JP2016157251A - Medium housing and medium processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect that a stage is located in a predetermined range even by using a light shield part shorter than the predetermined range.SOLUTION: A paper money cassette 11 includes a stage 19 which is moved according the amount of paper monies stored in a storage space 33, a stage detector 19A which is moved integrally with the stage 19, and a prism 40 which reflects light emitted from the light-emitting part 30A of a stage position detection sensor 30 to a light-receiving part 30B. Further, the length a of the stage detector 19A is set to be a distance b or more between two optical axes formed between the light-emitting part 30A and the light-receiving part 30B and the prism 40. Thus, the length a in the movement direction of the stage detector 19A can be made shorter than a range L where the position of the stage 19 is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium storage and a medium processing apparatus, and is suitable for application to, for example, a banknote cassette having a stage that moves according to the amount of banknotes stored.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic teller machine used in a financial institution, a store, or the like has a banknote cassette that stores banknotes withdrawn to customers, banknotes deposited by customers, and the like for each denomination.

  The banknote cassette is provided with a storage space for storing banknotes and a stage that moves in the storage space in accordance with the amount of banknotes stored in the storage space, and the automatic teller machine detects the position of this stage. In this state, the stage is closest to the banknote cassette outlet and there are no banknotes (this is called the end), or the stage is slightly away from the outlet and the banknote amount is low (this is the near-end In other words, it is possible to detect a state where the stage is farthest from the discharge port and the bill is full (referred to as full) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The detection unit that detects the position of the stage includes, for example, a stage detector as a light shielding unit that moves with the stage, and an optical sensor that forms an optical axis in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the stage detector (that is, the moving direction of the stage). Consists of.

  The detection unit detects the position of the stage based on the position of the optical axis of the optical sensor and whether or not the optical axis of the optical sensor is blocked by the stage detector. Therefore, for example, if one optical axis of the optical sensor is arranged at a position slightly away from the discharge port of the banknote cassette, the detection unit can detect the stage when the single optical axis is blocked by the stage detector. Can be detected at a position slightly away from the outlet of the banknote cassette, that is, at the near end position.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-46301 Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-53637

  By the way, if it is attempted to detect that the stage is located within a predetermined range of the storage space using the conventional detection unit, the stage detector is always one of the optical sensors while the stage is located within this range. You must keep blocking the optical axis of the book. Therefore, for example, in order to detect that the stage is located within the range from the end position to the near end position, a stage detector having a length longer than the distance from the end position to the near end position is required as the detection unit. It becomes.

  However, in reality, depending on the size of the bill cassette, there may be a case where a stage detector having a length longer than the distance from the end position to the near end position cannot be provided inside. In this case, the stage is located from the end position to the near end position. It is not possible to detect whether it is within range.

  Thus, in the conventional banknote cassette, in order to detect that the stage is located within a predetermined range, the length of the stage detector (light-shielding part) must be longer than this range. Had the problem.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and a medium storage and a medium capable of detecting that a stage is located within a predetermined range even by using a light shielding portion shorter than this range. A processing device is proposed.

  In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, a stage that is mounted on a device and has a storage space for storing a medium handled by the device can be moved in the storage space in accordance with the storage amount of the medium. And the light emitted from the first light emitting unit provided in the apparatus to the first light receiving unit provided in the apparatus and located away from the first light emitting unit in the moving direction of the stage. A first reflecting portion that reflects and a light shielding portion that moves integrally with the stage are provided, and the light shielding portion has a length in a moving direction, and the first light emitting portion, the first light receiving portion, and the first light receiving portion. The distance between the optical axes of the plurality of optical axes formed between the plurality of optical axes and the stage is always within a predetermined range in the storage space. At least one of them was blocked.

  In the present invention, the length of the light shielding portion in the moving direction is equal to or greater than the distance between the optical axes of the plurality of optical axes formed between the first light emitting portion and the first light receiving portion and the first reflecting portion. When the stage is located within a predetermined range in the storage space, the light shielding portion always blocks at least one of the plurality of optical axes. Thereby, it is possible to detect whether or not the stage is located within a range that is a maximum length obtained by adding the distance between the optical axes to the length in the moving direction of the light shielding portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a medium storage and a medium processing apparatus that can detect that a stage is within a predetermined range even by using a light shielding unit shorter than the length of the range.

It is a side view which shows the structure of a banknote dispensing machine. It is a figure which shows the structure of a banknote cassette. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a banknote cassette. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement when a payout roller is reversely rotated and a residual banknote is returned to an original position. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the distance between the optical axes formed between the light emission part and light-receiving part of a stage position detection sensor, and a prism, the length of a stage detector, and the range which detects the position of a stage. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the prism by other embodiment, and the structure which provided the mirror instead of the prism. It is a figure which shows the structure of the banknote cassette by other embodiment.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. Configuration of banknote dispensing machine]
As shown in a schematic side view in FIG. 1, the banknote dispensing machine 1 is installed in, for example, a financial institution or the like, and withdraws banknotes according to the operation of a user (that is, a customer of the financial institution). ing. The banknote dispensing machine 1 is roughly composed of a lower storage unit 2 and an upper bundle transport unit 3, and further includes a control unit 4 for controlling the whole.

  In the following, the side of the banknote dispenser 1 facing the customer is the front side, the opposite is the rear side, the left and right are the left side and the right side as viewed from the customer facing the front side, respectively, and the upper side and the lower side are further Define and explain.

  The storage unit 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped storage housing 10, and a plurality of parts for performing various processes relating to banknotes are incorporated in the storage housing 10. Specifically, a cassette mounting unit 12 that can mount a plurality of (for example, four) banknote cassettes 11 (11A to 11D) in the storage case 10, a transport unit 13, a discrimination unit 14, and a switching unit 15. A stacking unit 16 and a reject cassette 17 are provided.

  The housing case 10 is a cassette mounting portion 12 except for a part on the upper side and a part on the rear side. Four bill cassettes 11 are mounted on the cassette mounting portion 12 so as to be arranged in the vertical direction.

  Each banknote cassette 11 is provided with a storage space therein and stores the banknotes in a stacked state so as to be stacked in the front-rear direction. Each bill cassette 11 is provided with a stage 19 that moves in the storage space in accordance with the amount of bills stored in the storage space.

  Although omitted in the drawing, the cassette mounting portion 12 is provided with a stage position detection sensor for detecting the position of the stage 19 in the storage space of each banknote cassette 11. The detection result of each stage position detection sensor is sent to the control unit 4. The control part 4 grasps | ascertains the quantity of the banknote accommodated in each banknote cassette 11 based on the detection result sent from each stage position detection sensor.

  The conveyance part 13 comprises the conveyance path which is a path | route which conveys a banknote with the roller and belt which are not shown in figure, or the motor which drives these. This transport path is connected to each banknote cassette 11 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 12.

  The discrimination unit 14 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path. The discrimination unit 14 discriminates the denomination and running state of the banknotes to be conveyed, and supplies the discrimination result to the control unit 4. Based on the obtained discrimination result, the control unit 4 sends, to the stacking unit 16, banknotes that should not be withdrawn (hereinafter referred to as banknotes to be withdrawn) from the banknotes discharged from the banknote cassettes 11. This is called a reject banknote) and determined as the reject cassette 17.

  The switching unit 15 is provided between the stacking unit 16 and the reject cassette 17 and switches the traveling direction of the banknotes transported by the transport unit 13 to the stacking unit 16 or the reject cassette 17 based on the control of the control unit 4. .

  The stacking unit 16 is located above the cassette mounting unit 12 and forms a stacking space for stacking banknotes therein. The stacking unit 16 can stack the bills conveyed from the switching unit 15 and discharged into the stacking space by the discharge unit 16R on the stage 16T. Further, the stacking unit 16 can feed out the banknotes stacked on the stage 16T to the bundle transport unit 3 located above the stacking unit 16.

  The reject cassette 17 is located on the front side of the stacking unit 16 and has a storage unit that stores banknotes therein. The reject cassette 17 can store banknotes (that is, reject banknotes) conveyed from the switching unit 15 and discharged into the storage unit by the discharge unit 17R. Further, the reject cassette 17 can store banknotes dropped from the bundle transport unit 3 located above the reject cassette 17 and forgotten by the customer in the storage unit.

  On the other hand, the bundle transport unit 3 is provided with various mechanisms for transporting the banknotes in a bundled rectangular parallelepiped bundle transport case 20 and discharging them from the dispensing port 21.

  The banknote dispensing machine 1 has such a configuration, and when a withdrawal instruction and a withdrawal amount are received from a user by an operation unit (not shown), a withdrawal process is performed based on the control of the control unit 4. ing.

[2. Bill cassette structure]
Here, the configuration of the banknote cassette 11 will be described in detail. In addition, since banknote cassette 11A-11D is the same structure, 11 A of banknote cassettes are demonstrated here.

  2A and 2B show the internal structure of the bill cassette 11A in a state of being mounted on the cassette mounting portion 12. FIG. 2A also shows a stage position detection sensor 30 and a bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 provided outside the bill cassette 11A (cassette mounting portion 12) together with the bill cassette 11A. The stage position detection sensor 30 and the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 include a light emitting unit 30A and a light receiving unit 30B, and a light emitting unit 31A and a light receiving unit 31B, respectively. FIG. 2B shows the dimensions of the main part.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the bill cassette 11A has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 32 that is long in the front-rear direction. The bill cassette 11 </ b> A is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 12 in a direction from the front surface of the housing 32 toward the rear surface.

  A rectangular parallelepiped storage space 33 that is long in the front-rear direction is provided inside the housing 32, and a plate-like stage 19 that faces the rear surface of the storage space 33 is provided in the storage space 33. The stage 19 is urged in a direction approaching the rear surface of the storage space 33 by a stage spring 34 provided on the front side. The bills BL are stored between the stage 19 and the rear surface of the storage space 33, and the stage 19 moves in the front-rear direction according to the amount of the stored bills BL.

  Further, a feeding roller 35 is provided behind the lower rear portion of the storage space 33. A part of the feeding roller 35 protrudes from the lower part of the rear surface of the storage space 33 into the storage space 33. That is, the banknote BL is stored in the storage space 33 in a state of being sandwiched between the feeding roller 35 and the stage 19.

  Further, a slit-like opening 36 is formed at the rear end of the bottom surface of the storage space 33. The opening 36 is connected to a discharge port 37 formed in the lower part of the rear surface of the housing 32. Further, below the opening 36, a driving roller 38 is provided on the rear side and an idle roller 39 is provided on the front side so as to sandwich the opening 36 in the front-rear direction.

  In the bill cassette 11A, the feeding roller 35 and the driving roller 38 rotate in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and the idle roller 39 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, thereby contacting the feeding roller 35. In order from the rearmost banknote BL, the paper is fed out from the opening 36 of the storage space 33 to the discharge port 37 and discharged from the discharge port 37. The bill BL discharged from the discharge port 37 is transported by the transport unit 13 of the bill dispensing machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the position of the rear surface of the stage 19 when the amount of banknotes BL stored in the storage space 33 is the maximum (when full) is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the position of the rear surface of the stage 19 when the amount of banknotes BL stored in the storage space 33 becomes small (for example, a predetermined number or less) is shown in the near end position. The position of the rear surface of the stage 19 when there is no banknote BL stored in the storage space 33 is defined as the end position. Among these, the near end position can be set to a desired position, but here, as shown in FIG. 3A, it is assumed that the near end position is set to a position separated by a distance d1 from the end position. Here, if the distance from the end position to the full position is d2 (FIG. 2B), the distance from the near end position to the full position is d2-d1.

  In addition to such a configuration, a stage detector 19 </ b> A that moves integrally with the stage 19 is provided inside the housing 32. The stage 19 has an upper end protruding outside the storage space 33 through a gap (not shown) formed in the wall surface of the storage space 33 and extending in the front-rear direction, and the stage detector 19A is fixed to the upper end. . The stage detector 19A has a plate shape that is long in the moving direction of the stage 19 (that is, the front-rear direction) and thin in the up-down direction, and the stage 19 moves in the front-rear direction inside the storage space 33. Move outside in the front-back direction. The stage detector 19A may be integrally formed with the stage 19.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the stage detector 19A has a rear end positioned forward by a length d3 from the rear surface of the stage 19. Therefore, when the rear surface of the stage 19 is at the full position, the near end position, and the end position, the rear end of the stage detector 19A is positioned forward by a length d3 from these positions. Here, the position of the stage detector 19A when the stage 19 is at the full position, the near end position, and the end position is referred to as a detector full position, a detector near end position, and a detector end position, respectively.

  Furthermore, a light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30 is provided outside the housing 32 of the banknote cassette 11A (that is, the cassette mounting unit 12) just above the detector near end position, and a distance behind the light receiving unit 30B. A light emitting unit 30A is provided at a position separated by b. The distance b is equal to or less than the distance d1 between the near end position and the end position. The light emitting unit 30A is provided in a direction to emit light downward, and the light receiving unit 30B is provided in a direction to receive light from below.

  Further, a prism 40 is provided inside the housing 32 at a position outside the storage space 33 and below the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30. The prism 40 has a U-shaped opening facing upward, so that the upper end surface on the rear side is located directly below the light emitting portion 30A and the upper end surface on the front side is located directly below the light receiving portion 30B. Has been placed.

  When light emitted downward from the light emitting portion 30A of the stage position detection sensor 30 is incident on the prism 40 from the rear upper end surface (that is, the incident surface), the prism 40 passes through the inside and passes through the front, and thus the front upper surface (that is, the output surface). The light is emitted to the upper light receiving unit 30B. That is, between the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40, two optical axes are formed at positions separated by a distance b in the front-rear direction. The length a of the stage detector 19A in the front-rear direction is equal to or longer than the distance b between the two optical axes.

  The stage detector 19A passes between the prism 40 and the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30, and at this time, the optical axis is blocked by the stage detector 19A. .

  Further, on the outside of the housing 32 of the banknote cassette 11A (that is, the cassette mounting unit 12), a light emitting unit 31A and a light receiving unit 31B of the banknote presence / absence detecting sensor 31 are arranged in the vertical direction behind the upper rear surface of the storage space 33. It is provided at intervals. The light emitting unit 31A is provided in a direction to emit light forward, and the light receiving unit 31B is provided in a direction to receive light from the front.

  Further, the stage 19 is provided with a prism 41 at a position facing the light emitting part 31 </ b> A and the light receiving part 31 </ b> B of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 (that is, the upper part of the part located in the storage space 33). The prism 41 has a U-shaped opening toward the rear side, and is provided such that the upper rear end surface and the lower rear end surface are exposed from the rear surface of the stage 19.

  When the light emitted forward from the light emitting portion 31A of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 is incident on the prism 41 from the upper rear end surface (that is, the incident surface), the prism 41 reflects the light and lower lower end surface (that is, the lower surface) The light exits from the light exit surface to the rear light receiving portion 31B. That is, between the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 and the prism 41, two optical axes are formed at positions separated by a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the bill BL is stored in the storage space 33, the stored bill BL includes the prism 41, the light emitting unit 31 </ b> A and the light receiving unit 31 </ b> B of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31. The optical axis is interrupted by the bill BL.

  The banknote cassette 11A has, for example, a distance d2 from the end position to the full position as 330 [mm], a distance d1 from the end position to the near end position as 24.3 [mm], and a distance from the near end position to the full position. d2-d1 is 305.7 [mm], the length a of the stage detector 19A is 40.5 [mm], and the distance b between the two optical axes formed between the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40 is as follows. 14 [mm], the distance d3 between the position of the rear surface of the stage 19 and the position of the rear end of the stage detector 19A is selected to be 16.1 [mm].

  The configuration of the bill cassette 11A is as described above. Here, the operation of the bill cassette 11A from when the bill BL stored in the bill cassette 11A becomes full (full) to end (none) will be described.

[3. Operation of bill cassette]
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the feeding roller 35, the driving roller 38, and the idle roller 39 rotate in a state where the banknote BL is fully stored in the banknote cassette 11A, the banknotes BL are sequentially discharged from the banknote cassette 11A. Is done. At this time, the stage 19 moves in the direction from the full position to the end position (ie, rearward) by the tension of the stage spring 34.

  When the bills BL are discharged and become a little remaining, the stage 19 reaches the near-end position as shown in FIG. At this time, the stage detector 19A reaches the detector near end position and blocks the optical axis on the detector full position side (that is, the front side) of the two optical axes between the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40. As a result, the detection result of the stage position detection sensor 30 changes from “bright” to “dark”. From this detection result, the control unit 4 recognizes that the stage 19 has reached the near-end position, that is, that the banknote BL stored in the banknote cassette 11A is small. And the control part 4 notifies that the banknote BL accommodated in 11 A of banknote cassettes is few remains, for example by displaying on the display part which is not shown in figure.

  After that, when the bill BL is discharged and the stage 19 approaches the end position, the stage detector 19A keeps blocking the front optical axis during this time, and the detection result of the stage position detection sensor 30 is “dark”. Will remain.

  When all the stored bills BL are discharged, the stage 19 reaches the end position and the stage detector 19A reaches the detector end position as shown in FIG. At this time, the stage detector 19A blocks both of the two optical axes by the rear end reaching the rear optical axis before the front end passes through the front optical axis. Therefore, also at this time, the detection result of the stage position detection sensor 30 remains “dark”.

  Thus, while the stage 19 is located within the range from the near end position to the end position, the detection result of the stage position detection sensor 30 continues to be “dark”. Thereby, the control unit 4 can recognize that the stage 19 is located within the range of the end position from the near end position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when all the stored banknotes BL are discharged, the banknotes BL are blocked by the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 and the prism 41. The detection result of the detection sensor 31 changes from “dark” to “bright”. From this detection result, the control unit 4 detects that the stage 19 has reached the end position, that is, the banknote BL stored in the banknote cassette 11A has been exhausted. And the control part 4 notifies that the banknote BL accommodated in 11 A of banknote cassettes was lost, for example by displaying on the display part which is not shown in figure. The operation of the bill cassette 11A is as described above.

  By the way, since the prism 41 facing the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 is provided at the upper part of the stage 19, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the drive roller 38 and the discharge port 37 below the prism 41. If the bills BL remain in between, the detection result of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 becomes “bright” because there is no blockage of the optical axis even though the bills BL still remain.

  Therefore, after the detection result of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 becomes “bright”, the feeding roller 35 is rotated in the direction opposite to that when the banknote BL is fed out (that is, the direction in which the banknote BL is taken into the storage space 33). It may be. This control is performed by the control unit 4, for example. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the bill BL remains below the prism 41, the bill BL can be returned to the position of the prism 41.

  In this case, the control unit 4 checks the detection result of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 again after rotating the feeding roller 35 in the reverse direction, and if it remains “bright”, it is stored in the banknote cassette 11A. On the other hand, it is determined that the banknote BL is lost, and if it is changed to “dark”, it is determined that the banknote BL still remains.

  If it does in this way, the control part 4 can recognize more reliably whether all the banknotes BL accommodated in 11 A of banknote cassettes were discharged | emitted. When the payout roller 35 is rotated in the reverse direction from the time of paying out the banknote BL, the drive roller 38 and the idle roller 39 may be rotated in the reverse direction from the time of paying out the banknote BL.

[4. Summary and Effect]
As described so far, in the present embodiment, the stage 19 that moves in accordance with the amount of banknotes stored in the storage space 33 inside the banknote cassette 11, and the stage detector that moves integrally with the stage 19. 19A and a prism 40 that reflects light emitted from the light emitting unit 30A of the stage position detection sensor 30 provided outside the banknote cassette 11 to the light receiving unit 30B.

  The stage detector 19A passes between the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40, and while the stage 19 is located within the range from the near end position to the end position, the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving portion of the stage position detection sensor 30 are received. At least one of the two optical axes formed between the portion 30B and the prism 40 is blocked by the stage detector 19A.

  Thereby, while the stage 19 of the banknote cassette 11 is located within the range from the near end position to the end position, the detection result of the stage position detection sensor 30 is always “dark”, and the banknote dispensing machine 1 determines from the detection result. It is possible to detect that the stage 19 is located within the range from the near end position to the end position, that is, that the banknotes stored in the banknote cassette 11 are very small.

  Further, the stage 19 is provided with a prism 41 that reflects light emitted from the light emitting part 31A of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 provided outside the banknote cassette 11 to the light receiving part 31B, and the light emitting part 31A and the light receiving part 31B. The two optical axes formed between the prism 41 and the bills stored in the storage space 33 are blocked.

  Thereby, while the banknote remains in the storage space 33 of the banknote cassette 11, the detection result of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 is “dark”, and the banknote dispenser 1 It is possible to detect whether or not banknotes remain.

  Moreover, when the detection result of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 changes from “dark” to “bright”, the banknote dispensing machine 1 rotates the feeding roller 35 in the direction opposite to the banknote feeding direction, and then again, The detection result of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 is confirmed.

  Thereby, for example, the banknote remains at a position where the two optical axes formed between the feeding roller 35 and the discharge port 37 of the banknote cassette 11, that is, between the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 and the prism 41 are not blocked. In this case, the banknote can be returned to a position where the optical axis is blocked, and the detection result of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 can be returned from “bright” to “dark”.

  By carrying out like this, the banknote dispensing machine 1 can discriminate | determine more reliably whether all the banknotes BL accommodated in the banknote cassette 11 were discharged | emitted.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage detection sensor 30 and the light emitting unit 31A and the light receiving unit 31B of the bill presence / absence detection sensor 31 are provided outside the bill cassette 11. Thereby, for example, the cost of the banknote cassette 11 can be reduced, and there is an advantage that the sensor is not damaged during the transportation of the banknote cassette 11.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the length a in the moving direction of the stage detector 19A is set to the distance between the two light axes formed between the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40. As described above, when the stage 19 is positioned within the range from the near end position to the end position, the stage detector 19A always blocks at least one of the two optical axes.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, a range in which at least one of the two optical axes continues to be blocked, that is, a range in which the position of the stage 19 is detected (for example, a range from the near end position to the end position) L, The length can be extended up to a length a + b obtained by adding a distance b between two optical axes to a length a in the moving direction of the stage detector 19A.

  That is, in the banknote cassette 11 described above, as an example, the near end position is set to a position 24.3 [mm] away from the end position, and whether or not the stage 19 is located in the range of 24.3 [mm] from the end position. However, even if the near-end position is separated from the end position by a + b = 40.5 + 14 = 54.5 [mm] at the maximum, the length a of the stage detector 19A and the optical axis distance b Without changing, it is possible to detect whether or not the stage 19 is located within a range of 54.5 [mm] from the end position.

  Thus, in the banknote cassette 11, the range L for detecting the position of the stage 19 can be made longer than the length a in the moving direction of the stage detector 19A. In other words, in the banknote cassette 11, it can be detected that the stage 19 is within the range from the near end position to the end position using the stage detector 19A shorter than this range.

  Moreover, in the banknote cassette 11, since it can detect that the stage 19 is located in this range using the stage detector 19A shorter than the range which detects the position of the stage 19, the stage of the stage is detected like a conventional banknote cassette. The length of the stage detector can be shortened compared to the case where a stage detector having a length longer than the range in which the position is detected must be used.

  Thereby, even when there is no space in the banknote cassette 11 for providing the stage detector 19A having a length longer than the range from the near end position to the end position, for example, it is shorter than the range from the near end position to the end position. Using the stage detector 19A, it can be detected that the stage 19 is located within this range.

[5. Other Embodiments]
[5-1. Other Embodiment 1]
In the above-described embodiment, two optical axes are formed between the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30 and one prism 40, and this optical axis is the stage. Whether or not the stage 19 is located within the range from the end position to the near end position is detected depending on whether or not it is blocked by the detector 19A.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, three or more optical axes are formed between the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B and the plurality of prisms 40 (40A, 40B). May be.

  In this case, for example, the distance between the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B is extended, and a plurality of prisms 40B are provided therebetween. Each of the plurality of prisms 40B has a U-shaped opening facing downward. On the other hand, on the banknote cassette 11 side, the number of prisms 40A plus the number of prisms 40A + 1 is provided below the light emitting units 30A and the light receiving units 30B and the plurality of prisms 40B so as to form a staggered arrangement with the prisms 40B.

  By doing so, the light emitted downward from the light emitting unit 30A is finally guided to the light receiving unit 30B while being reflected between the prisms 40A and 40B. If the number of optical axes formed in this case is n (n> 2), the range L for detecting the position of the stage 19 is a + (n−1) × b, which is the length a of the stage detector 19A. About n times. In this way, the length a of the stage detector 19A can be made shorter than the range L in which the position of the stage 19 is detected.

  In this case, the distance b between the optical axes may not be constant, and the length a of the stage detector 19A may be equal to or greater than the maximum value among the different distances b.

[5-2. Other Embodiment 2]
In the above-described embodiment, the U-shaped prism 40 is used to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30A of the stage position detection sensor 30 to the light receiving unit 30B. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30A may be reflected to the light receiving unit 30B by the plate-like mirror 100.

  In this case, the light emitting unit 30A is tilted so that light is incident on the mirror 100 at a predetermined incident angle, and similarly, the light receiving unit 30B is tilted so as to receive the light reflected by the mirror 100. Also in this case, two optical axes may be formed between the light emitting units 30A and 30B and the mirror 100, and the optical axis may be blocked by the stage detector 19A.

[5-3. Other Embodiment 3]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the stage detector 19A is provided on the upper portion of the stage 19. Not limited to this, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a stage detector 19 </ b> A may be provided at the right end (or left end) of the stage 19.

  In this case, the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30 are provided on the right side (or the left side) of the banknote cassette 11, and the prism 40 is further connected to the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit inside the banknote cassette 11. What is necessary is just to make it provide in the position facing 30B. That is, the stage detector 19A, the stage position detection sensor 30, and the prism 40 may be provided at positions different from the above-described embodiment as long as the position of the stage 19 can be detected without preventing the movement of the stage 19. Good.

  Similarly, the light emitting unit 31A and the light receiving unit 31B of the banknote presence / absence detection sensor 31 and the prism 41 may be located at positions different from those in the above-described embodiment as long as the presence / absence of banknotes can be detected without preventing the movement of the stage 19. You may make it provide in.

[5-4. Other Embodiment 4]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the position of the rear end of the stage detector 19A is shifted forward by the distance d3 from the position of the rear surface of the stage 19, but this is not limiting, and depending on the internal structure of the banknote cassette 11 Thus, the position of the rear end of the stage detector 19A may coincide with the position of the rear surface of the stage 19, or may be shifted rearward from the position of the rear surface of the stage 19.

[5-5. Other Embodiment 5]
Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the range in which the position of the stage 19 is detected is the range from the near end position to the end position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The range in which the signal is detected may be different from the range from the near end position to the end position.

[5-6. Other Embodiment 6]
Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, the prisms 40 and 40A as a 1st reflection part and the mirror 100 were provided in the banknote cassette 11 as a medium storage. The prism 40, as long as it can reflect the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30A of the stage position detection sensor 30 as the first light emitting unit to the light receiving unit 30B as the first light receiving unit. Optical components different from 40A and the mirror 100 may be used. Similarly, the prism 41 as the second reflecting portion also emits the light emitted from the light emitting portion 31A of the bill presence / absence detecting sensor 31 as the second light emitting portion to the light receiving portion 31B as the second light receiving portion. As long as it can reflect, an optical component different from the prism 41 may be used.

  Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, the stage detector 19A as a light-shielding part was provided in the banknote cassette 11. FIG. Not limited to this, a member different from the stage detector 19 may be used as long as it can block the optical axis formed between the light emitting unit 30A and the light receiving unit 30B of the stage position detection sensor 30 and the prism 40. It may be.

  Furthermore, in embodiment mentioned above, this invention was applied to the banknote cassette 11 which has the storage space 33 which accommodates a banknote. Further, the present invention is applied to the banknote dispensing machine 1 as a medium processing apparatus having a banknote cassette 11 as a medium storage and a storage casing 10 as an apparatus casing. The present invention is not limited to this, and a medium storage or a banknote dispensing machine different from the banknote cassette 11 may be used as long as it is a medium storage or a medium processing apparatus having a stage that moves in the storage space for storing the medium according to the amount of the medium. The present invention may be applied to a medium processing apparatus different from 1. For example, the present invention may be applied to a medium storage that stores media other than banknotes (tickets, tickets, etc.) and a media processing apparatus that handles media other than banknotes.

[5-7. Other Embodiment 7]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which a part or all of the above-described embodiments are arbitrarily combined, and embodiments in which a part is extracted.

  The present invention can be widely used in a bill cassette having a stage that moves in accordance with the amount of bills stored.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Banknote dispensing machine, 10 ... Storage case, 11 ... Banknote cassette, 12 ... Cassette mounting part, 19 ... Stage, 30 ... Stage position detection sensor, 30A, 31A ... Light emitting part, 30B , 31B... Light receiving unit, 31... Bill presence / absence detection sensor, 33... Storage space, 35 .. feeding roller, 37 .. outlet, 40, 41.

Claims (8)

A medium storage having a storage space for storing a medium mounted on the apparatus and handled by the apparatus,
A stage movable in the storage space in accordance with the storage amount of the medium;
The light emitted from the first light emitting unit provided in the apparatus is reflected to the first light receiving unit provided in the apparatus and located away from the first light emitting unit in the moving direction of the stage. A first reflecting portion;
A light shielding portion that moves integrally with the stage,
The light-shielding portion has a length in the moving direction that is greater than or equal to a distance between optical axes of a plurality of optical axes formed between the first light-emitting portion, the first light-receiving portion, and the first reflecting portion. Thus, when the stage is positioned within a predetermined range in the storage space, at least one of the plurality of optical axes is always blocked. Second light is provided on the stage and reflects light emitted from a second light emitting unit provided in the device to a second light receiving unit provided in the device via the storage space. A reflection part;
The optical axis formed between the second light emitting unit, the second light receiving unit, and the second reflecting unit is blocked by a bill stored in the storage space. The medium storage box according to 1. The predetermined range is:
A range from a near end position, which is a stage position when the number of media stored in the storage space is equal to or less than a predetermined number, to an end position, which is a stage position when there is no medium in the storage space. The medium storage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned. A feeding roller for feeding the medium in the storage space to a discharge port;
When the second light receiving unit receives light reflected by the second reflecting unit, the feeding roller is rotated in a direction opposite to a rotation direction when the medium is fed out to the discharge port. The medium storage according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first reflecting portion is
A prism having an incident surface on which light is incident and an exit surface from which light is emitted, and the light incident on the incident surface from the first light emitting unit passes through the prism and is emitted from the exit surface to the first surface. The medium storage case according to claim 1, wherein the medium storage case is emitted to the light receiving unit. The first reflecting portion is
An apparatus comprising a plurality of prisms arranged side by side in the moving direction of the stage, wherein light emitted from the first light emitting unit is provided between the first light emitting unit and the first light receiving unit. 5. The medium storage according to claim 1, wherein the medium is reflected between the one or more prisms on the side and guided to the first light receiving unit. The first reflecting portion is
The medium storage case according to claim 1, comprising a mirror that reflects light incident from the first light emitting unit and emits the light to the first light receiving unit. A medium storage having a storage space for storing the medium;
An apparatus housing to which the medium storage is mounted,
The medium storage is
A stage movable in the storage space in accordance with the storage amount of the medium;
A first light-receiving unit that is provided in the apparatus housing and is located at a position away from the first light-emitting unit in the moving direction of the stage. A first reflecting portion that reflects toward the
A light shielding portion that moves integrally with the stage,
The light-shielding portion has a length in the moving direction that is greater than or equal to a distance between optical axes of a plurality of optical axes formed between the first light-emitting portion, the first light-receiving portion, and the first reflecting portion. Thus, when the stage is located within a predetermined range in the storage space, at least one of the plurality of optical axes is always blocked.

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