JP2024055706A - Banknote conveyance system - Google Patents

Abstract

To continue the conveyance of banknotes even when the banknote jam occurs in a second banknote conveyance path (210) leading to a first banknote storage chamber (510) without stopping the conveyance of the banknotes.SOLUTION: Second banknote storage chambers (512 to 515) are provided in addition to a first banknote storage chamber (510). When the banknote jam occurs in a second banknote conveyance path (210), a conveyance route of banknotes is changed to a route leading to the second banknote storage chambers (512 to 515) from a route leading to the second banknote conveyance path (210) through a connection switching device (530) so as to convey the banknotes to the second banknote storage chamber (512) instead of the first banknote storage chamber (510).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a banknote transport system that transports banknotes and other sheet-like paper materials using an air flow generated in the transport path, and to a connection switching device that changes the transport route of banknotes when a problem occurs, and to a banknote transport system equipped with the connection switching device.

An example of this type of banknote transport system is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233996.
FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the state inside an amusement arcade 2 in which the banknote recovery and transport system 10 (see FIG. 27) according to Patent Document 1 is installed.
A number of gaming machine islands 3A-3D are arranged across an aisle inside the game parlor 2. The gaming machine island refers to a group of a plurality of sets of gaming ball dispensing machines 4 and gaming machines 5, each set consisting of a gaming ball dispensing machine 4 that dispenses gaming media (such as pachinko balls) to a player according to the amount of the inserted bill (or card) and a pachinko machine or other gaming machine 5, which are stored back-to-back in a horizontal row on the front and back sides, or to an area in which the group is arranged.

Inside each gaming machine island 3A-3D, there is provided an island-wide bill transport device 8 that takes in bills discharged from the back of each gaming ball dispenser 4 and transports them to the end of each gaming machine island 3A-3D. At the end of each gaming machine island 3A-3D, there is provided a relay box 6 that temporarily stores the bills transported by the island-wide bill transport device 8.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the bill collection and transport system 10 for collecting bills from the relay boxes 6 of each of the gaming machine islands 3A to 3D shown in FIG.
The banknote recovery and transport system 10 recovers banknotes from each relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3A-3D and transports them to a predetermined destination. For example, if each gaming machine island 3A-3D is installed on the first floor of the gaming facility 2 and the office is on the second floor, the banknote recovery and transport system 10 recovers banknotes from the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3A-3D installed on the first floor and transports the banknotes to the safe 11 in the office on the second floor, which is the destination.

As shown in Figure 27, the banknote recovery and transport system 10 comprises a safe 11, a transport pipe 12 that is piped so that it extends from the safe 11 to a lower floor, passes above each relay box 6, and returns to the safe 11 on the upper floor, an auxiliary transport device 13 that transports banknotes from the relay box 6 to the transport pipe 12 that passes above it, and a take-in device 14 that sends the banknotes transported from the relay box 6 by the auxiliary transport device 13 into the transport pipe 12 so that the paper surface of the banknote is oriented in the direction in which the transport pipe 12 extends.
The portion of the conveying pipe 12 that travels around the first floor where the game machine islands 3A-3D are arranged is installed above the ceiling of the first floor (or at a high position near the ceiling). In other words, the conveying pipe 12 is installed at a higher position than the area where people are active (playing games or passing by) in the game center 2, avoiding the area.
The banknote recovery and transport system 10 includes a transport auxiliary body 16 that moves within the transport tube 12 .

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the transport tube 12, and FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the state in which the transport auxiliary body 16 transports the banknotes P inside the transport tube 12.
As shown in FIG. 29, the transport auxiliary body 16 is composed of a cylindrical shaft, a cylindrical body 16a attached to each end of the shaft, and two cylindrical bodies 16c attached between the two cylindrical bodies 16a and having a larger diameter than the cylindrical bodies 16a.
As shown in FIG. 29, the conveying pipe 12 has an internal space through which the conveying aid 16 can pass.

In the banknote recovery and transport system 10, an air flow is generated in the transport tube 12, and the transport auxiliary body 16 receives wind pressure from this air flow and moves in the transport tube 12. The transport auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the transport tube 12 upstream of the banknote feeder 14, and captures the banknotes P that have been fed into the transport tube 12 via the banknote feeder 14, and pushes the banknotes P from behind to transport them downstream (the transport direction FW shown in FIG. 29 ).
In this banknote recovery and transport system 10, banknotes P sent out from the relay box 6 are transported upward by the sub-transport device 13, and then sent out into the transport tube 12 via the banknote intake device 14. The transport auxiliary body 16 is sent out from the safe 11 and travels around the transport tube 12, capturing banknotes P in the transport tube 12 during that time, and returns to the safe 11 together with the captured banknotes P. The banknotes P are then stored in the safe 11.

JP 2014-198617 A

According to the banknote collection and transport system 10 shown in Figures 26 to 29, banknotes P can be collected in each relay box 6 for each island 3A to 3D, and all banknotes P can be transported from each relay box 6 to the safe 11.
However, the transport of banknotes P using airflow has an unavoidable problem of banknote jamming inside the transport tube 12. Banknote jamming refers to a problem in which the banknotes P stick to the inner wall of the transport tube 12 due to the action of wind pressure, making it impossible for the transport auxiliary body 16 to push the banknotes P, or in which a strongly curved banknote P bends inside the transport tube 12, making it impossible for the transport auxiliary body 16 to push the banknotes P, and the banknotes P get jammed at that point.

In the banknote recovery and transport system 10, when such a banknote jam occurs at any one point in the transport tube 12, transport of the banknotes P to the safe 11 is suspended thereafter until the banknote jam is cleared.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional banknote collection and transport system 10, and aims to provide a banknote transport system that can deal with a banknote jam that occurs during banknote transport without completely interrupting the transport of banknotes.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a first banknote transport device (101-105) having a first banknote transport path (120) that transports banknotes inserted into a plurality of game media lending machines (4) from the game media lending machines, a first banknote storage chamber (510), and a second banknote transport device (201-202) having a second banknote transport path (210) that is connected to the first banknote transport path and transports banknotes transported via the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber, the first banknote transport device causes a first carrier (110) to run within the first banknote transport path by an air flow generated within the first banknote transport path, and transports banknotes (50) inserted into the first banknote transport path to the second banknote transport path by the first carrier, and the second banknote transport device uses air generated within the second banknote transport path to The banknote transport system (500) is configured to run a second carrier in the second banknote transport path by airflow, and transport banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by the second carrier. The banknote transport system (500) includes a second banknote storage chamber (512-515) provided in correspondence with the first banknote transport device, and a connection switching device (530) that switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber, or vice versa, and is characterized in that when transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path becomes impossible, the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path is switched to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber via the connection switching device.

The connection switching device (530) preferably includes, for example, a first connection duct (540) that connects the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote transport path (210) in a freely approachable and detachable manner, and a second connection duct (550) that connects the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote storage chamber (512-515) in a freely approachable and detachable manner. The first connection duct is preferably configured to move between a closed position in which one end is connected to the first banknote transport path and the other end is connected to the second banknote transport path, and an open position in which one end is connected to the first banknote transport path and is not connected to the second banknote transport path, and the second connection duct is preferably configured to move between a first position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end is connected to the first banknote transport path, and a second position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and is not connected to the first banknote transport path.

The connection switching device (530) includes, for example, a biasing member (553), a first stopper (551), and a second stopper (552), the first connection duct is rotatably connected to the first banknote transport path at one end, the first stopper (551) maintains the first connection duct in the closed position, the second connection duct is rotatably connected to the second banknote storage chamber at one end, and the biasing member (553) biases the second connection duct in a direction in which the second connection duct rotates to the first position. It is preferable that the second stopper (552) maintains the second connection duct in the second position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and that the first stopper first releases the first connection duct from maintaining the first connection duct in the closed position, causing the first connection duct to move to the open position by its own weight, and then the second stopper releases the second connection duct from maintaining the second connection duct in the second position, causing the second connection duct to move to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

The banknote transport system preferably includes a second biasing member (544) that applies a biasing force to the first connecting duct (540) in a direction in which the first connecting duct rotates to the open position.
It is preferable that a magnet (555) is arranged in at least one of the second connecting duct and the first banknote transport path, and the magnetic force of the magnet maintains the second connecting duct in the first position.
In this banknote transport system, for example, the first banknote transport path is provided with a switching duct (560) which switches the position of the banknote during transport, the switching duct has a duct body (563) having a banknote entrance (561) through which the banknote enters and a banknote exit (562) through which the banknote exits, the duct body has a spirally twisted shape between the banknote entrance and the banknote exit, and a banknote that enters the banknote entrance with its face positioned in a vertical plane passes through the duct body and exits from the banknote exit with its face positioned in a horizontal plane, and it is preferable that the switching duct is arranged upstream of the connection switching device (530) in the banknote transport direction.

It is preferable that the banknote transport system includes a banknote transport detection sensor (520) which transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible, and a control device (570) which operates the connection switching device (530) when it receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, thereby switching the connection between the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote transport path (210) to the connection between the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote storage chamber (512-515).
This banknote transport system comprises a banknote transport detection sensor (520) which transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible, and a control device (570) which, when receiving the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, operates the connection switching device and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber, and it is preferable that, when receiving the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, the control device first moves the first connecting duct to the open position and then moves the second connecting duct from the second position to the first position.

This banknote transport system includes a banknote transport detection sensor (520) that transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path is no longer possible, and a control device (570) that operates the connection switching device when it receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber. When the control device receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, it is preferable that the control device first releases the first stopper (551) from maintaining the first connecting duct in the closed position, thereby moving the first connecting duct to the open position by its own weight, and then releases the second stopper (552) from maintaining the second connecting duct in the second position, thereby moving the second connecting duct to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

The banknote transport system includes a banknote transport detection sensor (520) that transmits a detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path is no longer possible and that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path is now possible; a first drive means (580) that rotates the first connection duct between the closed position and the open position;
It is preferable to further include a control device (570) which drives the first driving means in response to a detection signal received from the banknote transport detection sensor.
It is preferable that the banknote transport system includes a banknote transport detection sensor (520) which emits a detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible and that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become possible, a second driving means (581) which rotates the second connecting duct between the first position and the second position, and a control device which drives the second driving means in response to the detection signal when it receives the detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor.

The present invention further provides a connection switching device used in a banknote transport system, the banknote transport system including a first banknote storage chamber that stores banknotes, a second banknote storage chamber that stores banknotes, a first banknote transport device that transports banknotes by air flow inside the first banknote transport path, and a second banknote transport device that transports banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by air flow inside the second banknote transport path, the connection switching device being configured to switch the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber when a banknote jam is detected in the second banknote transport path and transport of banknotes to the first banknote storage chamber is impossible.

The connection switching device switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path, for example, when a banknote jam in the second banknote transport path is cleared.
It is preferable that the connection switching device comprises a first connection duct which connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path in a manner that allows them to be brought into contact with and separated from each other, and a second connection duct which connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber in a manner that allows them to be brought into contact with and separated from each other, wherein the first connection duct moves between a closed position where it is connected to the first banknote transport path at one end and to the second banknote transport path at the other end, and an open position where it is connected to the first banknote transport path at one end and is not connected to the second banknote transport path, and the second connection duct moves between a first position where it is connected to the second banknote storage chamber at one end and to the first banknote transport path at the other end, and a second position where it is connected to the second banknote storage chamber at one end and is not connected to the first banknote transport path.

The connection switching device preferably includes, for example, a biasing member, a first stopper, and a second stopper, the first connection duct is rotatably connected to the first banknote transport path at one end, the first stopper maintains the first connection duct in the closed position, the second connection duct is rotatably connected to the second banknote storage chamber at one end, the biasing member applies a biasing force to the second connection duct in a direction in which the second connection duct rotates to the first position, and the second stopper maintains the second connection duct in the second position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and the first connection duct moves to the open position by its own weight when the first stopper first releases the first connection duct from being held in the closed position, and then the second stopper releases the second connection duct from being held in the second position, so that the second connection duct moves to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

The connection switching device preferably includes a second biasing member that applies a biasing force to the first connection duct in a direction in which the first connection duct rotates to the open position.
It is preferable that a magnet is disposed in at least one of the second connecting duct and the first banknote transport path, and the magnetic force of the magnet maintains the second connecting duct in the first position.
The reference symbols in parentheses are used to indicate the correspondence with the embodiments described later, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

In the conventional banknote recovery and transport system 10, if a banknote jam occurs at any point in the transport tube 12, the transport of banknotes P is completely stopped, and the transport of banknotes P to the safe 11 is suspended until the banknote jam is cleared.
In contrast, in the banknote transport system according to the present invention, even if a banknote jam occurs inside the second banknote transport path or the first banknote storage chamber, causing the first banknote storage chamber to be unable to accept banknotes, the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path via the first connecting duct is switched by the connection switching device to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the first banknote storage chamber via the second connecting duct.

Therefore, the banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path of the first banknote transport device are not sent to the second banknote transport path (hence the first banknote storage chamber) but are stored in the second banknote storage chamber. That is, it is possible to temporarily transport banknotes to the second banknote storage chamber instead of the first banknote storage chamber.
Thus, according to the banknote transport system 500 of this embodiment, even if a banknote jam occurs during the transport of the banknote 50, the destination of the banknote 50 can be changed by the connection switching device 530, so that the transport of the banknote 50 can be continued without being completely interrupted.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an entire banknote transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged across a plurality of islands. 1 is a front view of a banknote transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a plan view of a banknote transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above. 1 is a perspective view of a first banknote transport device arranged relative to a plurality of gaming ball dispensing machines and gaming machines; 4 is a perspective view of a first carrier used in the first banknote transport device as viewed from the front side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first carrier shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the rear side. 2 is a perspective view of a first banknote transport path used in the first banknote transport device. FIG.

11 is a perspective view showing the relative positions of a first carrier, banknotes, and a first banknote transport path. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the relative positions of a first carrier, banknotes, and a first banknote transport path. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second first banknote transport device. 1 is a front view of a connection switching device in a banknote transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the connection switching device shown in FIG. 11 as viewed from above. 12 is a bottom view of the connection switching device shown in FIG. 11 as viewed from below. FIG. 12 is a right side view of the connection switching device shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 12 is a left side view of the connection switching device shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the operation of the connection switching device. FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the operation of the connection switching device. FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing the operation of the connection switching device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and operation of a first connecting duct; 5 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and operation of a second connecting duct; FIG. FIG. Figure 22 (A) is a front view of the conversion duct shown in Figure 21 when viewed from the left side, Figure 22 (B) is a back view of the conversion duct when viewed from above, Figure 22 (C) is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 22 (B), Figure 22 (D) is a left side view of the conversion duct, Figure 22 (E) is a right side view of the conversion duct, and Figure 22 (F) is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface along line B-B in Figure 22 (A). FIG. 11 is a partial block diagram of a banknote transport system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and operation of a first connecting duct in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and operation of a second connecting duct in the third embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of an amusement arcade in which a conventional banknote collection and transport system is installed. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional banknote recovery and transport system. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport pipe in a conventional banknote recovery and transport system. 29 is a plan view showing a state in which a transport auxiliary body transports banknotes inside the transport tube shown in FIG. 28.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an entire banknote transport system 500 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is arranged across multiple islands; FIG. 2 is a front view of the banknote transport system 500 as viewed from the front; and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the multiple islands and the banknote transport system 500 as viewed from above.
The paper money transport system 500 includes first to fifth first paper money transport devices 101-105, a first paper money storage chamber 510, second paper money storage chambers 511-515, and first and second second paper money transport devices 201-202.
As shown in Fig. 1, first to fifth islands 501 to 505 are provided in the gaming center. As shown in Fig. 26, a plurality of sets of game ball dispensing machines and game machines are arranged in each of the first to fifth islands 501 to 505 (these are not shown in Fig. 1).

The first to fifth first bill transport devices 101-105 are disposed in the first to fifth islands 501-505, respectively. Each of the first bill transport devices 101-105 has a first bill transport path 120 (described later), and transports bills inserted into the game ball dispensing machine to the end of each island via the first bill transport path 120. The first to fifth first bill transport devices 101-105 are mutually identical.
The first bill storage chamber 510 consists of two identical bill storage chambers 510A and 510B. The first bill storage chamber 510 is disposed only at an end of the first island 501, and the second bill storage chambers 511-515 are disposed at the ends of the first to fifth islands 501-505, respectively.

1 and 2, one second banknote transport device is provided for two first banknote transport devices. Specifically, a second banknote transport device 201 corresponds to the first banknote transport devices 102 and 104, and a second banknote transport device 202 corresponds to the first banknote transport devices 103 and 105. Each of the second banknote transport devices 201 and 202 has a second banknote transport path 210, which is composed of one main transport path 210A and two sub-transport paths 210B1 and 210B2.
The first banknote transport path 120 of the fourth first banknote transport device 104 is connected to the main transport path 210A via the sub-transport path 210B1, and the first banknote transport path 120 of the second first banknote transport device 102 is connected to the main transport path 210A via the sub-transport path 210B2. Similarly, the first banknote transport path 120 of the fifth first banknote transport device 105 is connected to the main transport path 210A via the sub-transport path 210B1, and the first banknote transport path 120 of the third first banknote transport device 103 is connected to the main transport path 210A via the sub-transport path 210B2. In this way, the four first banknote transport devices 102-105 other than the first first banknote transport device 101 are connected to the main transport path 210A via the sub-transport path 210B1 or the sub-transport path 210B2, and the first first banknote transport device 101 is connected only to the second banknote storage chamber 511 and is not connected to the main transport path 210A.

As described below, a carrier sending device is disposed at one end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the main transport path 210A, and the second carrier is discharged into the main transport path 210A by the carrier sending device. The other end (the right end in FIG. 2) of the main transport path 210A is connected to the first banknote storage chamber 510A (or the first banknote storage chamber 510B). The main transport path 210A is connected to two sub-transport paths 210B1 and 210B2 between its one end and the other end.
Banknotes transported via the first banknote transport path 120 of each of the first banknote transport devices 102, 104 are transported to the first banknote storage chamber 510A via the second banknote transport path 210 of the second banknote transport device 201, and banknotes transported via the first banknote transport path 120 of each of the first banknote transport devices 103, 105 are transported to the first banknote storage chamber 510B via the second banknote transport path 210 of the second banknote transport device 202.

In the banknote transport system according to this embodiment, each of the first to fifth first banknote transport devices 101-105 generates an air flow in the first to fifth first banknote transport paths 120, and this air flow causes a first carrier (described later) to run in the first to fifth first banknote transport paths 120. A banknote inserted into the first to fifth first banknote transport paths 120 is captured from the rear by the first carrier, and is transported while being pushed from the rear by the first carrier. The banknote captured by the first carrier is transported to the second banknote storage chamber 511 in the first first banknote transport device 101, and to the second banknote transport path 210 in the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105.

The second banknote transport device 201-202 generates an air flow in the second banknote transport path 210, and this air flow causes the second carrier to run in the second banknote transport path 210. The banknotes transported from each of the second to fifth first banknote transport paths 120 to the second banknote transport path 210 are transported by the second carrier to the first banknote storage chamber 510 (510A or 510B).
Below, the first to fifth first banknote transport devices 101-105 will be described, followed by the first and second second banknote transport devices 201-202. Since the first to fifth first banknote transport devices 101-105 have the same structure, the first first banknote transport device 101 will be described as a representative thereof. Also, since the first and second second banknote transport devices 201-202 have the same structure, only the first second banknote transport device 201 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first bill transport device 101 arranged for a plurality of game ball dispensing machines 4 and game machines 5 (the first bill storage chamber 510 is not shown).
The first banknote transport device 101 includes a first banknote transport path 120 that forms a path along which banknotes are transported, a first blower 112a that generates an air flow (wind) and sends the air flow into the first banknote transport path 120, a second blower 112b (not shown in FIG. 4) that sends an air flow into the first banknote transport path 120 in the opposite direction to that of the first blower 112a, and a first carrier 110 that receives the air flows generated by the first blower 112a and the second blower 112b and travels back and forth within the first banknote transport path 120.
The first blower 112a is disposed at one end of the first banknote transport path 120 (the right end in FIG. 4), and the second blower 112b is disposed at the other end of the first banknote transport path 120 (the left end in FIG. 4).

The second banknote storage chamber 511 is located at the other end (the left end in Figure 4) of the first banknote transport path 120, and banknotes inserted into the gaming ball lending machine 4 installed next to the gaming machine 5 are transported through the first banknote transport path 120 by the first carrier 110 and stored in the second banknote storage chamber 511.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first carrier 110 used in the first banknote transport device 101 as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first carrier 110 as viewed from the rear side.
As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first carrier 110 is "bullet" shaped, and specifically, is composed of a cylindrical main body portion 110a and a hemispherical rear portion 110b formed continuously with the main body portion 110a on the rear side of the main body portion 110a.

The first carrier 110 pushes the banknotes on the front surface 110c of the main body portion 110a to transport the banknotes. The front surface 110c has a flat shape. A plurality of protrusions 110d of the same shape are formed at equal intervals along the circumference of the front surface 110c of the main body portion 110a. The banknotes are sandwiched between two adjacent protrusions 110d to hold the banknotes. The protrusions 110d have, for example, a hemispherical shape.
The first carrier 110 moves toward the second banknote storage chamber 511 by receiving the air flow (wind) from the first blower 112a at the rear portion 110b, and also moves toward the first blower 112a by receiving the air flow from the second blower 112b.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the first banknote transport path 120 used in the first banknote transport device 101. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the relative positions of the first carrier 110, the banknotes 50, and the first banknote transport path 120.
As shown in FIG. 7, the first bill transport path 120 is made up of a first area 120a and a second area 120b.
The first area 120a has a vertically long rectangular shape, and its height is such that, assuming that a banknote 50 has a short side 50a and a long side 50b (see Figure 8), the short side 50a of the banknote 50 can pass through.
The second region 120b has a circular cross section and is set to a size (radius) that allows the first carrier 110 to pass through.

The first region 120a and the second region 120b partially overlap each other, and the first region 120a passes through the center of the second region 120b and protrudes in the up and down directions from the second region 120b.
9 , the first carrier 110 presses the short side 50a of the banknote 50 with its front surface 110c, and transports the banknote 50 inside the first banknote transport path 120. The banknote 50 passes through a first region 120a of the first banknote transport path 120, and the first carrier 110 passes through a second region 120b of the first banknote transport path 120.
In this way, only banknotes 50 can pass through the first area 120a, and the first carrier 110 cannot pass through the first area 120a (to be precise, the first carrier 110 cannot pass through the part of the first area 120a that protrudes upward and downward from the second area 120b).

4, in the first first banknote transport device 101, the first banknote transport path 120 is connected to the second banknote storage chamber 511. Therefore, the banknote 50 inserted from the game ball dispensing machine 4 to the first banknote transport path 120 is transported by the first carrier 110 to the second banknote storage chamber 511 and stored in the second banknote storage chamber 511.
In contrast to this, in the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105, as shown in FIG. 2, each first banknote transport path 120 is connected to the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2 of the second banknote transport path 210, rather than to the second banknote storage chambers 512-515.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the second first banknote transport device 102 as a representative of the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105.

As shown in Figure 10, in the second first banknote transport device 102, the first banknote transport path 120 is connected to the sub-transport path 210B2 of the second banknote transport path 210, and the sub-transport path 210B2 is connected to the main transport path 210A via the banknote relay device 215.
In this way, in the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105, the banknotes 50 inserted into each first banknote transport path 120 from the game ball lending machine 4 are transported by the first carrier 110 via the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2 of the second banknote transport path 210 to the banknote relay device 215, and then inserted into the inside of the main transport path 210A via the banknote relay device 215.
As the first to fifth first banknote transport devices 101-105, for example, the device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-17470 can be used.

Since the first and second second banknote transport devices 201-202 have the same structure, the first second banknote transport device 201 will be described below.
1 and 2, the second banknote transport device 201 includes a second banknote transport path 210 that transports the banknotes 50 transported from each first banknote transport path 120 to a first banknote storage chamber 510A, a third blower 112c (see FIG. 2) that generates an air flow (wind) and sends the air flow into the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210, a fourth blower 112d (see FIG. 2) that sends an air flow in the opposite direction to that of the third blower 112c into the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210, and a second blower 112c that receives the air flows generated by the third blower 112c and the fourth blower 112d and travels back and forth within the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210. 2 ), a carrier sending out device 220 that is connected to one end (the left end in the second banknote transport device 201 in FIG. 2 , and the right end in the second banknote transport device 202 in FIG. 2 ) of the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210 and sends the second carrier into the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210, and a carrier sending back device 230 that is connected to the other end (the right end in the second banknote transport device 201 in FIG. 2 , and the left end in the second banknote transport device 202 in FIG. 2 ) of the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210 and sends the second carrier, which has transported banknotes 50 to the first banknote storage chamber 510A, back to the carrier sending out device 220.

The second carrier has the same structure as the first carrier 110 .
The carrier sending-out device 220 sends the second carriers one by one into the main transport path 210A by using an air flow generated by the third blower 112c. As the carrier sending-out device 220, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-17471 is used.
The carrier sending-back device 230 temporarily stores the second carriers that have transported the banknotes 50 to the first banknote storage chamber 510A until a predetermined number of them are stored, and when the stored second carriers reach the predetermined number, they are collectively sent back to the carrier sending-out device 220 by the air flow generated by the fourth blower 112d. For example, the carrier sending-back device 230 described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-17470 is used.

The second carrier receives the airflow from the third blower 112c and transports the banknotes 50 to the first banknote storage chamber 510A inside the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210. The second carrier is stored in the carrier return device 230, and only the banknotes 50 are sent into the first banknote storage chamber 510A. For example, the first banknote storage chamber 510A may be one described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-17476.
As described above, the banknotes 50 transported to the first and second second banknote transport devices 201-202 by the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105 run through the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2 and the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210, and are ultimately stored in the first banknote storage chambers 510A, 510B.
A problem that frequently occurs in the banknote transport device is a banknote jam in the banknote transport path. When a banknote jam occurs, it becomes impossible to transport the banknote in the banknote transport path until the banknote jam is cleared, and therefore it becomes impossible to store the banknote in the first banknote storage chamber 510A, 510B.

To deal with such problems, the banknote transport system 500 according to this embodiment is provided with a connection switching device 530. The connection switching device 530 has a function of switching the connection between each of the second to fifth first banknote transport paths 120 and the second banknote transport path 210 to the connection between each of the second to fifth first banknote transport paths 120 and the second banknote storage chambers 512-515.
11 to 15 are a front view, a plan view seen from above, a bottom view seen from below, a right side view, and a left side view, respectively, of the connection switching device 530. Figures 16 to 18 are partial side views showing the operation of the connection switching device 530.

The connection switching device 530 includes a first connection duct 540 and a second connection duct 550 .
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and operation of the first connecting duct 540 (to avoid cluttering the drawing, only the first connecting duct 540 is shown, and the second connecting duct 550 and surrounding objects are not shown).
The first connecting duct 540 has a quadrant shape, one end of which (the right end in FIG. 19) is rotatably connected to the first banknote transport path 120, and the other end of which (the left end in FIG. 19) is detachably connected to the sub transport path 210B1 (210B2). The first connecting duct 540 rotates relative to the first banknote transport path 120, thereby transitioning between a closed position (position shown in FIG. 19A) in which the duct is connected to the sub transport path 210B1 (210B2) and an open position (position shown in FIG. 19B) in which the duct is open to the sub transport path 210B1 (210B2) and not connected to the sub transport path 210B1 (210B2).

The first connection duct 540 has a first protrusion 541, a second protrusion 542 and a third protrusion 543 on its outer wall, all of which protrude outward.
The first protrusion 541 is formed near the tip of the first connecting duct 540. A first solenoid 551 serving as a first stopper is provided near the tip of the first connecting duct 540, and the first protrusion 541 is engaged with a movable iron core 551A of the first solenoid 551, thereby maintaining the first connecting duct 540 in the closed position (the position shown in FIG. 19(A)).
A protrusion 124 that protrudes outward is formed on the first banknote transport path 120, and a tension spring 544 is stretched between the protrusion 124 and the second protrusion 542. The tension spring 544 applies a biasing force to the first connection duct 540 in a direction in which the first connection duct 540 rotates, i.e., in a direction in which the first connection duct 540 moves from the closed position (the position shown in FIG. 19(A)) to the open position (FIG. 19(B)).

When the first solenoid 551 is energized, a coil built in the main body 551B generates a magnetic force, which attracts the movable iron core 551A to the inside of the main body 551B. As a result, the engagement between the first protrusion 541 and the movable iron core 551A is released, and the first connecting duct 540 receives the biasing force of the tension spring 544 and rotates from the closed position to the open position.
A stopper 175 is disposed on the outer surface of the first banknote transport path 120, and when the first connecting duct 540 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the tip of the third protrusion 543 abuts against the stopper 175. The banknote transport system 500 is provided with a rotation detection switch (not shown, see FIG. 23 ) that detects the rotation of the first connecting duct 540 from the closed position to the open position, and when the first connecting duct 540 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the rotation detection switch emits a rotation detection signal.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing an image of the structure and operation of the second connecting duct 550 (to avoid cluttering the drawing, only the second connecting duct 550 is shown, and the first connecting duct 540 and surrounding objects are not shown).
The second connection duct 550 has a curved shape of a quarter circle or a semicircle, and is connected at one end (the lower end in FIG. 20) to the entrance 512A of the second banknote storage chamber 512 (taking the second banknote storage chamber 512 as an example representing the four second banknote storage chambers 512-515) so as not to leave a gap (i.e., so that the banknote 50 being transported is not discharged to the outside), and at the other end (the upper end in FIG. 20) is detachably connected to the first banknote transport path 120. The second connection duct 550 can rotate between a first position (position shown in FIG. 20B) where it is connected to the first banknote transport path 120 and a second position (position shown in FIG. 20A) where it is not connected to the first banknote transport path 120 by rotating about the entrance 512A of the second banknote storage chamber 512 as a base point. For example, the second connecting duct 550 has a portion at its lower end that is nested relative to the entrance 512A of the second banknote storage chamber 512, and this nested portion moves in conjunction with the rotation of the second connecting duct 550, allowing the second connecting duct 550 to rotate relative to the second banknote storage chamber 512 without creating a gap between the second connecting duct 550 and the second banknote storage chamber 512.

A protrusion 126 that protrudes outward is formed on the first banknote transport path 120, and a tension spring 553 is hung between the protrusion 126 and the outer wall of the second connection duct 550. The tension spring 553 applies a biasing force to the second connection duct 550 in a direction in which the second connection duct 550 rotates, i.e., in a direction in which the second connection duct 550 moves from the second position (the position shown in FIG. 20A) to the first position (the position shown in FIG. 20B).
The second connection duct 550 has an outwardly protruding projection 554. The projection 554 is formed in the vicinity of the tip of the second connection duct 550.
A second solenoid 552 serving as a second stopper is installed adjacent to the first solenoid 551 near the tip of the second connecting duct 550, and the protrusion 554 is engaged with the movable iron core 552A of the second solenoid 552, so that the second connecting duct 550 is maintained in the second position (the position shown in Figure 20 (A)) against the biasing force of the tension spring 553.

Similarly to the first solenoid 551, when the second solenoid 552 is energized, a coil built in the main body 552B generates a magnetic force, which attracts the movable iron core 552A to the inside of the main body 552B. As a result, the engagement between the protrusion 554 and the movable iron core 552A is released, and the second connecting duct 550 receives the biasing force of the tension spring 553 and rotates from the second position to the first position.
Hereinafter, the operation of the connection switching device 530 including the first connection duct 540 and the second connection duct 550 will be described with reference to FIGS.
When there is no banknote jam in the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510 and the banknotes 50 are transported smoothly, as shown in Figure 16, the first connecting duct 540 is in the closed position (Figure 19 (A)), the first banknote transport path 120 and the sub-transport path 210B1 (210B2) are connected via the first connecting duct 540, and further, the second connecting duct 550 is in the second position (Figure 20 (A)), and the second banknote storage chamber 512 and the first banknote transport path 120 are not connected.

When a banknote jam occurs in either the main transport path 210A and the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2 that constitute the second banknote transport path 210, or inside the first banknote storage chamber 510 (when a banknote jam occurs, banknotes 50 stop moving inside the second banknote transport path 210, so the occurrence of a banknote jam can be confirmed visually), the first solenoid 551 is activated.
When the first solenoid 551 is activated, the engagement between the first protrusion 541 and the movable iron core 551A of the first solenoid 551 is released, and the first connecting duct 540 rotates from the closed position (FIG. 19(A)) to the open position (FIG. 19(B)) as shown in FIG. 17 due to the biasing force of the tension spring 544.
When the first connecting duct 540 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the rotation detection signal transmitted by the rotation detection switch 125 (see FIG. 23) indicates that the first connecting duct 540 has been rotated to the open position. After this, the second solenoid 552 is energized.

When the second solenoid 552 is activated, the engagement between the protrusion 554 and the movable iron core 552A of the second solenoid 552 is released, and the second connecting duct 550 rotates from the second position (FIG. 20A) to the first position (FIG. 20B) as shown in FIG. 18 due to the biasing force of the tension spring 553.
By the operation of the first connecting duct 540 and the second connecting duct 550 described above, the transport route of the banknote 50 is changed from the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote transport path 210 (sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2) to a route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote storage chamber 512.

13 and 14, a switching duct 560 is connected to the connection switching device 530. Specifically, the first bill transport path 120 is connected to the connection switching device 530 via the switching duct 560.
Figure 21 is an oblique view of the conversion duct 560, Figure 22(A) is a front view of the conversion duct 560 shown in Figure 21 when viewed from the left side, Figure 22(B) is a back view of the conversion duct 560 when viewed from above, Figure 22(C) is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 22(B), Figure 22(D) is a left side view of the conversion duct 560, Figure 22(E) is a right side view of the conversion duct 560, and Figure 22(F) is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface along line B-B in Figure 22(A).
The conversion duct 560 includes a duct body 563 having a bill entrance 561 through which the bills 50 enter and a bill exit 562 through which the bills 50 exit.

The duct body 563 has a spirally twisted shape between the banknote entrance 561 and the banknote exit 562. Therefore, the switching duct 560 has a function of switching the direction of the transported banknotes 50. Specifically, the banknotes 50 that enter the banknote entrance 561 so that the face of the banknote 50 is positioned in a vertical plane pass through the duct body 563 and exit from the banknote exit 562 so that the face of the banknote 50 is positioned in a horizontal plane.
The banknote 50 passes through the banknote entrance 561 and the banknote exit 562 of the duct main body 563 by the first carrier 110, and is then transported to the banknote relay device 215 via the sub-transport paths 210B1 and 210B2 of the second banknote transport path 210, and then is inserted into the main transport path 210A via the banknote relay device 215.

In this manner, the bill 50 passes through the first connecting duct 540 and the second connecting duct 550 with its surface positioned in a horizontal plane.
The connection switching device 530 having the above-mentioned configuration is used as follows.
When there is no banknote jam inside the second banknote transport path 210 (the main transport path 210A and the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2), the banknote 50 is sent from the first banknote transport path 120 of the first banknote transport device 101 via the first connecting duct 540 to the second banknote transport path 210 (the sub-transport paths 210B1, 210B2) and transported to the first banknote storage chambers 510A, 510B.
When a banknote jam occurs inside the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510, the first connecting duct 540 is moved from the closed position (Figure 19 (A)) to the open position (Figure 19 (B)), and the connection between the first banknote transport path 120 and the second banknote transport path 210 is released.

Thereafter, the second connecting duct 550 is rotated from the second position (FIG. 20(A)) to the first position (FIG. 20(B)), and the second banknote storage chamber 512 and the first banknote transport path 120 are connected via the second connecting duct 550.
Therefore, the banknotes 50 transported from the first banknote transport path 120 of the first banknote transport device 101 are not sent to the second banknote transport path 210 , but are stored in the second banknote storage chamber 512 .
When the jammed banknote inside the second banknote transport path 210 is cleared, the reverse operation to the above is executed. That is, the second connection duct 550 is rotated from the first position (FIG. 20(B)) to the second position (FIG. 20(A)), and the protrusion 554 is engaged with the movable iron core 552A of the second solenoid 552. Thereafter, the first connection duct 540 is rotated from the open position (FIG. 19(B)) to the closed position (FIG. 19(A)), and the first protrusion 541 is engaged with the movable iron core 551A of the first solenoid 551.

The banknote transport system 500 according to this embodiment has the following advantages.
In the conventional banknote recovery and transport system 10, when a banknote jam occurs at any one point in the transport tube 12, the transport of banknotes P is completely stopped, and the transport of banknotes P to the safe 11 is suspended until the banknote jam is cleared.
In contrast, in the banknote transport system 500 according to this embodiment, when a banknote jam occurs inside the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510, the connection between the first banknote transport path 120 and the second banknote transport path 210 via the first connecting duct 540 is switched by the connection switching device 530 to a connection between the first banknote transport path 120 and the second banknote storage chamber 512 via the second connecting duct 550.
Therefore, the banknotes 50 transported from the first banknote transport path 120 of the first banknote transport device 101 are not sent to the second banknote transport path 210 , but are stored in the second banknote storage chamber 512 .

Thus, according to the banknote transport system 500 of this embodiment, even if a banknote jam occurs during the transport of the banknote 50, the destination of the banknote 50 can be changed by the connection switching device 530, so that the transport of the banknote 50 can be continued without being completely interrupted.
Conventionally, the banknotes 50 were collected for each island 501-505, so in order to collect all the banknotes 50, it was necessary to go around the second banknote storage chambers 511-515 of the islands 501-505 one by one.
In contrast, in the banknote transport system 500 according to the present embodiment, if no banknote jamming occurs, the banknotes 50 are ultimately accommodated in the first banknote storage chambers 510A, 510B by the second to fifth first banknote transport devices 102-105 and the first to second second banknote transport devices 201-202. In this manner, the banknotes 50 collected in each island 501-505 are accommodated in the first banknote storage chambers 510A, 510B, so that collection of all the banknotes 50 can be performed in one place, the first island 501 where the first banknote storage chambers 510A, 510B are provided, and the time and labor required for collection of all the banknotes 50 can be significantly reduced.

In a large amusement center with 20 or 30 or more islands, it takes a lot of time and effort to go around each island to collect the bills, but according to the bill transport system 500 of this embodiment, for example, bills 50 from about 10 islands can be consolidated into the first bill storage chamber of one island (for example, the first bill storage chambers 510A and 510B of the first island 501). Therefore, in an amusement center with 30 islands, all bills 50 can be consolidated into the first bill storage chambers of three islands, and it is not necessary to go around the second bill storage chambers of the 30 islands, and it is possible to collect all bills 50 by going around only the three islands with the first bill storage chambers. In this way, the time and effort required for bill collection can be reduced to about 1/10. In particular, the time and effort required for all bill collection can be significantly reduced in an amusement center with many islands.

The banknote transport system 500 according to this embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications are possible.
In the banknote transport system 500 according to this embodiment, the first banknote storage chamber 510 is disposed in the first island 501, but the location of the first banknote storage chamber 510 is not limited to the first island 501. It may be disposed in any of the second to fifth islands 502-505, or may be disposed on a floor above or below the floor on which the first to fifth islands 501-505 are disposed.
When the second connecting duct 550 rotates to the first position (FIG. 20B), the second connecting duct 550 and the first banknote transport path 120 are maintained in a connected state by the tension of the tension spring 553. However, in order to make the connection between the second connecting duct 550 and the first banknote transport path 120 more reliable, it is also possible to attach a magnet 555 to the first banknote transport path 120 side, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18.

By arranging the magnet 555, if the second connection duct 550 is made of iron or other metal that reacts to magnetism, the second connection duct 550 can be connected to the first banknote transport path 120 more reliably.
The magnet 555 may be arranged in the second connecting duct 550 instead of on the first banknote transport path 120 side, or it may be arranged in both the first banknote transport path 120 and the second connecting duct 550.
The first connecting duct 540 moves from the closed position to the open position by the tension of the tension spring 544, but if the engagement between the first protrusion 541 and the first solenoid 551 is released, the first connecting duct 540 can rotate from the closed position to the open position by its own weight, so the tension spring 544 can be used only when necessary.

Second Embodiment
In the banknote transport system 500 according to the first embodiment, the presence or absence of a banknote jam inside the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510 is determined by, for example, visual inspection, but it is possible to automate the determination of the presence or absence of a banknote jam. The banknote transport system 600 according to the second embodiment automates the determination of the presence or absence of a banknote jam, and automatically operates the connection switching device 530 when a banknote jam occurs.
FIG. 23 is a partial block diagram of a banknote transport system 600 according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 23, compared to the banknote transport system 500 according to the first embodiment, the banknote transport system 600 is provided with one or more banknote transport detection sensors 520 which emit a trouble detection signal when it detects that a banknote jam has occurred in the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510, i.e., that transport of banknotes 50 in the second banknote transport path 210 has become impossible, and a control device 570 which operates the connection switching device 530 when it receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor 520.
Specifically, when the control device 570 receives a trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor 520, it activates the first solenoid 551 and the second solenoid 552, and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path 120 and the second banknote transport path 210 via the first connecting duct 540 to the connection between the first banknote transport path 120 and the second banknote storage chamber 512 via the second connecting duct 550.

The banknote transport detection sensor 520 is disposed at a plurality of locations on the sub-transport paths 210B1-210B2 and the main transport path 210A constituting the second banknote transport path 210 and inside the first banknote storage chamber 510, particularly at locations where banknote jamming is likely to occur based on the usage data of the banknote transport system up to now. For example, a banknote jamming is likely to occur at a location where the banknote 50 is sent from the banknote relay device 215 to the main transport path 210A of the second banknote transport path 210, and therefore the banknote transport detection sensor 520 is disposed downstream of the banknote relay device 215 in the transport direction of the banknote 50.
The banknote transport system 600 according to this embodiment operates as follows.
When the paper money transport detection sensor 520 detects the occurrence of a paper money jam in the second paper money transport path 210 or the first paper money storage chamber 510 , it transmits a trouble detection signal to the control device 570 .

The control device 570, which has received the trouble detection signal, energizes the first solenoid 551. This energization releases the engagement between the first protrusion 541 of the first connecting duct 540 and the first solenoid 551, so that the first connecting duct 540 rotates from the closed position ( FIG. 19(A) ) to the open position ( FIG. 19(B) ).
When the first connection duct 540 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the third protrusion 543 abuts against the stopper 175 , and the rotation detection switch 125 transmits a rotation detection signal to the control device 570 .
The control device 570, which has received the rotation detection signal, energizes the second solenoid 552. This energization releases the engagement between the protrusion 554 of the second connecting duct 550 and the second solenoid 552, so that the second connecting duct 550 rotates from the second position (FIG. 20A) to the first position (FIG. 20B).

As a result, the transport route of the banknotes 50 is switched from the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote transport path 210 to the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote storage chamber 512. Thereafter, the banknotes 50 are stored in the second banknote storage chamber 512.
As described above, according to the banknote transport system 600 of this embodiment, if a banknote jam occurs in the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510, the banknote transport detection sensor 520 and the control device 570 work together to switch the transport route of the banknote 50, so that it is possible to continue transporting the banknote 50 without manually operating the first connecting duct 540 and the second connecting duct 550.

Third Embodiment
In the banknote conveying system 600 according to the second embodiment, the control device 570 activates the first solenoid 551 and the second solenoid 552 to automatically rotate the first connecting duct 540 from the closed position to the open position and the second connecting duct 550 from the second position to the first position, respectively. However, the operations of transitioning the second connecting duct 550 from the first position to the second position and the first connecting duct 540 from the open position to the closed position, respectively, had to be performed manually.
The banknote transport system according to the third embodiment makes it possible to automatically perform such an operation.
24 and 25 are schematic diagrams showing the structure and operation of the first connecting duct 540 and the second connecting duct 550 in this embodiment, respectively.

24 , the first connection duct 540 is connected at the lowest point of one end (the right end in FIG. 24 ) to the first banknote transport path 120 via a pin 545. Therefore, the first connection duct 540 is rotatable with respect to the first banknote transport path 120 around the pin 545.
The pin 545 is connected to a rotating shaft of a first step motor 580 serving as a first driving means, and rotates according to the direction and amount of rotation of the rotating shaft of the first step motor 580. The first connecting duct 540 is fixed to the pin 545, and when the pin 545 rotates, the first connecting duct 540 rotates in the same direction and by the same amount as the rotation of the pin 545. Therefore, the first connecting duct 540 is driven by the first step motor 580 to rotate between a closed position (position in FIG. 24(A)) and an open position (position in FIG. 24(B)).

A banknote transport detection sensor 520 (see Figure 23) is arranged in the second banknote transport path 210 and the first banknote storage chamber 510, and emits a detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path 210 is no longer possible and that transport of banknotes in the first banknote storage chamber 510 is now possible.
25 , the second connection duct 550 is connected at the uppermost point of one end (the right end in FIG. 25 ) to the first banknote transport path 120 via a pin 556. Therefore, the second connection duct 550 is rotatable relative to the first banknote transport path 120 around the pin 556.
The pin 556 is connected to a rotating shaft of a second step motor 581 serving as a second driving means, and rotates according to the direction and amount of rotation of the rotating shaft of the second step motor 581. The second connecting duct 550 is fixed to the pin 556, and when the pin 556 rotates, the second connecting duct 550 rotates in the same direction and by the same amount as the rotation of the pin 556. Therefore, the second connecting duct 550 is driven by the second step motor 581 to rotate between a first position (the position in FIG. 25(B)) and a second position (the position in FIG. 24(A)).

The operation of both the first step motor 580 and the second step motor 581 is controlled by a control device 570 (see FIG. 23).
The banknote transport system according to this embodiment operates as follows.
When the paper money transport detection sensor 520 detects the occurrence of a paper money jam in the second paper money transport path 210 or the first paper money storage chamber 510 , it transmits a trouble detection signal to the control device 570 .
The control device 570 that receives the trouble detection signal operates the first step motor 580 to rotate the first connecting duct 540 from the closed position (FIG. 24A) to the open position (FIG. 24B).

When the first connection duct 540 rotates from the closed position to the open position, the third protrusion 543 abuts against the stopper 175 , and the rotation detection switch 125 transmits a rotation detection signal to the control device 570 .
The control device 570 that receives the rotation detection signal operates the second step motor 581 to rotate the second connection duct 550 from the second position (FIG. 25(A)) to the first position (FIG. 25(B)).
As a result, the transport route of the banknotes 50 is switched from the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote transport path 210 to the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote storage chamber 512. Thereafter, the banknotes 50 are stored in the second banknote storage chamber 512.
When a banknote jam in the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510 is cleared, the banknote transport detection sensor 520 transmits a trouble clearance detection signal to the control device 570 .

The control device 570 that receives the trouble-solved detection signal operates the second step motor 581 to rotate the second connection duct 550 from the first position (FIG. 25(B)) to the second position (FIG. 25(A)).
Next, the control device 570 operates the first step motor 580 to rotate the first connecting duct 540 from the open position (FIG. 24B) to the closed position (FIG. 24A).
As a result, the transport route of the banknote 50 is switched from the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote storage chamber 512 to the route from the first banknote transport path 120 to the second banknote transport path 210. Thereafter, the banknote 50 is transported along the second banknote transport path 210, and is finally stored in the first banknote storage chamber 510.

As described above, according to the banknote transport system of this embodiment, when a banknote jam occurs in the second banknote transport path 210 or the first banknote storage chamber 510, the transport route of the banknotes 50 is switched as in the second embodiment, and when the banknote jam is cleared, the transport route of the banknotes 50 is returned to the original route. In this way, it is possible to automatically stop the transport of the banknotes 50 to the first banknote storage chamber 510, transport the banknotes 50 to the second banknote storage chamber 512, and resume the transport of the banknotes 50 to the first banknote storage chamber 510, without manually operating the first connecting duct 540 and the second connecting duct 550.
The banknote transport system 500 according to the present embodiment can be used not only in pachinko machines but also in any gaming machine involving transport of banknotes. For example, the system can be used in slot machines in addition to pachinko machines.

101-105 First banknote transport device 110 First carrier 120 First banknote transport path 201-202 Second banknote transport device 500 Banknote transport system 510 according to the first embodiment First banknote storage chamber 512-515 Second banknote storage chamber 530 Connection switching device 540 First connection duct 550 Second connection duct 600 Banknote transport system 520 according to the second embodiment Banknote transport detection sensor 570 Control device

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a first banknote transport device (101-105) having a first banknote transport path (120) for transporting banknotes inserted into a plurality of game medium lending machines (4) from the game medium lending machines, a first banknote storage chamber (510), and a second banknote transport device (201-202) having a second banknote transport path (210) connected to the first banknote transport path and for transporting banknotes transported via the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber, the first banknote transport device causing a first carrier (110) to travel within the first banknote transport path by an air flow generated within the first banknote transport path, The banknote transport system (500) transports a banknote (50) input into the first banknote transport path to the second banknote transport path by the first carrier, and the second banknote transport device causes a second carrier to run in the second banknote transport path by an air flow generated in the second banknote transport path, and transports the banknote transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by the second carrier. and a connection switching device (530) for switching the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber or vice versa, and when transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path becomes impossible, the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path is switched to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber via the connection switching device, and the connection switching device (530) includes a first connection duct (540) for connecting the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote transport path (210) in a freely approachable and detachable manner, a second connection duct (550) for connecting the first banknote transport path (120) and the second banknote storage chamber (512-515) in a freely approachable and detachable manner, the first connecting duct transitions between a closed position in which one end is connected to the first banknote transport path and the other end is connected to the second banknote transport path, and an open position in which one end is connected to the first banknote transport path and not connected to the second banknote transport path, and the second connecting duct transitions between a first position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end is connected to the first banknote transport path, and a second position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and not connected to the first banknote transport path .

It is preferable that the banknote transport system comprises a banknote transport detection sensor (520) which emits a detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible and that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become possible, a first driving means (580) which rotates the first connecting duct between the closed position and the open position, and a control device (570) which drives the first driving means in response to the detection signal when it receives the detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor.
It is preferable that the banknote transport system includes a banknote transport detection sensor (520) which emits a detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible and that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become possible, a second driving means (581) which rotates the second connecting duct between the first position and the second position, and a control device which drives the second driving means in response to the detection signal when it receives the detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor.

The present invention further relates to a connection switching device used in a banknote transport system, the banknote transport system including a first banknote storage chamber that stores banknotes, a second banknote storage chamber that stores banknotes, a first banknote transport device that transports banknotes by airflow inside a first banknote transport path, and a second banknote transport device that transports banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by airflow inside the second banknote transport path, the connection switching device switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber when a banknote jam is detected in the second banknote transport path and transport of banknotes to the first banknote storage chamber is impossible, and the connection switching device is a first connecting duct which connects one end of the first banknote transport path to the second banknote transport path in a manner that allows it to be brought into or out of contact with the first banknote transport path; and a second connecting duct which connects the first banknote transport path to the second banknote storage chamber in a manner that allows it to be brought into or out of contact with the first banknote transport path, wherein the first connecting duct moves between a closed position in which one end of the first banknote transport path is connected to the first banknote transport path and the other end of the second banknote transport path, and an open position in which one end of the first banknote transport path is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end of the first banknote transport path, and the second connecting duct moves between a first position in which one end of the second banknote transport path is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end of the first banknote transport path, and a second position in which one end of the second banknote transport path is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and ...

The connection switching device switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path, for example, when a banknote jam in the second banknote transport path is cleared .

Claims (17)

A first bill transport device including a first bill transport path that transports bills inserted into a plurality of game media lending machines from the game media lending machines;
A first banknote storage chamber;
a second banknote transport device including a second banknote transport path connected to the first banknote transport path and configured to transport the banknotes transported via the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber;
Equipped with
the first banknote transport device causes a first carrier to travel within the first banknote transport path by an air flow generated within the first banknote transport path, and transports banknotes input into the first banknote transport path to the second banknote transport path by the first carrier,
In the banknote transport system, the second banknote transport device causes a second carrier to run in the second banknote transport path by an air flow generated in the second banknote transport path, and transports banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by the second carrier,
A second banknote storage chamber provided corresponding to the first banknote transport device;
a connection switching device that switches a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber, or vice versa;
Equipped with
A banknote transport system characterized in that, when it becomes impossible to transport banknotes within the second banknote transport path, the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path is switched to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber via the connection switching device. The connection switching device is
a first connection duct that connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path so as to be freely connected to and separated from each other;
a second connection duct that connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber so as to be freely connected to and separated from each other;
Equipped with
the first connection duct is movable between a closed position in which one end of the first connection duct is connected to the first banknote transport path and the other end of the first connection duct is connected to the second banknote transport path, and an open position in which one end of the first connection duct is connected to the first banknote transport path and is not connected to the second banknote transport path;
The banknote transport system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second connecting duct moves between a first position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end is connected to the first banknote transport path, and a second position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and is not connected to the first banknote transport path. The connection switching device is
A biasing member;
A first stopper;
A second stopper;
Equipped with
the first connection duct is rotatably connected to the first banknote transport path at the one end,
the first stopper maintains the first connecting duct in the closed position;
The second connection duct is rotatably connected to the second banknote storage chamber at the one end,
The biasing member applies a biasing force to the second connection duct in a direction in which the second connection duct rotates to the first position,
the second stopper maintains the second connection duct at the second position against the biasing force of the biasing member;
The banknote conveying system described in claim 2, characterized in that first, the first stopper is released from maintaining the first connecting duct in the closed position, causing the first connecting duct to move to the open position by its own weight, and then the second stopper is released from maintaining the second connecting duct in the second position, causing the second connecting duct to move to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member. The banknote transport system according to claim 3, further comprising a second biasing member that applies a biasing force to the first connection duct in a direction in which the first connection duct rotates to the open position. The banknote transport system according to claim 2, characterized in that a magnet is disposed in at least one of the second connection duct and the first banknote transport path, and the magnetic force of the magnet maintains the second connection duct in the first position. the first banknote transport path includes a switching duct for switching the position of the banknote during transport,
The conversion duct includes a duct body having a bill inlet through which bills enter and a bill outlet through which bills leave,
the duct body has a spirally twisted shape between the banknote inlet and the banknote outlet,
A banknote that has entered the banknote inlet so that its face is positioned in a vertical plane passes through the duct main body and exits from the banknote outlet so that its face is positioned in a horizontal plane,
2. The banknote transport system according to claim 1, wherein the switching duct is disposed upstream of the connection switching device in the banknote transport direction. a banknote transport detection sensor that transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible;
a control device that operates the connection switching device when the trouble detection signal is received from the banknote transport detection sensor, and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path (210) to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber;
The banknote transport system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a banknote transport detection sensor that transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible;
a control device that operates the connection switching device when the trouble detection signal is received from the banknote transport detection sensor, and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber;
Equipped with
The banknote transport system according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the control device receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, it first moves the first connecting duct to the open position, and then moves the second connecting duct from the second position to the first position. a banknote transport detection sensor that transmits a trouble detection signal when it detects that transport of banknotes in the second banknote transport path has become impossible;
a control device that operates the connection switching device when the trouble detection signal is received from the banknote transport detection sensor, and switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to a connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber;
Equipped with
The banknote transport system of claim 3, characterized in that, when the control device receives the trouble detection signal from the banknote transport detection sensor, it first releases the first stopper from maintaining the first connecting duct in the closed position, thereby moving the first connecting duct to the open position by its own weight, and then releases the second stopper from maintaining the second connecting duct in the second position, thereby moving the second connecting duct to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member. a banknote transport detection sensor that transmits a detection signal when detecting that transport of a banknote in the second banknote transport path has become impossible and that transport of a banknote in the second banknote transport path has become possible;
a first drive means for rotating the first connection duct between the closed position and the open position;
a control device that drives the first driving means in response to a detection signal received from the banknote transport detection sensor;
3. The banknote transport system according to claim 2, further comprising: a banknote transport detection sensor that transmits a detection signal when detecting that transport of a banknote in the second banknote transport path has become impossible and that transport of a banknote in the second banknote transport path has become possible;
a second drive means for rotating the second connection duct between the first position and the second position;
a control device that drives the second driving means in response to a detection signal received from the banknote transport detection sensor;
3. The banknote transport system according to claim 2, further comprising: A connection switching device for use in a banknote transport system, comprising:
The banknote transport system includes:
a first banknote storage chamber for storing banknotes;
a second bill storage chamber for storing bills;
a first banknote transport device that transports banknotes by an air flow inside the first banknote transport path;
a second banknote transport device that transports the banknotes transported from the first banknote transport path to the first banknote storage chamber by an air flow inside the second banknote transport path;
Equipped with
The connection switching device is characterized in that, when a banknote jam is detected in the second banknote transport path and transport of banknotes to the first banknote storage chamber is impossible, the connection switching device switches the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber. The connection switching device according to claim 12, characterized in that, when a banknote jam in the second banknote transport path is cleared, the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber is switched to the connection between the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path. The connection switching device is
a first connection duct that connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote transport path so as to be freely connected to and separated from each other;
a second connection duct that connects the first banknote transport path and the second banknote storage chamber so as to be freely connected to and separated from each other;
Equipped with
the first connection duct is movable between a closed position in which one end of the first connection duct is connected to the first banknote transport path and the other end of the first connection duct is connected to the second banknote transport path, and an open position in which one end of the first connection duct is connected to the first banknote transport path and is not connected to the second banknote transport path;
The connection switching device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the second connection duct moves between a first position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and the other end is connected to the first banknote transport path, and a second position in which one end is connected to the second banknote storage chamber and is not connected to the first banknote transport path. The connection switching device is
A biasing member;
A first stopper;
A second stopper;
Equipped with
the first connection duct is rotatably connected to the first banknote transport path at the one end,
the first stopper maintains the first connecting duct in the closed position;
the second connection duct is rotatably connected to the second banknote storage chamber at the one end,
The biasing member applies a biasing force to the second connection duct in a direction in which the second connection duct rotates to the first position,
the second stopper maintains the second connection duct at the second position against the biasing force of the biasing member;
The connection switching device described in claim 14, characterized in that first, the first stopper is released from maintaining the first connection duct in the closed position, causing the first connection duct to move to the open position by its own weight, and then the second stopper is released from maintaining the second connection duct in the second position, causing the second connection duct to move to the first position by the biasing force of the biasing member. The connection switching device according to claim 15, further comprising a second biasing member that applies a biasing force to the first connection duct in a direction in which the first connection duct rotates to the open position. The connection switching device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a magnet is disposed in at least one of the second connection duct and the first banknote transport path, and the magnetic force of the magnet maintains the second connection duct in the first position.

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