JP2000025965A - Medium storage and delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold a stack of media on the stage part of a medium storage and delivery device continuously stable. SOLUTION: A medium storage and delivery device 20 comprises a guide part 31 having a top opening through which media are received for their storage in it, a stage part 28 vertically movable within the guide part 31 while holding the media stacked thereon, and a separation and delivery means disposed in the upper portion of the guide part 31 to separate the media one from the next and feed them out one by one. Feed belts 39 are mounted on the guide part 31 so that their portion facing the media can move vertically.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medium storing and dispensing apparatus for handling bills and other printing media, and more particularly to a medium storing and dispensing apparatus incorporated in, for example, an automatic transaction apparatus for storing and dispensing a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as this kind of apparatus, a denomination cassette built in a banknote pay-in / pay-out device installed in a financial institution or another automatic transaction device is known. FIG. 8 is an external view showing a conventional example, and shows the external appearance of a denomination cassette incorporated in a banknote pay-in / pay-out device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example, and is an explanatory diagram viewed from the side of a denomination cassette.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a denomination cassette;
Indicates the frame. Reference numeral 3 denotes a drive unit, which is disposed on the frame 2. The drive unit 3 includes gear pulleys 4, 5, 6 and a timing belt 7, and moves up and down a stage unit described later. Reference numeral 8 denotes a tension pulley, which is disposed so as to be in contact with the back surface of the timing belt 7. The timing belt 7 is stretched by gear pulleys 4, 5, 6 and a tension pulley 8.

[0004] Reference numeral 9 denotes a stage, which is constituted by a stage 10 on which banknotes are stacked and a supporting member 11 for supporting the stage 10, and is disposed in the frame 2. The support member 11 is attached to the timing belt 7 of the drive unit 3. The gear pulley 4 is driven by a drive source (not shown).
When is rotated, the timing belt 7 is driven via the gear pulleys 5 and 6, so that the stage 9 moves up and down together with the timing belt 7.

[0005] Above the denomination cassette 1, a pickup roller 12 and a separation mechanism 13 are provided. When the stage 9 rises, the banknotes 14 mounted on the stage 10 are fed out by the rotation of the pickup roller 12 and separated into one by the separation mechanism 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a guide portion, which includes a front guide 16, a rear guide 17, and side guides 18 and 19.
The stage section 9 is guided by the guide section 15 and moves up and down in the guide section 15.

[0006]

However, according to the prior art, when the stage moves up and down, the bills mounted on the stage rub against the guide portion, and the accumulation state of the bills becomes unstable due to frictional resistance. There was a problem. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the state of the bill when the stage is raised, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the state of the bill when the stage is lowered. As shown in these figures, when the stacking state of the banknotes becomes unstable, there is a case where a conveyance failure such as bending or skew of the banknotes is caused at the time of feeding out by the pickup roller and at the time of separating one sheet by the separation mechanism. .

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a guide portion having an upper portion opened to receive a medium and accommodating a medium therein, a stage portion for accumulating the medium and moving up and down in the guide portion. A feeding / separating device which is provided above the guide portion and feeds and separates the medium, and a feeding / belt separating device for feeding and separating the medium. Features.

[0008] The present invention is characterized in that the transport belt moves up and down in synchronization with the elevation of the stage. Furthermore, a first drive source for driving the stage unit, a second drive source for driving the transport belt, a sensor for detecting the accumulation state of the medium, and a sensor for detecting an abnormality in the accumulation state of the medium by the sensor, And a control unit for controlling the first drive source to stop the stage unit and controlling the second drive source to lower the transport belt.

A guide groove having a length corresponding to the vertical range of the stage is provided in the vertical direction of the guide, and the stage is fitted in the guide so as to be vertically movable along the guide groove. Is provided.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that an inclined protruding portion including an upper slope and a lower slope is provided on a surface of the conveyor belt facing the medium.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment, and shows an external view of a denomination cassette incorporated in a banknote pay-in / pay-out device or the like as an example of a medium storing and feeding device of the present invention. It is a perspective view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view (1) showing the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view of the denomination cassette as viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view (2) showing the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view showing the inside of the frame of the denomination cassette.

In these figures, reference numeral 20 denotes a denomination cassette, and reference numeral 21 denotes its frame. Reference numeral 22 denotes a driving unit,
It is arranged on the frame 21. The drive unit 22 includes gear pulleys 23, 24, 25 and a timing belt 26, and moves up and down a stage unit described later. Reference numeral 27 denotes a tension pulley, which is disposed so as to be in contact with the back surface of the timing belt 26. The timing belt 26 is stretched by gear pulleys 23, 24, 25 and a tension pulley 27.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a stage section, which is constituted by a stage 29 on which bills as a medium are mounted in an accumulated state and a support member 30 for supporting the stage 29,
It is arranged in. The support member 30 is attached to the timing belt 26 of the drive unit 22. Reference numeral 31 denotes a guide portion, which includes a front guide 32, a rear guide 33, and side guides 34 and 35. The stage 28 is guided by the guide 31 and moves up and down in the space formed by the guide 31.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a screw gear, and the gear pulley 2
5 are arranged on the same axis. A pulley 37 (see FIG. 3) is further provided on the shafts of the gear pulley 25 and the screw gear 36, and a transport belt 39 is stretched over the pulley 37 and a pulley 38 provided correspondingly above. A screw gear 40 meshes with the screw gear 36. A pulley 41 is provided on the shaft of the screw gear 40.
The transport belt 39 is stretched over the pulley 1 and the pulley 42 disposed correspondingly above.

A screw gear (not shown) is provided at the other shaft end of the shaft provided with the screw gear 36, and another screw gear 43 (see FIG. 3) is meshed with the screw gear. A pulley 44 (see FIG. 3) is provided, and the pulley 44 and a pulley 45
Then, the transport belt 39 is stretched. A screw gear 46 is also provided on the other shaft end of the shaft provided with the screw gear 40, a screw gear 47 is meshed with the screw gear 46, and a pulley 48 is provided on the shaft of the screw gear 47, and the pulley 48 is made to correspond to the pulley 48. Then, the transport belt 39 is stretched over the pulley 49 disposed above.

In FIG. 1, the front guide 32, the rear guide 33, the side guide 34, and the side guide 3
5 is described by way of example in which two transport belts 39 are stretched, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the gear pulley and the screw gear are configured so that the moving direction and the speed of the stage unit 28 and the conveying belt 39 are the same. That is, the stage section 28 and the transport belt 39 move up and down in synchronization.

Above the denomination cassette 20, a pickup roller 12 and a separation mechanism 13 are provided.
The pickup roller 12 and the separation mechanism 13 function as a feeding and separating unit. The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. The gear pulley 2 is driven by a drive source (not shown).
When the 3 rotates, the timing belt 26 is driven via the gear pulleys 24 and 25, so that the stage 28 moves up and down together with the timing belt 26.

On the other hand, when the gear pulley 23 rotates, the gear pulley 25 rotates via the gear pulley 24 and the timing belt 26, so that the screw gear 36 and the pulley 37 arranged coaxially with the gear pulley 25 rotate.
When the screw gear 36 rotates, the screw gear 40 meshed with the screw gear 36 also rotates. Therefore, the pulley 41 and the screw gear 46 provided coaxially with the screw gear 40 are provided.
Also rotate. Then, the screw gear 47 meshed with the screw gear 46 also rotates, and the pulley 48 disposed coaxially with the screw gear 47 rotates. Further, when a screw gear (not shown) provided at the other end of the shaft of the screw gear 36 rotates, the screw gear 43 meshed with the screw gear rotates, and the pulley 44 provided coaxially with the screw gear 40 rotates.

As the pulleys 37, 41, 44, and 48 rotate, the transport belt 39 stretched by them moves up and down in the same direction and at the same speed as the stage 28. That is, the transport belt 39 operates in synchronization with the stage unit 28. The banknotes mounted on the stage 29 of the stage unit 28 are not in contact with the guide unit 31 including the front guide 32, the rear guide 33, and the side guides 34 and 35, but are in contact with the transport belt 39 that moves up and down in synchronization with the stage 29. Since it moves up and down in a state in which it is in contact, frictional resistance is not applied, and a stable integrated state can always be maintained. That is, FIG.
0 and the state shown in FIG.

Since the state of stacking of the banknotes is stable, the feeding of the banknotes by the pickup roller 12 and the separation of the single banknotes by the separation mechanism unit 13 are also performed stably and reliably, and the banknotes are bent or skewed. It does not cause transport failures such as [Second Embodiment] This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the drive system for driving the stage section and the drive system for driving the transport belt are separated from each other, so that the drive systems are independent of each other. It is characterized by being connected. Further, a sensor for detecting the accumulation state of the medium is provided.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing a second embodiment, and is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a denomination cassette incorporated in a banknote pay-in / pay-out device or the like as an example of a medium storing and feeding device of the present invention. I have. In this figure, reference numeral 50 denotes a denomination cassette, and reference numeral 51 denotes its frame. Reference numerals 52, 53, and 54 denote gear pulleys, and reference numeral 55 denotes a timing belt. 5
Reference numeral 6 denotes a tension pulley, which is disposed so as to be in contact with the back surface of the timing belt 55. The timing belt 55 is stretched by gear pulleys 52, 53, 54 and a tension pulley 56. Gear pulley 52
Is rotated by being driven by a first drive source described later.

The stage section 28 includes a stage 29 on which bills are stacked and a support member 30, and is disposed in a frame 51. The support 30 is attached to the timing belt 55. Reference numeral 31 denotes a guide portion, which includes a front guide 32, a rear guide 33, and a side guide 3.
4, 35. The stage unit 28
As a result of being guided by the guide portion 31, it moves up and down in the space formed by the guide portion 31.

Reference numeral 57 denotes a screw gear, which corresponds to the screw gear 36 of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), but is disposed on a shaft different from the gear pulley, In that they are independently driven by the driving sources of the two. That is, this screw gear 57 is
Independent of the gear pulleys 52, 53, 54, the timing belt 55 and the tension pulley 56 for driving the
It is driven and rotated by the drive source.

The configurations of the screw gear other than the screw gear 57, the pulley, and the transport belt are the same as those of the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the screw gears 57, 40, 46, 47, the pulleys 38, 41, 42, 45, 48, 49, and the transport belt 39 are visible, but the other screw gears and pulleys are the same as in the first embodiment. They are similarly arranged. 5
Reference numerals 9 and 60 denote sensors each including a light emitting element and a light receiving element.
It is arranged so as to pass through the space inside, and it is possible to detect when the bill interrupts the optical axis. The sensor 59 is disposed so that its optical axis passes between the front guide 32 and the rear guide 33, and the sensor 60 is disposed so that its optical axis passes between the side guide 34 and the side guide 35.

Above the denomination cassette 50, a pick-up roller 12 and a separation mechanism 13 are provided as in the first embodiment (omitted in FIG. 4). FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram showing the second embodiment, which will be described with reference to this drawing. 61 is a first drive source,
The gear pulley 52 is driven to rotate. Reference numeral 62 denotes a second drive source, which drives and rotates the screw gear 57.

A control unit 63 obtains information from the sensors 59 and 60 and controls and operates the first drive source 61, the second drive source 62, the pickup roller 12, and the separation mechanism unit 13. As described above, in the present embodiment, the stage 28 can be moved up and down by driving the first drive source 61 under the control of the control unit 63, and by driving the second drive source 62 The conveyor belt 39 can be moved up and down.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. The control unit 63 recognizes the number of stacked banknotes stored in the apparatus, and adds / subtracts the number of the banknotes each time a bill is input / output, and always holds the data of the number of stacked banknotes in the apparatus. ing. When bills are accumulated, the thickness can be known from the number of accumulated bills. That is, the relationship between the number of stacked sheets and the thickness is recorded in the control unit 63 in advance, and the control unit 63 integrates the data on the stage unit 28 based on the relationship between the number of stacked sheets and the thickness and the data of the number of stacked sheets. Calculate the thickness of the bill.

The thickness calculated here is a thickness in a state where bills are normally accumulated. Therefore, if the calculated thickness is different from the actual thickness, it can be determined that the accumulation state is abnormal. Hereinafter, the process of determining the accumulation state and maintaining the correct accumulation state will be described in detail.

First, under the control of the control unit 63, the stage unit 28 is moved by driving the first drive source 61. Here, in consideration of the thickness of the bill calculated as described above, the stage unit 28 is lowered and stopped to a position where it is determined that the bill does not block the optical axes of the sensors 59 and 60. In this state, if the optical axes of the sensors 59 and 60 are not interrupted, the control unit 63 determines that the bills are correctly stacked. Determines that the accumulation state of the bills is abnormal, and drives only the second drive source 62 until the optical axes of the sensors 59 and 60 are not interrupted.
Is rotated in the descending direction (the direction in which the inside, that is, the side facing the bill descends).

After confirming that the accumulation state of the banknotes is normal, the feeding and other operations are continuously executed. As described above, the stacking state of the banknotes can be determined, and when the stacking state is abnormal, the stacking state is restored to a normal state. Will be able to do.
Therefore, even when the bills fed from above the opening are stacked on the stage section 28 and the bills are shifted to one surface side of the guide section 31, the transport belt 39 is kept in a state where the stage section 28 is stopped. By rotating, the state of accumulation can be corrected and made normal.

[Third Embodiment] In the present embodiment, in the configuration of the first or second embodiment, a guide groove is provided in the guide portion, and a stage projection is provided in the stage portion correspondingly. It is characterized by that. FIG. 6 is an external view showing the third embodiment, and is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a denomination cassette incorporated in a banknote pay-in / pay-out device or the like as an example of a medium storing and feeding device of the present invention.

In this figure, reference numeral 64 denotes a denomination cassette, and reference numeral 65 denotes its frame. Reference numeral 66 denotes a guide portion, which includes a front guide 67, a rear guide 68, and side guides 69 and 70. The guide portion 66 of the present embodiment is provided with a guide groove 71, and a stage projection 73 is provided on the stage 72 so as to correspond to the guide groove 71. The stage 72 and the support member 30 constitute the stage 74 of the present embodiment.

The stage projection 73 of the stage 72 fits into the guide groove 71 of the guide 66 and moves up and down along the guide groove 71. In the example of this figure, three guide grooves 71 are provided in the front guide 67 and the rear guide 68, respectively, and one guide groove 71 is provided in each of the side guides 69 and 70, and the number and arrangement of stages correspond to these. Although the case where the projection 73 is provided has been described as an example, the number and arrangement are not limited to this.

As described above, by providing the stage projection 73, the bills accumulated on the
2 can be prevented even when it is attempted to go underneath, and a good accumulation state can be always maintained. [Fourth Embodiment] The present embodiment is characterized in that, in the configuration of the first, second or third embodiment, a transport belt having an inclined projection is provided.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a transport belt according to the fourth embodiment. The transport belt 75 of the present embodiment corresponds to the transport belt 39 of each of the above-described embodiments, and is similarly stretched over a pulley, but has an inclined surface on the back surface (the surface facing the bill 14). It has a configuration having a projection 76. The inclined projection 76 includes an upper upper slope 76a and a lower lower slope 76.

As described in the second embodiment, when it is determined that the accumulation state of banknotes on the stage 72 is abnormal, only the transport belt 75 is lowered with the stage 72 stopped. At this time, if the banknote 14 has a bending habit, the banknote 14 once has a normal thickness during the operation of the transport belt, but when the transport belt is stopped,
The banknote tries to return to its original bent state. here,
Since the transport belt 75 of the present embodiment has the inclined protrusions 76, the banknotes 14 that are about to return to the original state are stopped by the ends of the banknotes 14 abutting against the lower slopes 76b, and the normal stacking state is maintained.

When the stage 72 is stopped to lower the conveyor belt 75, the lower slope 76b is
Even when the transport belt 75 contacts the banknote 2 or the bill 14, the transport belt 75 can escape along the inclination of the lower slope 76b, and the transport belt 75 can be lowered normally. Also,
Even if the bill 14 touches the upper slope 76a when the bill is fed from above, the bill 14 falls along the slope of the upper slope 76a and can be normally accumulated.

[0037]

As described in detail above, the conveyance belt is provided so that the medium can be moved up and down without contacting the guide portion, so that frictional resistance is not applied and the stable accumulation state can be always maintained. In addition, the feeding and separating operations of the medium are also stably and reliably performed, and there is an effect that a transport failure such as bending or skew of the medium does not occur.

Further, since the sensor for judging the accumulation state of the medium is provided and the stage and the conveyor belt can be driven separately, even if an abnormality occurs in the accumulation of the medium, the accumulation state can be restored to the normal state. Has the effect of
Furthermore, by providing the guide groove and the stage protrusion, even if the medium accumulated on the stage tries to go under, it can be prevented, and it is possible to always maintain a good accumulation state. Become.

The provision of the inclined projections on the transport belt has the effect of improving the ability to correct the accumulation state of the media.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view (1) showing a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view (2) showing the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an external view showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transport belt according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a medium when a stage is raised.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a medium when the stage is lowered.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Medium 28 Stage Unit 31 Guide Unit 39 Conveying Belt 59, 60 Sensor 61 First Driving Source 62 Second Driving Source 63 Control Unit 66 Guide Unit 71 Guide Groove 73 Stage Projection 74 Stage Unit 75 Transport Belt 76 Inclined Projection 76a Upper slope 76b Lower slope

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F100 AA02 BA11 CA01 EA08 EA18 EA19 3F343 FA04 FB07 FC04 GA01 GB01 GC01 GD01 HB07 HC24 HD09 HD16 HE11 LA04 LA14 LC07 LC20 LC22 LD10 LD24 MB02 MB12 MC19

Claims (5)

[Claims] A guide portion having an upper portion opened to receive a medium and accommodating a medium therein; a stage portion for accumulating the medium and moving up and down in the guide portion; and a stage portion disposed above the guide portion. And a feeding / separating means for feeding / separating the medium by means of a feeding / separating means, wherein a conveying belt arranged on a guide portion and capable of vertically moving a portion facing the medium is provided. . 2. The medium storing and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the transport belt moves up and down in synchronization with the elevation of the stage unit. 3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive source drives the stage unit, the second drive source drives the transport belt, a sensor that detects an accumulation state of the medium, and the sensor. A control unit that controls the first drive source to stop the stage unit and controls the second drive source to lower the transport belt when an abnormality in the accumulation state of the medium is detected. A medium storing and feeding device. 4. A guide groove according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a guide groove having a length corresponding to a vertical movement range of the stage portion is provided in a vertical direction of the guide portion, and the guide groove is provided in the stage portion. A medium storage and feeding device, wherein a stage projection is provided so as to be vertically movable along the guide groove. 5. The conveying belt according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the conveyor belt facing the medium is provided with an inclined protruding portion including an upper inclined surface and a lower inclined surface. Media feeding and unloading device.