JP2008189461A - Medium processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a check from getting jammed in a joint part formed in a conveying passage guide surface caused by providing an opening and closing cover to open a part of a conveying passage in a check processing device. <P>SOLUTION: Between a check sending passage 6 and an upstream side conveying passage part 5a of the conveying passage 5 in the check processing device 1, the joint part A is formed between the guide surface 601 of a device side and an inner side surface part 311 of an upstream side opening and closing cover 31. An inclined surface 317 inclined at approximately 30° outward toward an upstream side is formed at an upstream end of the inner side surface part 311 of a downstream side. Even in case a step is formed as a gap of the joint part A is widened by an assembly error and the like of the upstream side opening and closing cover 31, the check 4 is quickly guided to a center side of a conveying passage part 5a along the inclined surface 317. Hence, a tip 401 of the check 4 is surely prevented from being inserted into the gap of the joint part A and getting jammed there. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium processing device such as a check reading device used for reading magnetic ink characters and images from sheet-like media such as checks, bills, and bills (stubs) on which magnetic ink characters are printed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus that improves the joint shape of a guide surface that defines a medium conveyance path to prevent clogging of a sheet-like medium.

  In financial institutions such as banks, check items such as checks, bills, and invoices are placed on a check processing device, the images and magnetic ink characters are read, and checks are sorted according to the read results. It is carried out. Since the check processing device is used by placing it on a desk, counter, etc., the conveyance path for conveying the check is formed in a U-shaped curve extending from the check supply side to the check collection side. Smaller and more compact.

  In such a check processing device, when the check is jammed in the U-shaped conveyance path or when maintenance such as cleaning of the magnetic head and scanner arranged in the conveyance path is performed, the apparatus case is removed. The conveyance path is opened to expose the magnetic head and the like.

Patent Document 1 discloses a reading device for bank checks having such a structure. In the check reading device disclosed herein, the upper part of the case covering the portion where the scanner is arranged is removable from the case covering the U-shaped conveyance path. The sensor unit of the scanner can be opened and closed with respect to the fixed-side scanner unit about the vertical axis. When a check is jammed in the transport path, the upper part of the case is removed, the sensor unit of the scanner is opened, and the check on the transport path can be removed.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0257626

  However, when removing the check that is clogged by removing the upper part of the case and exposing the conveyance path, the internal circuit board covered by the case, parts of the conveyance mechanism, etc. are also exposed. There is a high risk that an operator's fingertip will come into contact with the operator. If a fingertip or the like hits the exposed portion, there is a possibility that the circuit board is short-circuited, parts are damaged, or the fingertip is cut. In particular, during maintenance such as cleaning of the scanner and the magnetic head, there is a risk that the parts may be destroyed by hitting a portion where the maintenance tool is exposed. Furthermore, when attaching the removed case upper part to the original position, it is necessary to accurately position and fit the case upper part, and it is difficult to attach the case upper part by a one-touch operation.

  Therefore, it can be considered that the part of the apparatus case where the transport path is formed is defined by an openable / closable cover, and the transport path is switched to an open state when the open / close cover is opened. In this way, since the conveyance path can be opened by a one-touch operation of opening the opening / closing cover, it is possible to efficiently perform the work of taking out a check jammed in the conveyance path and the maintenance work such as a scanner.

  Here, when a part of the device case is an opening / closing cover, a seam is formed between the guide surface on the opening / closing cover side that defines the side surface of the transport path and the guide surface on the device case side. The gap between the guide surface joints formed between the device case and the opening / closing cover may be widened due to an assembly error of the opening / closing cover. In addition, these guide surfaces are not located on the same plane, and there is a possibility that a step is formed at the seam and the step is widened.

  When the seam of the guide surface of the transport path is widened or the level difference is increased, there is a high risk that the end of a sheet-like medium such as a check to be transported will be inserted into the seam and become jammed.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a medium processing apparatus including a medium conveyance path that can avoid clogging of a sheet-like medium caused by attaching an opening / closing cover for opening a conveyance path. It is in.

In order to solve the above problems, the medium processing apparatus of the present invention provides:
A medium conveyance path having a predetermined width for conveying the sheet-like medium;
An apparatus case in which the medium conveyance path is formed;
An open / close cover attached to the device case so as to be openable and closable;
One side surface of the part of the medium transport path is defined by a cover side guide surface formed on the opening / closing cover, and the transport path part is switched to an open state when the opening / closing cover is opened. And
An end of the cover-side guide surface on the upstream side in the sheet-like medium conveyance direction is an inclined surface inclined at an inclination angle of 45 degrees or less toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction in a direction away from the center of the conveyance path portion. It is characterized by having.

  A slight gap is formed at the joint between the cover side guide surface of the opening / closing cover and the guide surface on the device case side adjacent to the upstream side. Further, the gap between the joints may be widened due to an assembly error of the opening / closing cover, and in some cases, a step may be added to the joint. In the present invention, the upstream end portion of the downstream cover side guide surface is inclined at an inclination angle of 45 degrees or less toward the upstream side (toward the apparatus case side guide surface) in a direction away from the conveyance path. It is an inclined surface, preferably an inclined surface inclined approximately 30 degrees.

  When the tip of the sheet-like medium to be conveyed advances along the guide surface on the apparatus case side, it hits the inclined surface when reaching the joint with the cover-side guide surface of the opening / closing cover. Even if the gap or step between the guide surfaces is large, if the length of the inclined surface is set appropriately, the tip of the sheet-like medium moves from the guide surface on the device case side to the opening / closing cover side. When it is handed over to the guide surface, it always hits the inclined surface.

  Since the inclination angle of the inclined surface is set to 45 degrees or less, the tip of the sheet medium hits the inclined surface at an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, a component force equal to or greater than the component force pressing the sheet medium in the direction orthogonal to the inclined surface acts on the sheet medium in the direction toward the conveyance path center side along the inclined surface. The tip of the sheet-like medium is quickly guided along the inclined surface toward the center of the conveyance path. For this reason, it can be surely avoided that the end of the sheet-like medium is inserted into the gap of the seam and falls into the clogged state.

  Here, in order to prevent the sheet-like medium from being clogged at the joint between the downstream end of the guide surface of the opening / closing cover and the upstream end of the guide surface on the apparatus case side located on the downstream side, the case side guide The end on the upstream side of the sheet-like medium conveyance direction on the surface is an inclined surface inclined at an inclination angle of 45 degrees or less in the direction away from the center of the downstream conveyance path portion toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. That's fine. Also in this case, it is desirable that the inclination angle is about 30 degrees.

  The opening / closing cover includes an upstream opening / closing cover and a downstream opening / closing cover that can be opened / closed around a common support shaft, and one side surface of the upstream portion of the transport path portion is connected to the upstream opening / closing cover. The downstream guide is defined by the formed upstream guide surface, and the same side surface of the downstream portion in the conveyance path portion is defined by the downstream guide surface formed in the downstream opening / closing cover. An upstream end of the sheet-like medium conveyance direction on the surface is an inclined surface inclined at an inclination angle of 45 degrees or less in a direction away from the center of the downstream portion toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction. desirable. Also in this case, it is preferable that the inclination angle is about 30 degrees. In this way, it is possible to prevent the tip of the sheet-like medium from being clogged in a gap formed between the guide surfaces of these opening and closing covers.

  Here, when the medium conveyance path is a conveyance path extending in a U shape from the upstream end toward the downstream end, the upstream conveyance path portion in the medium conveyance path is the upstream side. The downstream opening / closing cover may be defined, and the downstream conveyance path portion may be defined by the downstream opening / closing cover. In this way, by opening both opening and closing covers to the left and right, the medium conveyance path curved in a U-shape can be almost completely opened, so that recovery work such as when a sheet-like medium is jammed is easy. Become.

  The medium processing apparatus provided with such a U-shaped medium conveyance path can be used as a check processing apparatus that reads and sorts checks. In this case, a check supply unit for supplying a check as a sheet-like medium to the medium conveyance path, and information reading means arranged on the medium conveyance path for reading information carried on the check And a check discharge unit for receiving a check discharged from the medium conveyance path after the information is read by the information reading unit.

  In the medium processing apparatus of the present invention, at the joint between the guide surface on the open / close cover side defining the medium conveyance path and the guide surface on the apparatus case side, the end of the guide surface located on the downstream side is formed into a sheet shape. It is an inclined surface where the medium strikes at an angle of 45 degrees or less. Therefore, when the gap between the joints of the guide surfaces is wide, the sheet-like medium can be smoothly guided to the downstream guide surface even when there is a step there. Therefore, it is possible to surely avoid the adverse effect that the sheet-like medium is inserted into the seam of the guide surface of the medium conveyance path due to the provision of the opening / closing cover and the sheet medium is jammed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a check processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a check processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the check processing apparatus when viewed from the opposite side, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the check processing apparatus. .

  Referring to these drawings, the check processing device 1 includes a device case 2 and an opening / closing cover 3. A check conveyance path 5 for conveying the check 4 is formed between the apparatus case 2 and the opening / closing cover 3. The check conveyance path 5 is defined by a narrow vertical groove extending in a substantially U shape when viewed from above. An upstream end of the check conveyance path 5 in the check conveyance direction is connected to a check supply unit 7 composed of a wide vertical groove via a check delivery path 6 composed of a narrow vertical groove. The downstream end on the opposite side of the check conveyance path 5 has first and second left and right wide vertical grooves via left and right branch passages 8 and 9 each having a narrow vertical groove branched right and left. It is connected to the check discharge units 11 and 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the check 4 has a magnetic ink character string 4 </ b> A printed at the lower end portion of the surface 4 a in the long side direction. The front surface 4a has a predetermined pattern background with an amount, a payer, a number, a signature, and the like, and the back surface 4b has an endorsement column. The check 4 is inserted into the check supply unit 7 so that the vertical direction is aligned and the surface 4 a faces the outside of the U-shaped check conveyance path 5.

  The check 4 delivered from the check supply unit 7 via the check delivery path 6 is conveyed along the check conveyance path 5 while being printed on the front surface 4a of the magnetic ink character string 4A, its front image and back image. Is read. The check 4 on which the information has been normally read is printed on the surface thereof, such as “electronic payment completed”, and is then distributed to the first check discharge unit 11 where it is discharged and unreadable, unreadable. The check 4 in which an abnormality has occurred is distributed to the second check discharge unit 12 without being printed, and is discharged there.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the check processing device 1 in a state where the opening / closing cover 3 is opened and the conveyance path is opened as viewed from the same direction as FIG. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the check processing device 1 in the same state when viewed from the opposite side (when viewed from the same direction as FIG. 2). FIG. 6 is a plan view of the check processing device 1 in the same state.

  Referring to these drawings as well, the apparatus case 2 includes a central case portion 22 having a contoured vertical outer peripheral side surface portion 21 along the U-shaped check conveyance path 5, and left and right side case portions. 23, and a partition case portion 25 disposed between the central case portion 22 and the side case portion 24. A check supply unit 7 is formed between the central case part 22 and the side case part 23. The central case portion 22 and the other side case portion 24 are divided into left and right by a partition case portion 25 to form check discharge portions 11 and 12.

  The outer peripheral side surface portion 21 of the central case portion 22 that protrudes from the left and right side case portions 23 and 24 is covered by the open / close cover 3 from the left and right. The opening / closing cover 3 includes an upstream opening / closing cover 31 disposed on the side case portion 23 side and a downstream opening / closing cover 32 disposed on the side case portion 24 side. An upstream conveyance path portion 5 a in the check conveyance path 5 is formed between the central case portion 22 and the upstream opening / closing cover 31, and the check conveyance path 5 is interposed between the central case portion 22 and the downstream opening / closing cover 32. A downstream conveyance path portion 5b is formed.

  The distal end portion 31a of the upstream opening / closing cover 31 and the distal end portion 32a of the downstream opening / closing cover 32 can be opened / closed left and right around a vertical shaft 33 arranged on the apparatus case 2 side. 33 is an end portion on the support shaft side attached to 33. The support shaft 33 is disposed at a portion substantially corresponding to the intermediate point in the conveyance direction in the check conveyance path 5 that is curved in a U-shape. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, when the upstream opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream opening / closing cover 32 are opened to the left and right, the upstream conveyance path portion 5 a and the downstream conveyance path portion 5 b are switched to the open state.

  Here, the upstream opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream opening / closing cover 32 are locked at their closed positions by separate locking mechanisms. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the locking mechanism of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 is formed on the cover side engaging protrusion 34 formed on the rear end surface 31 b of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 and the rear end surface 31 b of the side case portion 23. And an engaging protrusion 35 attached to the opposite end face 23a so as to be able to advance and retreat. The engaging protrusion 35 is urged in the protruding direction by a spring force (not shown). A slide button 36 for unlocking is attached to the outer surface portion of the side case portion 23.

  When the slide button 36 is slid against the spring force, the engagement protrusion 35 is disengaged from the cover-side engagement protrusion 34, and the upstream opening / closing cover 31 can be opened sideways around the support shaft 33. When the opened upstream opening / closing cover 31 is closed, the upstream opening / closing cover 31 moves while pushing the engagement protrusion 35 by the corner of the cover side engagement protrusion 34 protruding from the rear end surface 31b. When moved to the closed position, the engagement protrusion 35 engages with the cover side engagement protrusion 34 and returns to the locked state. A similar locking mechanism (cover-side engaging protrusion 37, engaging protrusion 38, and unlocking slide button 39) is also arranged on the other downstream opening / closing cover 32.

(Shape of the end of the opening / closing cover on the support shaft side)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the outline shape of the front-end | tip parts 31a and 32a (end part by the side of a spindle) of the upstream opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream opening / closing cover 32 is demonstrated in detail. First, the upstream opening / closing cover 31 includes an inner side surface portion 311 that defines the upstream conveyance path portion 5a, an upstream end surface portion 312 that is continuous with the end of the inner side surface portion 311 on the support shaft 33 side, And an outer side surface portion 313 continuous with the upstream end surface portion 312. Similarly, the downstream opening / closing cover 32 includes an inner side surface portion 321 that defines the downstream conveyance path portion 5b, and a downstream end surface portion 322 that is continuous with the end of the inner side surface portion 321 on the support shaft 33 side. And an outer side surface portion 323 continuous with the downstream end surface portion 322.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, the upstream end surface portion 312 of the upstream opening / closing cover 31 has an upstream convex arcuate surface centered on the support shaft 33 formed at the upper and lower ends in the axial direction of the support shaft 33. It has the parts 314 and 315, and the upstream concave circular arc surface part 316 centering on the spindle 33 formed between these. The downstream end surface portion 322 of the downstream opening / closing cover 32 has a contour shape complementary to the upstream end surface portion 312 and is centered on the support shaft 33 formed at the upper and lower ends of the support shaft 33 in the axial direction. Downstream concave arcuate surface portions 324 and 325, and a downstream convex arcuate surface portion 326 centering on the support shaft 33 formed therebetween.

  The upper and lower upstream convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 are opposed to the downstream concave arc surface portions 324 and 325, respectively, and the upstream concave arc surface portion 316 is opposed to the downstream convex arc surface portion. 326 are also facing each other at regular intervals. The upstream convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 and the downstream convex arc surface portion 326 are defined by the same arc surface, and the upstream concave arc surface portion 316 and the downstream concave arc surface portions 324 and 325 are the same. It is defined by the arc surface.

  Further, the upstream convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 and the downstream convex arc surface portion 326 are arc surfaces extending at an angle of approximately 180 degrees, and the inner side surface portion 311, the outer side surface portion 313, And the distances from the center of the support shaft 33 to the inner side surface portion 321, the outer side surface portion 323, and the downstream side convex arc surface portion 326 are substantially equal. It is set to be.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 6, in the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream side opening / closing cover 32 in which the contour shapes of the leading end portions 31 a and 32 a are set in this way, the leading end portions 31 a, 32a does not protrude inward from the tip portions 31a and 32a in the closed state. In other words, the upstream convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 of the tip portion 31a and the downstream convex arc surface portion 326 of the tip portion 32a do not enter the transport path portions 5a and 5b, respectively. Therefore, when the open / close covers 31 and 32 are opened to take out the check 4 jammed in the conveyance path portions 5a and 5b, the check 4 is pressed against the outer peripheral side surface portion 21 on the apparatus case side by the tip portions 31a and 32a. There is no end. Therefore, there is no problem in removing the jammed check 4.

  Further, when both the opening and closing covers 31 and 32 are closed, the gap between them is very small, so that no foreign matter or the like enters the inside, and the appearance quality does not deteriorate. Furthermore, since the outer side surface portions 313 and 323 of both the opening and closing covers 31 and 32 are located on substantially the same surface, the appearance quality can be maintained in a good state unlike the case where the portions protrude.

  Furthermore, the front end portions 31a and 32a of the both opening and closing covers 31 and 32 are in a state of being intertwined with each other, and the confronting portions are concentric upstream convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 and downstream concave arcs. The surface portions 324 and 325 and the upstream concave arc surface portion 316 and the downstream convex arc surface portion 326 are defined. Therefore, even if these gaps are narrowed, they do not interfere when both the opening and closing covers 31 and 32 are opened and closed.

(Shape of the seam part of the conveyance path guide surface)
As described above, in the check processing apparatus 1 of the present example, the upstream conveyance path portion 5 a in the check conveyance path 5 includes the upstream portion in the outer peripheral side surface portion 21 on the apparatus case 2 side, and the inside of the upstream opening / closing cover 31. It is prescribed | regulated by the side part 311 (upstream side guide surface). Further, the downstream conveyance path portion 5 b of the check conveyance path 5 is defined by the downstream side portion of the outer peripheral side surface portion 21 on the apparatus case 2 side and the inner side surface portion 321 (downstream guide surface) of the downstream opening / closing cover 32. Has been.

  For this reason, seam portions A, B, and C are formed on the conveyance path guide surface portion surrounded by a circle in FIGS. More specifically, the inner side surface portion 311 (upstream side) of the upstream opening / closing cover 31 is provided between the upstream end of the upstream conveyance path portion 5a and the downstream end of the check delivery passage 6 for sending the check 4 here. A seam portion A is formed between the upstream end of the guide surface) and the downstream end of the same guide surface 601 in the check delivery path 6. Further, between the upstream conveyance path portion 5a and the downstream conveyance path portion 5b, the downstream end of the inner side surface portion 311 of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 and the upstream end of the inner side surface portion 321 of the downstream side opening / closing cover 32 are arranged. A seam portion B is formed between them. Further, between the downstream end of the downstream conveyance path part 5 b and the upstream end of the branch path 8, the downstream end of the inner side surface part 321 of the downstream opening / closing cover 32 and the guide surface 801 on the same side of the branch path 8 are arranged. A seam portion C is also formed between the upstream end.

  As shown in FIG. 7A in an enlarged manner, at the joint portion A, the upstream side end portion 311 of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 has an upstream end in the check conveyance direction toward the upstream side in the check conveyance direction. An inclined surface 317 is formed that is inclined at an inclination angle θ of 45 degrees or less in a direction away from the outside. In this example, an inclined surface 317 inclined by 30 degrees is formed.

  Here, a slight gap is formed in the joint portion A between the upstream end of the inner side surface portion 311 of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream end of the guide surface 601 on the apparatus case side adjacent thereto. ing. Further, due to an assembly error of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31, as shown by a one-dot chain line 317 </ b> A, the interval between the seam portions A is widened and a step may be added. In addition, as shown by a two-dot chain line 317B, there may be a reverse step.

  In the case where the tip 401 of the check 4 to be conveyed has a crease as shown in the figure, the tip 401 of the check 4 is inserted into the gap of the seam portion A when fed along the guide surface 601 on the apparatus case side. Head. However, in this example, since the inclined surface 317 is formed, the tip 401 of the check 4 hits the inclined surface 317. If the formation area of the inclined surface 317 is set appropriately, the tip 401 of the check 4 always comes into contact with the inclined surface 317 even when the interval or step of the seam portion A becomes large as shown in the figure. Can be.

  Since the inclination angle of the inclined surface 317 is set to approximately 30 degrees, the tip 401 of the check 4 hits the inclined surface 317 at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to the traveling direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the check 4 has a component force Fx larger than the component force Fy that presses the check 4 in a direction orthogonal to the inclined surface 317 along the inclined surface 317. Acting in the direction toward the center of the portion 5a, the check 4 is promptly guided along the inclined surface 317 toward the center of the transport path portion 5a. For this reason, it is reliably avoided that the tip 401 of the check 4 is inserted into the gap of the seam portion A and gets stuck there.

  The size of Fx is represented by F · cos θ, and the size of Fy is represented by F · sin θ. For this reason, when the angle of the inclined surface 317 exceeds 45 degrees, the force Fx that pushes the check 4 that hits the inclined surface 317 toward the center of the conveyance path portion 5a becomes small. Further, the force Fy for pressing the check 4 against the inclined surface 317 increases, and the frictional force between the check 4 and the inclined surface 317 increases. For this reason, the check 4 is easily jammed in the joint portion A.

  Conversely, if the angle of the inclined surface 317 is small, the inclined surface 317 cannot be positioned on the extended line of the guide surface 601 when there is a step as shown by a two-dot chain line 317B in FIG. The tip 401 of the check 4 does not hit the inclined surface 317 but hits the end surface 318 continuous with the inclined surface 317 and is inserted into the gap a of the joint portion A, so that the possibility of clogging there increases.

  Therefore, it is desirable that the angle of the inclined surface 317 be an angle within the range of 20 degrees to 45 degrees. In particular, it is desirable to set to about 30 degrees as in this example.

  Next, a similar inclined surface 327 is formed at the upstream end portion of the inner side surface portion 321 in the downstream opening / closing cover 32 also in the joint portion B. That is, an inclined surface 327 inclined at an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the check conveyance direction is formed at the upstream end of the inner side surface portion 321, and the concave arc surface portions 324 and 325 and the convex arc are formed from the tip of the inclined surface 327. It is connected to the surface portion 326. Similarly, in the joint portion C, a similar inclined surface 802 is formed at the upstream end of the guide surface 801 on the apparatus case side. These inclined surfaces 327 and 802 also function in the same manner as the inclined surface 317 to prevent the check 4 from being stuck in the gap between the seam portions B and C.

(Transport mechanism)
Next, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the transport mechanism. The check supply unit 7 is provided with a feed roller 41 for feeding the check 4 inserted in a stacked state here toward the check conveyance path 5 and a pressing member 42 for pressing the check 4 against the feed roller 41. Yes. A separation path for separating the checks 4 one by one and feeding them to the check conveyance path 5 is provided in a delivery path 6 for delivering the check 4 fed by the delivery roller 41 to the check conveyance path 5. 43 and a separation roller pair including a separation roller 44 and a retard roller 45 are arranged. The feeding roller 41, the separation roller 44, and the pressing member 42 are driven by a common feeding motor 46.

  A transport mechanism that transports the check 4 fed by the feed roller 41 along the check transport path 5 includes a transport motor 47, a drive roller 48 attached to the rotation shaft of the transport motor 47, and the check transport path 5. Conveying rollers 51 to 57 disposed, and presser rollers 61 to 67 that are pressed against the respective conveying rollers 51 to 57 and rotated. The rotation of the presser roller 67 is transmitted to the discharge roller 69 via the transmission gear 68. Further, an endless belt 49 for transmitting the rotation of the transport motor 47 to the transport rollers 51 to 57 is provided. The endless belt 49 is driven from the driving roller 48 by a guide roller 71, a transport roller 56, a guide roller 72, a transport roller. It moves along an endless track returning to the driving roller 48 again via the roller 57, the transport rollers 51 and 52, the guide rollers 73 and 74, and the transport rollers 53, 54, and 55.

  The conveyance rollers 51 to 54 are arranged at the upstream end, the middle position, and the downstream portion of the upstream conveyance path portion 5a, respectively. The transport rollers 55 and 56 are disposed at an upstream portion and a middle portion in the downstream transport path portion 5 b, and the transport roller 57 is disposed at a discharge port portion of the second check discharge portion 12. The discharge roller 69 is disposed at the discharge port portion of the first check discharge port 11.

  A magnet 81 for magnetizing magnetic ink characters is disposed between the transport rollers 51 and 52 in the upstream transport path portion 5a. Between the transport rollers 52 and 53, a front side contact image scanner 82 as a front side image reading unit and a back side contact image scanner 83 as a back side image reading unit are arranged. A magnetic head 84 for reading magnetic ink characters is disposed between the transport rollers 53 and 54.

  A printing mechanism 86 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 56 in the downstream conveyance path portion 5b. The printing mechanism 86 can be moved between a printing position pressed by the check 4 and a standby position retracted from the printing position by a driving motor (not shown). The printing mechanism 86 may be a stamp mechanism that prints on the check 4 by being pushed by a plunger.

  Next, various sensors are arranged in the check conveyance path 5 for check conveyance control. In the vicinity of the magnet 81, a paper length detector 91 for detecting the length of the check 4 to be sent out is arranged. In the vicinity of the reading position 84 </ b> A by the magnetic head 84, a double feed detector 92 for detecting that the check 4 is conveyed in an overlapped state is disposed. A jam detector 93 is arranged at a position on the front side of the conveying roller 55. When the check 4 is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer by the detector 93, the jam is detected in the check conveying path 5. You can see that the check is jammed. A print detector 94 for detecting the presence or absence of the check 4 printed by the printing mechanism 86 is disposed at a position on the labor side of the transport roller 56. Furthermore, a discharge detector 95 for detecting the check discharged to these is arranged at the position of the branch paths 8 and 9 branched from the check conveyance path 5 to the first and second check discharge sections 11 and 12. Has been.

  A switching plate 96 that is switched by a drive motor (not shown) is disposed at the upstream end of the branch paths 8 and 9. The switching plate 96 is for selectively switching the downstream end of the check conveyance path 5 with respect to the first and second check discharge sections 11 and 12 and guiding the check 4 to the selected discharge section.

  Here, the length from the reading position 84A by the magnetic head 84 to the printing position 86A by the printing mechanism 86 in the check conveyance path 5 of this example is substantially the same as the length in the long side direction (conveyance direction) of the check 4 to be read. It is. Therefore, when the leading edge of the check 4 reaches the printing position 86A, the trailing edge has just passed the reading position 84A of the magnetic head 84. Therefore, the check 4 is conveyed while being sequentially fed to the conveying roller 54 and the pressing roller 64 and the conveying roller 55 and the pressing roller 65 while the magnetic ink character is read by the magnetic head 84. Further, the check 4 is sequentially fed to the conveying roller 53 and the pressing roller 63, the conveying roller 54 and the pressing roller 64, and the conveying roller 55 and the pressing roller 65 while images are read by the contact image scanners 82 and 83. Will be transported.

  As can be seen from FIG. 4, the surface-side contact image scanner 82 disposed in the upstream conveyance path portion 5 a and the pressing rollers 61 to 64 are mounted on the upstream opening / closing cover 31. Further, presser rollers 65 and 66 arranged in the downstream side conveyance path portion 5 b are mounted on the downstream side opening / closing cover 32. When the upstream opening / closing cover 31 is opened, the upstream conveyance path portion 5a is opened, and the reading surfaces of the front-side contact image scanner 82 and the back-side contact image scanner 83 are exposed. Further, the magnetic head 84 attached to the apparatus case 2 side is exposed. Similarly, when the downstream opening / closing cover 32 is opened, the downstream conveyance path portion 5b is opened, and the printing mechanism 86 attached to the apparatus case 2 side is exposed.

(Control system)
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a control system of the check processing device 1. The control system of the check processing device 1 includes a ROM and a RAM, and includes a control unit 100 configured mainly with a CPU. The control unit 100 is connected to an upper computer system 103 via a communication cable 102. The computer system 103 includes input / output devices such as a display 103a, an operation unit 103b such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a check reading operation start command is input to the control unit 100 from the computer system 103 side.

  When the control unit 100 receives the reading operation start command, the control unit 100 drives the delivery motor 46 and the conveyance motor 47 to feed the check 4 one by one to the check conveyance path 5, and the sent check 4 along the check conveyance path 5. To transport. The control unit 100 receives the surface image information, the back surface image information, and the magnetic ink character information of the check 4 read by the front surface side contact image scanner 82, the back surface side contact image scanner 83, and the magnetic head 84. These pieces of information are supplied to the computer system 103, where image processing, character recognition processing, and the like are performed, whether or not reading is performed normally is determined, and the determination result is supplied to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 controls the driving of the printing mechanism 86 and the switching plate 96 based on the determination result.

  The conveyance control of the check 4 by the control unit 100 is performed by detecting signals from the sheet length detector 91, the double feed detector 92, the jam detector 93, the print detector 94, and the discharge detector 95 arranged in the check conveyance path 5. Based on The control unit 100 is connected to an operation unit 105 including an operation switch such as a power switch formed in the device case 2.

(Check processing operation)
FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart showing the processing operation by the control unit 100 of the check processing device 1. The reading operation will be described according to this flowchart. First, when the operator inputs a reading start command from the operation unit 103 b of the host computer system 103, the feeding roller 41 is rotated by the feeding motor 46 and the pressing member 42 is moved to press the check 4 against the feeding roller 41. As a result, the check 4 is sent out by the feeding roller 41. The check 4 fed out to the check delivery path 6 is separated one by one by a separation mechanism (separation pad 43, separation roller 44 and retard roller 45) arranged in the check delivery path 6 to be a check transport path. 5 (steps ST1 and ST2).

  When the leading end of the check 4 sent out by the paper length detector 91 is detected, the transport motor 47 is driven, and the transport rollers 51 to 57 are rotationally driven. The sent check 4 is conveyed along the check conveyance path 5 while being sequentially delivered to the conveyance rollers 51 to 56 (step ST3). The front and back images and the magnetic ink characters of the check 4 being conveyed are read by the front-side contact image scanner 82, the back-side contact image scanner 83, and the magnetic head 84, respectively (step ST4).

  The read information is transmitted to the upper computer system 103 via the communication cable 102 (step ST5). The front side image, the back side image, and the magnetic ink character information read on the computer system 103 side are processed to determine whether the reading has been performed normally. When the check 4 is conveyed upside down, the magnetic ink character cannot be recognized, and it is determined that the reading is defective. When the check 4 is conveyed in the reverse state, the magnetic ink character information cannot be obtained, so that it is determined that reading is impossible. Further, even when a part of the magnetic ink character cannot be read due to the check 4 being broken, torn, or skewed during conveyance, it is determined that the reading is defective. Furthermore, it is determined from the image information on the front and back sides that the check 4 is defective even when the check 4 is broken, torn, or skewed at the time of conveyance, or when predetermined information such as money amount information cannot be recognized.

  Here, on the check processing apparatus 1 side, when the leading end of the check 4 to be conveyed reaches the printing position 86A by the printing mechanism 86, the conveyance of the check 4 by the conveyance mechanism is temporarily stopped (step ST6). . The leading position of the check 4 to be conveyed is managed by, for example, the number of steps of the conveying motor 47 from the time when the leading edge of the check 4 is detected by the sheet length detector 91. While the check 4 is stopped being transported, it waits to receive a reading pass / fail judgment result from the computer system 103 side (step ST7).

  After receiving the determination result, if it is determined that the reading is normal, the conveyance of the check 4 is resumed, and at the same time, the printing mechanism 86 is moved to the printing position (steps ST8 and ST9). The check 4 is conveyed while printing such as “electronic payment completed” is performed by the printing mechanism 86, and is discharged toward the first check discharge unit 11 by the switching plate 96 (step ST10). After the trailing edge of the check 4 is detected by the discharge detector 95, the transport mechanism is stopped (steps ST11 and ST12). Thereafter, the next check 4 is sent out and conveyed.

  On the other hand, when a determination result such as reading failure or reading failure is obtained (step ST8), the conveyance of the check 4 is resumed (step ST13), and at the same time, the switching plate 96 is switched. The printing mechanism 86 is held at the standby position, and printing on the check 4 is not performed. The check 4 is distributed to the second check discharge unit 12 by the switching plate 96 and discharged there (step ST14). After the trailing edge of the check 4 is detected by the discharge detector 95, the driving of the transport mechanism is stopped (steps ST11 and ST12), and an operation for reading the next check 4 is started.

  If a double feed state is detected by the double feed detector 92, an interrupt process is performed and the conveyance is immediately stopped. For example, an abnormality is detected via a warning lamp arranged on the operation unit 105. A warning is given to the effect that the conveyance has occurred, and the computer system 103 is notified, and waits for the check to be removed from the check conveyance path 5 and returned to the initial state. Similarly, when the jam detector 93 detects that the check is jammed in the check conveyance path 5, similar interrupt processing occurs, and thereafter the same processing is performed.

(Function and effect)
In the check processing apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the check 4 is jammed in the conveyance path 5, the left and right upstream opening / closing covers 31 and 32 are operated by operating the left and right slide buttons 36 and 39. Is opened to the left and right around the support shaft 33. When the lock mechanism is released, the upstream and downstream opening / closing covers 31 and 32 are opened by being pressed by the pressing force of the pressing rollers 61 to 66 pressed against the conveying rollers 51 to 56. Of course, the upstream and downstream opening / closing covers 31 and 32 may be biased in the opening direction by a biasing member such as a torsion spring attached to the support shaft 33. In any case, these can be opened by a one-touch operation of operating the slide buttons 36 and 39.

  When the upstream and downstream opening / closing covers 31 and 32 are opened, the conveyance path 5 (the upstream conveyance path portion 5a and the downstream conveyance path portion 5b) is opened as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the check 4 jammed here can be easily removed. After removal, the upstream and downstream opening / closing covers 31 and 32 can be closed by a one-touch operation.

  Further, in this example, the conveyance path 5 can be switched to the open state by the upstream side opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream side opening / closing cover 32, so that the conveyance path 5 has joint portions A, B, C is made. The tip of the check 4 to be conveyed is inserted into the joint portions A, B, and C, and the check 4 is easily jammed. However, inclined surfaces 317, 327, and 802 are formed in the joint portions A, B, and C, and the check 4 is conveyed while being guided to the center of the conveying path by these inclined surfaces 317, 327, and 802. . Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the check 4 from being clogged at the positions of the seam portions A, B, and C.

  Furthermore, in this example, the contour shapes of the front end portions 31a and 32a (end portions on the support shaft side) of the upstream opening / closing cover 31 and the downstream opening / closing cover 32 are convex arc surfaces and concave arc surfaces centering on the support shaft 33. It is prescribed by. Further, the distance from the center of the support shaft 33 to the convex arc surface portions 314 and 315 of the upstream side opening / closing cover 31, the inner side surface portion 311 and the outer side surface portion 313, and the convex arc surface portion 326 of the downstream side opening / closing cover 32, The distances to the inner side surface portion 321 and the outer side surface portion 323 are set to be equal.

  Therefore, when the open / close covers 31 and 32 are opened, their tip portions 31a and 32a do not protrude inward than in the closed state. In other words, the tip portions 31a and 32a on the support shaft 33 side do not enter the transport path portions 5a and 5b. Therefore, when the open / close covers 31 and 32 are opened in order to take out the check 4 jammed in the transport path portions 5a and 5b, the check 4 is moved to the outer periphery on the apparatus case side by the tip portions 31a and 32a of the open / close covers 31 and 32. It is not pressed against the side portion 21.

  In addition, the outer side surface portions 313 and 323 of the front end portions 31a and 32a of both the opening and closing covers 31 and 32 define the same flat surface, and the portion covering the support shaft 33 protrudes outward. Compared to Further, since both the tip portions 31a and 32a are confronted with the convex arcuate surface portion and concentric concave arcuate surface portions are opposed, even when these gaps are narrowed, there is no interference during opening and closing. Therefore, according to this example, the appearance quality of the check processing device 1 is not deteriorated by the opening / closing covers 31 and 32 provided to open the conveyance path 5.

  Next, even in maintenance work such as cleaning of the magnetic head 84, the front-side contact image scanner 82, the back-side contact image scanner 83, the printing mechanism 86, and replacement of consumables, the upstream and downstream opening / closing covers 31, 32 are opened. These portions 84, 82, 83, 86 are exposed. Therefore, maintenance work can be easily performed. Further, by storing parts other than these parts to be maintained in the apparatus case 2, it is possible to avoid being damaged during work.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can be similarly applied to a medium processing apparatus other than a check reading apparatus that processes checks such as checks, bills, and bills. For example, it can also be used as a reading device for tickets such as admission tickets.

1 is an external perspective view of a check processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the check processing device when viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 1. It is a top view of a check processing device. It is a perspective view of a check processing device showing a state where an opening / closing cover is opened. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the check processing device when viewed from the side opposite to FIG. 4. It is a top view of the check processing device in a state where the opening / closing cover is opened. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect of the inclined surface formed in the joint part on a conveyance path. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance mechanism of a check processing apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control system of a check processing apparatus. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the processing operation of a check processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Check reading device, 2 Apparatus case, 3 Opening / closing cover, 4 Check, 4A Magnetic ink character string, 4a Front surface, 4b Back surface, 5 Conveyance path, 5a Upstream conveyance path part, 5b Downstream conveyance path part, 6 Check delivery path , 7 Check supply section, 8, 9 branch passage, 11 First check discharge section, 12 Second check discharge section, 21 Outer side face section, 22 Central case section, 23, 24 Side case section, 25 Partition case section, 31 upstream opening / closing cover, 31a tip, 31b rear end, 32 downstream opening / closing cover, 32a tip, 33 spindle, 34 cover protrusion, 35 engagement protrusion, 36 slide button, 37 cover engagement Projection, 38 Engagement projection, 39 Slide button, 41 Feeding roller, 42 Pressing member, 43 Separation pad, 44 Separation roller, 45 Retard roller, 46 feed motor, 47 transport motor, 48 drive roller, 49 endless belt, 51-57 transport roller, 61-67 presser roller, 71-74 guide roller, 81 magnet, 82 front side contact image scanner, 83 back side Contact image scanner, 84 magnetic head, 86 printing mechanism, 91 paper length detector, 92 double feed detector, 93 jam detector, 94 print detector, 95 discharge detector, 96 switching plate, 100 control unit, 102 communication cable , 103 computer system, 103a display unit, 103b operation unit, 105 operation unit, 311 inner side surface portion, 312 upstream side surface portion, 313 outer side surface portion, 314, 315 convex arc surface portion, 316 concave arc surface portion, 317 inclined surface , 321 inner side surface portion, 32 2 downstream end surface portion, 323 outer side surface portion, 324, 325 concave arc surface portion, 326 convex arc surface portion, 327 inclined surface, 401 tip of check 4, 601 guide surface, 801 guide surface, 802 inclined surface, A, B , C Seam part of conveyance path guide surface

Claims (6)

A medium conveyance path having a predetermined width for conveying the sheet-like medium;
An apparatus case in which the medium conveyance path is formed;
An open / close cover attached to the device case so as to be openable and closable;
One side surface of the part of the medium transport path is defined by a cover side guide surface formed on the opening / closing cover, and the transport path part is switched to an open state when the opening / closing cover is opened. And
The upstream end of the cover-side guide surface in the sheet medium conveyance direction is inclined at an inclination angle of 45 degrees or less in the direction away from the center of the conveyance path portion toward the upstream side in the sheet medium conveyance direction. A medium processing apparatus having an inclined surface. The downstream side conveyance path portion adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyance path portion in the medium conveyance path is defined by a case side guide surface formed on one side of the apparatus case,
The upstream end of the case-side guide surface in the sheet-like medium conveyance direction is inclined at 45 degrees or less in the direction away from the center of the downstream-side conveyance path portion toward the upstream side in the sheet-like medium conveyance direction. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium processing apparatus is an inclined surface inclined at an angle. The opening / closing cover includes an upstream opening / closing cover and a downstream opening / closing cover that can be opened / closed around a common spindle.
One side surface of the upstream portion in the transport path portion is defined by an upstream guide surface formed on the upstream opening / closing cover,
The side surface on the same side of the downstream portion in the transport path portion is defined by a downstream guide surface formed on the downstream opening / closing cover,
An upstream end portion of the downstream guide surface in the sheet medium conveyance direction is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or less in a direction away from the center of the downstream portion toward the upstream side in the sheet medium conveyance direction. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medium processing apparatus is an inclined surface.   4. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle is about 30 degrees. The medium conveyance path is a conveyance path that is curved and extends in a U shape from the upstream end to the downstream end thereof,
The medium processing according to claim 3, wherein an upstream conveyance path portion in the medium conveyance path is defined by the upstream opening / closing cover, and a downstream conveyance path portion is defined by the downstream opening / closing cover. apparatus. A check supply unit for supplying a check as a sheet-like medium to the medium conveyance path;
In order to read the information carried on the check, information reading means arranged on the medium conveyance path;
The medium processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a check discharge unit configured to receive a check discharged from the medium conveyance path after information is read by the information reading unit.

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