JP2001328749A - Conveying device for paper sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent overlapping of bank notes in a conveyance passage as a small streak width is held. SOLUTION: A first detector 32 is provided upstream from a confluent point P of a conveyance passage 20 and a lead-in passage 15, and a brake device 34 and a second detector 33 are provided, from the upstream in the lead-in passage 15 connected to a bank note screening apparatus 12. When a bank note B2 is detected also by a first detector until a laps of a first given time starting from detection of a bank note B1 by a second detector as shown in (a), a brake device 34 is operated during a lapse of a first given time, and the bank note B1 is stopped when its forward end reaches a position right in short of the confluent point P as shown in (b). Thereafter, by releasing a brake after a lapse of a second given time starting from a time when the bank note B2 passes through the first detector, after the rear end of the bank note B2 passes the confluent point P, the bank note B1 in the lead-in passage is fed to the confluent point. Since a short lead-in passage to hold the bank note under a stop suffices for detection of overlapping of the bank notes, a streak width can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device for conveying sheets fed from a plurality of input devices to a collecting section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional apparatus of this type, there is, for example, a bill transporting apparatus in which a bill inserted into a game medium lending machine in a game store is sandwiched between transport belts and transported to an island-end collecting device. In such a device, it is necessary to count the number of collected bills, but when a large number of game media lending machines are installed adjacent to a plurality of gaming tables, and when a bill is arbitrarily inserted from each game media lending machine, In addition, there is a problem in that the banknotes overlap with the banknotes being conveyed on the conveyor belt and accurate counting becomes impossible.

An apparatus for preventing bills from overlapping on a conveyor belt is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-3-56354. In this device, as shown in FIG.
In a transport device in which papers such as bills (hereinafter, referred to as bills) are merged from the bill validator 12 in the game media lending machine 11 to the transport path 72 via the introduction path 70, an introduction path on the transport path 72 is used. 70 upstream of the junction P with
A detector 74 is provided, and a second detector 76 and a temporary stagnation section 78 are provided in the introduction path 70. When the banknote B is detected by the second detector 76 and the banknote B sent through the transport path 72 is also detected by the first detector 74, the introduction path 70 (not shown) is temporarily stopped in the stagnant portion 78. The transport belt is deactivated, and the passage of the bill B detected by the first detector 74 is waited so that the bill B from the introduction path 70 does not overlap the bill on the transport path 72.

[0004] As a result, all the banknotes joined to the transport path 72 are separated from each other and do not overlap, so that the number of sheets can be easily counted by the collection device 80 at the end of the transport path. In this device, when the length of the bill B is L, the distance from the first detector to the junction is L1, and the distance from the second detector to the junction is L2, L <L2 <L1. It is set as follows.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional bill transporting apparatus, a large-sized temporary holding section for temporarily holding the bills B sent through the bill validator 12 to the introduction path 70 is temporarily stored. 78 is required. That is, while the first detector 74 of the transport path 72 does not detect, the bill B from the bill validator 12 is sent out in the direction of the confluence P by operating the transport belt of the introduction path 70, but the first detection is performed in the middle of that. When the container detects the bill B upstream of the confluence point, the temporary retaining section 78 deactivates the transport belt of the introduction path 70 so as to prevent the bill B on the way of the introduction path from joining the transport path 72.
For this purpose, a mechanism for stopping the transport belt of the introduction path 70 which is synchronized with the delivery speed from the bill validator and the transport speed in the transport path is necessary, and without stopping the delivery from the bill validator. If the transport belt of the introduction path 70 is stopped, jamming of banknotes in the introduction path is inevitable. Therefore, the stay control of the bill by the operation and non-operation of the transport belt must be performed in a section after the bill is completely separated from the bill validator.

At this time, if the leading end of the bill on the way of the introduction path has already reached the merging point P and is in a state of touching the conveyance belt of the conveyance path 72, the conveyance belt of the introduction path 70 is deactivated. However, the bill may be dragged into the transport path 72 and overlap with the bill from the upstream. Therefore, regardless of the position of the banknote in the introduction path 70, the detection signal from the first detector 74
When the conveyor belt is deactivated, it is necessary to prevent the leading end of the bill from reaching the junction P. As described above, it is not enough to satisfy the relationship L <L2 between the length of the bill B and the distance from the second detector 76 to the junction P, and the temporary stagnation portion 78 including the introduction path must have a sufficient length. No.

[0007] Therefore, the distance between the bill insertion slot of the game medium lending machine 11 and the transport path 72 is a large-sized temporary holding section 78.
, The so-called spread of the island width is remarkable, especially when game machines are installed on both sides of the transport path 72, and there is a problem that the space efficiency of the game store is reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet transport apparatus that prevents overlap of paper sheets such as banknotes in a transport path while maintaining a narrow island width.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of loading machines are provided along a transport path, and the papers fed into the loading machine are transferred to the transport path via an introduction path. In a sheet conveying device that is merged and conveyed to a storage unit on a conveyance path, the conveyance path detects, at each junction with the introduction path, a sheet conveyed to the conveyance path upstream of the junction. A first detector for detecting a sheet conveyed along the introduction path and a sheet introduction preventing unit are provided on the introduction path, and the first detector and the second detector Based on the detection state, when there is a possibility that the paper conveyed on the introduction path and the paper conveyed on the conveyance path may overlap, the position where the leading end of the paper sheet on the introduction path is immediately before the confluence point After stopping the paper sheet in the transport path, and after the rear end of the paper sheet conveyed on the conveyance path passes the junction, the conveyance of the stopped paper sheet described above. As forgive was assumed to have a control device for controlling the paper introduction blocking means. For example, when paper sheets are detected by both the first detector and the second detector, and there are paper sheets heading to the same junction in both the introduction path and the conveyance path,
The control device activates the sheet introduction blocking means to stop the sheets on the introduction path, and cancels the operation of the sheet introduction prevention means after the sheets on the conveyance path have passed the confluence. Leafs are prevented from overlapping.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, the second detector is disposed downstream of the sheet introduction preventing means, and the control device determines that the second detector has detected a sheet for a first predetermined time. When the first detector detects a sheet before the time elapses, the apparatus is configured to activate the sheet introduction blocking means when a first predetermined time elapses. The tip of the second
It is set in accordance with the transport time from passing through the detector to arriving just before the confluence, and the sheet introduction preventing means is configured to detect the sheet whose leading end has arrived immediately before the confluence. It is provided at a position where it can be gripped. By activating the sheet introduction blocking means when the first predetermined time has elapsed after the second detector has detected the sheet, the sheet is positioned at a position where its leading end is immediately before the confluence of the transport path. Stopped.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second detector is provided on the upstream side of the sheet introduction preventing means and at a distance from the junction to the length of the sheet and the first allowance. If the first detector detects a sheet while the second detector is detecting a sheet, the apparatus may insert the sheet immediately after the second detector stops detecting the sheet. It is configured to activate the blocking means. Since the second detector is provided at a distance from the junction where a margin is added to the length of the paper sheet,
By activating the sheet introduction preventing means when the sheet has passed through the second detector, the sheet is stopped at a position where its leading end is immediately before the confluence of the transport path.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, after the control device activates the sheet introduction preventing means, the sheet introduction inhibition is performed after a lapse of a second predetermined time after the first detector stops detecting the sheet. The operation of the means is released, and the second predetermined time is set by adding a second margin to the time until the trailing end of the paper sheet passing through the first detector passes the junction. It was assumed. After the second predetermined time has passed after the paper sheets on the transport path have passed through the first detector, the operation of the paper sheet introduction blocking means is released, so that the paper sheets on the transport path have passed the junction. Since the sheets from the introduction path enter the junction, the sheets do not overlap.

[0012] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the paper sheet introduction preventing means comprises:
At the time of operation, the paper sheets are gripped, and the paper sheets are stopped and held against the conveying force of the conveying means provided in the introduction path. Since the gripping force of the sheet introduction preventing means is larger than the conveying force, it is not necessary to stop or cut off the driving of the conveying means in the control for preventing the sheets from overlapping.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bill transport device that transports bills from a plurality of game medium lending machines to a common storage unit. The game media lending machine 11 (11L, 11R) is a pachinko machine lending machine or a medal machine lending machine installed adjacent to a plurality of gaming machines 10 (for example, pachinko machines or pachislot machines). 20 are provided back to back on both sides. Each game media lending machine 11 has a bill validator 12 inside, and the bill validator 12 and the transport path 20 are the introduction paths 15 (15L, 15R).
Connected by At one end of the transport path 20, there is provided a storage section 18 that stores banknotes that have passed through the banknote discriminator 12 and that have been sent from the introduction path 15 to the transport path 20, and that the banknote counter 17 is located in front of the storage section 18. Is provided. The transport path 20 is further provided with a first detector 32 that detects banknotes at a predetermined distance upstream from a junction P with each of the introduction paths 15.

A brake device 34 (34L, 34R), which can hold and stop a bill, is provided near the bill feeding port of the bill validator 12 in the introduction path 15 as a sheet introduction preventing means.
Is provided. Between the brake device 34 and the junction P, a second detector 33 (3
3L, 33R). The control device 30 is connected between the first detector 32, the second detector 33, and the brake device 34, and the control device 30 detects the banknote upstream of the converging point P on the transport path. In the meantime, when the banknote is detected by the second detector 33, the brake device 34 is operated after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the banknote from the banknote discriminator 12 is detected by the second detector 33, and the introduction path 15. Hold the bill on 15 and stop. Then, after the passage of the second predetermined time from the passage of the bill on the transport path 20 through the first detector 32, the brake device 34 is opened to release the grasp of the bill on the introduction path 15. .

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the details of the portion from the bill validator 12 to the junction P. The transport path 20 is provided with transport mechanisms 65 in the transport cases 60 (60A, 60B) on the upstream side and the downstream side with the merging box 40 interposed therebetween. The transport mechanism 65 extends along the passage 61 of the transport case 60 in a longitudinal direction and is supported by a plurality of pulleys 66 so as to sandwich the round belt 67 at a predetermined pressure in opposition to each pulley 66. A plurality of rollers 68 are provided, and the round belt 67 and the rollers 68 cooperate to pinch the middle width portion of the bill from the paper thickness direction. It is transported in the longitudinal direction of the transport case 60. Each transport case 60A, 60B has the same structure,
A plurality of merging boxes 40 arranged corresponding to the bill validator 12 are connected.

The lowermost pulley 66a and the roller 68a of the transport mechanism 65 on the upstream side and the uppermost pulley 66b and the roller 68b of the transport mechanism on the downstream side are located near the junction box 40, respectively. Each transport mechanism 6
In 5, the pulley 66a at least at one end is driven by a motor (not shown). Reference numeral 69 denotes a tension pulley for applying tension to the round belt 67. The merging box 40 includes a first guide portion 42 that extends linearly from the upstream side to the downstream side to form a part of the transport path 20, and a downstream end of the first guide portion 42 that forms the introduction path 15. And a second guide portion 44 (44L, 44R) that is connected to the second guide portion. The second guide section 44 has an arc-shaped section from the outer end to the downstream end of the first guide section 42.

The upstream end of the first guide section 42 is connected to the passage 61 of the upstream transfer case 60A.
Is connected to the passage 61 of the downstream transfer case 60B. The transport path 20 is formed by sequentially connecting the upstream passage 61, the first guide portion 42, and the downstream passage 61. The outer end of the second guide portion 44 is connected to the bill validator 1.
It is connected to the second bill feeding port 13. A guide inclined surface 45 is formed at an outer end of the second guide portion 44 so that bills fed from the bill feeding port 13 of the bill validator 12 can smoothly enter the second guide portion 44.

A guide slope 62 is formed at the upstream end of the passage 61 of the downstream transfer case 60B.
Alternatively, the bill from the second guide portion 44 smoothly enters the passage 61 on the downstream side. A drive roller 46 driven by a motor (not shown) is provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the first guide portion 42 so as to sandwich a middle portion of the bill in the first guide portion 42 from the paper thickness direction. A rolling roller 47 facing this is provided. When the driving roller 46 is driven to rotate, the bills sandwiched between the rolling rollers 47 are conveyed downstream. The transport force of the drive roller 46 and the rolling roller 47 is set to be equal to the transport force of the transport mechanism 65 of the upstream and downstream transport cases 60.

A driving roller 50 and a rolling roller 51 facing the driving roller 50 are also provided on the left and right second guide portions 44, respectively, so that the bills in the second guide portion 44 can be conveyed. The transport speed of the drive roller 50 and the rolling roller 51 in the second guide section 44 (introduction path) is
The transporting speed is synchronized with the transporting speed, but the transporting force is set to be approximately half, weaker than the transporting force in the transporting path 20 by reducing the pressing force of the rolling roller 51.

Although not shown in detail, the first detector 32 is a photoelectric type comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided to face each other with the path of the first guide section 42 interposed therebetween.
And are provided upstream of the rolling rollers 47. The second detector 33 is of a photoelectric type similar to that of the first embodiment.
Is provided in the middle of the arc-shaped portion of the guide portion 44. The second detector 33 is provided so as to have a height different from that of the drive roller 50 and the rolling roller 51 in the bill width direction, so that they do not interfere with each other.

The bill is urged to advance by the driving roller 50 while passing through the introduction path 15 formed by the second guide portion 44. Then, when the leading end of the bill enters the passage 61 from the guide slope 62 of the downstream-side transport case 60B, the bill is reliably taken into the transport path 20 by the round belt 67 and the roller 68 and merged. Will be conveyed toward. Therefore, here, the round belt 6
7 and the roller 68 for the first time become the confluence point P.

The brake device 34 includes a second guide portion 44
And a first gripping piece 36 and a second gripping piece 38 which are opposed across the second guide portion 44 and are operated by the electromagnetic solenoid 35 near the outer end of the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece. The pieces 38 are retracted sufficiently so as not to hinder the introduction and passage of the bills when not in operation, and are urged to abut each other in the path when activated.

The first gripping piece 36 has a projection with a mountain-like cross section facing the second gripping piece 38, and the second gripping piece 38 has a concave portion corresponding to the mountain shape of the projection. Thereby, when the brake device 34 is operated, the bills passing through the brake device installation position of the second guide portion 44 are moved between the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece 38 urged in a direction in which they come into contact with each other. Is grasped. The bills gripped by both gripping pieces 36 and 38 are bent and deformed by the chevron-shaped projections and recesses of the opposed portions, and are not pulled out even if a pulling force (conveying force) is applied by the driving roller 50 and the rolling roller 51. The conveyance path 20 is fixedly held.
Is blocked.

The brake device 34, as shown in FIG.
The leading end of the bill B introduced into the transport path 20 is immediately before the junction P, that is, the guide slope 62 of the downstream transport case 60B.
Is reached, the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece 38
Is set so that at least the rear end of the bill can be gripped. On the other hand, the first detector 32 in the transport path 20 is set at a position upstream of the junction P by a distance Z1 obtained by adding a margin allowance α to the length S of the bill.

Next, the brake device 3 by the control device 30
The control operation of No. 4 will be described. When the second detector 33 detects that the bill has been fed from the bill validator 12 to the introduction path 15 (second guide portion 44),
The first detector 32 checks whether there is a bill approaching the junction P on the transport path 20 (the first guide portion 42), and if the first detector 32 does not detect a bill, the brake device 34 is checked. The bills in the introduction path 15 are transported without operating
Merge to 0.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, between the time when the bill B1 is detected by the second detector 33 and the time when the first predetermined time elapses, the bill B2 is also detected by the first detector 32. When the brake device 3 is turned on, the brake device 3
Activate 4 The first predetermined time is set to a transport time by the driving roller 50 and the rolling roller 51 from when the leading end of the bill B1 passes through the second detector 33 to immediately before the confluence point P. As a result, as shown in (b), the bill B1 introduced from the second guide portion 44 (introduction path 15) to the transport path 20 has the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece of the brake device 34 near the rear end. 38, and stops. Since the leading end has not reached the merging point P, it is held without being taken into the transport path 20.

Thereafter, the operation of the brake device 34 is released after a lapse of a second predetermined time since the banknote B2 in the transport path 20 is no longer detected by the first detector 32. The second predetermined time is set based on the transport speed in the transport path 20 by adding a margin to the time until the rear end of the bill B2 that has passed through the first detector 32 passes the junction P. You. As a result, as shown in (c) of FIG. 4, the bill B1 in the introduction path 15 in which the operation of the brake device 34 is released has a rear end of the bill B2 that has passed through the first detector 32 passed through the junction P. Then, it is sent to the junction P.

Next, from the bill validator 12 to the introduction path 15
After the first predetermined time has elapsed since the tip of the bill B1 fed to the (second guide portion 44) is detected by the second detector 33, as shown in FIG. The control device 30 does not operate the brake device 34 because the tip of B1 reaches the junction P and is taken into the transport path 20.
The bill B2 detected by the first detector 32 after the elapse of the first predetermined time is conveyed along the conveyance path 20 toward the junction P as it is, but the distance Z1 between the first detector 32 and the junction P is
But the banknote B from the introduction path 15 which has already reached the junction P
Since the length is longer than the length S of the first, as shown in FIG.
The leading end of the bill B2 detected by the detector 32 does not overlap the rear end of the bill B1 introduced from the introduction path 15.

When bills are inserted into the left and right game medium lending machines 11L and 11R connected to the same merging box 40 in succession, the controller 30 detects the bills first by the second detector. Priority is given to the introduction of the banknote on the side that did. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the left second detector 33L detects the banknote BL before the right second detector 33R, the right introduction path 15R that detects the banknote BR with a delay. The brake device 34R in is operated. The brake device 34R holds the banknote BR between the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece 38 and stops when the first predetermined time has elapsed since the banknote BR was detected by the second detector 33R. Thus, the banknote BR stands by at the position shown in FIG.

If the first detector 32 has not detected the bill on the transport path 20, the left inlet path 15L
When the second detector 33L of the (second guide portion 44L) is the bill B
After the third predetermined time elapses after L is no longer detected, the operation of the right brake device 34R is released, and the introduction of the bill BR from the right introduction path 15R to the transport path 20 is permitted. FIG. 6C shows a state in which the operation of the brake device 34R is released, and for the third predetermined time, the rear end of the bill BL is in the second position.
It is set by adding a margin to the transport time by the driving roller 50 and the rolling roller 51 from the passage of the detector 33L to the passage of the junction P.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the banknote B2 on the transport path 20 is detected by the first detector 32 while the banknote BR in the introduction path 15R is stopped by operating the 4R, the banknote B1 is detected by the second detector 33 described above. Between the time when the first predetermined time elapses and the time when the conveyance path 2
The control process is the same as when the banknote B2 is detected by the first detector 32 of 0, and the banknote BR waits for the banknote B2 to converge on the transport path 20 before releasing the operation of the brake device 34R.

The present embodiment is constructed as described above. When there are bills approaching the confluence P in both the transport path 20 and the introduction path 15, the bills are gripped by the brake device 34 provided in the introduction path 15. Thus, the tip of the bill from the introduction path 15 is held at a position immediately before the junction P until the bill on the transport path 20 passes, so that the tip of the banknote can be advanced to just before the junction P. The second detector 33 and the brake device 34 provided in the introduction path 15
Side as a result, as a result, the interval between the game medium lending machine 11 including the bill validator 12 and the transport path 20 is narrowed, the island width is reduced, and particularly when the gaming table 10 is arranged back to back The effect is remarkable.

In order to prevent the bills from being overlapped, it is only necessary to operate the brake device 34, and the banknote discriminator 12 and the transport mechanism 65 of the transport path 20 are stopped, and the drive roller 50 of the second guide portion 44 is controlled. There is no need to stop or shut off, so that a complicated stopping mechanism is not required, so that there is an effect that the structure is simple. Further, since the second detector 33 is provided in the middle of the arc-shaped portion of the introduction path 15, it is used for controlling the avoidance of the bill from the introduction path 15 and the bill on the transport path 20, and the second detector 33. Due to the length of the duration of the state detected at 33, a jam of the banknotes in the introduction path 15 can be easily found.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration of a second embodiment in which the arrangement of the first detector and the second detector is different.
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. In this embodiment, the second detector 33 (33L, 33L) in the merging box 40 'is used.
R) along the second guide portion 44 (44L, 44R) forming the introduction path 15 (15L, 15R) from the confluence point P to the length D of the banknote plus a predetermined margin β in the distance D. And the brake device 34 (34L, 34R) is located downstream of the second detector 33. The margin β is set such that when the second detector 33 detects the trailing end of the bill, when the brake device 34 is operated, the leading end of the bill stops immediately before the junction P. .

On the other hand, the first detector 32 in the transport path 20
Is set upstream of the junction P by a distance Z2 obtained by adding a margin allowance γ to the distance D from the junction P to the second detector 33. The distance Z2 is equal to the distance Z1 in the previous embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the control operation of the brake device 34 by the control device 30 'is as follows. First,
From the bill validator 12 to the second guide 44 (introduction path 15)
When the second detector 33 detects that the bill has been fed out, the first detector 32 checks whether or not there is a bill approaching the confluence P on the transport path 20. If the banknote is not detected, the banknote in the introduction path 15 is joined to the transport path 20 without operating the brake device 34.

Next, while bills are being detected in the introduction path 15 by the second detector 33, the first detector 32
However, when a bill is detected, the brake device 34 is operated immediately after the bill is no longer detected by the second detector 33, that is, immediately after the trailing end of the bill passes through the second detector 33. As a result, at least the rear end of the bill introduced from the introduction path 15 to the transport path 20 is stopped by the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece 38 of the brake device 34. Since the tip is immediately before the junction P, it is held without being taken into the transport path 20.

Thereafter, the bills in the transport path 20 are
The operation of the brake device 34 is released after a lapse of a second predetermined time (see the previous embodiment) after the detection is stopped in step 2.
As a result, the banknotes in the introduction path 15 (second guide portion 44) in which the operation of the brake device 34 has been released are removed from the first detector 32.
Is passed through the junction P and then introduced into the junction.

When the bill fed from the bill validator 12 to the introduction path 15 passes through the second detector 33 and is detected by the first detector 32 of the transport path 20, the controller 30 ' Does not operate the brake device 34. The bills in the second guide portion 44 are sent to the junction P as they are, and are taken into the transport path 20. The banknotes detected by the first detector 32 are also conveyed along the conveyance path 20 toward the junction P, but the distance Z2 between the first detector 32 and the junction P is equal to the distance between the junction P and the second detector. Since the distance is larger than the distance D between the bills 33, the leading end of the bill detected by the first detector 32 does not overlap the trailing end of the bill from the introduction path 15.

According to this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment,
The second detector 33 and the brake device 34 provided in the introduction path 15 can be brought closer to the conveyance path 20 by the amount that the leading end of the bill from the introduction path 15 can be advanced and stopped just before the confluence point P, and as a result, The distance between the game medium lending machine 11 including the bill validator 12 and the transport path 20 is narrowed, so that the island width can be reduced, and there is an effect that a complicated stopping mechanism is not required and the structure is simple.

In each of the embodiments, the electromagnetic solenoid 35 is used as the drive source of the brake device 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the brake device 34 may be driven by an electric motor or an air cylinder. Also, the shapes of the first gripping piece 36 and the second gripping piece 38 of the brake device are not limited to those shown in the drawing, as long as they can be securely fixed and gripped against the conveying force of the driving roller 50 and the rolling roller 51. Good.

In each embodiment, the introduction path 15 is limited to the second guide portion 44, and the brake device 34 and the second detector 33 are provided in the junction box 40. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that extends further outward from the junction box 40, and one or both of the brake device and the second detector are provided outside the junction box 40.

Further, although the embodiment has shown the combination with the game media lending machine 11 attached to the game console 10, the present invention can be applied to various other fee payment machines.
In addition, although the description has been given of the transport of banknotes as paper sheets, the present invention is also applicable to the transport of other standardized size pieces of paper and flexible plastic cards.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the paper sheet transporting apparatus, the introduction path is determined based on the detection states of the first detector provided in the transport path and the second detector provided in the introduction path. If there is a possibility that the papers on the transport path may overlap, operate the brake device to move the paper sheets on the introduction path until the paper sheets on the transport path pass the confluence, where the leading end of the paper is just before the confluence. As a result, the sheets are prevented from overlapping. Since the paper sheets are stopped at a position where the leading end is immediately before the confluence of the conveyance path by the brake device, the introduction path for storing the stopped paper sheets has some margin in the length of the paper sheets. The minimum length is sufficient, and the distance between the transfer path and the charging machine is reduced. Thereby, for example, by applying the present invention to the conveyance of banknotes inserted into a game medium lending machine installed adjacent to a gaming table, the effect of reducing the island width can be obtained.

In particular, the second detector is arranged downstream of the brake device, and the first detector detects the paper sheet during a period from when the second detector detects the paper sheet to when the first predetermined time elapses. When it is detected, the brake device is actuated when a first predetermined time has elapsed. The first predetermined time is from when the leading edge of the paper sheet reaches the point immediately before the junction after passing through the second detector. By setting the brake device at a position where the front end of the paper sheet can be gripped immediately before the confluence, the brake device and the second detector can be introduced in a short time. The sheet can be arranged in the path, and when the brake device is actuated, the sheet can be stopped at a position where its leading end is immediately before the confluence of the conveying path.

Alternatively, the second detector is provided on the upstream side of the brake device, at a distance from the confluence to the length of the paper sheet plus a first margin, and the second detector detects the paper sheet. If the first detector detects a sheet during the operation, the brake device is activated immediately after the second detector stops detecting the sheet. Two detectors can be arranged in a short introduction path,
When the brake device is actuated, the paper sheet can be stopped at a position where its leading end is immediately before the confluence of the transport path.

Further, after the brake device is actuated, the operation is released after a second predetermined time has elapsed since the first detector stopped detecting paper sheets. By setting the time until the rear end of the paper sheet passing through the first detector passes the confluence point by adding the second allowance, it is possible to determine that the paper sheet on the transport path has passed the confluence point. Sheets from the introduction path can be merged into the transport path so that the two sheets do not overlap without requiring a separate sensor or the like for detection.

Further, the brake device grips the paper sheet during operation, and stops and holds the paper sheet against the conveying force of the conveying means provided in the introduction path, so that the paper sheet is stopped. There is no need to stop or shut off the driving of the transporting means in the control for preventing overlapping of the types, so that a complicated stopping mechanism is not required and the structure is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a bill transport device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing details around a junction;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation position of a brake device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a control operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing details around a merging point in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 gaming table 11 (11L, 11R) game media lending machine 12 bill discriminator 13 bill feeding port 15 (15L, 15R) introduction path 17 bill counter 18 storage unit 20 transport path 30, 30 'control device 32 first detector 33 (33L, 33R) Second detector 34 (34L, 34R) Brake device (sheet introduction preventing means) 35 Electromagnetic solenoid 36 First gripping piece 38 Second gripping piece 40, 40 'Merging box 42 First guide part 44 (44L, 44R) Second guide part 46, 50 Drive roller 47, 51 Roller roller 60 (60A, 60B) Transport case 61 Passage 65 Transport mechanism 66, 66a, 66b Pulley 67 Round belt 68, 68a, 68b Roller 69 Tension pulley B, B1, B2, BL, BR Banknote P Confluence

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E040 AA01 BA20 DA06 FB04 FG03 FG04 FL06 3F048 AA07 AB03 BA05 BA14 BA21 BB05 CA04 CC01 DB07 EA01 EB21 3F101 LA09 LA16 LB04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of loading machines are provided along a transport path, and sheets fed into the loading machine are merged into a transport path via an introduction path and transported to a storage section on the transport path. In the transport device, the transport path is provided with a first detector for detecting a sheet conveyed on the transport path upstream of the junction at each junction with the introduction path. Is provided with a second detector for detecting sheets conveyed through the introduction path and sheet introduction prevention means, and based on the detection states of the first detector and the second detector, sets the introduction path When there is a possibility that the conveyed sheet and the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path may overlap on the conveyance path, the sheet on the introduction path is positioned at a position where the leading end of the sheet is immediately before the junction. Stop the sheet, and allow the stopped sheet to be conveyed after the rear end of the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path passes the junction. As described above, a sheet conveying device having a control device for controlling the sheet introduction preventing means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detector is disposed downstream of the sheet introduction blocking means, and the control device controls a period from when the second detector detects the sheet until a first predetermined time elapses. When the first detector detects a sheet, the sheet introduction preventing means is operated when a first predetermined time has elapsed, and the tip of the sheet is in the first predetermined time during the first predetermined time. 2 is set in accordance with the transport time from when the sheet passes through the detector to when the sheet arrives immediately before the junction, and the sheet introduction preventing means is arranged such that the leading end of the sheet on the introduction path arrives immediately before the junction. The paper sheet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the paper sheet is provided at a position where the paper sheet can be stopped. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second detector is provided upstream of the sheet introduction blocking means and at a distance from a confluence obtained by adding a first margin to a length dimension of the sheets. If the first detector detects a sheet while the second detector is detecting a sheet, the sheet introduction blocking means is activated immediately after the second detector stops detecting the sheet. 2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be operated. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller activates the sheet introduction preventing means and activates the sheet introduction inhibiting means after a lapse of a second predetermined time after the first detector stops detecting the sheets. And the second predetermined time is set by adding a second margin to the time until the rear end of the paper sheet passing through the first detector passes the junction. The paper sheet transport device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: 5. The paper sheet introduction preventing means grips the paper sheet during operation and stops and holds the paper sheet against the conveying force of the conveying means provided on the introduction path. The paper sheet conveying device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein: