JP2014133657A - Separation and recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a separation and recovery device which is provided in a paper sheet carrying device which pushes and moves sheets of paper from rearward by a carrying auxiliary body moving while receiving an air flow inside a carrier pipe to carry the sheets of paper, for separating and recovering the sheets of paper and the carrying auxiliary body.SOLUTION: A separation part 80 passes only sheets of paper (bills 6) downstream, and makes a carrying auxiliary body 16 abut and stop. A carrying belt 94 is disposed in a downstream passage of the separation part 80, and air inside the passage is sucked from a suction port 99 at the back of the carrying belt. Exactly when the carrying auxiliary body 16 reaches a holding part 81, a tip of the bill 6 reaches the suction port 99, and the bill 6 is stuck on the carrying belt 94 by suction of air from the suction port 99, and is thereafter carried by the carrying belt 94 and recovered.

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper sheet in which an air flow is generated in a transport pipe, and paper sheets inserted into the transport pipe are transported by being pushed from behind by a transport auxiliary body that receives the air flow and moves in the transport pipe. The present invention relates to a separation and collection device that is provided in a conveyance device and separates and collects a conveyance auxiliary body and paper sheets.

  When paper sheets such as banknotes are transported by airflow, when the paper sheets are stretched straight, the airflow flows along the paper surface, so that it is difficult to receive wind pressure as a driving force and the paper sheets are The phenomenon of being attracted to the wall surface occurs, making it difficult to carry. Therefore, when a paper sheet is fed into the transport pipe, a part of the paper sheet (for example, the rear end portion) is deformed into a rounded curved surface or an L shape, and the paper sheet is subjected to wind pressure acting on the deformed portion. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4130697

  In the method of deforming a part of the paper sheet, a mechanism for applying the deformation is required, and accordingly, the apparatus cost and the running cost related to the maintenance increase. Moreover, in paper sheets, such as a banknote, when collect | recovering the conveyed banknotes to a safe etc., a banknote with a wrinkle, a bend, etc. is detected as a bad banknote, and it accommodates in a storage part different from a normal banknote. However, if deformation is applied for conveyance, the ratio of defective banknotes increases. In addition, when stored in a deformed state, it is bulky, and there is a problem that the number of sheets that can be stored is less than the specified number.

  In order to solve the above problems, there is a transport device that transports a paper sheet by pushing the paper sheet from behind by a transport auxiliary body that is moved by an air flow generated in the transport pipe. In this transport device, each time a paper sheet is collected, the transport auxiliary body is sent to the upstream side of the paper sheet to be collected, and the paper sheet and the transport auxiliary body are separated at the transport end position. Therefore, it is desirable to automate such work efficiently.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a separation and collection device that can separate and collect paper sheets and a conveyance auxiliary body at a conveyance end position. .

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] Paper sheet transport that generates an air flow in the transport pipe, and transports the paper sheet inserted in the transport pipe from behind by a transport auxiliary body that receives the air flow and moves in the transport pipe. A separation and recovery device provided in the apparatus for separating and recovering the conveyance auxiliary member and the paper sheet at the end of the conveyance path,
A separation unit that is pushed and moved by the conveyance auxiliary member to pass the paper sheet downstream, and that the conveyance auxiliary member abuts and stops;
A tubular passage portion for receiving the paper sheets coming out of the separation portion;
The paper section of the paper sheet received from the separation section is opposed to the forward path, and a part of the peripheral wall of the path section is a partition wall that partitions the forward path and the return path. An annular conveyor belt stretched in the installation direction;
A driving portion to which the forward of the conveyor belt circulates drives the conveyor belt to move downstream,
A suction port opened in the partition wall ;
An outer wall forming an air passage on the return path side of the partition wall;
A second suction port opened in the outer wall at a position shifted from the suction port;
With
The air in the second through the suction port said passage portion by suction to the outside through the passage of the suction port and the air, in close contact to the conveyor belt before Symbol forward path the sheets having passed through the separation unit A separation / recovery device, wherein the separation / recovery device is transported and discharged from a terminal end of the passage portion.

  In the said invention, the conveyance auxiliary body which pushed and moved paper sheets, such as a banknote, is capture | acquired and collect | recovered by the isolation | separation part, and only paper sheets advance to a downstream channel | path part. A conveyor belt for conveying the paper sheets to the end of the path section is stretched in the path section, and the sheets are transferred to the conveyor belt by sucking air in the path section from the suction port behind the conveyor belt. It is attached and transported by a transport belt.

  In the conveyance by the air flow described above, the paper sheets are moved by being pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body from the rear in a free state. In order to transport paper sheets with the transport belt, it is necessary to press the paper sheets against the transport belt. However, when this pressing is performed by a roller or the like disposed opposite to the transport belt, the paper sheet moves at high speed in a free state. It is difficult to allow paper sheets to enter between the conveyor belt and the rollers. In the present invention, the paper sheets are stuck to the transport belt and transported by sucking air from the suction port behind the transport belt, so that the free state paper sheets separated by the separation unit can be appropriately transported by the transport belt. Can be transported.

  In the above invention, since the suction port is provided in the partition wall between the forward path and the return path of the transport belt, the suction port can be provided immediately behind the transport belt on the forward path side. Furthermore, in order to connect the air suction duct directly to the suction port provided on the partition wall, the conveyance belt on the return path is in the way, but the space between the partition wall and the outer wall is provided on the outer wall from the suction port. Since the air path communicates with the two suction ports, the air suction duct may be connected to the second suction port provided on the outer wall, and the connection of the air suction duct is facilitated. Furthermore, since the positions of the suction port and the second suction port are shifted, an air passage is secured between them, and the suction pressure from the suction port can be set to an appropriate pressure.

[2] The suction port is provided on the downstream side from a position downstream from the separation unit by a length in the transport direction of the paper sheet,
  The second suction port is provided upstream of the suction port.
  The separation / recovery device according to claim 1.

  In the above invention, since the suction port is provided on the downstream side from the position downstream from the separation unit by the length in the conveyance direction of the paper sheet, the timing at which the paper sheet sticks to the conveyance belt by suction is exactly the conveyance assist. It is when the body reaches the separation part. As a result, the trailing edge of the paper sheet is not crushed by the conveyance auxiliary body or caught up in the conveyance auxiliary body. That is, if the suction port is disposed near the separation unit, the leading end of the paper sheet sticks to the conveyance belt by suction before the conveyance auxiliary member 16 reaches the separation unit and is held, and the conveyance auxiliary member 16 When the moving speed is faster than the conveying speed of the conveying belt, the trailing edge of the paper sheet is crushed by the conveying auxiliary member or is caught in the conveying auxiliary member. In the present invention, such a situation is prevented. Is done.

[ 3 ] A tubular outer frame portion connected to the terminal end of the transport pipe, and an inner unit inserted in the outer frame portion so as to be insertable / removable,
The passage portion, the conveyor belt, the partition wall, and the suction port are provided in the inner unit ,
The outer frame portion on the return path side from the partition wall becomes the outer wall, and the air passage is formed between the partition wall and the outer frame portion on the return path side from the partition wall. The separation and recovery device according to [1] or [2] .

  In the above invention, when the paper sheets are jammed in the passage portion, the inner unit can be taken out from the outer frame portion, and the paper sheets can be easily removed.

[ 4 ] The conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a circular cross section,
The conveyance auxiliary body is configured to move in the conveyance tube in a direction in which a shaft thereof is along a paper surface of the paper sheet conveyed through the conveyance tube and is perpendicular to the conveyance direction. [1] to [ 3 ].

  According to the separation and recovery apparatus of the present invention, the conveyance auxiliary body that moves by receiving the air flow in the conveyance pipe and the paper sheet that has been pushed and moved by the conveyance auxiliary body from the rear side are appropriately separated. And can be recovered.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the paper sheet conveying apparatus containing the separation-and-recovery apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the paper sheet conveying apparatus containing the separation-and-recovery apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a conveyance auxiliary body pushes and moves the banknote in a conveyance pipe from the rear end side of this banknote. It is sectional drawing of the conveyance pipe in a straight part (portion of an outward path and a return path). It is a figure which shows the plane and front of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is sectional drawing which shows a conveyance pipe and a conveyance auxiliary body in the state which inserted the conveyance auxiliary body in the conveyance pipe. It is a front view which shows the turn part of a conveyance pipe. It is a front view of the safe with the front cover removed. It is a perspective view of the safe with the front cover removed. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the banknote isolation | separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus, an airflow generation apparatus, etc. in the inside of the safe which removed some components. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the banknote separation and conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus, an airflow generation apparatus, etc. in the inside of the safe which removed some components in a direction different from FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the general view which looked at the banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus from the conveyance pipe connection port side. It is a perspective view which shows the general view which looked at the banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus from the opposite direction of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a separation collection device. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side unit and the isolation | separation part in a collection | recovery position from the diagonally downstream side. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side unit and the isolation | separation part in a collection | recovery position from diagonally upstream. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side unit and the separation part in a discharge position from the diagonally downstream side. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side unit and the separation part in a discharge position from the diagonal upstream. It is a top view which shows the inner side unit state in which a part of frame was removed. It is a front view which shows the inner unit of the state which removed a part of frame. It is a rear view which shows the inner side unit state in which a part of frame was removed. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner unit of the state which removed a part of frame from the diagonally upstream front. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner unit of the state which removed a part of frame from the diagonal upstream back. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which a isolation | separation part exists in a collection | recovery position, and the state which exists in a discharge position. It is explanatory drawing which shows each step | level of the operation | movement which isolate | separates and collect | recovers a banknote and a conveyance auxiliary body. It is a disassembled perspective view of a conveyance auxiliary body insertion apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which has the holding | maintenance part of a movable accommodating part in a standby position, and the state which exists in a sending position. It is the perspective view which showed the conveyance auxiliary body insertion apparatus in which the holding | maintenance part of a movable accommodating part is in a standby position in the state which removed the upper delivery channel | path. It is the perspective view which showed the conveyance auxiliary body insertion apparatus in which the holding | maintenance part of a movable accommodating part is in a delivery position in the state which removed the upper delivery path. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that an attitude | position correction mechanism correct | amends the attitude | position of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is a top view which shows the paper sheet conveying apparatus installed in the game machine island where the pachinko machine and the slot machine were mixed. It is a front view which shows the paper sheet conveying apparatus installed in the game machine island where the pachinko machine and the slot machine were mixed. It is a perspective view showing a paper sheet transport device installed on a gaming machine island where a pachinko machine and a slot machine are mixed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport apparatus 10 including a separation and recovery apparatus 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the paper sheet transport apparatus 10. In the present embodiment, the paper sheet transport device 10 is a set of a gaming ball lending machine 3 that lends a gaming ball (pachinko ball) to a player upon receipt of a bill and a gaming machine 4 such as a pachinko machine. Are provided in a gaming machine island 2 that accommodates a plurality of sets on the front and back surfaces so that they are back-to-back with each other, and the banknotes 6 discharged from the back of each gaming ball lending machine 3 are taken in to end the gaming machine island It is comprised as a banknote conveyance apparatus conveyed to the safe 5 provided in the section.

  The paper sheet transport apparatus 10 includes a transport pipe 12 serving as a transport path for banknotes (paper sheets), and an air flow generator (blower) 14 that generates an air flow that flows in the extending direction in the transport pipe 12. I have. In the paper sheet transport apparatus 10, a transport auxiliary body 16 that can move in the transport pipe 12 by receiving an air flow is inserted into the transport pipe 12 upstream from the banknote to be transported, and transported by the transport auxiliary body 16. The banknote in the pipe 12 is pushed and moved from the rear to be conveyed downstream.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, an air flow generator 14 and a banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 are provided inside a safe 5 provided at one end of the gaming machine island 2. . The banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 11 includes a function of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 that sends out the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the conveyance pipe 12, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has been conveyed by pushing and moving the banknote 6 from behind. In addition to having a function of a separation and recovery device 70 that separates and collects each of them, the recovered transport auxiliary body 16 is returned to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 and circulated. The bills 6 collected by the separation and collection device 70 are stored in the bill storage unit 21 (see FIG. 1) in the safe 5.

  The air blowing side (air blowing passage 14a) of the air flow generating device 14 is connected to the air inlet side (blowing passage connecting port 46) of the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 40, and the air outlet side ( The starting end of the transport pipe 12 is connected to the transport pipe connection port 45). The transport pipe 12 includes an outward path 12a extending from the air outlet side of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 to the other end of the gaming machine island 2, and a turn section 12b that is folded back into a U shape at the other end. The return path 12c is extended so as to return to the safe 5 after being turned back by the turn portion 12b. The end of the return path 12 c is connected to the air inlet side (conveying pipe connection port 71) of the separation and recovery device 70, and the air flow generator 14 is connected to the air outlet side (air suction passage connection portion 76) of the separation and recovery device 70. The air suction side (air suction passage 14b) is connected.

  The air flow generator 14 generates an air flow by rotating a fan with a motor. The air flow generated by the air flow generator 14 flows from the air blowing passage 14a to the starting end of the transport pipe 12 through the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, and after passing through the forward path 12a, the turn portion 12b, and the return path 12c, the separation and recovery apparatus 70 Then, the air flows through the air suction passage 14b so as to be drawn into the suction side of the air flow generation device 14.

  The forward path 12a and the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 have a predetermined length, for example, a length corresponding to the width of one set of the gaming machine 4 and the gaming ball lending machine 3 accommodated in the gaming machine island 2 in units. By connecting the required number of these with the connecting unit 18, the path length can be adjusted according to the length of the gaming machine island 2 in the longitudinal direction. At the construction site, the transport pipe 12 is cut to the required length and used on the spot.

  In the middle of the return path 12 c of the transport pipe 12, a banknote taking-in device 13 for taking the banknotes 6 discharged from the back of the game ball lending machine 3 into the transport pipe 12 is arranged at a position corresponding to each game ball lending machine 3. It is installed. The banknote taking-in device 13 includes a banknote 6 from the gaming ball lending machine 3 arranged on the front side of the gaming machine island 2, and a banknote 6 from the gaming ball lending machine 3 arranged on the back side of the gaming machine island 2. Are provided on both sides of the side wall of the transport pipe 12. The banknote taking-in apparatus 13 also plays the role which interposes between the conveyance pipe and the conveyance pipe which comprise the inward path 12c, and connects these.

  The banknote 6 taken in from the banknote taking-in device 13 into the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 stays at the take-up completion position with the orientation of the paper surface along the extending direction of the transport pipe 12. In order to convey and collect the bill 6 that has been taken in and stayed in the conveyance pipe 12 to the safe 5, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 of the banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 11. 12 is sent into. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 sent into the conveyance pipe 12 moves in the forward path 12a toward the turn part 12b in response to the action of the air flow generated by the air flow generation device 14, and makes a U-turn at the turn part 12b. Thereafter, the vehicle further moves in the return path 12c toward the terminal portion. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 pushes and moves the banknote 6 in the conveyance pipe 12 from the rear end side of the banknote 6 toward the end of the conveyance pipe 12 (in the drawing). The bill 6 is transported in the transport direction F).

  The banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 and the banknote taking-in device 13 operate under the control of a control unit 23 (see FIG. 8) whose main parts are a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. In this example, the air flow generating device 14 is always operated, and the control unit 23 takes in the bill when the sensor provided in the bill taking-in device 13 detects the bill 6 discharged from the back of the game ball lending machine 3. The apparatus 13 is operated to take the bill 6 into the transport pipe 12. And if this taking-in operation is completed, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 will be sent in into the conveyance pipe 12 from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion apparatus 40 of the banknote isolation | separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus 11. FIG. Then, this conveyance auxiliary body 16 receives the effect | action of an air flow, moves the inside of the conveyance pipe 12, and pushes and moves the banknote 6 from back. When the separation and collection device 70 of the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 detects the arrival of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, it separates the banknote 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and collects them, and the recovered conveyance auxiliary body 16. Is guided to the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 in preparation for the next delivery, and the collected banknote 6 is transported to the banknote storage unit 21 in the safe 5 so as to control the operation.

  The air flow generator 14 is operated only when necessary (for example, from the time when the banknote take-in device 13 detects the banknote from the game ball lending machine 3 until the banknote is completely collected in the safe 5). You may control.

  In this way, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is moved under the action of the airflow, and the banknote 6 is pushed and conveyed from the rear end side by the conveyance auxiliary body 16, so that the banknote 6 itself receives the airflow and propulsion force. No need to get. Therefore, the banknote 6 can be conveyed by the airflow without taking measures such as bending the banknote 6 to receive the airflow.

  Next, the shape of the conveyance pipe | tube 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 4 shows the shape of a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F of the transport pipe 12 of the transport pipe 12 (= the banknote transport direction F = the direction in which the airflow flows) in the straight section (the forward path 12a and the return path 12c). Show. The conveyance tube 12 is formed of a resin having a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The conveyance pipe 12 is formed by extrusion molding, for example.

  The straight portion of the transport pipe 12 has a cylindrical shape having the cross-sectional shape of FIG. 4 and extending linearly. The cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the conveying pipe 12 has a substantially rectangular flat shape, and a pair of opposing side wall portions 32 forming the long side (longitudinal direction) are a plurality of ribs 34 and guide rails 36, extended. A portion 38 is formed to be uneven. The pair of opposing wall portions 33 forming the short side (short direction) side of the substantially rectangular cross section are substantially flat.

  Hereinafter, the short side direction in the substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe 12 (transport direction F) is defined as the X direction (or width direction), and the long side direction is defined as the Y direction (or height direction).

  The side wall part 32 is a pair of inner walls facing the paper surface of the bill 6 to be conveyed. The banknote 6 has a rectangular shape and is transported in the transport tube 12 with the long side in the direction of the transport direction F. In other words, the paper surface is transported in such a direction that the paper surface faces the side wall portion 32 of the transport pipe 12 and one short side of the banknote 6 is the front end side in the transport direction and the other short side is the rear end side.

  The distance Dy between the pair of opposing wall portions 33 of the transport pipe 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote 6. The distance Dx between the pair of side wall portions 32 where the ribs 34, the guide rails 36, and the extended portions 38 are not formed (referred to as a reference plane portion) is set to about 2 cm.

  The guide rail 36 is formed at the center of the side wall 32 in the Y direction (height direction). The guide rail 36 protrudes from the reference plane portion to the outside of the transport tube 12 in a “U” shape, and also serves as a rectangular expansion portion 38 that expands the internal space of the transport tube 12. The distance between the inner walls of the guide rail 36 in the Y direction is about 23 mm. Further, the protruding amount of the guide rail 36 from the reference flat portion to the outside is about 5 mm.

  A plurality of ribs 34 are formed so as to protrude from the side wall part 32 toward the inside of the transport pipe 12 (opposite side wall part 32). The height from the reference plane portion to the top of the rib 34 is about 2 mm. What is necessary is just to set the height of the rib 34 suitably. The ribs 34 are formed along both edges of the guide rail 36. Further, they are also provided at positions 10 mm away from the center in the Y direction.

  FIG. 5 shows a plane and a front surface of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross section having a different diameter at each portion. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is used by being inserted into the conveyance pipe 12 so that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction (height direction) of the conveyance pipe 12. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is light and strong with polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam or the like. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 may be formed with a hollow inside.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F and passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in a state where the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the conveyance pipe 12. The diameter of each part of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F, and the inside of the conveyance pipe 12 is between the inner wall. It has a shape that closes with a predetermined clearance.

  In this way, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 forms a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 (substantially the same shape with a slight clearance) and closes almost the entire cross section of the conveyance pipe 12. Receive and move efficiently. Further, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 serves to block the air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream and suppress the disturbance of the air flow on the downstream side.

  The banknote 6 tends to stick to the side wall 32 when it receives an action from the air flow in the transport pipe 12. That is, the interval between one paper surface of the banknote 6 and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface and the interval between the other paper surface and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface are hardly uniform. When narrower than the other, the flow velocity of the air flow is faster on the narrow interval side than on the wide interval side, so that the air pressure on the narrow interval side is lower than the air pressure on the wide interval side. As a result, the gap on the narrow gap side is further narrowed, and a phenomenon occurs in which the banknote 6 is stuck to the side wall 32 and sucked.

  If the banknote 6 sticks strongly to the side wall part 32, it becomes difficult to push and move the banknote 6 with the transport auxiliary body 16, but the transport auxiliary body 16 blocks the flow of air to the downstream side as described above ( Therefore, the force with which the bill 6 is stuck and attracted is small, and smooth conveyance is realized.

  A portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 corresponding to the guide rail 36 is an engaging portion that engages with the guide rail 36. In this example, since the guide rail 36 is provided near the center of the transport pipe 12 in the Y direction, the transport auxiliary body 16 can be moved while being maintained in a stable posture. Moreover, since the attitude | position of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is stabilized, it can contact | abut to the rear end of the banknote 6 appropriately, can provide the stable conveyance force, and the banknote 6 is caught between the conveyance pipe | tube 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16. FIG. It is easy to avoid the situation.

  Further, the guide rail 36 is an extended portion 38 that expands the internal space of the transport pipe 12 to the outside, and the transport auxiliary body 16 also has a shape (engagement portion) corresponding to the shape of the guide rail 36. Yes. Thereby, the area of the part which receives the effect | action of an airflow expands, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can receive the force for moving efficiently. Moreover, since the width | variety (Dx) in the conveyance pipe 12 in parts other than the expansion part 38 can be narrowed by providing the expansion part 38, the fall of the banknote 6 can be prevented.

  Furthermore, the presence of the plurality of ribs 34 provided on the side wall portion 32 prevents the banknote 6 from sticking to the side wall portion 32 exactly. That is, the contact area between the bill 6 and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, friction is reduced, and generation of static electricity can be suppressed. Even when the banknote 6 sticks to the side wall portion 32, the banknote 6 is supported by the tip portions of the plurality of ribs 34. A gap is secured between the bill 6 and the sticking force is kept small.

  Further, the plurality of ribs 34 projecting inward from the side wall portion 32 serve to narrow the passage width W of the banknote 6 in the width direction (X direction) of the transport pipe 12 to be smaller than the distance Dx between the reference plane portions. . Thereby, it becomes difficult for the banknote 6 to fall down in the conveyance pipe 12, and the attitude | position of the banknote 6 is hold | maintained along a Y direction. In particular, by providing a plurality of ribs 34, the banknote 6 can be prevented from falling down and sticking to the side wall 32 of the banknote 6 can be effectively prevented. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 34 provided, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of the transport pipe 12 and making the transport auxiliary body 16 susceptible to the action of airflow.

  In the case of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 according to the present embodiment, the diameter of the portion corresponding to the guide rail 36 is the largest, so that the maximum diameter portion 16m comes into contact with the rear end of the bill 6 as shown in FIG. It comes to push.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of the turn portion 12b. The turn part 12b has a shape in which the transport pipe 12 is extended so as to draw a 180-degree arc with the Y direction as the radial direction. The rib 34 and the guide rail 36 are also formed in the turn portion 12b. However, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not turned on when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 moves in the arc shape in the turn portion 12b. The rib 34 and the guide rail 36 are allowed to escape from the range of the trajectory passing through the arc (the clearance is larger than that of the straight line portion). Thereby, the rotation radius in the turn part 12b can be made small. The relief portion Q such as the rib 34 is larger on the inner side where the turning radius is smaller.

  Next, the banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 11 will be described.

  8 is a front view of the safe 5 with the front cover removed (as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the safe 5 with the front cover removed, and FIGS. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the banknote isolation | separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus 11, the airflow generation apparatus 14, etc. in the inside of the safe 5 which removed some components.

  The safe 5 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape. The air flow generator 14 and its motor 14c are arranged at the inner lower part, and the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulating apparatus 11 is attached to the upper part. The air blowing passage 14 a of the air flow generator 14 extends upward and is connected to the auxiliary transport body insertion device 40, and the air suction passage 14 b extends further upward and is connected to the separation and recovery device 70.

  In addition, inside the safe 5, a banknote storage unit 21 that stores banknotes 6, a banknote transport unit 22 that transports the banknotes 6 separated and collected by the separation and recovery device 70 to the banknote storage unit 21, a paper sheet transport device 10, A control unit 23 that controls operations of various facilities in the gaming machine island 2, a power source unit 24 that supplies power to each device in the gaming machine island 2, and the like are disposed and accommodated. The banknote 6 discharged from the banknote discharge port at the rear end of the separation / recovery device 70 advances along a route as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 8 and is delivered to the banknote transport unit 22 provided therewith.

  12 and 13 show an overview of the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11. The banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 is disposed so as to overlap the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 40 for sending the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the conveying pipe 12 and the conveying auxiliary body insertion device 40. And a separation / recovery device 70 that separates and recovers the battery 6 and collects them.

  The conveyance auxiliary body 16 separated and recovered by the separation and recovery device 70 falls through a guide passage 61 that connects the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70 and the standby unit 42 of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 and is transferred from the separation and recovery device 70. It is delivered to the body insertion device 40.

  First, details of the separation and recovery device 70 will be described.

  FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the separation and recovery device 70. The separation and recovery device 70 includes a transport pipe connection port 71 connected to the front end of the transport pipe 12, a tubular outer frame portion 72 whose rear end is opened, and an outer frame from the rear end of the outer frame portion 72. The inner unit 90 is inserted into the portion 72 so as to be insertable / removable, and the separating portion 80 is rotatably attached to the outer frame portion 72. The outer frame portion 72 is configured by combining an upper outer frame portion 72A and a lower outer frame portion 72B.

  The separation unit 80 and the inner unit 90 are set in the outer frame portion 72 in a positional relationship as shown in FIGS.

  The separation unit 80 is pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to pass the bill 6 conveyed downstream, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 abuts and stops the holding unit 81 and a support extending from the holding unit 81. Part 82. The holding portion 81 has a shape such that the hollow cylinder is divided into two along its axis, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 received from the rectangular opening corresponding to the divided surface is inside the semi-cylindrical wall portion. It is the structure which makes it contact and stop.

  On the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical wall portion of the holding portion 81 (see FIG. 16), a guide rail 83 is provided for restricting the posture of the held conveyance auxiliary body 16 so as not to be inclined. In addition, a discharge port 86 for dropping the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the guide passage 61 is provided at the bottom of the holding portion 81. Note that the guide rail 83 does not interfere with the fall of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 from the discharge port 86, and is at least below the maximum diameter portion 16m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in a range where the maximum diameter portion 16m is projected downward. It is formed so that it does not exist.

  Further, a vertically long rectangular passage port 84 for allowing the bill 6 to pass downstream is provided at the center of the semi-cylindrical wall portion of the holding portion 81 (see FIG. 14). The passage opening 84 has an opening width enough to allow passage of dozens of banknotes 6.

  The support portion 82 has a U-shaped cross section extending from the holding portion 81 to the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and forms an arm portion having a predetermined length, with the holding portion 81 being the upstream side (the conveyance pipe connection port 71 side). Then, the protruding shaft 85 provided on the base end side of the support portion 82 is inserted into the shaft hole 78 of the outer frame portion 72, and the shaft arm 87 is put on the protruding shaft 85 from above the outer frame portion 72, so that the outer frame portion 72. Is pivotally attached to. When the inner unit 90 is inserted into the outer frame portion 72, a U-shaped support portion 82 is fitted to the outside of the upstream end portion of the inner unit 90 as shown in FIG.

  The outer frame portion 72 has a portion (expansion chamber 73) that is expanded in a fan shape so that the arc is on the side of the transport pipe connection port 71 in a part of the middle of the tubular path having a rectangular cross section. The expansion chamber 73 is a space formed for rotating the separating portion 80 within a predetermined angular range around the projection shaft 85 inserted into the shaft hole 78.

  In addition, a circular drop port 74 is provided at the bottom of the expansion chamber 73. The separation unit 80 includes a collection position (see FIGS. 15, 16, and 24 (a)) where the holding unit 81 faces the terminal end of the transfer pipe 12, and a discharge position (FIG. 17) where the holding unit 81 enters the expansion chamber 73. 18 and 24 (b)), the projection shaft 85 is rotated as a center. At the discharge position, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is discharged from the discharge port 86 at the bottom of the holding portion 81 to the lower conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 through the drop port 74 and the guide passage 61. The separation unit 80 is driven by a first drive unit 62 (see FIG. 13) disposed on the outer frame unit 72 and rotates between a collection position and a discharge position. Here, the first drive unit 62 is a solenoid. The actuator of the first drive unit 62 (solenoid) is engaged with the hole of the shaft arm 87 provided on the head of the projection shaft 85, and the separation unit 80 rotates by moving the actuator forward and backward with the first drive unit 62. It is supposed to be.

  A suction port 75 is opened on the side wall of the outer frame portion 72 opposite to the expansion chamber 73, and a tubular air suction passage connecting portion 76 extending from the suction port 75 to the outside in an L shape is provided. An air suction passage 14 b is connected to the air suction passage connection portion 76. The suction port 75 is divided into a plurality (two in this example) of small openings by a bill suction prevention wall 77 provided in the air suction passage connection portion 76. The small opening is made small to the extent that the bill 6 is not sucked.

  In addition, a conveyance auxiliary body detection sensor 63 that detects that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has arrived at the holding portion 81 of the separation unit 80 is provided above the conveyance pipe connection port 71 (see FIG. 12).

  The inner unit 90 includes a tubular frame body 91 having a rectangular cross section that is inserted into the inner side from the rear end of the outer frame portion 72. 19 to 23 show the inner unit 90 with a part of the frame 91 removed. The inside of the inner unit 90 is partitioned into two spaces by a partition wall 92 that forms a wall surface facing the paper surface of the banknote 6 that emerges from the passage port 84 of the separating unit 80 (see FIGS. 22, 23, and 24). ). One space partitioned by the partition wall 92 is a passage portion 93 of the banknote 6 that has come out from the passage port 84 of the separation portion 80, and the space opposite to the passage portion 93 across the partition wall 92 is air. This is a route 110 (see FIG. 23).

  An annular conveyor belt 94 is stretched along a partition wall 92 that forms one side wall of the passage portion 93. More specifically, pulleys 95 are respectively provided at the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion of the partition wall 92 (see FIG. 22), and the annular conveying belt 94 is stretched around these pulleys 95. The forward path and the return path of the conveyance belt 94 are partitioned by a partition wall 92. Of the conveyor belt 94, a portion passing through the side of the passage portion 93 of the partition wall 92 is defined as a forward path (side on which the bill 6 is stuck), and a portion passing through the opposite side is defined as a return path.

  The conveyor belt 94 is composed of three belts 94a to 94c that are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval. The distance between the belts 94a and 94c at both ends is the short side of the bill 6 (perpendicular to the conveyance direction). It is slightly shorter than the length of the direction side).

  The partition wall 92 is configured such that the distance between the partition wall 92 and the wall surface of the passage portion 93 facing the partition wall 92 (that is, the passage width of the passage portion 93) is narrower on the downstream side than the upstream side (the separation portion 80 side). They are arranged obliquely (see FIGS. 19 and 22). Since the conveyor belt 94 is installed along the partition wall 92, the outbound path (portion passing the passage portion 93 side) of the conveyor belt 94 and the paper path of the banknote 6 received from the passage port 84 of the separating portion 80 are sandwiched. The distance Pw (see FIG. 19) between the side conveyor belt 94 and the inner wall of the side passage portion 93 facing the downstream side is also narrower on the downstream side than on the upstream side.

  Further, the upstream end of the conveyor belt 94 is located on the side of the separation unit 80 (on the side opposite to the expansion chamber 73) so that the end is slightly upstream from the passage port 84 of the separation unit 80 at the collection position. It is installed so as to escape to the side (see FIGS. 16 and 24A).

  A discharge pulley 98 is provided at the downstream end of the forward-side conveyance belt 94 so as to be in close contact with the portion (see FIGS. 22 and 23). The bill 6 is sandwiched between the discharge pulley 98 and the downstream end portion of the conveyor belt 94 and discharged from the end of the passage portion 93.

  The shaft of the discharge pulley 98 protrudes below the inner unit 90 and has a transmission pulley 96a at the lower end thereof (see FIG. 22). Further, the shaft of the pulley 95 on the downstream end side of the conveyor belt 94 also projects downward, and is provided with a transmission pulley 96b at the lower end thereof. These transmission pulleys 96a and 96b are in close contact with each other. The power of the separation conveyance drive unit 64 (see FIG. 12) configured by a motor or the like is transmitted to the transmission pulley 96a and further transmitted to the transmission pulley 96b. As a result, the discharge pulley 98 rotates and the conveyor belt 94 is driven to rotate.

  Note that the shaft of the pulley 95 on the downstream end side of the conveyor belt 94 protrudes above the inner unit 90, and a handle 97 for manual rotation is attached to the upper end thereof (see FIG. 22). When the banknote 6 is jammed in the inner unit 90, the jammed banknote 6 is discharged from the end of the inner unit 90 by turning the handle 97 by hand. A guide path 102 is provided at the rear end of the inner unit 90 to bend the course of the discharged banknote 6 laterally (see FIG. 19).

  The partition wall 92 is provided with a suction port 99 for sucking the air in the passage portion 93 to the outside (see FIGS. 14, 20, and 22). The suction port 99 is provided in the vicinity of a position that is downstream from the passage port 84 of the separation unit 80 at the collection position by a length in the conveyance direction of the bill 6. Here, the passage portion 93 is set to be slightly longer than the length of the banknote 6 in the conveyance direction, and the suction port 99 opens in a rectangular shape at a position near the end of the passage portion 93 on the downstream side of the conveyance belt 94. Has been.

  More specifically, the suction port 99 has a rectangular shape, and the length of the side along the transport direction is set to about one third of the long side of the bill 6. Further, the length of the side in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction is slightly shortened by the distance between the conveyance belts 94a and 94c at both ends of the three conveyance belts 94, and the suction port 99 is formed between the conveyance belts 94a and 94c at both ends. The opening is made only in the inner region.

  Of the frame body 91 of the inner unit 90, a rectangular opening 101 is also provided on the side wall 91b opposite to the passage portion 93 with the partition wall 92 in between (see FIGS. 18 and 21). When the inner unit 90 is inserted into the outer frame portion 72, the opening 101 is greatly opened so as to include a position facing the suction port 75 provided on the side wall of the outer frame portion 72.

  When the inner unit 90 is inserted into the outer frame portion 72 and set, the passage portion 93 and the air suction passage connection portion 76 communicate with each other via the suction port 99, the air path 110, the opening portion 101, and the suction port 75. It has become. Since the suction port 99 is provided in the partition wall 92 that partitions the forward path and the return path of the transport belt 94, the suction port 99 is disposed immediately behind the transport belt on the forward path side. Thereby, the location where the banknote 6 sticks to the conveyance belt 94 can be limited only to the range in which the suction port 99 is provided, and the sticking effect can be obtained only at the design target location. Moreover, since the back surface side of the partition wall 92 is the air path 110, the air suction path 14 b may be connected to the air suction path connection part 76 that is the outlet of the air path 110. That is, in the configuration in which the air suction passage 14b is directly connected to the suction port 99, the return-side conveyance belt 94 becomes an obstacle, but the air suction passage 14b can be connected without causing such trouble.

  Next, the operation of the separation and recovery device 70 will be described.

  When the air flow generator 14 generates an air flow, the air flow flows into the separation / recovery device 70 from the transport pipe connection port 71 via the transport pipe 12, and further passes through the passage port 84 of the separation unit 80. It enters the passage portion 93 of the inner unit 90. The air flow generator 14 sucks air from the air suction passage connection portion 76 of the outer frame portion 72 through the air suction passage 14b, and the air in the passage portion 93 is sucked into the suction port 99, the partition wall 92 by this suction. The air is discharged to the outside through the air path 110, the opening 101, the suction port 75 on the outer frame portion 72 side, and the air suction passage connection portion 76.

  FIG. 25 shows the separation / collection operation of the bill 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in the separation / collection device 70. When the banknote 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 are separated and collected, an air flow is generated by the air flow generator 14, the separation unit 80 is set at the collection position, and the forward path of the conveyance belt 94 moves in the downstream direction. To drive.

  In this state, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has pushed and moved the banknote 6 from behind reaches the vicinity of the terminal end of the conveyance pipe 12, the leading edge of the banknote 6 enters the separation unit 80, and the downstream passage portion through the passage port 84. It enters into 93 (FIG. 25A). In addition, since the upstream end of the conveyance belt 94 starts from the side of the separation unit 80, the banknote 6 that has come out of the passage port 84 advances smoothly into the passage unit 93 without being caught in the conveyance belt 94. In addition, since the passage width of the passage portion 93 is narrower toward the downstream side, the bill 6 entering from the separation portion 80 is unlikely to fall down and the posture is maintained. Further, the leading edge of the bill 6 is guided to the conveyor belt 94 side.

  When the leading end of the banknote 6 reaches the position of the suction port 99 (FIG. 25 (b)), the banknote 6 begins to be drawn to the conveying belt 94 side by suction of air from the suction port 99, and the front end of the banknote 6 is the discharge pulley. When it comes just before 98, it sticks to the conveyor belt 94.

  When this sticking occurs, the position of the suction port 99 is set so that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding part 81 of the separation part 80 and is captured (FIG. 25 (c)). The banknotes 6 stuck to the transport belt 94 are transported to the transport belt 94 and transported downstream (FIG. 25 (d)), and are sandwiched between the discharge pulley 98 at the downstream end of the transport belt 94 and At the end of the conveyor belt 94, the sticking effect due to suction disappears, but the banknote 6 is fed between the discharge pulley 98 and the conveyor belt 94, so that the banknote 6 is reliably discharged from the end. The discharged banknote 6 is immediately bent by the guide path 102 and proceeds as shown by an arrow B in Fig. 8, and is delivered to the banknote transport section 22 and transported to the banknote storage section 21 for storage. Is done.

  If the banknote 6 sticks to the transport belt 94 by suction before the transport auxiliary body 16 is held by the holding section 81 of the separation section 80, the moving speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 is higher than the transport speed of the transport belt 94. Therefore, the rear end of the banknote 6 is crushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 coming from behind or is caught in the conveyance auxiliary body 16.

  In order not to cause such a situation, the suction port 99 is arranged away from the passage port 84 of the separation unit 80 to the downstream side, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is attached to the separation unit 80 at a timing when the banknote 6 sticks to the conveyance belt 94. It has been adjusted to be the point of arrival and hold. By this. While preventing the bill 6 from being bent by being pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16, the length of the passage portion 93 can be minimized, and the size of the safe 5 can be reduced.

  After the banknote 6 is discharged from the rear end of the inner unit 90, the separation unit 80 is driven by the first drive unit 62 and rotated to the discharge position. When it reaches the discharge position, the transport auxiliary body 16 that has been held falls from the discharge port 86 on the bottom surface of the holding portion 81 through the drop port 74 of the outer frame portion 72 and the guide passage 61 and is received by the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40. Collected.

  Since the inner unit 90 can be inserted into and removed from the outer frame portion 72, when the banknote 6 is jammed in the separation and recovery device 70, the inner unit 90 can be extracted from the outer frame portion 72 and operated. Further, even when the inner unit 90 is extracted from the outer frame portion 72, the banknote 6 may be conveyed through the conveyance tube 12 if it is in operation, but banknote suction is prevented by the suction port 75 of the outer frame portion 72. Since the wall 77 is provided to divide the opening into small portions, even if the bill 6 arrives, the bill 6 is not sucked out from the suction port 75.

  Further, in the separation and recovery device 70, since the conveying belt 94 is divided into three, it is possible to efficiently suck out air from between each other. Furthermore, since the suction port 99 is opened only inside the conveyor belts 94a and 94c at both ends of the three, the banknotes 6 can be appropriately attached to the three conveyor belts 94. That is, if suction is performed outside the transport belts 94a and 94c at both ends, the portions are not supported by the transport belt 94, and thus the suction of the bill 6 is bent by the suction of the outer portions, but the suction port is formed only inside. Since 99 is opened, such bending is prevented.

Further, since the banknote 6 is supported by the three conveyor belts 94a to 94c, even if the distance between the conveyor belts 94a and 94c at both ends is widened, the banknote 6 is excessively introduced into the suction port 99 at a portion between the adjacent conveyor belts. It is not drawn in. In this way, both ends of the bill 6 and the portion between the transport belt and the transport belt are drawn into the suction port 99 so that the bill 6 can be transported without being bent excessively, so that the discharge from the rear end of the inner unit 90 is smoothly performed. It can be carried out.

  Next, the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 will be described.

  FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40. The conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 40 is provided in communication with a delivery passage 41 serving as a passage for the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to be fed to the conveyance pipe 12 and an opening of the side wall of the delivery passage 41, and then into the delivery passage 41 from this opening. A hollow chamber-shaped standby unit 42 that waits for the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to be fed out, and holds the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and supports the inside of the standby unit 42 and the inside of the transmission path 41 through the opening of the side wall of the transmission path 41 so as to be reciprocally movable. The movable storage unit 43 (see FIG. 13) and a second drive unit 44 (see FIGS. 12 and 13) for applying reciprocating power to the movable storage unit 43 are configured. The delivery passage 41 is configured by combining an upper delivery passage 41A and a lower delivery passage 41B.

  The delivery passage 41 is a passage having a substantially rectangular cross section, and one end is a transport pipe connection port 45 to which the start end of the transport pipe 12 is connected (see FIG. 12), and the other end is It is the blowing passage connection port 46 to which the air blowing passage 14a of the air flow generator 14 is connected (see FIG. 13). In the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, the transport pipe connection port 45 side is the downstream side, and the outlet passage connection port 46 side is the upstream side.

  The movable storage portion 43 (see FIG. 26) includes a holding portion 43a having a U-shaped semi-cylindrical shape having a bottom and an open top, and a horizontal cross section bent into a “h” shape. The side wall of the holding part 43a is joined and attached to the short side part of the U-shape. At the base end of the support plate 43b (the end portion of the long side portion of the “he”), a shaft projection 43d that protrudes upward and becomes the center of rotation of the movable storage portion 43 is coaxial with the shaft projection 43d. A shaft arm portion 43e that is disposed and protrudes downward is provided.

  The shaft protrusion 43d is inserted into a shaft hole 47 provided on the upper surface of the upper delivery passage 41A. The shaft arm portion 43e is inserted into a hole formed in the lower surface of the lower delivery passage 41B, and is connected to a second drive portion 44 (FIGS. 12 and 13) provided below the delivery passage 41. The second drive unit 44 is constituted by a solenoid, and the movable storage unit 43 is rotated about the shaft projection 43d and the shaft arm unit 43e by moving the actuator back and forth. The movable storage portion 43 includes a standby position where the holding portion 43a is accommodated in the standby portion 42 (position shown in FIG. 27A) and a delivery position where the holding portion 43a moves into the delivery passage 41 and faces the transport pipe connection port 45. (Position of FIG. 27 (b)).

  The U-shaped arc portion of the holding portion 43 a is curved with a diameter slightly larger than the maximum diameter portion 16 m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. On the inner wall of the holding portion 43a, a guide piece 43f protruding inward for holding the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in an upright posture is provided.

  Further, a ventilation hole 43g for ventilation is provided near the center of the U-shaped curved portion of the holding portion 43a. Further, a ventilation hole 43h for ventilation is also formed in the long side portion of the character “he” of the support plate 43b.

  A circular opening for receiving the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has fallen through the guide passage 61 is provided in a portion of the ceiling surface of the standby unit 42 corresponding to the guide passage 61. When the movable storage portion 43 is in the standby position shown in FIG. 27A, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has fallen through the guide passage 61 from the drop port 74 of the separation and recovery device 70 is received and held in the holding portion 43a. ing.

  The standby unit 42 is provided with a conveyance auxiliary body sensor 48 that detects whether or not the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is waiting at a standby position (see FIGS. 12 and 26). Here, as the conveyance auxiliary body sensor 48, light is blocked by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 waiting at the standby position, and when there is no conveyance auxiliary body 16 at the standby position, the transmission type sensor is arranged so that the light is not blocked. An optical sensor is used.

  An opening for connecting the duct 50 is provided on the wall surface of the standby unit 42. The duct 50 communicates the standby unit 42 with the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70. Air flows from the standby section 42 to the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70 through the duct 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 27 (a) and 28, when the holding portion 43a of the movable storage portion 43 is in the standby position, the long side portion of the support plate 43b that is bent into the shape of "" is formed (FIG. 28: 43b (1 )) Comes into contact with the side wall of the delivery passage 41, and the short side portion (FIG. 28: 43b (2)) blocks the opening that connects the delivery passage 41 and the standby portion. Thus, the air flow from the outlet passage connection port 46 is not wastefully discharged from the standby unit 42 through the duct 50, and the air flow can be efficiently sent to the transport pipe 12. In this state, since the support plate 43b is in contact with the side wall of the delivery passage 41, the air flow from the blow-out passage connection port 46 flows sufficiently toward the transport pipe connection port 45.

  As shown in FIGS. 27B and 29, when the holding portion 43 a of the movable storage portion 43 moves to the delivery position, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 held by the holding portion 43 a of the movable storage portion 43 is exactly the delivery passage 41. It is moved to be located in the passage. At this time, the airflow from the blowout passage connection port 46 flows toward the transport pipe connection port 45 (downstream side) through the blower hole 43h provided in the support plate 43b and the blower hole 43g provided in the holding portion 43a. With this air flow, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is detached from the holding portion 43 a, travels in the delivery passage 41, and is sent out from the conveyance pipe connection port 45 into the conveyance pipe 12.

  Thus, in the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40, the movable storage portion 43 is rotated while being held in the holding portion 43a of the movable storage portion 43, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is moved from the standby position to the delivery position. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 can be sent out into the delivery passage 41 in a state where a stable posture is maintained.

  In the delivery passage 41, on the left and right inner walls of the upstream portion of the delivery position holding portion 43a, an extension of the rib 34 at the edge of the extended portion 38 of the transport pipe 12 connected to the transport pipe connection port 45 is provided. A guide rail 49 protruding inward is provided at a position where The guide rail 49 includes an upper guide rail 49A (see FIG. 26) and a lower guide rail 49B so as to sandwich the maximum diameter portion 16m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 from above and below (see FIGS. 26 and 30).

Among these, the lower guide rail 49B extends from the transport pipe connection port 45 to a position immediately before the movable storage portion 43 (holding portion 43a) at the delivery position, and the upper guide rail 49A is upstream of the lower guide rail 49B. The side is terminated short (see FIG. 26). An attitude correction mechanism 51 is provided upstream of the shorter upper guide rail 49A and at a position facing the longer lower guide rail 49B. Here, the posture correction mechanism 51 is a circular rotating body that rotates along the delivery direction of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and the rotation shaft is inserted into a bearing hole 52 (see FIG. 26) provided in the side wall of the delivery passage 41. And is supported rotatably. The posture correction mechanism 51 is arranged such that its lowest point is slightly below the lower surface of the upper guide rail 49A.

  As shown in FIG. 30 (a), the conveyance auxiliary body 16 sent from the holding portion 43a of the movable storage portion 43 moved to the sending position is slightly out of posture (in this example, tilted backward) and sent out. There is a case. The lower guide rail 49 </ b> B contacts the lower surface of the maximum diameter portion 16 m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and regulates the lower limit position of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. The upper surface of the maximum diameter portion 16m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 abuts on a freely rotating posture correction mechanism 51 and advances while being guided by the rotation, so that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is shown in FIG. Is gradually corrected to an upright state by correcting the posture. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 in the correct posture proceeds as it is and is sent toward the start end of the conveyance pipe 12 while the position of the maximum diameter portion 16m is regulated between the upper guide rail 49A and the lower guide rail 49B.

  Since the posture correction mechanism 51 is a freely rotating circular rotating body, even when the posture correction mechanism 51 comes into contact with the conveyance auxiliary body 16 whose posture has collapsed, the posture can be smoothly restored without the conveyance auxiliary body 16 being caught. Further, since the lowest point of the posture correction mechanism 51 is located slightly below the lower surface of the upper guide rail 49A, after passing through the posture correction mechanism 51, the conveyance auxiliary body is not caught by the upstream end of the upper guide rail 49A. 16 can enter between the upper and lower guide rails 49 and proceed while being regulated.

  Next, the movement of the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 will be described.

The banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 operates under the control of a control unit 23 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like as main parts. The control part 23 is a sensor provided in the banknote taking-in apparatus 13 that the banknote 6 has been taken into the transport pipe 12 by any banknote taking-in apparatus 13 provided corresponding to each game ball lending machine 3. Is detected based on the detection signal, it is confirmed from the detection signal of the conveyance auxiliary body sensor 48 whether or not the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is waiting in the standby unit 42 of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40. Further, the separation conveyance drive unit 64 is driven to operate the conveyance belt 94 of the separation and recovery device 70.

  If it can be confirmed that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is on standby, the second drive unit 44 is operated to move the holding unit 43a of the movable storage unit 43 to the delivery position. Then, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 held in the holding portion 43 a of the movable storage portion 43 is sent into the conveyance pipe 12 through the delivery passage 41 on the air flow from the air flow generation device 14.

  Thereafter, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 23 controls the second drive unit 44 to move the holding unit 43 a of the movable storage unit 43 to the standby position in the standby unit 42. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 sent out from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 moves in the conveyance pipe 12 by the air flow, and eventually comes into contact with the rear end of the banknote 6 taken into the conveyance pipe 12 by the banknote taking-in apparatus 13. The bill 6 is pushed and moved from behind.

  The control unit 23 monitors whether or not the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has reached the holding unit 81 of the separation unit 80 of the separation and recovery device 70 and stopped based on the detection signal of the conveyance auxiliary body detection sensor 63, and reached / stopped. Is confirmed, the first drive unit 62 is operated to move the holding unit 81 of the separation unit 80 to the discharge position.

  The conveyance auxiliary member 16 falls downward from the discharge port 86 of the holding unit 81 moved to the discharge position through the drop port 74 of the outer frame unit 72 and the guide passage 61 and enters the standby unit 42, and moves to the movable storage unit 43. It is received and held by the holding portion 43a. When the controller 23 confirms from the output signal of the conveyance auxiliary body sensor 48 that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has waited at the standby position of the standby section 42, the control section 23 operates the first driving section 62 to move the holding section 81 of the separation section 80. Move to collection position. With the above, one operation sequence related to the circulation use of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 by the banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 11 is completed.

  The banknotes 6 separated by the separation and recovery device 70 are stored in the banknote storage unit 21 in the safe 5 as described above.

  As described above, in the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11, one conveyance auxiliary body 16 can be used cyclically in the paper sheet conveying device 10. Further, as described above, the circulation use of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the operation of separating and collecting the banknotes are automatically controlled, so that the work load is reduced.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the conveyor belt 94 is three belts, but other numbers may be used. In addition, if a belt that can ensure air permeability, such as a transport belt provided with a large number of air holes or a mesh-shaped transport belt, is used, it may be a single wide belt.

  In the embodiment, the suction port 99 is provided behind the forward-side conveyance belt 94. However, for example, the suction port 99 is provided behind the backward-side conveyance belt without providing the partition wall 92 that divides the forward path and the backward path. May be arranged. In this case, it is preferable to narrow the interval between the forward path and the return path.

  In addition, the inner unit 90 is configured to be detachable from the outer frame part 72, but the outer frame part 72 and the inner unit 90 may be configured integrally.

  In the embodiment, the passage portion 93 is configured to be the shortest as a length slightly longer than the length of the bill 6 in the conveyance direction, and the suction port 99 is formed from the passage port 84 of the holding portion 81 in the length of the bill 6 in the conveyance direction. Although it is provided in the vicinity of the position downstream by the amount (part from the end of the passage portion 93), if the passage portion 93 is made longer, the suction port 99 may be provided further downstream. It may be in a positional relationship such that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is held by the holding portion 81 when the banknote 6 is stuck to the conveyance belt 94 by suction from the suction port 99 or before being stuck.

  Further, when the passage portion 93 is made longer than the shortest, the suction port 99 is preferably provided up to the vicinity of the downstream end portion of the conveyor belt 94 (immediately before being sandwiched by the discharge pulley 98). In addition, if the banknote 6 can be conveyed with the conveyance belt 94 to the position where the front-end | tip of the banknote 6 begins to be conveyed by the latter conveyance means, the suction port 99 does not need to be provided to the terminal end vicinity.

  In the embodiment, the upstream end portion of the conveyor belt 94 is disposed to the side of the holding portion 81 so that the upstream end portion of the conveyor belt 94 is upstream from the passage port 84 of the holding portion 81. If a guide plate or the like is provided so that the front end of the bill 6 is not caught on the return path side of the conveyor belt 94, the conveyor belt 94 may be started from a position downstream of the passage port 84.

  In the embodiment, the separation / collection device 70 is stacked above the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 and configured as an integrated banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 11, but the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40, the separation / recovery device 70, and the like. May be configured separately. For example, the transport auxiliary body 16 collected by the separation and recovery device 70 is collected in a recovery box or the like, and the recovery box is transported to the installation location of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, and the transport auxiliary body 16 is sequentially transported from the recovery box. You may comprise so that it may send out to the standby position of the body insertion apparatus 40. FIG.

  Further, the gaming machine island 2 is not limited to the configuration that accommodates the pachinko machine and gaming ball lending machine exemplified in the embodiment, and may be a gaming machine island that accommodates medal lending machines and slot machines.

  Furthermore, the paper sheet transporting device 10 may be installed on the gaming machine island 2 in which different types of gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are mixedly arranged. 31, 32, and 33 show an installation example of the paper sheet transport device 10 in the gaming machine island in which the pachinko machines 4 are arranged on one side of the gaming machine island and the slot machines 7 are arranged on the other side. Yes.

  Since the pachinko machine 4 and the slot machine 7 have different heights, the height of the transport pipe 12 on the forward path 12a side is set to a height corresponding to the slot machine 7, and the height of the transport pipe 12 on the return path 12c side is set to the gaming machine 4 It is the height corresponding to. The bill 6 discharged from the back side of the game medium lending machine 8 provided in the slot machine 7 is taken in by the bill taking-in device 13 disposed in the middle of the forward path 12a.

  The difference in height between the forward path 12a and the return path 12c is absorbed by inclining the portion of the conveyance pipe that is turned back from the forward path 12a to the return path 12c. In the example of FIGS. 31 to 33, in order to match the height of the slot machine 7, it is necessary to make the forward path 12 a slightly higher than the conveyance pipe connection port 45 of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40. A first inclined transfer pipe 120 that is curved and inclined in an S shape is connected between the transfer pipe connection port 45 of the apparatus 40 and the starting end of the forward path 12a. In addition, a second inclined conveying pipe 121 is connected to be inclined between the end of the forward path 12a and the start end of the return path 12c.

  Specifically, the first inclined transfer pipe 120 is configured by connecting two bent transfer pipes 120a that are bent 90 degrees while being inclined with the connecting unit 18 with their bending directions opposite (see FIG. 33). The second inclined transport pipe 121 is configured by connecting two curved transport pipes 121a that are curved by 90 degrees while being tilted and connected by the connecting unit 18 with their curved directions aligned. Since the first inclined transfer pipe 120 and the second inclined transfer pipe 121 are gently inclined and the radius of curvature is set to be relatively large, the bill 6 and the transfer auxiliary body 16 are not caught. The inside of the inclined conveyance pipe 120 or the second inclined conveyance pipe 121 can be advanced.

  As described above, the banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 11 absorbs the height difference at the folded portion or the like, so that it corresponds to the gaming machine island in which the gaming machines having different heights are arranged on the front surface and the back surface of the island. be able to.

  In the embodiment, the separation unit 80 is rotated in the separation / recovery device 70 so as to be displaced between the collection position and the discharge position. However, the displacement method is not limited to rotation, and the conveyance is stopped in contact. The auxiliary body 16 should just be discharged | emitted from the conveyance path | route by an air flow to the exterior. For example, the separation unit 80 holding the conveyance auxiliary body 16 stopped at the collection position may be linearly moved to the side. Similarly, the method of moving the conveyance auxiliary body 16 waiting in the standby portion 42 to the delivery passage 41 is not limited to the method of rotating the holding portion 43 a of the movable storage portion 43, but in the standby portion 42 and the delivery passage 41. May be configured to reciprocate linearly.

  Moreover, the shape of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not limited to what was shown in embodiment. For example, it is good also as columnar shapes, such as a cross-sectional rectangle and a polygon. Moreover, although the conveyance auxiliary body 16 was made into the object shape with respect to the Y direction center part, you may make it an asymmetrical shape in a Y direction.

  In the embodiment, the bill 6 is described as an example of the paper sheets, but other types of paper sheets such as tickets and cards may be used. Moreover, the shape of paper sheets is not limited to a rectangle. Further, the paper sheet transporting apparatus 10 is not limited to the one installed in the gaming machine island 2, and may be configured to go around a plurality of gaming machine islands 2 or a management room in the game hall, for example.

  In the embodiment, an example in which only one sheet is conveyed is shown in FIG. 3 and the like. However, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted in a state where a plurality of banknotes 6 exist in the middle of the conveyance tube 12. It is also possible to transport the plurality of banknotes 6 at a time. For example, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is fed from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 40 in a state where the banknotes 6 are stopped at the completion positions of the respective banknote pickup devices 13 in the middle of the return path 12c of the conveyance pipe 12, the conveyance assistance is performed. The number of banknotes 6 pushed by the body 16 increases in order on the way along the forward path 12a, and all banknotes 6 can be conveyed. Such a large conveying force is due to the fact that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a shape that substantially closes the cross section of the conveyance tube 12, the sticking / adsorption of the bills 6 is reduced, and the presence of the expansion portion 38. It is ensured by the large area that receives the action of In addition, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape that does not deform, a large number of sheets can be conveyed at a time, which is not realized with a wing or the like.

  In the embodiment, the cross section of the transfer tube 12 is substantially rectangular, but may be other shapes such as a circle or an ellipse. However, it is preferable that the conveyance auxiliary body closes substantially the entire cross section with a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape. Moreover, it is good to provide a some rib and to narrow the substantial channel | path width | variety of paper sheets.

2 ... Amusement machine island 3 ... A game ball rental machine 4 ... A game machine (pachinko machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Safe 6 ... Banknote 7 ... Slot machine 8 ... Game media lending machine 10 ... Paper sheet conveyance apparatus 11 ... Banknote separation and conveyance auxiliary body circulation apparatus 12 ... Conveyance pipe 12a ... Outward path 12b ... Turn part 12c ... Return path 13 ... Banknote Intake device 14 ... Air flow generator 14a ... Air blowing passage 14b ... Air suction passage 14c ... Motor 16 ... Conveyance auxiliary body 16m ... Maximum diameter portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 18 ... Connection unit 21 ... Bill storage portion 22 ... Bill conveyance portion DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Control part 24 ... Power supply part 32 ... Side wall part 33 ... Wall part 34 ... Rib 34a ... Slope 36 ... Guide rail 37 ... Connecting wall part 38 ... Expansion part 40 ... Conveyance auxiliary body insertion apparatus 41 ... Sending passage 41A ... Top delivery Passage 41B ... Lower delivery passage 42 ... Standby part 43 ... Movable storage part 43a ... Holding part 43b ... Support plate 43d ... Shaft protrusion 43e ... Shaft arm part 43f ... Guide piece 43g ... Air blower Hole 43h ... Blower hole 44 ... Second drive unit 45 ... Transport pipe connection port 46 ... Blowout passage connection port 47 ... Shaft hole 48 ... Transport auxiliary body sensor 49 ... Guide rail 49A ... Upper guide rail 49B ... Lower guide rail 50 ... Duct DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 51 ... Attitude correction mechanism 52 ... Bearing hole 61 ... Guide passage 62 ... 1st drive part 63 ... Conveyance auxiliary body detection sensor 64 ... Separation conveyance drive part 70 ... Separation collection apparatus 71 ... Conveyance pipe connection port 72 ... Outer frame part 72A ... Upper outer frame portion 72B ... Lower outer frame portion 73 ... Expansion chamber 74 ... Drop port 75 ... Suction port 76 ... Air suction passage connection 77 ... Banknote suction prevention wall 78 ... Shaft hole 80 ... Separation part 81 ... Holding part 82 ... Support Portion 83 ... Guide rail 84 ... Passage port 85 ... Projection shaft 86 ... Discharge port 87 ... Shaft arm 90 ... Inside unit 91 ... Frame body 91b ... Side wall of the frame body 92 ... Partition wall 93 ... Passage portion 94, 9 a, 94b, 94c ... conveyor belt 95 ... pulley 96, 96a, 96b ... transmission pulley 97 ... handle 98 ... discharge pulley 99 ... suction port 101 ... opening 102 ... guide path 110 ... air path 120 ... first inclined transport pipe 120a: Curved conveyance pipe 121 ... Second inclined conveyance pipe 121a ... Curved conveyance pipe Dx: Distance between reference plane portions of the conveyance pipe Dy: Inner dimension of the conveyance pipe in the Y direction F ... Extension direction of the conveyance pipe Q: Relief portion W: Passage width X: Conveyance pipe passage width direction Y: Conveyance pipe height direction

Claims (4)

An air flow is generated in the transport pipe, and the paper sheet inserted in the transport pipe is pushed and moved from behind by a transport auxiliary body that receives the air flow and moves in the transport pipe. A separation and collection device for separating and collecting the conveyance auxiliary body and the paper sheet at the end of the conveyance path,
A separation unit that is pushed and moved by the conveyance auxiliary member to pass the paper sheet downstream, and that the conveyance auxiliary member abuts and stops;
A tubular passage portion for receiving the paper sheets coming out of the separation portion;
One of the sheets of paper received from the separation unit faces the outward path, and the passage portion extends so that a part of the peripheral wall of the passage portion is a partition wall that partitions the forward path and the return path. An annular conveyor belt stretched in the installation direction;
A driving portion to which the forward of the conveyor belt circulates drives the conveyor belt to move downstream,
A suction port opened in the partition wall ;
An outer wall forming an air passage on the return path side of the partition wall;
A second suction port opened in the outer wall at a position shifted from the suction port;
With
The air in the second through the suction port said passage portion by suction to the outside through the passage of the suction port and the air, in close contact to the conveyor belt before Symbol forward path the sheets having passed through the separation unit A separation / recovery device, wherein the separation / recovery device is conveyed and discharged from the end of the passage portion. The suction port is provided on the downstream side from the vicinity of the position downstream from the separation unit by the length in the transport direction of the paper sheet ,
The separation and recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the second suction port is provided upstream of the suction port . A tubular outer frame portion connected to the terminal end of the transport pipe, and an inner unit inserted into the outer frame portion so as to be insertable / removable,
The passage portion, the conveyor belt, the partition wall, and the suction port are provided in the inner unit ,
The outer frame portion on the return path side from the partition wall becomes the outer wall, and the air passage is formed between the partition wall and the outer frame portion on the return path side from the partition wall. The separation and recovery apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a circular cross section,
The transport auxiliary body is configured to move in the transport pipe in a direction in which a shaft thereof is along a paper surface of a paper sheet transported through the transport pipe and is perpendicular to the transport direction. Item 4. The separation and recovery device according to any one of Items 1 to 3 .

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