JP2007193764A - Cleaning method for bank bill discrimination machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning method for a bank bill discrimination machine for performing cleaning action only by inserting a cleaning sheet without requiring any special operation. <P>SOLUTION: In this cleaning method for the bank bill discrimination machine 1, a cleaning card 20 for cleaning a bank bill conveying passage part in the bank bill discrimination machine 1 carries discrimination information readable by respective photosensors 15-17 for bank bill discrimination in the bank bill discrimination machine 1. Based on read information by the respective photosensors 15-17 for bank bill discrimination, insertion of the cleaning card 20 is detected. When the inserted cleaning card 20 is conveyed in a predetermined form by means of a bank bill conveying mechanism in the bank bill discrimination machine 1, the bank bill conveying passage part is cleaned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bill discriminator mounted on a game machine inter-bed machine, a vending machine, a ticket issuing machine, and the like, and more particularly, to a method for cleaning a bill conveyance path portion soiled with paper dust.

  Between game machines in a game store or the like, a game machine platform machine for renting game media such as pachinko balls used in the game machine is arranged. The inter-game machine for gaming machines is generally equipped with a banknote discriminator so that the inserted banknotes can be identified and the game media of the corresponding amount can be lent out.

  In the bill validator, dust that has entered from the outside via a bill insertion slot or the like adheres to the inside bill conveyance path portion and accumulates during long-term use. In addition, paper dust generated from a bill inserted from the bill insertion slot and conveyed along the bill conveyance path, foreign matter adhering to the bill, and the like adhere to the bill conveyance path portion and accumulate. For example, the foreign matter becomes dirty and adheres to the surface of the transport belt constituting the banknote transport mechanism, the surface of the transport roller, the light receiving / emitting surface of the photosensor for banknote identification, the surface of the magnetic head for banknote identification, and the like.

As a method for cleaning such dirt on the bill conveyance path portion, a method of inserting a cleaning sheet (cleaning card) from a bill insertion slot and conveying the inside is known. A method is disclosed. In the method disclosed in the patent document, the banknote recognition unit is made to detect the start of cleaning by continuously opening and closing the banknote storage unit a predetermined number of times during a predetermined time. After detecting the start of cleaning, the banknote recognition device takes in the inserted cleaning sheet and carries out cleaning by reciprocating it.
JP 2002-352296 A

  The cleaning method using the cleaning sheet (cleaning card) is to open the banknote discriminator, and the banknote path part (dirt of the conveyor belt, roller surface, sensor light emitting / receiving surface, magnetic head surface, etc.) where dirt is attached. This is convenient because it is not necessary to directly clean the portion in contact with the bill or the portion in which the bill passes through the proximity position. However, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, in order to allow the cleaning sheet to be taken in without being removed, the banknote storage unit is repeatedly opened and closed to start cleaning. An operation to detect is necessary.

  Further, in the conventional method using the cleaning sheet, it is not possible to perform an appropriate cleaning operation according to the location of the dirt and the degree of the dirt. For example, since the surface of the transport belt is hardened by long-term use and the bill transport force is reduced, it is desirable to perform an operation of roughing or peeling the surface using a file or the like during cleaning. Further, when the dirt is severe, it is necessary to repeatedly reciprocate the cleaning sheet over a long period of time. However, conventionally, such various cleaning operations cannot be performed using a cleaning sheet.

  Furthermore, in the conventional method using the cleaning sheet, the cleaning sheet that has been worn repeatedly is used as it is, so that the bill discriminator cannot be properly cleaned, and a cleaning failure may occur. .

  Furthermore, there is a possibility that a banknote conveyance failure may occur if a conveyor belt that has been repeatedly cleaned by a cleaning sheet and worn is used as it is.

  An object of the present invention is to propose a cleaning method for a bill validator capable of performing a cleaning operation by simply inserting a cleaning card without performing a special operation.

  Another object of the present invention is to propose a cleaning method for a banknote discriminator capable of performing a cleaning operation in an appropriate form according to the degree of dirt and the location of dirt using a cleaning card.

  Furthermore, the subject of this invention is providing the cleaning method of the banknote identification machine which can prevent the defective cleaning by the worn cleaning card beforehand.

  Still another object of the present invention is to propose a cleaning method for a bill validator that can prevent parts such as a conveyor belt worn by cleaning with a cleaning card from being continuously used.

In order to solve the above problems, the bill discriminator cleaning method of the present invention comprises:
In the cleaning card for cleaning the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator, the identification information that can be read by the banknote identification sensor of the banknote discriminator is carried,
Based on the reading information of the sensor, the insertion of the cleaning card is detected,
The banknote transport mechanism of the banknote identification machine transports the inserted cleaning card in a predetermined form to clean the banknote transport path portion.

  In the present invention, the cleaning card can be identified by the banknote identification sensor of the banknote identification machine. Therefore, when the cleaning card is inserted, the bill validator recognizes that the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card and performs a predetermined cleaning operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a special operation such as repeatedly opening and closing the open / close lid of the banknote storage unit to switch the banknote identification machine to the cleaning operation state.

  Next, in the cleaning method for a bill validator according to the present invention, different types of cleaning cards are prepared, and the identification information carried on each cleaning card includes information indicating the type, Based on the read information, the type of the cleaning card is identified, and the cleaning card is conveyed in a form associated with the identified type of cleaning card in advance.

  For example, a plurality of types of cleaning cards corresponding to the degree of contamination of the banknote transport path portion and / or the cleaning place in the banknote transport path portion are prepared.

  In the present invention, a plurality of types of cleaning cards are prepared, and are identified by a bill identifying sensor. Therefore, only by changing the cleaning card, it is possible to realize an appropriate cleaning operation according to the degree of contamination and the cleaning place.

  On the other hand, the present invention is a banknote discriminator that performs cleaning by the method described above, and is inserted based on a storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of the cleaning card, and reading information of the sensor. Whether or not the paper sheet is a cleaning card, and a cleaning card identifying unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card, and drive control for reading out and executing the cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of the cleaning card It has the part.

  Next, the present invention is a bill recognition machine cleaning card used in the above method, and an information carrying unit on which information indicating that it is a cleaning card is carried in a form readable by a bill recognition sensor; And a cleaning surface having a predetermined coefficient of friction and / or a cleaning surface having a predetermined surface roughness.

  Here, it is desirable that information representing the type of the cleaning card is carried on the information carrying unit.

Next, the cleaning method for the bill validator of the present invention is as follows.
In the cleaning card for cleaning the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator, the identification information that can be read by the banknote identification sensor of the banknote discriminator is carried,
Based on the reading information of the sensor, the insertion of the cleaning card is detected,
By the banknote transport mechanism of the banknote discriminator, the inserted cleaning card is transported in a predetermined form, and the banknote transport path portion is cleaned,
At least one of the cleaning card, the banknote discriminator, and a management computer that manages the banknote discriminator stores the cleaning history information of the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator using the cleaning card. It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, the cleaning card can be identified by the banknote identification sensor of the banknote identification machine. Therefore, when the cleaning card is inserted, the bill validator recognizes that the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card and performs a predetermined cleaning operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a special operation such as repeatedly opening and closing the open / close lid of the banknote storage unit to switch the banknote identification machine to the cleaning operation state.

  Also, since the cleaning history information by the cleaning card is stored and held, based on the cleaning history information, whether or not the cleaning card is worn out and it is time to replace, such as the transport belt of the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator, etc. It can be determined whether or not the part has worn due to cleaning and it is time to replace it. Therefore, by referring to the cleaning history information, it is possible to prevent problems such as defective cleaning due to a worn cleaning card and poor conveyance of banknotes due to a conveying belt worn away due to cleaning.

  Here, different types of cleaning cards are prepared, the identification information to be carried on each cleaning card includes information indicating the type, and based on the reading information of the sensor, the cleaning card It is possible to identify the type of the cleaning card and convey the cleaning card in a form associated with the identified type of cleaning card in advance. For example, what is necessary is just to prepare the said multiple types of said cleaning card corresponding to the grade of the stain | pollution | contamination of the said banknote conveyance path | route part, and / or the cleaning place in the said banknote conveyance path | route part.

  As described above, by preparing a plurality of types of cleaning cards and identifying them with the banknote identification sensor, it is possible to realize an appropriate cleaning operation according to the degree of dirt and the cleaning place only by changing the cleaning card.

  In the present invention, in order to know the replacement time of the cleaning card and the replacement time of the parts such as the conveyor belt, the cleaning card replacement is performed based on the cleaning history information by at least one of the bill discriminator and the management computer. And at least one of necessity of replacement of parts used in the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator, and if replacement is necessary, that fact is notified. Yes.

  Here, in order to know the replacement time of the cleaning card, the cleaning card may carry at least the number of times the cleaning card is used as the cleaning history information. When the number of times of use reaches the number of times that the cleaning card can be used, it may be notified that the replacement is necessary.

  In addition, in order to know the replacement time of the transport belt and the like, the bill discriminator may store at least the cleaning location and the number of times in the bill transport path portion of the bill discriminator as the cleaning history information.

  Furthermore, the management computer can store at least the used cleaning card and the number of times of use thereof, or the cleaned bill discriminator and the location and number of times of cleaning thereof as the cleaning history information.

  Next, banknote identification used in the above-described banknote identification machine cleaning method in which the banknote identification machine stores at least the cleaning location and number of times in the banknote transport path portion of the banknote identification machine as the cleaning history information. A machine having the following configuration can be used. That is, the banknote discriminator includes a storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of the cleaning card, and whether the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card based on the read information of the sensor, and A cleaning card identifying unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card; a drive control unit for reading and executing a cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of the cleaning card; and And a cleaning history storage unit for storing the cleaning location and the number of times in the bill conveyance path portion.

  In this case, based on the cleaning history information stored in the cleaning history storage unit, a determination unit that determines whether it is necessary to replace a part used in the bill conveyance path portion of the bill discriminator, and replacement is performed. When necessary, it is desirable to have a configuration having a notification unit that notifies that fact.

  Next, as the banknote discriminator for performing cleaning by the above method in which the cleaning card carries at least the number of times the cleaning card is used as the cleaning history information, one having the following configuration can be used. . That is, the banknote discriminator includes a storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of the cleaning card, and whether the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card based on the read information of the sensor, and A cleaning card identifying unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card, a drive control unit for reading and executing a cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of the cleaning card, and being carried by the inserted cleaning card. A cleaning history information reading unit for reading the cleaning history information.

  In this case, it may be configured to include a determination unit that determines whether or not the cleaning card needs to be replaced based on the read cleaning history information, and a notification unit that notifies that when replacement is necessary. desirable.

  Instead of this, the bill discriminator is provided with a communication unit that transmits the cleaning history information read from the cleaning card to a management computer that manages the bill discriminator, and makes a judgment and notification on the management computer side. You may do it.

  Next, the present invention is a banknote discriminator cleaning card for use in the above-described banknote discriminator cleaning method in which the cleaning card carries at least the number of times the cleaning card is used as the cleaning history information. An information carrying unit carrying information indicating that it is a cleaning card and its type in a form readable by a banknote identification sensor, a cleaning surface having a predetermined coefficient of friction, and / or a predetermined surface roughness And a cleaning history information carrying portion on which the cleaning history information is carried.

  Here, a rewritable storage unit such as a magnetic storage unit or an IC memory chip can be used as the cleaning history information carrying unit.

  In the bill discriminator cleaning method of the present invention, the cleaning card is loaded with identification information that can be read by the bill discriminating sensor of the bill discriminator, so that the cleaning card is inserted in the same manner as when a bill is inserted. The cleaning card is accepted without being removed, and a predetermined cleaning operation is automatically performed. Therefore, cleaning can be performed only by an extremely simple operation of inserting the cleaning card.

  In addition, various cleaning cards are prepared, and these types can be identified by a banknote identification sensor. Therefore, by simply changing the cleaning card, an appropriate cleaning operation can be performed according to the degree of dirt and the cleaning location. Can do.

  Next, in the cleaning method for a bill validator according to the present invention, the cleaning history of the bill validator by the cleaning card is stored and held in the cleaning card, the bill validator or the management computer. Based on this cleaning history, it is possible to know in advance the replacement time of the cleaning card and the replacement time of parts such as the transport belt in the banknote transport path of the banknote discriminator. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as generation of cleaning failure due to a worn cleaning card and bill conveyance failure caused by using parts such as a conveyance belt worn down by cleaning as they are.

  Embodiments of a cleaning method for a bill validator to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bill validator according to Embodiment 1 to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bill validator and a cleaning card. The bill validator 1 is provided with a bill insertion slot 3 on the front surface 2, and a bill transport path 5 for transporting the bill 4 or the cleaning card 20 inserted from the bill insertion slot 3 is formed inside. A photo sensor 6 for detecting the insertion of the banknote 4 is arranged in the vicinity of the banknote insertion slot 3 in the banknote transport path 5. In the back of the photo sensor 6, along the lower side of the banknote conveyance path 5, conveyance belts 7A and 7B are arranged on the left and right. The conveyor belts 7A and 7B are bridged between the driving side rollers 8A and 8B and the driven side rollers 9A and 9B, respectively. Guide rollers 10A and 10B are arranged in the middle of the conveyor belts 7A and 7B. The driving side rollers 8 </ b> A and 8 </ b> B are driven by the transport motor 11.

  Feeding rollers 12A, 12B, and 13A that press driving rollers 8A and 8B, driven rollers 9A and 9B, and guide rollers 10A and 10B via conveying belts 7A and 7B are provided above the banknote conveying path 5, respectively. , 13B and 14A, 14B are arranged.

  In order to identify the banknote conveyed along the banknote conveyance path 5, in the middle of the feed rollers 12A, 12B and 13A, 13B, for example, three sets of photosensors 15, 16, 17 for identifying banknotes are arranged in the width direction. Are arranged at regular intervals. Each of the photosensors 15 to 17 is a transmissive photosensor, and light emitting elements 15a to 17a are disposed on the upper side of the banknote transport path 5, and light receiving elements 15b to 17b are disposed on the lower side of the banknote transport path 5. .

  The detection signals of the photosensors 15 to 17 and the detection signal of the photosensor 6 are input to the drive control unit 18. When the drive control unit 18 detects that a paper sheet such as a banknote has been inserted from the banknote insertion slot 3 based on the detection signal of the photosensor 6, the drive control unit 18 drives the transport motor 11 to remove the inserted paper sheet from the banknote. It feeds into the inside along the conveyance path 5. Information (light transmission pattern) of paper sheets fed along the banknote transport path 5 is read by the three photosensors 15 to 17 for identifying banknotes. The drive control unit 18 compares the read banknote information with banknote identification information stored and held in advance in the storage unit 19 to identify the type of banknote and its authenticity. For example, when it is identified as an acceptable banknote, the banknote is fed from an opening at the downstream end of the banknote transport path 5 to a banknote storage section (not shown). When it is identified that the bill is unacceptable or a counterfeit bill, the bill is fed backward and discharged from the bill insertion slot 3.

  The storage unit 19 includes a storage area 19a in which a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of the cleaning card 20 used for cleaning the bill conveyance path portion is stored. Further, the drive control unit 18 identifies whether or not the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card based on the read information of the photosensors 15 to 17 for identifying banknotes, and also identifies the type of the cleaning card. It functions as the card identification unit 18a. Further, when the drive control unit 18 detects that a cleaning card has been inserted, the drive control unit 18 functions as a cleaning drive control unit 18b that reads and executes a cleaning operation program associated with the type of the cleaning card from the storage area 19a. It is like that.

  Here, the banknote transport path portion cleaned by the cleaning card 20 includes transport belts 7A and 7B and feed rollers 12A to 14B, a guide member defining the banknote transport path 5, the light receiving and emitting surfaces of the photosensor 6, and each photosensor. Portions such as 15 to 17 light emitting and receiving surfaces are included.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning card 20 is a thin sheet having a rectangular shape similar to that of the banknote that can be identified by the banknote discriminator 1, and the longitudinal tip portion is a cleaning card, And an information carrying area 21 in which information representing the type is carried in a form that can be read by the photosensors 15 to 17 for identifying banknotes. In the bill validator 1 of this example, bill information is read by three sets of transmissive photosensors 15 to 17. Therefore, in the information carrying region 21, the light transmitting portions 22, 23 and 24 are formed in a predetermined pattern along the scanning lines of the photosensors 15-17.

  In addition, a cleaning surface having a predetermined friction coefficient and / or a cleaning surface having a predetermined surface roughness is formed on the front surface region 20a or the back surface region 20b of the cleaning card 20 that is out of the information carrying region 21. . In the illustrated example, elongated light-emitting portion cleaning surfaces 25a to 27a and light-receiving portion cleaning surfaces 25b to 27b are formed in portions along the scanning lines of the photosensors 15 to 17 in the front surface region 20a and the back surface region 20b. . Also, feed roller cleaning surfaces 28a and 29a are formed on the inner side of the light emitting portion cleaning surfaces 25a and 27a on both sides in the surface region 20a, respectively, at portions corresponding to the feed rollers. Further, on the inner side of the light receiving portion cleaning surfaces 25b and 27b on both sides in the back surface region 20b, the conveyance belt cleaning surfaces 28b and 29b are formed at portions corresponding to the conveyance belt.

  As the cleaning card 20, for example, a card having a cleaning surface formed only on the front surface region 20a, a card having a cleaning surface formed only on the back surface region 20b, a card having only the light emitting portion cleaning surfaces 25a to 27a formed, Various types are available, such as those with only the light receiving section cleaning surfaces 25b to 27b, those with only the feed roller cleaning surfaces 28a and 29a, and those with only the conveyor belt cleaning surfaces 28b and 29b. Can be kept. In each type of cleaning card, information representing the type is carried in the information carrying area 21. In addition, a cleaning operation program corresponding to each type of cleaning card is held in the storage area 19a.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a cleaning operation in the bill validator 1 of this example. An example of the cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIG. When it is detected by the output of the photosensor 6 that a paper sheet has been inserted into the banknote insertion slot 3 of the banknote discriminator 1, conveyance of the inserted paper sheet is started (steps ST1 and ST2). The carrying information of the conveyed paper sheet is read by each of the three sets of transmissive photosensors 15 to 17 (step ST3), and based on this, the inserted paper sheet is a bill or the cleaning card 20. It is identified whether there is. If the inserted paper sheet is not the cleaning card 20, normal banknote identification processing is performed (steps ST4 and ST5).

  If the inserted paper sheet is the cleaning card 20, the bill validator 1 is switched to the cleaning operation mode (step ST6), and the cleaning operation program associated with the type of the cleaning card 20 is selected for cleaning. The operation is executed (steps ST7 and ST8). For example, if the banknote transport path is very dirty, the type of cleaning card 20 associated with the cleaning operation of repeatedly transporting the cleaning card back and forth over a long period of time is inserted. When there is little dirt, the type of cleaning card 20 associated with a short-time cleaning operation is inserted. When scraping the surface of the conveyor belt, a type of cleaning card 20 having a cleaning surface on which a file is formed is inserted.

  When the cleaning operation is completed (step ST9), the bill validator 1 automatically returns to the normal operation mode and waits for the insertion of the next sheet.

  As described above, in this example, the cleaning card 20 used for cleaning the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator 1 carries identification information that can be read by the photosensors 15 to 17 for banknote identification. Yes. Therefore, as in the case of banknote identification, if the cleaning card 20 is inserted, the banknote identification machine 1 identifies that the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card, and uses the cleaning card in a predetermined conveyance form. 20 is conveyed and the banknote conveyance path | route part is cleaned. Therefore, a special operation for switching the bill validator 1 from the normal bill recognition mode to the cleaning mode is not required, and cleaning can be performed very easily.

  Also, various cleaning cards 20 can be prepared according to the degree of dirt and the location of the dirt, and information capable of identifying the type can be carried on these cleaning cards 20 and can be identified by the bill discriminator 1. . In this way, by selecting and inserting the cleaning card, an optimum cleaning operation can be executed according to the degree of contamination and the location of the contamination, which is very convenient.

  In this example, an example of a bill discriminator provided with photo sensors 15 to 17 as bill discriminating sensors has been described. However, the present invention is also applied to a bill discriminator provided with different types of sensors such as a magnetic head. Of course, the same applies. Further, the cleaning card 20 is not limited to the above example, and a card having various types of cleaning surfaces can be used.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bill validator according to Embodiment 2 to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a bill validator and a cleaning card. The basic configuration of the bill validator 101 is the same as that of the bill validator 1 according to the first embodiment, and includes a bill insertion slot 103 on the front surface 102, and a bill 104 or a cleaning card inserted from the bill insert slot 103 inside. A banknote conveyance path 105 for conveying 120 is formed. In the vicinity of the bill insertion slot 103 in the bill transport path 105, a photo sensor 106 for detecting insertion of the bill 104 is disposed. In the back of the photo sensor 106, conveying belts 107 </ b> A and 107 </ b> B are arranged on the left and right along the lower side of the banknote conveying path 105. The conveyor belts 107A and 107B are respectively spanned between the driving side rollers 108A and 108B and the driven side rollers 109A and 109B. Guide rollers 110A and 110B are disposed in the middle of the conveyor belts 107A and 107B. The driving side rollers 108 </ b> A and 108 </ b> B are driven by the transport motor 111.

  Feeding rollers 112A, 112B, and 113A that press the driving rollers 108A and 108B, the driven rollers 109A and 109B, and the guide rollers 110A and 110B via conveying belts 107A and 107B, respectively, above the banknote conveying path 105. 113B and 114A, 114B are arranged.

  In order to identify the banknote conveyed along the banknote conveyance path 105, for example, three sets of photosensors 115, 116, and 117 for identifying banknotes are arranged in the width direction between the feed rollers 112A and 112B and 113A and 113B. Are arranged at regular intervals. Each of the photosensors 115 to 117 is a transmissive photosensor. Light emitting elements 115 a to 117 a are disposed above the banknote transport path 105, and light receiving elements 115 b to 117 b are disposed to face each other below the banknote transport path 105. .

  The detection signals of the photosensors 115 to 117 and the detection signal of the photosensor 106 are input to the drive control unit 118. When the drive control unit 118 detects that a paper sheet such as a banknote is inserted from the banknote insertion slot 103 based on the detection signal of the photo sensor 106, the drive control unit 118 drives the transport motor 111 to remove the inserted paper sheet from the banknote. It is fed into the inside along the conveyance path 105. Information (light transmission pattern) of paper sheets fed along the banknote conveyance path 105 is read by each of the three photosensors 115 to 117 for identifying banknotes.

  The drive control unit 118 compares the read banknote information with banknote identification information stored and held in advance in the storage unit 119, and identifies the type of banknote and its authenticity. For example, when it is identified as an acceptable banknote, the banknote is fed from an opening at the downstream end of the banknote transport path 105 to a banknote storage section (not shown). If it is identified as an unacceptable banknote or a fake bill, such a banknote is reversely fed and discharged from the banknote insertion slot 103.

  The storage unit 119 includes a storage area 119a in which a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of the cleaning card 120 used for cleaning the bill conveyance path portion is stored. Further, the drive control unit 118 identifies whether or not the inserted paper sheet is the cleaning card 120 and the type of the cleaning card based on the read information of the photosensors 115 to 117 for identifying banknotes. A function as the cleaning card identification unit 118a is provided. Further, when the drive control unit 118 detects that the cleaning card 120 is inserted, the drive control unit 118 reads the cleaning operation program associated with the type of the cleaning card 120 from the storage area 119a and executes it as a cleaning drive control unit 118b. It also has a function.

  Here, the bill validator 101 of this example includes a card reader / writer 130 having a magnetic head 131. The magnetic head 131 is disposed between the feed rollers 113A and 113B and the photosensors 115 to 117 in the transport direction, and the light emitting element 116a of the feed roller 113A and the center photosensor 116 in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction. It is arranged between. The magnetic head 131 can read and write magnetic storage information with respect to the cleaning card 120 conveyed along the banknote conveyance path 105.

  The drive control unit 118 has a function as a determination unit 118c for determining whether or not the inserted cleaning card 120 needs to be replaced. Based on the cleaning history information 140 carried on the cleaning card 120 read by the card reader / writer 130, the determination unit 118c determines whether or not the cleaning card 120 has come to be replaced.

  For example, the cleaning history information 140 includes the number of times the cleaning card 120 is used. In this case, when the number of times of use reaches a predetermined upper limit, it is determined that the cleaning card 120 has reached the replacement time, and the drive control unit 118 passes the display control unit 150 through the display unit 151 (notification unit). ) Is controlled to display a warning indicating that the cleaning card 120 should be replaced.

  If the number of uses has not reached the upper limit value, the drive control unit 118 reads out and executes the cleaning operation program associated with the type of the cleaning card 120 from the storage area 119a, and then sets “1” as the number of uses. The added value is written to the cleaning card 120 via the card reader / writer 130. In this way, it is possible to know whether or not the cleaning card 120 has been worn out and the replacement time has come, based on the number of uses that is the cleaning history information. Of course, the upper limit value of the number of times of use may be stored, and a subtraction process may be performed for each cleaning so that when the subtraction result becomes “0”, it is displayed that it is the replacement time.

  Note that the banknote transport path portion cleaned by the cleaning card 120 in this example includes transport belts 107A and 107B and feed rollers 112A to 114B, a guide member defining the banknote transport path 105, a light receiving and emitting surface of the photosensor 106, The light receiving / emitting surfaces of the photosensors 115 to 117 are included.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning card 120 is a thin sheet having a rectangular shape similar to that of a banknote that can be identified by the banknote discriminator 101. There is formed an information carrying area 121 in which information indicating the fact and type is carried in a form that can be read by each of the photosensors 115 to 117 for identifying banknotes. In the bill validator 101 of this example, bill information is read by three sets of transmissive photosensors 115 to 117. Therefore, in the information carrying region 121, light transmitting portions 122, 123, and 124 are formed in a predetermined pattern along the scanning lines of the photosensors 115 to 117.

  In addition, a cleaning surface having a predetermined friction coefficient and / or a cleaning surface having a predetermined surface roughness is formed on the front surface region 120a or the back surface region 120b of the cleaning card 120 that is out of the information carrying region 121. . In the illustrated example, elongated light emitting portion cleaning surfaces 125a to 127a and light receiving portion cleaning surfaces 125b to 127b are formed in portions along the scanning lines of the photosensors 115 to 117 in the front surface region 120a and the back surface region 120b. . In addition, feed roller cleaning surfaces 128a and 129a are formed on the inner sides of the light emitting portion cleaning surfaces 125a and 127a on both sides in the surface region 120a, respectively, at portions corresponding to the feed rollers. Further, on the inner side of the light receiving portion cleaning surfaces 125b and 127b on both sides in the back surface region 120b, the conveyor belt cleaning surfaces 128b and 129b are formed at portions corresponding to the conveyor belt.

  Here, in the surface region 120a of the cleaning card 120 of this example, a rewritable cleaning history information holding unit 160 formed of a magnetic storage region is formed in a portion along the scanning line of the magnetic head 131. The cleaning history information holding unit 160 stores and holds the number of times the cleaning card 120 is used (cleaning history information 140). As described above, the number of uses is incremented by “1” by the bill validator 101 every time the cleaning operation is performed.

  As the cleaning card 120, for example, a cleaning surface is formed only on the front surface region 120a, a cleaning surface is formed only on the back surface region 120b, a light emitting portion cleaning surfaces 125a to 127a are formed, Various types are available, such as those in which only the light receiving section cleaning surfaces 125b to 127b are formed, those in which only the feed roller cleaning surfaces 128a and 129a are formed, and those in which only the conveyor belt cleaning surfaces 128b and 129b are formed. Can be kept. In each type of cleaning card, information representing the type is carried in the information carrying area 121. In addition, a cleaning operation program corresponding to each type of cleaning card is held in the storage area 119a.

  Further, the cleaning history information 140 carried on the cleaning history information carrying unit 160 may include the cleaning date and time, identification information for identifying the cleaned banknote discriminator, and the like in addition to the number of uses.

  Further, in the cleaning card 120 of this example, a magnetic storage area is formed as the cleaning history information holding unit 160. Instead of this, an IC memory chip may be embedded in the cleaning card 120, and a reader / writer that reads and writes information from and to the IC memory chip may be arranged on the bill validator 101 side. For example, a non-contact type IC memory chip can be used. Of course, other rewritable storage means can be used.

  In addition to this, when the drive control unit 118 of this example determines that the card 120 has reached the replacement time, the display unit 151 is driven and controlled via the display control unit 150 to replace the cleaning card 120. A warning message to the effect is displayed. A buzzer or the like can also be used as a notification unit that performs such warning display. Moreover, you may make it perform a warning display on alerting | reporting parts, such as a display part arrange | positioned at the side of the control apparatus to which the banknote identification device 101 is connected or is integrated.

  Even when the bill validator 101 and the cleaning card 120 of this example are used, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition to this, in this example, since the number of uses of the cleaning card 120 is confirmed at the start of cleaning, it can be determined whether or not the cleaning card 120 has been worn out and the replacement time has been reached based on the number of uses. When the replacement time has come, a warning to that effect is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that a cleaning failure occurs when the worn cleaning card 120 is used without being replaced.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bill validator according to Embodiment 3 to which the present invention is applied. The basic configuration of the bill validator 201 of this example is the same as that of the bill validator 101 according to the second embodiment described above, and the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, since the cleaning card 220 of this example is the same as the cleaning card 120 described above, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the bill validator 201 of this example, the storage unit 219 is provided with a cleaning history information storage unit 219a for storing and holding cleaning history information of the bill conveyance path portion of the bill validator. The cleaning history information includes, for example, the type of the cleaning card 220 used for cleaning the bill discriminator 201, the number of times each type of cleaning card 220 is used, the cleaning target part of the cleaning card 220, and the cleaning target. It is stored and held in a form in which the number of cleanings used for determining the replacement time of parts is associated.

  The drive control unit 218 updates the cleaning history information storage unit 219a every time a cleaning operation using the cleaning card 220 is performed. Further, when a part that is worn by cleaning such as a conveyor belt is cleaned, the cleaning count is updated to a value obtained by adding “1”. When the number of cleanings reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the determination unit 218c of the drive control unit 218 determines that the part to be cleaned has reached the replacement time, and displays that fact on the display unit 151 ( A warning is displayed on the notification unit).

  Even when the bill validator 201 and the cleaning card 220 of this example are used, the same operation and effect as in the case of the second embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, according to this example, it is monitored during the cleaning operation whether or not the cleaning target part of the bill validator 201 has reached the replacement time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as banknote conveyance failure by using the conveyance belt worn by cleaning as it is.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a bill validator system according to a fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the bill validator and the cleaning card. The bill validator system 300 of this example includes a bill validator 301 and a higher-level management computer 400 for managing the bill validator 301. Since the basic configurations of the bill validator 301 and the cleaning card 320 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The bill validator 301 of this example includes a barcode sensor 380 for reading cleaning card identification information for specifying the inserted cleaning card 320. The cleaning card 320 carries cleaning card identification information in the form of a barcode 381. The cleaning card identification information can also be carried on the information carrying area 21 indicating the type of the cleaning card 320. In this case, the cleaning card identification information can be obtained from the output of the photo sensor.

  When a cleaning operation using the cleaning card 320 is performed, identification machine information for identifying the banknote identification machine 301 and the banknote identification machine are directed to the management computer 400 via the communication unit 390 of the banknote identification machine 301. The cleaning card identification information read in 301 is transmitted.

  The management computer 400 includes storage units 410 and 420 that store and hold use history information of each cleaning card 320 and cleaning history information of each bill validator 301. The usage history information includes the number of times each cleaning card 320 is used. When the number of times of use reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the management computer 400 determines that the cleaning card 320 has reached the replacement time, and displays that fact on, for example, the display screen of the display device 500 connected to the management computer 400. Display a warning.

  In addition, the cleaning history information includes the number of cleanings of each cleaning target component of each bill validator 301. When the number of cleanings reaches a predetermined upper limit, the management computer 400 determines that the part to be cleaned has reached the replacement time, and displays a warning to that effect on the display screen of the display device 500, for example.

  Thus, in this example, on the management computer 400 side that manages the banknote discriminator 301, the replacement timing of each cleaning card 320 and the replacement timing of the parts to be cleaned of each banknote discriminator 301 are monitored. Yes. Also with this configuration, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as in the first to third embodiments.

It is a schematic block diagram of the banknote identification machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 to which this invention is applied. (A) is a top view of the banknote identification machine of FIG. 1, (b) is a top view of a cleaning card. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the cleaning operation | movement of the banknote identification machine of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the banknote identification machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 to which this invention is applied. It is a top view of the bill identification machine of FIG. 4, and a cleaning card. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the banknote identification machine which concerns on Embodiment 3 to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the banknote identification machine system which concerns on Embodiment 4 to which this invention is applied. It is a top view of the bill identification machine of FIG. 7, and a cleaning card.

Explanation of symbols

1, 101, 201, 301 Bill discriminator 3, 103, bill insertion slot 4, 104 bill 5, 105 bill transport path 6, 106 photosensors 7A, 7B, 107A, 107B transport belt 8A, 8B, 108A, 108B Driving roller 9A, 9B, 109A, 109B Driven side rollers 10A, 10B, 110A, 110B Guide rollers 11, 111 Conveyance motors 12A-14B, 112A-114B Feed rollers 15-17, 115-117 Photo sensors 15a-17a, 115a for bill recognition ˜117a Light emitting elements 15b to 17b, 115b to 117b Light receiving elements 18, 118, 218 Drive control unit 18a, 118a Cleaning card identification unit 18b, 118b Cleaning drive control unit 19, 119 Storage unit 19a, 119a Storage areas 20, 120, 220 The Learning card 20a, 120a Front surface region 20b, 120b Back surface region 21, 121 Information carrying region 22-24, 122-124 Light transmitting portion 25a-27a, 125a-127a Light emitting portion cleaning surface 25b-27b, 125b-127b Light receiving portion cleaning surface 28a 29a, 128a, 129a Roller cleaning surfaces 28b, 29b, 128b, 129b Conveyor belt cleaning surface 130 Card reader / writer 131 Magnetic head 140 Cleaning history information 150 Display control unit 151 Display unit 160 Cleaning history information carrying unit 219a Cleaning history information storage 380 Barcode sensor 381 Barcode 390 Communication unit 400 Management computer 410, 420 Storage unit 500 Display device

Claims (18)

In the cleaning card for cleaning the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator, carrying identification information that can be read by the sensor for discriminating banknotes of the banknote discriminator,
Based on the reading information of the sensor, the insertion of the cleaning card is detected by the bill validator,
A method for cleaning a banknote discriminator, wherein the banknote transport mechanism of the banknote discriminator transports the inserted cleaning card in a predetermined form to clean the banknote transport path portion. In the cleaning method of the bill discriminator according to claim 1,
Prepare different kinds of cleaning cards,
The identification information to be carried on each cleaning card includes information indicating the type,
Based on the reading information of the sensor, the type of the cleaning card is identified,
A cleaning method for a bill discriminating machine, wherein the cleaning card is conveyed in a form associated with the identified type of cleaning card in advance. In the cleaning method of the bill validator according to claim 2,
A cleaning method for a banknote discriminator, comprising preparing a plurality of types of cleaning cards corresponding to the degree of contamination of the banknote transport path and / or a cleaning place in the banknote transport path. A bill validator for cleaning by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of cleaning card;
Based on the reading information of the sensor, whether or not the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card, and a cleaning card identification unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card,
A bill discriminator comprising: a drive control unit that reads and executes a cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of cleaning card. A cleaning card for a bill validator used in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An information carrier that carries information indicating that it is a cleaning card in a form readable by a sensor for identifying banknotes;
A cleaning card for a bill validator, comprising a cleaning surface having a predetermined coefficient of friction and / or a cleaning surface having a predetermined surface roughness. In claim 5,
The information carrying unit carries information representing the type of cleaning card, and the bill identifying machine cleaning card. In the cleaning method of the bill validator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
At least one of the cleaning card, the banknote discriminator, and a management computer that manages the banknote discriminator stores the cleaning history information of the banknote transport path portion of the banknote discriminator using the cleaning card. A method for cleaning a bill validator. In claim 7,
Based on the cleaning history information, at least one of the bill discriminator and the management computer, whether or not the cleaning card needs to be replaced, and replacement of parts used in the bill transport path portion of the bill discriminator. A method of cleaning a banknote discriminator, characterized in that at least one of necessity is determined, and when the exchange is necessary, the fact is notified. In claim 7 or 8,
A cleaning method for a bill validator, wherein the cleaning card carries at least the number of times the cleaning card is used as the cleaning history information. In claim 7 or 8,
A bill discriminator cleaning method, wherein the bill discriminator stores at least a cleaning location and the number of times in the bill transport path portion of the bill discriminating as the cleaning history information. In claim 7 or 8,
The management computer stores at least the cleaning card used and the number of uses thereof, or the cleaned banknote discriminator and the location and number of cleanings as the cleaning history information. Cleaning method. A bill validator for cleaning by the method according to claim 10,
A storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of cleaning card;
Based on the reading information of the sensor, whether or not the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card, and a cleaning card identification unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card,
A drive control unit that reads and executes a cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of cleaning card;
A bill discriminator comprising: a cleaning history storage unit for storing a cleaning location and the number of times of cleaning in the bill transport path portion of the bill discriminator by the cleaning card. The bill validator according to claim 12,
A determination unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to replace a part used in the bill conveyance path portion of the bill discriminator based on the cleaning history information stored in the cleaning history storage unit;
A bill discriminator having a notifying unit for notifying that when exchange is necessary. A bill validator for cleaning by the method according to claim 9,
A storage unit storing a cleaning operation program corresponding to the type of cleaning card;
Based on the reading information of the sensor, whether or not the inserted paper sheet is a cleaning card, and a cleaning card identification unit for identifying the type of the cleaning card,
A drive control unit that reads and executes a cleaning operation program associated with the identified type of cleaning card;
A bill discriminator comprising: a cleaning history information reading unit that reads cleaning history information carried on the inserted cleaning card. The bill validator according to claim 14,
A determination unit that determines whether or not the cleaning card needs to be replaced based on the read cleaning history information;
A bill discriminator having a notifying unit for notifying that when exchange is necessary. The bill validator according to claim 14,
A bill validator having a communication unit that transmits the cleaning history information read from the cleaning card to a management computer that manages the bill validator. It is a cleaning card for bill discriminators used for the method according to claim 9,
An information carrying unit that carries information indicating that it is a cleaning card and information indicating its type in a form readable by a sensor for banknote identification;
A cleaning surface having a predetermined coefficient of friction and / or a cleaning surface having a predetermined surface roughness;
A cleaning card for a bill discriminating machine, comprising: a cleaning history information holding portion on which the cleaning history information is held. The cleaning card for a bill validator according to claim 17,
The cleaning card for a bill validator, wherein the cleaning history information carrier is a magnetic memory or an IC memory chip.

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