is designed to have an inlet width slightly wider than the widest bill width so that even a bill having the widest width is smoothly received by the bill insert slot. Further, since the width of the bill transfer path is designed to be slightly wider than the widest width as stated 2 5 above, the bill having the widest width is smoothly guided along the bill transfer path.

However, in the conventional bill processing apparatus stated above, since the width of the bill transfer path is set to be slightly wider than the widest bill width of the bills handled by the bill processing apparatus, bills having widths other than the widest bill width easily move in the width direction of the bill transfer path, and thus the identification line 3 0 (line along which identification of a bill is performed) is not stable for the bills having widths except the widest width. As a result, error may occur in the identification for the authenticity of the bills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the situation described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a bill processing apparatus, which stably and accurately identifies a plurality of bills having different widths.

In order to achieve the object stated above, the present invention provides a bill processing apparatus in which a plurality of bills having different widths inserted via a bill insert slot are transferred along a bill transfer path, authenticity of the transferred bills are identified by identification means and bills that are identified as authentic are stored into a stacker, wherein a plurality of bill insert slots are formed corresponding to each of the widths of the plurality of bills having different widths, a plurality of bill transfer paths communicating with the plurality of bill insert slots are joined to a single common bill transfer path at the center portions thereof in the width direction, and guide grooves are formed in a vertically stacked manner at each end in the width direction of the single common bill transfer path, each of the guide grooves being formed corresponding to each of the widths of the bills.

Other objects and advantageous effects obtainable by the present invention will be readily confirmed the disclosure of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a conceptual side view of a bill processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 5 Fig 2 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill X reaches the first rotary lever that is disposed in the first bill transfer path; Fig. 6 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill X reaches at the identification means; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill X reaches the most downstream of the first bill transfer path; Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill X moves toward the stacker 41, Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill X is stored in the stacker; Fig. 10 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill Y reaches the second rotary lever disposed in the second bill transfer path; Fig. 11 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which bill Y reaches the identification means; Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which bill Y reaches the most downstream of the second bill transfer path; Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which bill Y 2 5 moves toward the stacker; Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which the bill Y is stored in the stacker; and Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill 3 0 processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in which plural numbers of bills of each of two types of bills X and Y having different bill widths are stored in the stacker, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF TO EMBODIMENTS

The details of a bill processing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described as follows.

Fig. 1 is a conceptual side view of bill processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The bill processing apparatus I is of a type that processes two types of bills X and Y having different widths. This bill processing apparatus 1 comprises a bill insert slot 2 for receiving these two types of bills X and Y. an L-shaped bill transfer path 5 for transferring these two types of bills X and Y inserted from the bill insert slot 2 therein, and a stacker 41 which is disposed at a downstream of the bill transfer path 5, for storing these two types of bills X and Y. The bill insert slot 2 comprises a first bill insert slot 3 and a second bill insert slot 4, having inlet widths corresponding to the widths W and U (not shown) of these two types of bills X and Y. respectively.

The inlet width of the first bill insert slot 3 is set to be slightly wider than the width W of the bill X, which has a narrower bill width among these two types of the bills X and Y. and the inlet width of the second bill insert slot 4 is set to be slightly wider than the width U of the bill Y. which has the widest bill width U among these two types of the bills X and Y. 2 0 The bill transfer path 5 comprises a first bill transfer path 6 that communicates with the first bill insert slot 3, and a second bill transfer path 7 that communicates with the second bill insert slot 4.

The first bill transfer path 6 and the second bill transfer path 7, as shown in Fig. 1, are the bill transfer paths having an L-shaped cross section. As shown in Fig. 2, the central 2 5 parts in width direction of both of the first bill transfer path 6 and the second bill transfer path 7 join to form a single common bill transfer path 8.

At opposing ends in width direction of the common bill transfer path 8, first guide grooves 9 and a second guide grooves 10 are formed corresponding to the bill widths W and U in a vertically stacked manner.

3 0 The first bill transfer path 6 is formed of a pair of the first guide grooves 9 and the single common bill transfer path 8, and the width of the transfer path formed between the pair of the first guide grooves 9 are set to be slightly wider than the width W corresponding to the width W of the bill X. The second bill transfer path 7 is formed of a pair of the second guide grooves 10 and the single common bill transfer path 8, and the width of the transfer path is set to be slightly wider than the width U of the bill Y. Each of the first guide grooves 9 and each of the second guide grooves 10 are formed in each guide member 60, and a pair of guide members 60 are provided. Further, respective one end of first rotary levers 16 (described later) protrudes into the first guide. I grooves 9, and respective one end of the second rotary levers 17 (described later) protrudes in the second guide grooves 10 Each of the first rotary levers 16 is rotatably supported at the center part thereof against an apparatus body 50 (Fig. 1). Further, each of the second rotary levers 17 is rotatably supported at the central part thereof against the apparatus body (Fig. 1).

Further, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, an inlet sensor 18 is disposed in the bill transfer path 3 immediately downstream of the bill insert slot 2 for detecting the insertion ofI these two types of the bills X and Y having different widths.

This inlet sensor 18 comprises a pair of the first inlet sensors 19 and a pair of the second inlet sensors 20.

Among these, each of the first inlet sensors 19 is provided in both ends of the first bill transfer path 6. Further, each of the first inlet sensors 19 has a horseshoe-shaped cross 2 0 section, and comprises a light emitter and a photo detector that is disposed as opposed to the light emitter with a spacing therebetween. Similarly, each of the second inlet sensors 20 and has a horseshoe-shaped cross section, and comprises a light emitter and a photo detector being disposed as opposed to the light emitter with a spacing therebetween.

Further, as shown in Fig. 2, the first rotary lever 16 and the first inlet sensor 19, and 2 5 the second rotary lever 17 and the second inlet sensor 20 are disposed corresponding to the widths W and U ofthe bills X and Y. respectively, and the axis L1 of the first rotary lever 16 and the axis L2 ofthe second rotary lever 17 are not collinearly disposed In the bill transfer path 6 of Fig. 1, bill transferring means 21 including an endless bill transfer belt 22 is disposed in the downstream of inlet sensor 18. This bill transferring 3 0 means 21 is composed of the bill transfer belt 22 stretched over the common bill transfer path 8, pulleys 23, 24 and 25 for rotating the bill transfer belt 22, and a transfer motor, not shown, for providing a driving force to these pulleys 23, 24 and 25.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the common bill transfer path 8 includes identifying means 31 for identifying authenticity of these two types of the bills X and Y having different widths.

The identifying means 31 is composed of a plurality of sensors 32.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. I. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the guide members 60, which is disposed from the upstream of the bill transfer path 5, extends to the downmost stream of the bill transfer path. I shown in Fig. 1.

The first guide grooves 9 and the second guide groove 10 are formed to extend in each of the guide members 60, so that the first bill transfer path 6 is formed between the pair of the first guide grooves 9 with a transfer path width thereof being slightly wider than the width W of the bill X, and the second bill transfer path 7 is formed between the pair of the second guide grooves 10 with a transfer path width thereof being slightly wider than the width U of the bill Y.I In the downmost stream of the single common bill transfer path 8 that is formed by joining the central parts in the width direction of the first bill transfer path 6 and the second bill transfer path 7, chutes 8a, 8b defining the single common bill transfer path 8 are removed, so that the common bill transfer path 8 is opened up toward the interior of the stacker 41 and toward a bill pressing means 44 disposed in front of the stacker 41.

2 0 Next, the operation of the bill transfer device 1 will be described, and at the same time, the detailed configuration of the bill transfer device 1 will also be described.

As shown in Fig. 2, in this bill transfer device 1, one end of each of the first rotary levers 16 protrudes into the first bill transfer path 6 in an initial state of the operation. In addition, another end of each of the first rotary levers 16 is disposed in the first inlet sensors 2 5 19 to block the light emitted from the light emitter to the photo detector. Absence of an inserted bill in the first bill transfer path 6 is detected by this block of light.

In this initial state, when a bill X having a narrower bill width is inserted therein from the first bill insert slot 3 as indicated by an arrow D in Fig 1, since the inlet width of the first bill insert slot 3 is set to be slightly wider than the bill width W of the bill X, the bill 3 0 X is inserted smoothly into the first bill insert slot 3.

When the bill X is inserted, the tip of the bill X is guided to the first bill transfer path 6. When the tip of the bill X reaches the first rotary lever 16, as shown in Fig. S. the first rotary lever 16 rotates in one direction around the central part thereof, whereby the aforementioned one end of the first rotary lever 16 is partially retracted from the first bill transfer path 6 and the aforementioned another end of the first rotary lever 16 stops the block of light in the first inlet sensor 19. The first inlet sensor 19 detects the presence of an inserted bill in the first bill transfer path 6 by the stop of the light blocking.

Incidentally, Fig. 5 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus 1, and more particularly illustrating the state in I which the bill X reaches the first rotary lever of the first bill transfer path.

When the presence of the inserted bill is detected by the first inlet sensor 19, the drive motor of the bill transferring means 21 shown in Fig. I activates, and thus the bill transfer belt 22 rotates in one direction via the pulleys 23, 24 and 25 so that the bill X is guided toward the downstream of the first bill transfer path 6 When the bill X is transferred through the first bill transfer path 6, both ends in the width direction of the bill X is guided within the pair of the first guide grooves 9 along the I pair of the first guide grooves 9, and the substantially central part in the width direction of the bill X is guided along the common bill transfer path 8. Since the width of the first bill transfer path 6 is set to be slightly wider than the width W of the bill X jamming of the guided bill X in the first bill transfer path 6 is prevented.

Here, elements designated by numeral numbers 26 and 27 are driven rollers for 2 0 reinforcing the transfer force for the bill by the bill transfer belt 22.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. I and in particular illustrating the state in which the bill X reaches the identification means 31. As shown in Fig. 6, when the bill X reaches the identification sensor 32, the authenticity of the bill X is identified. Since the width of the 2 5 first bill transfer path 6 guiding the bill X is set to be slightly wider than the width W of the bill X, the possibility of the bill X moving within the first bill transfer path 6 along the width direction of the transfer path is prevented as much as possible, as compared with the conventional apparatus Accordingly, the identification lines of each of the bills X for identifying the bill X 3 0 by the identification sensor 32 become stable and constant lines. Thus, failure in identifying the authenticity of the bill X is prevented as much as possible, as compared with the conventional bill processing apparatus.

Further, in the identification process for the authenticity of the bill X by this identification sensor 32, when the bill X is identified to be an authentic bill of the bill X, the actuation of the bill transferring means is continued to further guide the bill X toward the downstream of the first bill transfer path 6. When the rear end of the bill X passes the first rotary lever 16, the first rotary lever 16 rotates in the opposite direction around the central portion thereof and returns to the initial position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. I and in particular illustrating the state in which the bill X reaches the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path. As shown in Fig. 7, when the 1 0 bill X is guided to the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path 4, both ends in the width direction of the bill X are disposed in the pair of the first guide grooves 9, and the central part of the bill X in the width direction is disposed in the common bill transfer path In the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path 6, a pressing member 44a of 1 5 the bill pressing means 44 is disposed facing the stacker 41 with the first bill transfer path 6 therebetween. When the bill X reaches a certain position in the downmost stream, the actuation of the drive motor of the bill transferring means 21 is stopped, thereby stopping the transfer of the bill X by the transfer belt 22. When the bill pressing means 44 of Fig. 1 is actuated, the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44 presses the substantially 2 0 central part of the bill X toward the stacker 41 along the bill width direction as shown in Fig 8, and thus the central part of the bill X escapes from the common bill transfer path 8 to move toward the stacker 41, and also, both ends of the bill X in the width direction of the transfer path gradually escape from the pair of the first guide grooves 9 to move toward the stacker 41 2 5 Thus, as shown in Fig. 9, the whole body of the bill X is eventually stored within the stacker 41.

When the bill X is stored in the stacker 41 as shown in Fig. 9, the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44 is returned to the initial position as shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 are enlarged cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the 3 0 bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, in which the reference numeral "42" appeared in Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 or in the later-described Fig. 12 to Fig. 15 represents a coil spring which forces the bills X and Y stored within the stacker 41 toward the common bill transfer path 8, and the reference numeral "43 " represents a plate directly pressing the bills X and Y by the coil

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spring 42 The bill pressing means 44 is of a known pantograph structure, and thus the detailed description of the structure and the operation thereof are omitted.

Further, in the bill processing apparatus 1, since the width of the first bill transfer path 6 is set to be slightly wider than the bill width W also in the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path 6, when the bill X is disposed in the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path 6, the moving of the bill X in the first bill transfer path 6 along the width orientation is prevented as much as possible.

Therefore, it is ensured that the central part in the width direction of the bill X is pressed, and thus the bill X is surely be stored in the stacker 41. In conventional bill processing apparatus that processes a plurality of bills X, Y. there has been a problem in storing bills. That is, in the conventional bill processing apparatus, the width of the bill transfer path 5 is set to be slightly wider than the widest bill width (for example, width U of the bill Y) of the various types of bills. Therefore, a bill (for example, bill X) having a width other (smaller) than the widest width is likely to move within the bill transfer path S along the width direction thereof. Therefore, when the bill X is pressed by the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44, the central part in the width direction of the bill X may not be pressed, and thus the bill X cannot surely be stored in the stacker 41 According to the bill processing apparatus 1 of the present invention, this conventional 2 0 problem can be solved as much as possible.

When the bill X is identified to be a false bill as a result of the identification processing for identifying the authenticity of the bill X by the identification means 31, the drive motor of the bill transferring means 21 is reversely actuated to reversely rotate the bill transfer belt 22 via the pulleys 23, 24 and 25, thereby returning the bill to the first bill insert 2 5 slot 3.

Next, inserting the bill Y having wider bill width will be described.

In the initial state shown in Fig. 2, one end of each of the second rotary levers 17 protrudes in the second bill transfer path 7. Also, another end of each of the second rotary levers 17 is disposed in the second inlet sensor 20 to block the light in the region between 3 0 the photo detector and the light emitter, and thus this blocking of lightleads to the detection of absence of an inserted bill in the second bill transfer path 7.

In the initial state, the bill Y having wider bill width is inserted therein from the second bill insert slot 4 as indicated by an arrow E of Fig. 1. Since the width of the second bill insert slot 4 is set to be slightly wider than the bill width U of the bill Y. the bill Y is smoothly inserted into the second bill insert slot 4.

When the bill Y is inserted into the second bill insert slot 4, the tip of the bill Y is guided to the second bill transfer path 7. Then, when tip of the bill Y reaches the second rotary lever 17, the second rotary lever 17 rotates in one direction with a rotation axis around the central part thereof, and the tip of the second rotary lever 17 partially evacuates from the second bill transfer path 7 and another tip of the second rotary lever 17 stops the blocking of light in the second inlet sensor 20 as shown in Fig. 10. The second inlet sensor 20 detects the presence of an inserted bill in the second bill transfer path 7 by the stop of the light blocking.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus 1, and in particular illustrating the state in which the bill Y reaches the second rotary lever of second bill transfer path.

When the presence of the inserted bill is detected by the second inlet sensor 20, the drive motor of the bill transferring means 21 of Fig 1 is actuated and thus the bill transfer belt 22 rotates in one direction via the pulleys 23, 24 and 25, thereby guiding the bill X toward the downstream of the second bill transfer path 7 by the bill transfer belt 22.

When the bill Y is transferred in the second bill transfer path 7, both of the ends in 2 0 the width direction of the bill Y are guided along the pair of first guide groove 10. Also, the central part in the width direction of the bill Y is guided along the common bill transfer path 8 Since the width of the second bill transfer path 7 is set to be slightly wider than the width U of the bill Y. jamming of the guided bill Y in the second bill transfer path 7 can be prevented.

2 5 Fig. 11 is an enlarged conceptual cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1, and in particular illustrating the state in which the bill Y reaches the identification means. As shown in Fig. 11, when the guided bill X reaches the identification sensor 32, an authenticity of the bill Y is identified. Now, the width of the second bill transfer path 7 guiding the bill Y is set to be slightly wider than the bill width 3 0 U on the basis of the bill width U of the bill Y. moving of the bill Y in the second bill transfer path 7 along the width direction of the transfer path is prevented as mush as possible. Therefore, the identification lines of each of the bills Y for identifying the bill Y by the identification sensor 32 become stable and constant lines, and thus the generation of failure in the results for identifying the bill Y is prevented as much as possible.

When the bill Y is identified to be an authentic bill in the identification process for authenticity of the bill Y by the identification sensor 32, the actuation of the bill transferring means 21 is continued to further guide the bill Y toward the downstream of the second bill transfer path 7 When the rear end of the bill passes the second rotary lever 17, the second rotary lever 17 rotates in the oppositedirection with a rotation axis being around the central part thereof and returns to the initial position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the operation ofthe bill 1 0 processing apparatus of Fig. I, and in particular illustrating the state in which the bill Y reaches the most downstream of the second bill transfer path. As shown in Fig. 12, when the bill Y is guided to the downmost stream of the second bill transfer path 7, both of the ends in the width direction of bill Y is disposed between the pair of the second guide grooves 10, and the central part in the central part ofthe bill Y is disposed in the common 1 5 bill transfer path 8.

In the downmost stream of the first bill transfer path 6, the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44 is disposed to face the stacker 41 with the first bill transfer path 6 therebetween, and when the bill Y reaches the aforementioned predetermined position in the downmost stream of the second bill transfer path 7, the drive motor of the bill transferring 2 0 means 21 is stopped to stop the transferring operation of the bill Y by the transfer belt 22.

When the bill pressing means 44 of Fig. 1 is actuated, the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44 presses the substantially central part in the width direction of the bill Y toward the stacker 41 as shown in Fig 13. Thus, the central part in the width direction of the bill Y escapes from the common bill transfer path 8 to move toward the stacker 41, and 2 5 the both of the transfer path width-direction ends of the bill Y gradually escape respectively from the pair of the second guide grooves 10 to move toward the stacker 41.

Then, as shown in Fig. 14, the whole bill Y is eventually stored in the stacker 41.

When the bill Y is stored in the stacker 41 as shown in Fig. 14, the pressing member 44a of the bill pressing means 44 is returned to the initial position of Fig. 12.

3 0 In this bill processing apparatus 1, the width of the second bill transfer path 7 is set to be slightly wider than the bill width U on the basis of the bill width U of the bill Y in the downmost stream of the second bill transfer path 7. Therefore, when the bill Y is disposed in the downmost stream of the second bill transfer path 7, moving of the bill Y in the second bill transfer path 7 toward the width direction is prevented as much as possible. Therefore, for the wider bill Y. the central part in the width direction thereof is surely pressed, so that the bill Y is surely stored in the stacker 41.

When the bill Y is identified as a false bill in the identifying processing of authenticity of the bill Y by the identification means 31, the drive motor of the bill transferring means 21 is actuated in reverse direction, and the bill is returned to the second bill insert slot 4 by reversely rotating the bill transfer belt 22 by means of the pulleys 23, 24 and 25.

Accordingly, the bill X and bill Y. which have been identified as authenticated bills, can also be stored in sequence into the same stacker 41 of the bill processing apparatus 1, as shown in Fig. 1 S Here, Fig. 13 to Fig. 15 are enlarged cross-sectional views illustrating the operations of the bill processing apparatus of Fig. 1.

As have been described above, the bill processing apparatus 1 has a configuration in which two bill insert slots 2 are provided corresponding to two types of bills X and Y having different widths W and U. respectively; the first bill transfer path 6 and the second bill transfer path 7 that are communicated with these two bill insert slots 2, i.e., first bill insert slot 3 and second bill insert slot 4, are joined to form a single common bill transfer path 8 at the central part in the width direction; and first guide grooves 9 and second guide 2 0 grooves 10 are formed in a vertically stacked manner, corresponding to the bill width W. U. respectively, in each of the ends in the width direction of the common bill transfer path 8.

With this configuration, the movement of the bill X having the bill width W other than the bill width U in the bill transfer path 5 along the width direction thereof can be prevented as much as possible as in the case of the bill Y having the widest bill width U. as compared 2 5 with the conventional bill processing apparatus, and thus the identification line (linealong which identification of a bill is performed) on the bill X having the width W other than the bill width U becomes stable. Therefore, according to the bill processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the identification of these two types of bills X and Y having different bill widths can be carried out stably and accurately.

3 0 Although the bill processing apparatus 1 for processing these two types of the bills X and Y having different bill widths has been described in relation to the bill processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the bill processing apparatus according to the present invention may be applicable to a bill processing apparatus for processing more than two types of bills each having different bill widths In such case, the plural types of bill insert slots may be formed corresponding to each of the bill widths of the aforementioned plural types of the bills having different bill widths, and a plurality of the bill transfer paths that communicates with a plurality of the bill insert slots may be joined to from a single common bill transfer path at the central part in the width direction thereof and the guide grooves corresponding to each of the bill widths may be formed in each of the ends in the width direction of the single bill transfer path in vertically stacked manner. Such configuration enables, as in the case of a bill having the widest bill width, to prevent the move of a bill in the bill transfer path along the width direction for the various types of bills other than the bill having the widest width, and therefore the identification line to be detected by the identification sensor 32 can be stabilized to ensure stably conducting of the authenticity identification and appropriately pressing of the bill by the bill pressing member 44a to surely store thereof into the stacker 41 for the various types of the bills other than the bill having the widest bill width.

For example, in the bill processing apparatus for processing three types of bills, each having different bill widths, three bill insert slots 2 are provided corresponding to each of the bill widths of three types of bills having different bill widths, and the three bill transfer paths communicating with the respective one of the three bill insert slots are joined 2 0 to form a single common bill transfer path 8 at the central part in the width direction thereof, and guide grooves corresponding to each of the aforementioned bill widths are formed at each of the ends in the width direction of the single common bill transfer path 8 in a vertically stacked or triple-decker manner, so that, as in the case of the bill having the widest bill width, moving of these two types of bills other than the bill having the widest bill width 2 5 in the width direction in bill transfer path S can be prevented. Therefore, identification of the authenticity by the identification sensor 32 can surely be conducted for these two types of bills, and these two types of bills can surely be stored in the stacker 41.

In the above embodiment, the bill processing apparatus I has a configuration in which the first guide grooves 9 and the second guide grooves to are formed in the same 3 0 guide members 60. Therefore, if the apparatus is so configured that the guide members 60 are detachable, it becomes possible that they are detached from the upper and lower chutes 8a and 8b, and, in place of them, new guide members 60 having a plurality of the guide grooves corresponding to each of the bill widths disposed in a vertically stacked manner can be mounted to the upper and the lower chutes 8a and 8b. Such replacement of the guide members can provide a new bill processing apparatus which can process other plural types of bills having different bill widths For example, in order to process two types of another bills having bill widths that are different from bills width of the above-described two bills X and Y. new guide members are mounted in place of the guide members 60 on which the first guide grooves 9 and the second guide grooves l O are formed. Namely, the new guide members on which the first guide grooves that are different from the aforementioned first guide grooves 9 and the second guide grooves that are different from the aforementioned second guide grooves to are formed in a vertically stacked manner according to each of the bill widths,are mounted on the upper and the lower chutes 8a and 8b, thereby providing a new bill processing apparatus which can process these new two types of bills having different bill widths.

In addition, in order to process three types of bills having different bill widths, in place of the above-described guide members 60, new guide members 60 having the first to the third guide grooves formed thereon in a vertically stacked manner according to each of the bill widths are mounted on the upper and the lower chutes 8a and 8b, thereby providing a new bill processing apparatus which can process these three types of bills having different bill widths.

2 0 In the bill processing apparatus l described above, each of the substantially central parts in width direction of the plural types (two types for the above-described embodiment) of bills having different bill widths (bill X and bill Y for the above-described embodiment) is guided to the single common bill transfer path 8. Therefore, the bill transferring means for the plural types of bills (two types of bills, i.e. , bill X and bill Y for the above-described 2 5 embodiment) can be shared by arranging the bill transferring means 21 in the common bill transfer path 8, and thus number of parts can be reduced, as compared with a configuration in which respective bill transferring means are provided for each type of bills. As a result, the manufacture cost is reduced and the structure of the bill processing apparatus l is simplified.

3 0 Further, in the bill processing apparatus l described above, each of the substantially central parts in width direction of the plural types (two types for the above-described embodiment) of bills having different bill widths (bill X and bill Y for the above-described embodiment) is guided to the single common bill transfer path 8. Therefore, the bill identifying means for the plural types of bills (two types of bills, i.e., bill X and bill Y for the above-described embodiment) can be shared by arranging the bill identifying means 31 in the common bill transfer path 8, and thus number of parts can be reduced, as compared with a configuration in which respective bill transferring means are provided for each type of bills. As a result, the manufacture cost is reduced and the structure of the bill processing apparatus 1 is simplified.

Although the bill processing apparatus of an above-described embodiment employs the configuration in which the first inlet sensor 19 and the second inlet sensor 20 are of a lever type comprising the first rotary lever 16 and the second rotary lever 17, the first inlet sensor 19 and the second inlet sensor 20 employed in the bill processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described lever type sensors. Alternatively these sensors may be, for example, constituted by optical sensors.

As described above, the bill processing apparatus of the present invention has the configuration in which a plurality of the bill insert slot are formed corresponding to each of the widths of bills having different widths and a plurality of paths communicating with a plurality of the bill insert slots are joined to form a single common bill transfer path at the central part in the width direction thereof and the guide grooves corresponding to each of the bill widths at each ends of the one bill transfer path in a vertically stacked manner, 2 0 whereby the moving of the bill having narrower width in the bill transfer path along the bill width direction can be prevented as much as possible, and thus the identification line (line along which identification of a bill is performed) of a bill having narrower bill width can be stabilized during the transfer of the bill. Therefore, according to the bill processing apparatus of the present invention, the identification of a plurality of the bills having 2 5 different widths can be conducted stably and accurately.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAMED IS: 1. A bill processing apparatus in which a plurality of

bills having different widths inserted via a bill insert slot are transferred along a bill transfer path, authenticity of the transferred bills are identified by identification means and bills that are identified as authentic are stored into a stacker, wherein a plurality of bill insert slots are formed corresponding to each of the widths of the plurality of bills having different widths, a plurality of bill transfer paths that communicate with the plurality of bill insert slots are joined to a single common bill transfer path at the center portions thereof in the width direction, and guide grooves are formed in a vertically stacked manner at each end in the width direction of the single common bill transfer path, each of the guide grooves being formed corresponding to each of the widths of the bills.
2. The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification means is a common identification means which is disposed in the single common bill transfer path and adapted to identify the plurality of bills having different widths.
3. The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bill transferring means for transferring a plurality of bills having different widths that are inserted through the bill insert slot, wherein the bill transferring means is a common bill transfer means which is disposed in the single common bill transfer path and adapted to transfer the plurality of bills having different bill widths.
4. The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bill transfer path includes: upper and lower chutes opposing to each other with a space therebetween, and guide members detachably mounted to both ends of the upper chutes and the lower chutes, wherein the guide grooves are formed in each of the guide members in a vertically stacked manner 5 The bill processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising another pair of guide members separated from the frst-mentoned pair of guide members, In which guide grooves are formed corresponding to widths of plural types of bills In a vertically stacked manner, wherein another pair of guide members are mounted at both ends of the upper and lower chutes In place of the first-mentoned pair of guide members 6 A bill processing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.