JP2023175076A - Paper sheet processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To control operational delays in subsequent processes even in the case that an abnormality has occurred in inspection of paper sheets.SOLUTION: An inspection unit in a paper sheet processing system includes: a transport unit that transports a predetermined number of fed sequentially numbered paper sheets one at a time; an inspection unit that inspects the paper sheets being transported by the transport unit; a sealing unit that makes a sealed bundle by banding a predetermined number of paper sheets in a sequence that maintains the sequential numbering order when there is no paper sheet that is determined to be abnormal by the inspection unit; a storage unit that stores alternative bundles of the same size as the sealed bundles, with identification information attached; an abnormality processing unit that performs processing to map the identification information of the alternative bundle stored in the storage unit with the inspection information of the paper sheets that are determined to be abnormal when there is a paper sheet that is determined to be abnormal by the inspection unit; and an ejection unit that ejects the sealed bundle sealed by the sealing unit and ejects the alternative bundle as a substitute for the sealed bundle consisting of a predetermined number of paper sheets including the paper sheets determined to be abnormal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a paper sheet processing system.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, for example, paper sheets (banknotes, securities, lottery tickets, etc.) on which serial numbers are printed are sometimes inspected. In that case, in a conventional paper sheet processing system, for example, first, when a predetermined number of unsealed paper sheets (for example, 1,000 sheets) are input, the inspection device inspects the sheets one by one. It is inspected, sealed, and a sealed bundle (for example, a 1,000-sheet bundle (hereinafter also referred to as a "1,000-sheet bundle")) is discharged. Then, the operator loads the plurality of sealed bundles as a bundle group (for example, a 1,000-piece bundle group) on a dedicated trolley, moves the dedicated trolley to a packaging device, and inputs the bundle group into the packaging device. Then, the wrapping device wraps the bundle group.

Hereinafter, paper sheets that have been inspected by the inspection device and have passed or failed are also referred to as normal paper and abnormal paper, respectively. The inspection device removes the abnormal paper from the conveyance path and accumulates it at a predetermined location. At this time, in order to maintain the serial numbers of the paper sheets, the operation of the inspection device is stopped and the operator inserts a replacement paper in the place where the abnormal paper was located. Thereafter, the inspection device resumes operation and prints a message indicating that substitute paper is mixed in the sealed bundle that has been carried out.

Furthermore, after that, when normal paper for replacement is prepared in a separate process, the operator tears the sealed bundle containing the substitute paper, removes the substitute paper, and replaces it with the normal paper.

However, in the conventional technology, when an abnormal paper is generated in the inspection device, in order to maintain the loading order of the sealed bundles on the dedicated cart, the sealing is not carried out on the dedicated cart until the sealed bundle replaced with normal paper is prepared. I have to wait for the bundle to be loaded. Therefore, there is a problem that the start of operation of the packaging device in the next process is delayed.

Therefore, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing system that can suppress operational delays in subsequent processes even when an abnormality occurs during paper sheet inspection.

The paper sheet processing system of the embodiment includes an inspection device and a packaging device. The inspection device includes a conveyance section that conveys a predetermined number of serially numbered paper sheets that have been input one by one, an inspection section that inspects the paper sheets that are being conveyed by the conveyance section, and an inspection section. If there is no paper sheet that is determined to be abnormal by A storage section that stores alternative bundles that have the same dimensions as the sealed bundles and are given identification information; and a storage section that stores alternative bundles that are determined to be abnormal by the inspection section. an abnormality processing unit that performs a process of associating the identification information of the substitute bundle that has been used with inspection information of the paper sheets that have been determined to be abnormal; and a discharge unit configured to discharge the substitute bundle as a substitute for a sealed bundle consisting of the predetermined number of paper sheets including the paper sheets determined to be abnormal.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a paper sheet processing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a 1,000-sheet individual sheet, a 1,000-sheet sealed bundle, and a dummy bundle according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the paper sheet processing system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an outline of the operation of the inspection apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the inspection device of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the packaging device of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing by the inspection apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing by the packaging apparatus of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a paper sheet processing system of the present invention will be described using the accompanying drawings.

First, the configuration of the paper sheet processing system S will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a paper sheet processing system S according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing 1,000 individual sheets A, 1,000 sheets sealed bundle B, and dummy bundle D of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the paper sheet processing system S of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an overview of the operation by the inspection device 2 of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the inspection device 2 of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the packaging device 3 of the embodiment. In addition, in the following, "Senmai Seifuku" and "Senmaizaku" are synonymous. Furthermore, "defect" is one aspect of "abnormality" in a broad sense.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper sheet processing system S includes a management device 1, an inspection device 2, and a packaging device 3. The paper sheet processing system S is a system that processes paper sheets that have been inspected by the inspection device 2 into bundles for each predetermined number of sheets. Serial numbers are printed on the paper surface of the paper sheets, and the paper sheets are bundled in numerical order through a banding process. Examples of such paper sheets include banknotes with serial numbers printed on them, securities (such as stock certificates), lottery tickets, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management device 1 includes an information processing section 11, a printer 12, a keyboard/mouse 13, and a display monitor 14. The information processing section 11 is, for example, a personal computer main body, and includes an interface circuit for inputting and outputting signals with a printer 12, a keyboard/mouse 13, a display monitor 14, an inspection device 2, and a packaging device 3.

The inspection device 2 will be explained below. The inspection machine control section 201 is a control unit provided separately from the information processing section 11, and has a printed circuit board on which electronic components such as integrated circuits are mounted, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inspection machine control section 201 and the information processing section 11 may be configured integrally.

Inspection machine control section 201 centrally controls each section 202 to 215. Specifically, the inspection machine control unit 201 controls each unit 202 to 215, counts paper sheets, sorts them based on judgment results, monitors paper sheets while they are being transported, self-diagnoses control circuits, etc., and performs self-diagnosis when the operation is stopped. Provides operational guidance and displays information on abnormalities. Furthermore, the inspection machine control unit 201 outputs information regarding the aggregate data of paper sheets in the inspection device 2, various judgment results, the situation at the time of trouble occurrence (occurrence time, content, recovery time, etc.) to the information processing unit 11. .

Hereinafter, FIGS. 4 and 5 will also be referred to. The sending unit 202 sends out stacked paper sheets one by one. The sending unit 202 is configured to be able to input approximately 1,000 sheets of paper (1,000 unsealed individual sheets A, FIG. 2) by opening a cover (not shown). The sending unit 202 includes a sending drum (not shown) that sends out the topmost sheet of stacked paper sheets one by one. The delivery drum is configured to attract the uppermost sheet of paper that is in contact with its circumferential surface, and to send out the attracted paper sheets by rotation.

The sending unit 202 also includes a backup device (not shown). The backup device lifts the stacked sheets from the bottom and brings the topmost sheet into contact with the delivery drum. In the delivery section 202, paper sheets are stocked in a stacked manner in the order of the numbers (serial numbers) printed on the paper surface. In the sending unit 202, the sheets are stocked such that, for example, the top sheet starts with the lower three digits printed as "001" and the bottom sheet ends with the lower four digits printed as "N000" (N is an integer). That is, paper sheets are stocked in numerical order in units of thousands.

The conveying unit 203 conveys a predetermined number of serially numbered paper sheets that have been input and sent out from the sending unit 202 one by one along a conveying path. The conveyance path forms a path (main path) that resembles a horizontally rotated U-shape in the inspection device 2 . Furthermore, in the transport route, various branch routes are connected to the main route in the inspection device 2 . The conveyance unit 203 has a plurality of conveyance rollers, a conveyance guide, etc. as a structure for conveying paper sheets one by one.

The inspection unit 204 inspects the paper sheets being conveyed by the conveyance unit 203 . The inspection unit 204 includes, for example, a camera, a light source, a sensor, an image processing means, a determination means, and the like. A plurality of inspection units 204 are provided along the main route of the transport route. The inspection unit 204 performs reading inspections of numbers printed on the surface of paper sheets moving along the conveyance route, heavy conveyance, skew (diagonal conveyance), type, shape, thickness, front and back, etc. of paper sheets. Inspect for dirt, damage, etc., and determine whether it is normal (pass) or abnormal (fail). Note that this determination may be made by the information processing section 11 or the inspection machine control section 201.

The normal paper stacking unit 205 stacks normal-determined paper sheets that are all determined to be normal as a result of the inspection by the plurality of inspection units 204. As shown in FIG. 5, three normal paper stacking units 205 are provided, and when 100 normal paper sheets are stacked in one normal paper stacking unit 205, 100 sheets are stacked in the next normal paper stacking unit 205. The structure is such that the collection locations can be sequentially switched so that the products can be collected.

The abnormal paper stacking unit 206 removes from the conveyance path and stacks the abnormality-determined paper sheets for which the inspection unit 204 could only read the number among the abnormality-determined paper sheets that were determined to be abnormal as a result of the inspection by the inspection unit 204. . Even if the paper sheet is determined to be abnormal in the inspection section 204, other paper sheets (defective paper sheets to be described later) are likely to be waste paper that needs to be replaced, so the abnormal paper accumulation section 206 They are not accumulated in the defective paper accumulation section 208.

The abnormal paper stacking section 206 is installed on the downstream side of the normal paper stacking section 205 on the conveyance path. The abnormal paper stacking unit 206 is configured to be able to stack at least one abnormality determination paper sheet. Then, the inspection machine control unit 201 automatically stops the operation after the abnormality-determined paper sheets are sorted into the abnormality paper accumulation unit 206. The abnormal paper stacking unit 206 is configured such that the stacked abnormality determination paper sheets can be taken out by opening a cover (not shown).

The subsequent paper stacking unit 207 removes the paper sheets that follow the abnormality-determined paper sheets and have already been sent to the transport route from the transport route when the inspection unit 204 determines that the paper sheets are abnormal. Accumulate. The subsequent paper stacking unit 207 stacks the subsequent paper sheets in numerical order. The subsequent paper stacking section 207 is configured such that by opening a cover (not shown), the stacked subsequent paper sheets can be taken out in the state in which they are stacked in numerical order.

The defective paper stacking unit 208 removes defective paper sheets from the conveyance path and accumulates them. Defective paper sheets are paper sheets that are determined to be abnormal in an inspection other than number reading by the inspection unit 204. As shown in FIG. 5, three defective paper stacking units 208 are provided, and the defective paper is classified according to the type of inspection.

The 100-sheet sealing section 209 binds the 100 sheets accumulated in the normal paper accumulation section 205. Three 100-sheet sealing sections 209 are provided corresponding to the normal paper stacking sections 205.

The 100-sheet bundle moving section 210 transports the paper sheets that have been bundled in the 100-sheet sealing section 209 . The 100-sheet bundle moving unit 210 is composed of a conveyor and a lifter mechanism.

The 1,000-sheet binding unit 211 binds 100 sheets of paper sheets into 10 bundles to form a 1,000-sheet bundle (1,000-sheet bundle B; FIG. 2). Such a paper sheet binding unit is composed of a band set, a band feeder, a band heater, a winder, and a press mechanism.

Note that the 100-sheet sealing section 209 and the 1,000-sheet sealing section 211 store a predetermined number of paper sheets in the order of consecutive numbers when no paper sheet is determined to be abnormal by the inspection section 204. A binding unit is configured to band the bundle in the state and form a sealed bundle.

The 1,000-sheet bundle moving section 212 transports the paper sheets that have been made into a 1,000-sheet bundle in the 1,000-sheet sealing section 211 .

The label pasting unit 213 pastes a label at a predetermined position on a bundle of 1,000 sheets. The label pasting section 213 is composed of a label issuing means, a pasting means, and a discharging means. The label pasting unit 213 issues a label printed based on the information on the bundle of 1,000 sheets, pastes it on a predetermined position on the bundle, temporarily stores and accumulates the bundle with the label pasted, and then , is discharged to the outside as a bundle group. Note that no label is attached to a dummy bundle D (alternative bundle; FIG. 2), which will be described later.

The dummy bundle storage section 214 (storage section) stores a dummy bundle D that has the same dimensions as the sealed bundle (thousand bundle) and is given a two-dimensional code Q (identification information).

In addition, when there is a paper sheet determined to be abnormal by the inspection unit 204, the inspection machine control unit 201 (abnormality processing unit) issues a two-dimensional code Q of the dummy bundle D stored in the dummy bundle storage unit 214. and the inspection information of the paper sheet determined to be abnormal (such as the number of paper sheets that failed). Note that this process may be performed by the information processing section 11. In any case, the information resulting from this process is managed by the information processing section 11 so that it can also be used by the packaging device 3.

The discharge section 215 discharges the sealed bundle bound by the 1,000-sheet sealing section 211 toward the front right in FIG. 4 . Further, the discharge unit 215 discharges the dummy bundle D in the front right direction in FIG. 4 as a substitute for the sealed bundle consisting of a predetermined number of sheets including the sheets determined to be abnormal. The discharged sealed bundle and dummy bundle D constitute a group of 1,000 bundles G.

Further, the discharge unit 215 discharges the abnormal bundle E (the bundle in which an abnormality is found as a result of the inspection) toward the front left in FIG. 4 . In the abnormal bundle E, a dummy ticket is inserted at the position of the abnormal paper.

This concludes the description of the configuration of the inspection device 2. The operator loads the 1,000-sheet sealed bundle B and the dummy bundle D (1,000-sheet bundle group G) discharged from the inspection device 2 onto the special cart 4, and transports the special cart 4 to the packaging device 3 for the next process. At the same time, in a separate process, another worker prepares normal paper for the abnormal bundle E and replaces it with the abnormal paper to make it a normal bundle F (Fig. 6). is brought to the packaging device 3 for the next process.

Next, the packaging device 3 will be explained. Hereinafter, FIG. 6 will also be referred to. The packaging machine control section 31 is a control unit provided separately from the information processing section 11, and has a printed circuit board on which electronic components such as integrated circuits are mounted, for example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the packaging machine control section 31 and the information processing section 11 may be configured integrally. The packaging machine control section 31 controls each section 32 to 37 in an integrated manner.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the 1,000-sheet sealed bundle B and the dummy bundle D discharged from the inspection device 2 are fed into the bundle supply section 33 together with the dedicated cart 4 loaded thereon. The bundle transport unit 34 cuts out a 1,000-sheet sealed bundle B and a dummy bundle D from the dedicated cart 4 one by one and automatically transports them.

If the bundle being transported is a dummy bundle D, the worker replaces the dummy bundle D with a normal bundle F (normal sealed bundle) prepared in a separate process at the manual loading section 35 (work place). . At this time, the information reading unit 32 reads the information of the two-dimensional code Q given to the dummy bundle D. Then, the packaging machine control unit 31 (determination unit) determines (verifies) whether or not the correspondence between the dummy bundle D and the replacement normal bundle F is correct based on the read information read by the information reading unit 32. . Note that this determination may be performed by the information processing section 11.

If the determination result is NG, a predetermined response is taken by the operator. If the determination result is OK, the following processing is continued.

The ten bundle stacking unit 36 consecutively stacks ten normal bundles of 1,000 sheets (including the normal bundle F). The ten-bundle packaging section 37 wraps the ten consecutive bundles and discharges them as a ten-bundle seal C.

Next, processing by the inspection device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (see other figures as appropriate). FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing by the inspection device 2 of the embodiment.

First, in step S21, the inspection device 2 acquires the input 1,000 individual sheets A.

Next, in step S22, the inspection unit 204 inspects the 1,000 individual sheets A one by one.

Next, after various steps, in step S23, the 1,000-sheet sealing section 211 seals 1,000 sheets into one bundle.

Next, in step S24, the inspection machine control unit 201 determines whether all the 1,000 sheets are normal. If Yes, the process proceeds to step S25; if No, the process proceeds to step S26.

In step S25, the discharge unit 215 discharges the bundle as a normal bundle (in the front right direction in FIG. 4).

In step S26, the discharge unit 215 removes the bundle as an abnormal bundle (toward the front left in FIG. 4).

Next, in step S27, the inspection machine control unit 201 performs a process of associating the two-dimensional code Q of the dummy bundle D with abnormal bundle information (inspection information regarding an abnormality).

Next, in step S28, the discharge unit 215 discharges the dummy bundle D instead of the abnormal bundle (in the front right direction in FIG. 4).

Next, processing by the packaging device 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 (see other figures as appropriate). FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing by the packaging device 3 of the embodiment.

First, in step S31, the packaging device 3 acquires a group of 1,000-sheet bundles (1,000-sheet bundle B and dummy bundle D) inputted by the dedicated cart 4.

Next, in step S32, the packaging device 3 takes out one bundle from the 1,000-sheet bundle group (1,000-sheet bundle B and dummy bundle D). Each bundle taken out is transported by the bundle transport section 34.

Next, in step S33, the packaging machine control unit 31 determines whether or not the bundle is a dummy bundle D. If Yes, the process proceeds to step S34, and if No, the process proceeds to step S37. Note that the determination as to whether the bundle is a dummy bundle D or not is made based on the presence or absence of a two-dimensional code Q in the bundle, for example, using an image taken by a camera (not shown).

In step S34, the information reading unit 32 reads the two-dimensional code Q of the dummy bundle D.

Next, in step S35, the packaging machine control unit 31 determines whether the correspondence between the dummy bundle D and the replacement normal bundle F is correct based on the read information. Here, it is assumed that the determination result is OK. If the determination result is NG, the worker takes a predetermined response.

Next, in step S36, the worker replaces the dummy bundle D and the normal bundle F using the manual input section 35. Next, the process moves to step S37. Note that the order of step S35 and step S36 may be reversed.

In step S37, the ten-bundle packaging section 37 wraps each ten-bundle bundle and discharges it as a ten-bundle seal C.

As described above, according to the paper sheet processing system S of this embodiment, even if an abnormality occurs during the inspection of paper sheets, the serial number of the paper sheets can be maintained by using the dummy bundle D instead of the abnormal bundle. It is possible to suppress operation delays in subsequent steps in the packaging device 3 while observing the constraint of maintaining .

In addition, by using the two-dimensional code Q given in advance as identification information for the dummy bundle D, when an abnormality occurs during the inspection, by associating the inspection information with the two-dimensional code Q, replacement information is given to the ten-bundle seal C itself. can do.

The programs executed by the inspection device 2 and the packaging device 3 of this embodiment are files in an installable or executable format and can be stored on a CD (Compact Disc), ROM (Read Only Memory), or flexible disk (FD). , CD-R (Recordable), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), and the like can be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium. Further, the program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been described, this embodiment is presented by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

For example, in the packaging device 3, the replacement of the dummy bundle D and the normal bundle F is not limited to manual work by an operator, but may be performed automatically by providing a predetermined mechanism.

Furthermore, the identification information in the dummy bundle D is not limited to the two-dimensional code Q, but may also include information such as characters and symbols other than the two-dimensional code, or wireless tags such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). good. When using a wireless tag, the wireless tag and inspection information may be associated with each other, or the inspection information may be written in the wireless tag.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Management device, 2... Inspection device, 3... Packaging device, 4... Special trolley, 11... Information processing section, 12... Printer, 13... Keyboard/mouse, 14... Display monitor, 31... Packaging machine control section, 32... Information reading section, 33... Bundle supply section, 34... Bundle transport section, 35... Manual input section, 36... Ten bundle accumulation section, 37... Ten bundle packaging section, 201... Inspection machine control section, 202... Sending section, 203... Conveying section, 204... Inspection section, 205... Normal paper stacking section, 206... Abnormal paper stacking section, 207... Subsequent paper stacking section, 208... Defective paper stacking section, 209... Hundred sheet sealing section, 210... Hundred sheet bundle movement Part, 211... 1,000-piece sealing section, 212... 1,000-piece bundle moving section, 213... label pasting section, 214... dummy bundle storage section, 215... discharge section, A... 1,000-piece individual sheet, B... 1,000-piece bundle, C...Ten bundles sealed, D...Dummy bundle, E...Abnormal bundle, F...Normal bundle, G...Thousand bundle group, S...Paper sheet processing system

Claims (3)

A paper sheet processing system including an inspection device and a packaging device,
The inspection device includes:
a conveyance unit that conveys a predetermined number of input paper sheets with serial numbers one by one;
an inspection unit that inspects the paper sheets being conveyed by the conveyance unit;
a sealing unit that binds the predetermined number of paper sheets while maintaining the order of serial numbers to form a sealed bundle when there is no paper sheet that is determined to be abnormal by the inspection unit; ,
a storage section that stores an alternative bundle that has the same dimensions as the sealed bundle and has identification information attached thereto;
When there is a paper sheet that is determined to be abnormal by the inspection section, the identification information of the alternative bundle stored in the storage section and the inspection information of the paper sheet that has been determined to be abnormal. an abnormality processing unit that performs matching processing;
Discharging the sealed bundle bound by the sealing unit, and discharging the alternative bundle as a substitute for the sealed bundle consisting of the predetermined number of paper sheets including the paper leaf determined to be abnormal. A paper sheet processing system comprising: a discharge section; The paper sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a two-dimensional code. The packaging device includes:
an information reading unit that reads information on the two-dimensional code given to the inserted alternative bundle;
The paper according to claim 2, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the correspondence between the alternative bundle and the inserted normal sealed bundle is correct based on the read information read by the information reading unit. Foliage processing system.

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