JP2007257665A - Medium handling device capable of issuing multiple kinds of media such as passbook - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unify the set directions of media such as passbooks to a plurality of hoppers in a medium handling device capable of issuing the plurality of kinds of media such as passbooks. <P>SOLUTION: In a passbook handling device 100, delivery conveyance paths 132, 134 are provided so as to join a main conveyance path 130 toward the upstream direction in the direction along the main conveyance path on the downstream side and the upstream side of an optical reading part 122 and a printing part 124, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium handling device capable of issuing a plurality of types of media such as bankbooks used for transactions in financial institutions.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic cash transaction apparatus (hereinafter referred to as ATM) is used for depositing and withdrawing money for a user at a financial institution or the like. ATM handles banknotes, bankbooks, transfer paper, cards, etc., and executes various transactions. Some ATMs have a function of storing an unused passbook in the apparatus and issuing a new stored passbook when there is no space to print on the passbook being handled. .

  In recent years, financial institutions have prepared a plurality of types of passbooks such as so-called character passbooks in addition to simple passbooks with simple designs. For this reason, ATMs handle a plurality of types of passbooks, and ATMs are provided with a mechanism for issuing a plurality of types of passbooks. For example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-293734 is a technique related to an ATM capable of issuing a plurality of types of passbooks. In such an ATM capable of issuing a plurality of types of passbooks, a plurality of pay-out transport paths are provided for transporting the passbooks from a plurality of hoppers storing a plurality of types of passbooks to a main transport path for performing bookkeeping and the like.

  The passbook requires printing and other processing after issuance. In the technique described in the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-293734, a plurality of types of passbooks are respectively provided with feeding conveyance paths in different conveyance directions from a plurality of hoppers provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the printing unit provided in the ATM. Used to carry to the printing unit. And since the printing direction to the passbook in the printing unit is constant, the setting direction of the passbook to the hopper is different for each hopper. Therefore, an ATM administrator who sets the bankbook in the hopper has to set the bankbook in the hopper in accordance with the conveyance direction of the feeding conveyance path. Such a bankbook storage operation requiring attention in the setting direction is complicated for the administrator. Such a problem is not limited to the issue of a passbook, but is a common problem for issuing media for transactions such as single sheets and cards.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and in a medium handling apparatus capable of issuing a plurality of types of passbooks and other media, unifies the setting direction of a medium such as a passbook to a plurality of hoppers. With the goal.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the present invention employs the following configuration in a medium handling apparatus that can issue a card-like or booklet-like transaction medium used for transactions in a financial institution. That is, the medium handling device of the present invention includes a plurality of storage units for storing a plurality of types of media for each type, and a main transport path common to the storage units for transporting the medium to the outside in a predetermined direction. And a plurality of feeding conveyance paths for conveying the medium from the plurality of storage units to the main conveyance path. At least two of the plurality of feeding conveyance paths are provided so as to merge in the same direction with respect to the main conveyance path.

  Here, the “medium” includes various media such as a passbook, a single sheet, and a card. According to the present invention, when the medium is issued, the medium stored in the plurality of storage units can be transported in the same direction with respect to the main transport path by the at least two feeding transport paths. Accordingly, it is possible to unify the medium setting directions in the plurality of storage units.

  The medium handling apparatus further includes a processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the medium on the main transport path, and an outlet for taking out the medium to the outside is provided at one end of the main transport path. The at least two feed-out conveyance paths are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the processing section when the take-out port side of the main conveyance path is the downstream side and the opposite side of the downstream side is the upstream side. It is preferable to be provided so as to join the conveyance path.

  Here, examples of the “predetermined process” include processes such as printing on a medium and reading / writing of magnetic data from / to a magnetic stripe included in the medium. Since there are usually spaces that are not effectively utilized on the upstream side and downstream side of the processing unit, the at least two feeding conveyance paths are joined to either the upstream side or the downstream side of the processing unit according to the above configuration. Thus, the space can be used more effectively than the provision of the medium handling device, and the medium handling device can be configured compactly.

  In the medium handling apparatus, it is preferable that the storage unit is provided at an upper stage or a lower stage of the processing unit.

  By doing so, the storage unit and the processing unit can be easily installed at positions where they do not interfere with each other, so that the degree of freedom of the installation position of the processing unit on the main transport path can be increased. Moreover, since the space in which the storage portion can be installed can be widened, a large number of media can be stored in the storage portion.

  In the medium handling apparatus including the processing unit, the at least two feeding conveyance paths may be provided so as to merge with the main conveyance path in the downstream direction, but the main conveyance in the upstream direction. It is preferable to be provided so as to join the road.

  When the at least two feeding conveyance paths are provided so as to join the main conveyance path in the downstream direction, the distance of the main conveyance path from the take-out port to the processing unit tends to be long. For this reason, it takes a long time to transport the medium when transporting the medium from the storage unit to the main transport unit, that is, when handling a normal medium that is not issued. Such a problem can be avoided by the present invention.

  In the medium handling device of the present invention, the at least two feeding conveyance paths may be provided so as to join the main conveyance path in a direction orthogonal to the main conveyance path, for example, but the direction along the main conveyance path It is preferable to be provided so as to join the main transport path.

  By doing so, the medium handling device can be configured compactly in the direction orthogonal to the main transport path.

  In the medium handling device of the present invention, it is preferable that each storage unit corresponding to the at least two feeding and conveying paths is detachable from the medium handling device.

  By doing so, the administrator of the medium handling device can remove the storage unit from the device and store the medium, so that the convenience of the medium handling device can be improved.

  In the medium handling apparatus, it is preferable that the storage units corresponding to the at least two feeding and conveying paths have compatibility.

  By doing so, the plurality of storage units can be exchanged and used, so that the convenience of the medium handling device can be further improved.

  In the medium handling device of the present invention, the storage direction of the medium in the storage unit may be horizontally placed with the medium lying on the bottom surface of the storage unit, but with respect to the bottom surface of the storage unit Thus, it is preferable that the medium is set up vertically.

  By doing so, the administrator of the medium handling device can make it easier to put the medium in and out of the storage unit than when the medium is placed horizontally.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Structure of bankbook handling device:
B. Passbook handling processing:
C. Variation:

A. Structure of bankbook handling device:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bankbook handling apparatus 100 as one embodiment. An internal structure of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 as viewed from the side is schematically shown. This bankbook handling apparatus 100 is mounted on an automatic teller machine installed in a bank or the like. As will be described later, the bankbook handling apparatus 100 includes a printing unit, and has a function of printing a transaction on the bankbook being handled and issuing a new bankbook when there is no more print space.

  The bankbook handling apparatus 100 includes a main transport path 130 for transporting the bankbook. The main transport path 130 is provided with an insertion port 170 for inserting and removing a passbook at an end portion (not shown) of an operation panel (not shown) provided in front of the automatic teller machine. At the other end of the main conveyance path 130, two retreating parts 136a and 136b are provided for temporarily holding the passbook process being handled. Here, the right side of the figure, that is, the insertion port 170 side of the main conveyance path 130 is defined as the downstream side, and the left side of the figure, that is, the retracting parts 136a, 136b side of the main conveyance path 130 is defined as the upstream side.

  The main conveyance path 130 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers 140, and the conveyance rollers 140 rotate to convey the passbook. The transport roller 140 is driven by a motor (not shown). In addition, in order to avoid the complexity of illustration, only the one conveyance roller 140 was attached | subjected in the figure.

  The main conveyance path 130 is provided with a magnetic read / write unit 120, an optical reading unit 122, and a printing unit 124 from the downstream side toward the upstream side. Further, a page break mechanism 150 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 124.

  The magnetic read / write unit 120 reads and writes information on the magnetic stripe provided in the passbook. The information on the magnetic stripe includes a financial institution number, an account number, and data on the type of passbook. The optical reading unit 122 reads page marks and printed lines written in the passbook. Based on the reading result, the line to be printed by the printing unit 124 is specified. The printing unit 124 prints data relating to the transaction on a predetermined line of the passbook. Since each of these processes is performed with respect to the bankbook in a predetermined direction, the bankbook needs to be transported on the main transport path 130 in a predetermined direction required for each process.

  A passbook issuing unit 160 is provided above the main conveyance path 130, the optical reading unit 122, and the printing unit 124. By doing so, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom with respect to the installation positions of the optical reading unit 122 and the printing unit 124 on the main conveyance path 130. Moreover, since the space which can be installed in the hopper unit described later provided in the bankbook issuing unit 160 and the bankbook issuing unit 160 can be widened, a large number of bankbooks can be accommodated in the hopper unit. In this embodiment, the passbook issuing unit 160 is provided in the upper stage of the main conveyance path 130, the optical reading unit 122, and the printing unit 124, but is provided in the lower stage of the main conveyance path 130 and the magnetic read / write unit 120. May be.

  The bankbook handling apparatus 100 of this embodiment can issue two types of bankbooks. As illustrated, the passbook issuing unit 160 includes a front hopper unit 162 for storing the passbook 300A on the front side, and a rear hopper unit 164 for storing the passbook 300B on the rear side. Each of the front hopper unit 162 and the rear hopper unit 164 has the same direction in which different types of passbooks 300A and 300B are unified, i.e., with the perforation side facing downward and the cover side facing upstream, The hoppers 162 and 164 are stored in a vertically placed state with respect to the bottom surface. By doing so, the administrator of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 can easily put the bankbooks 300A and 300B into and out of the hopper units 162 and 164.

  Information on the type of each bankbook 300A, 300B is registered in the control unit 110, which will be described later, by the administrator of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 during maintenance such as storing or replacing each bankbook. A sensor for detecting the type of passbook stored in the passbook issuing unit 160 may be provided, and the detection result may be registered.

  A front roller 166 is provided at the front part of the front hopper unit 162, and when the new passbook is issued, the feed roller 166 feeds the passbook 300A to the feed conveyance path 132 connected to the lower part of the front hopper unit 162. . The feeding conveyance path 132 is provided so as to join the main conveyance path 130 in the direction along the main conveyance path 130 toward the upstream direction.

  A feeding roller 168 is provided at the front portion of the rear hopper 164, and the feeding roller 168 feeds the bankbook 300B to the feeding conveyance path 134 connected to the lower part of the rear hopper 164 when a new bankbook is issued. . Similarly to the delivery conveyance path 132, the delivery conveyance path 134 is provided so as to join the main conveyance path 130 in the direction along the main conveyance path 130 in the upstream direction. Note that the passbook 300A fed out from the front hopper unit 162 is directly conveyed to the upstream printing position at the time of printing a cover which will be described later. The passbook 300B fed out from the rear hopper unit 164 is once transported to the upstream retracting unit 136b and then transported back to the downstream printing position when the cover is printed.

  In this embodiment, the feeding conveyance path 132 is provided so as to join the main conveyance path 130 between the magnetic read / write unit 120 and the optical reading unit 122. The feeding conveyance path 134 is provided so as to join the main conveyance path 130 on the upstream side of the page break mechanism 150. In this embodiment, the optical reading unit 122 and the printing unit 124 correspond to the processing unit of the present invention. In this way, by arranging the front hopper unit 162, the rear hopper unit 164, and the feeding and conveying paths 132 and 134, the passbook handling device 100 can be configured compactly by effectively using the space in the device.

  In this embodiment, since the two feeding conveyance paths 132 and 134 are provided so as to merge in the same direction with respect to the main conveyance path 130, the front hopper portion 162 and the rear hopper portion 164 are stored in a unified direction. The passbooks 300 </ b> A and 300 </ b> B can be transported in the same direction with respect to the main transport path 130. In addition, since the feeding conveyance paths 132 and 134 are provided so as to merge toward the upstream side, in the main conveyance path 130, the magnetic read / write unit 120, the optical reading unit 122, the printing unit, and the like from the insertion port 170. An increase in the distance to 124 can be avoided.

  The operation of each part of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 is controlled by the control unit 110. The control unit 110 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like inside. In addition, in order to avoid complication of illustration, illustration of the connection with the control unit 110 and each part was abbreviate | omitted in the figure.

B. Passbook handling processing:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the passbook handling process. This is a process performed by the CPU of the control unit 110. When the passbook is inserted into the insertion slot 170 by the user, the control unit 110 drives the transport roller 140 to transport the passbook to a predetermined optical reading position. Then, the optical reading unit 122 reads the page mark and printed line written in the passbook, and specifies the line to be printed (step S110). Next, the bankbook is transported to a predetermined magnetic read / write position, and the magnetic read / write unit 120 reads the magnetic data of the magnetic stripe (step S120). Next, the bankbook is transported to a predetermined printing position, and data related to the transaction is printed on the bankbook by the printing unit 124 (step S130). Then, it is determined whether printing has been completed (step S140). When printing is completed, the bankbook is transported to the magnetic read / write position, the magnetic read / write unit 120 writes magnetic data in the magnetic stripe provided in the bankbook (step S180), and the processed bankbook is returned from the insertion slot 170 ( Step S190).

  In step S140, when printing of the last line of the page being printed is completed, if all printing has not been completed, it is necessary to print on the next page. Is determined (step S150). If there is a page to be turned, the passbook is conveyed to a predetermined page turning position, and the page turning mechanism 150 performs page turning (step S160). Then, the passbook is conveyed to the optical reading position, and the optical reading unit 122 reads the page mark and the printed line (step S170) and specifies the print line, and prints until there is no data to be printed (step S170). Step S130). In step S150, if there is no page to be listed in the passbook, a new passbook issuing process described below is performed (step S200).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the new passbook issuing process. This process is performed by the CPU of the control unit 110 and is the process of step 200 in FIG. First, the control unit 110 determines whether or not a bankbook of the same type as the bankbook being handled is stored in the front hopper section 162 or the rear hopper section 164 (step S210). As described above, in the control unit 110, the administrator of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 registers information on the type of bankbook stored in each hopper unit 162, 164. Thus, the above determination can be made. If a bankbook of the same type as the bankbook being handled is not stored in any hopper unit, a new bankbook cannot be issued, and error processing is performed (step S310). This error process is a process of notifying the user to process at the counter because a new bankbook of the same type as the bankbook being handled cannot be issued. Next, the bankbook is transported to the magnetic read / write position, the magnetic read / write unit 120 writes magnetic data to the magnetic stripe provided in the bankbook (step S320), and the processed bankbook is returned from the insertion slot 170 (step S330).

  If it is determined in step S210 that a new bankbook of the same type as the bankbook being handled is stored in the front hopper section 162 or the rear hopper section 164, the bankbook being handled (old bankbook) is stored in the saving section 136a. Transport and temporarily hold (step S220). Next, a hopper unit that stores the same type of bankbook as the old bankbook is specified, and a new bankbook is drawn out from the hopper unit and conveyed to the main conveyance path 130 (step S230).

  Next, the new passbook is conveyed to the printing position, and the printing unit 124 performs predetermined printing such as the store number, account number, and name of the financial institution on the cover of the new passbook (step S240). Next, the new passbook is transported to the page turning position, and the cover is turned by the page break mechanism 150 (step S250). Next, the new passbook is conveyed to the optical reading position, and the page is confirmed by the optical reading unit 122 (step S260). Next, the new passbook is conveyed to the page turning position, and page turning is performed by the page break mechanism 150 (step S270). Next, the new passbook is conveyed to the optical reading unit, and predetermined information is read by the optical reading unit 122 (step S280) and the print line is specified, and the remaining prints not yet printed on the old passbook. Is performed (step S290). Then, it is determined whether printing has been completed (step S300). If printing has not been completed, the processes in steps S270 to S300 are repeated until printing is completed.

  In step S300, when printing is completed, the new passbook is transported to the magnetic read / write position, and the magnetic read / write unit 120 writes magnetic data in the magnetic stripe included in the new passbook (step S340). It returns from the insertion port 170 (step S350). Next, the old passbook held in the saving unit 136a is transported to the magnetic read / write position, and the magnetic read / write unit 120 writes the magnetic data in the magnetic stripe included in the old passbook (step S360), and inserts the processed old passbook It returns from the mouth 170 (step S370). With the above processing, the new passbook issuing process and the passbook handling process are completed.

  According to the bankbook handling apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above, the two feeding conveyance paths 132 and 134 are provided so as to merge in the same direction with respect to the main conveyance path 130, so that the front hopper 162 Further, different types of passbooks can be stored in the rear hopper unit 164 with the set direction being unified. As a result, it is possible to prevent the administrator of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 from storing the bankbook in the hopper sections 162 and 164 in the wrong setting direction.

C. Variation:
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.

C1. Modification 1:
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bankbook handling apparatus 100A as a modified example. Similar to the bankbook handling apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, the internal structure of the bankbook handling apparatus 100A viewed from the side is schematically shown. This bankbook handling device 100A is the same as the bankbook handling device 100 except that the bankbook issuing unit 160A is different from the bankbook issuing unit 160 of the bankbook handling device 100.

  As shown in the figure, the passbook issuing unit 160A includes hopper mounting portions 161a and 161b for mounting detachable cassette hoppers 162A and 164A, respectively. An administrator of the bankbook handling apparatus 100A can remove the cassette hoppers 162A and 164A from the apparatus and store the bankbook. In the present embodiment, the cassette type hoppers 162A and 164A are interchangeable, and their mounting locations can be exchanged with each other. With this configuration, the convenience of the bankbook handling apparatus 100A can be improved.

C2. Modification 2:
In the above embodiment, the feeding conveyance paths 132 and 134 are provided so as to merge in the direction along the main conveyance path 130 on the downstream side and the upstream side of the processing unit (the optical reading unit 122 and the printing unit 124). Not limited to. In the present invention, generally, a plurality of feeding conveyance paths are provided so as to merge in the same direction with respect to the main conveyance path. For example, each feeding conveyance path is merged from a direction orthogonal to the main conveyance path. It may be provided as follows. Further, each feeding conveyance path may be provided so as to join the main conveyance path either on the upstream side or the downstream side of the processing unit.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing an outline of the arrangement of the main conveyance path 130B, the feeding conveyance paths 132B and 134B, the front hopper part 162B, the rear hopper part 164, and the printing part 124B as a modified example. As shown in the figure, the feeding conveyance paths 132B and 134B, the front hopper 162B, and the rear hopper 164B are provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 124B. Further, the feeding conveyance paths 132B and 134B are provided so as to merge from a direction orthogonal to the main conveyance path 130B. Also with such a configuration, different types of passbooks can be stored in each hopper in a uniform set direction.

C3. Modification 3:
In the embodiment described above, the bankbook handling apparatus 100 can issue two types of bankbooks, but may issue more types of bankbooks.

C4. Modification 3:
In the said Example, although the example which applied the medium handling apparatus of this invention to the passbook handling apparatus was shown, it is not restricted to this. Since the present invention is generally capable of handling card-like or booklet-like transaction media used for transactions in financial institutions, the handling device handles other media such as single sheets and cards in addition to passbooks. It is applicable to. The present invention is particularly suitable for an apparatus that handles a medium that requires processing such as printing in a predetermined direction after issuance, such as a transfer card.

  The medium that can be issued by the medium handling apparatus does not have to be a single type, and a plurality of types of media may be issued. For example, a passbook, a single ticket, and a card may be issued.

[The invention's effect]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the medium handling apparatus which can issue media, such as multiple types of passbook, the setting direction of media, such as a passbook to a some hopper, can be unified.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the bankbook handling apparatus 100 as one Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a passbook handling process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a new passbook issuing process. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of 100 A of bankbook handling apparatuses as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the outline of arrangement | positioning of the main conveyance path 130B as a modification, delivery conveyance path 132B, 134B, the front hopper part 162B, the rear hopper part 164, and the printing part 124B.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 100A ... Passbook handling apparatus 110 ... Control unit 120 ... Magnetic reading / writing part 122 ... Optical reading part 124, 124B ... Printing part 130, 130B ... Main conveyance path 132, 132B, 134, 134B ... Feeding-out conveyance path 136a, 136b ... Retraction part 140 ... Conveying roller 150 ... Page break mechanism 160, 160A ... Passbook issuing part 161a, 161b ... Hopper mounting part 162, 162B ... Front hopper part 162A, 164A ... Cassette type hopper 164,164B ... Rear hopper part 166,168 ... Feeding roller 170 ... Insertion port 300A, 300B ... Passbook

Claims (5)

A medium handling device capable of issuing card-like or booklet-like transaction media used for transactions at financial institutions,
A plurality of storage units for storing a plurality of types of media for each type;
A main transport path common to the storage units for transporting the medium to the outside in a predetermined direction;
A plurality of feeding conveyance paths for conveying the medium from the plurality of storage units to the main conveyance path, respectively;
A processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the medium on the main transport path;
At least two of the plurality of delivery conveyance paths are provided so as to merge in the same direction with respect to the main conveyance path,
At one end of the main transport path, a takeout port for taking out the medium to the outside is provided,
The at least two feed-out conveyance paths have the main conveyance path on the upstream side and the downstream side of the processing unit when the take-out port side of the main conveyance path is the downstream side and the opposite side of the downstream side is the upstream side. Provided to join the transport path,
Medium handling device. The medium handling device according to claim 1,
The at least two payout conveyance paths are provided so as to merge with the main conveyance path toward the upstream direction.
Medium handling device. The medium handling device according to claim 1,
The at least two payout conveyance paths are provided so as to merge with the main conveyance path in a direction along the main conveyance path.
Medium handling device. The medium handling device according to claim 1,
The storage units corresponding to the at least two pay-out conveyance paths are detachable from the medium handling device.
Medium handling device. The medium handling device according to claim 1,
The storage units corresponding to the at least two pay-out conveyance paths have compatibility.
Medium handling device.

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