JP2024058669A - Paper collection and transport system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a paper sheet collecting and transporting system that can send even curled paper sheets from an auxiliary transport device that transports them by the action of air flow to a main transport path via a take-in device without clogging. [Solution] The paper sheet collecting and transporting system includes a main transport device that transports paper notes by the action of air flow generated in a main transport pipe that is extended to a destination via multiple take-in devices 45, a relay box that temporarily stores and pays out paper notes collected in a game island, and an auxiliary transport device that transports paper notes received from the relay box by the action of air flow generated in the auxiliary transport pipe and transfers them to the take-in device 45. The take-in device has an entrance passage section 130a connected to the end of the auxiliary transport pipe, and a transport section that receives paper sheets from the exit of the entrance passage section and sends them into the transport pipe, and the entrance passage section has a passage width in the thickness direction of the paper sheets that gradually narrows toward the exit, and the passage width E1 at the exit is set to a size that corrects curls in the paper sheets. [Selected Figure] Fig. 39

Description

The present invention relates to a paper sheet collection and transport system that transports and collects paper sheets such as banknotes using an air flow generated inside a transport tube.

Inside the gaming machine island, which houses multiple sets of gaming ball dispensing machines that accept the insertion of paper money and lend gaming balls (such as pachinko balls) to players and gaming machines such as pachinko machines, a transport device is installed along the length of the gaming machine island to transport the paper money inserted into each gaming ball dispensing machine to a safe installed at the end of the gaming machine island.

In addition, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a transport system that automatically collects banknotes from the safes of each gaming machine island in an amusement arcade and transports them to the main safe in the office, in order to reduce the work of store staff going around to each gaming machine island after closing time to collect the banknotes stored in the safes of each gaming machine island scattered throughout the arcade and transporting them to the main safe in the store's office for storage.

In such a transport system, various installation methods are required according to the circumstances of each amusement center, such as installing the transport path across different floors or passing through the ceiling, so it is desirable for the transport path to have, in addition to straight sections, curved sections to change the path from left to right, and curved sections to change the path from horizontal to vertical (or from vertical to horizontal).

However, while it is easy for banknotes to bend inwards (curve perpendicular to the paper surface in the radial direction), they cannot be deformed in the direction perpendicular to this (curve within a plane that includes the paper surface). For this reason, only curved sections are provided through which banknotes can pass while curving in the former direction. For example, when transporting banknotes in a horizontal position, at points where the path changes from horizontal to up and down, the banknotes are allowed to pass through the curved section in a horizontal position, and at points where the path changes from left to right, twisted tubes are placed before and after the curved section to switch the position of the banknote between horizontal and vertical.

In other words, the bills were changed from a horizontal to a vertical position in the torsion tube upstream of the curved section, then their course was changed from left to right in the curved section, and then the bills were changed from a vertical position back to their original horizontal position in the torsion tube downstream of the curved section.

According to Patent Documents 1 and 2, the main transport path that collects banknotes from the safes of each gaming machine island and transports them to the main safe in the office is installed above or near the ceiling, so a sub-transport path is provided to transport banknotes vertically from the safes of the gaming machine islands to the main transport path above it, and a take-in device is installed at the end of the sub-transport path to feed the banknotes transported by the sub-transport path into the main transport path. The sub-transport path is tubular, and an airflow generating device generates an airflow that flows from below to above inside the path, and a transport auxiliary body that moves due to the action of the airflow pushes the banknotes up from below and transports them. After transport is complete, the airflow is stopped, allowing the transport auxiliary body to naturally fall to a standby position below.

JP 2018-2378 A JP 2014-198617 A

In a method in which only a curved section is prepared where the paper surface of the banknote is bent inward as it passes through, and twisted tubes are provided before and after the curved tube to accommodate curves in other directions, a twisted tube with a complex structure is required, resulting in high component costs. In addition, banknotes are prone to becoming clogged in the twisted tube. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, the twisted tubes are concentrated before and after the curved section to facilitate inspection and clearing clogging, but this does not fundamentally solve the problem of banknote clogging. Furthermore, it is desirable to transport banknotes in a vertical position in order to reduce the sticking of banknotes to the inner walls of the transport tube.

In addition, the section where banknotes are sent from the sub-transport path to the main transport path via the intake device is prone to jamming with banknotes bent in a Z shape (Z banknotes), banknotes with cut ends (broken banknotes), curled banknotes (curled banknotes), etc. In addition, the intake device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a transport section that clamps the taken-in banknotes between a transport belt and clamping rollers and sends them to the main transport path, but if Z banknotes are clamped while still folded, they can get caught in the discharge rollers just before the exit to the main transport path, causing problems such as the ends of the banknotes being torn or damaged, or the banknotes getting jammed.

In addition, in a sub-transport device in which the transport auxiliary body, which moves in response to the action of the downward-to-upward airflow sent out by the airflow generating device, pushes up the banknotes from below and transports them, and then stops this airflow to allow the transport auxiliary body to naturally fall back to the standby position below, it cannot handle cases in which the initial part of the path from the intake device back to the standby position is horizontal. In addition, because the control of the airflow is limited to turning the airflow from below to above on and off and its strength, there is a limit to how much airflow control alone can prevent or clear jams, and it is often the case that manual labor is required to clear the jam.

The present invention seeks to solve the above problems and aims to provide a paper sheet recovery and transport system that can send even curled paper sheets from a sub-conveying device, which transports them using air flow, to the main transport path via a take-in device without clogging .

The gist of the present invention to achieve this objective lies in the following inventions:

[1] A paper sheet collection and transport system that collects paper sheets from a plurality of collection points within a facility and transports the collected paper sheets to a predetermined destination by the action of an air flow,
a main conveying device including a conveying pipe extending to the destination via the plurality of intake locations, an air flow generating device that generates an air flow in the conveying pipe toward the destination, and a paper sheet intake device that is provided at each of the plurality of intake locations and sends out paper sheets into the conveying pipe;
a relay device provided in correspondence with the paper sheet feed device and having a function of temporarily storing paper sheets collected in a predetermined local area and a function of feeding the stored paper sheets;
a sub-transport device including a sub-transport pipe connecting the relay device and the corresponding paper sheet intake device, and an outward air flow generating device that generates an air flow in the sub-transport pipe toward the paper sheet intake device, the sub-transport device transporting the paper sheets fed from the relay device into the sub-transport pipe by the action of the air flow generated by the outward air flow generating device and delivering them to the paper sheet intake device;
Equipped with
the paper sheet take-in device includes an entrance passage portion connected to a terminal end of the sub-conveyor pipe, and a conveying portion that receives paper sheets from an exit of the entrance passage portion, conveys the paper sheets, and sends them into the conveyor pipe;
The entrance passage has a passage width in a thickness direction of the paper sheets that gradually narrows toward the outlet, and the passage width at the outlet is set to a size that corrects curls of the paper sheets.
A paper sheet collection and transport system.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the interior layout of an amusement arcade in which a paper sheet collection and transport system according to the present invention is installed; 1 is a diagram showing an overall structure of a paper sheet collection and transport system according to the present invention; 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an island banknote transport device installed on an amusement island. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a transport auxiliary body pushes a banknote in a transport tube from the rear end side of the banknote. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a straight portion of the conveying pipe. A cross-sectional view perpendicular to the extension direction of the straight portion of the conveying pipe. 1A and 1B are plan and front views of a transport aid; 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the conveying pipe and the conveying auxiliary body in a state where the conveying auxiliary body is inserted into the conveying pipe. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between a relay box, an auxiliary transport device, and a take-in device; FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a torsion tube. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the positional relationship between the relay box, the sub-transport device, and the take-in device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the positional relationship between the relay box, the sub-transport device, and the take-in device. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a second bent tube of Type 1. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the front and plan views of a second bent tube of Type 1. FIG. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 14. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a second bent tube of Type 2. 13 is a diagram showing the front and plan view of a second bent tube of Type 2. FIG. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 17. 13 is a diagram showing a normal card without any bends passing through the second bent tube of type 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a normal card without any bends passing through the second bent tube of type 2. FIG. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating various abnormality tags. 13 is a diagram showing an abnormal tag (Z tag) passing through the second bent tube of type 1. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which the same abnormal tag as in FIG. 22 passes through a second bending tube of type 2. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an auxiliary transport device and a take-in device connected thereto (as well as main transport pipes before and after the device). 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the banknote dispensing device of the sub-transport device and its surroundings. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the capture device. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of Figure 26. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 27 (with the clamping rollers in the retracted position). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the take-in device with the clamping rollers in the clamping position. 1 is a diagram showing a take-in device (conventional take-in device) without a regulating portion and a guide wall; 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how an end of a curled bill gets caught between the ribs and how the restricting portion prevents this from happening. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing how a curled banknote is sandwiched between a pinching roller and a conveyor belt and conveyed while being fixed in its curled shape and tilted position in a conventional take-in device. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a state in which the banknote is further transported in the state shown in FIG. 32 and reaches the banknote discharge rollers. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the leading end of a curled bill passes through a passage section in a feeder having a restriction section; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a curled bill reaches in front of a feed roller in a take-in device having a regulation section; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a curled bill enters between the delivery rollers in a substantially straight manner in a take-in device having a regulation section; FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the capture device as viewed from the direction of arrow E in FIG. 26. FIG. 38 shows a conventional capture device viewed in a similar state to that shown in FIG. 37. 11 is a diagram showing a comparison of widths E1 and E2 in the thickness direction of a banknote at an outlet of a passing section of a take-in device according to the present invention and a conventional take-in device. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a transition portion from a passing portion to a conveying portion of a take-in device having a guide wall; FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a transition portion from a passing portion to a conveying portion of a take-in device in which no guide wall is provided. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sub-transport device and the take-in device when the banknotes are normally transported from the relay box into the insertion passage of the take-in device.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an example of the layout of an amusement parlor 2 in which a paper sheet collection and transport system 1 (see Figure 2) according to the present invention is installed. In the amusement parlor 2, multiple gaming machine islands 3 are arranged across an aisle. Each gaming machine island 3 houses multiple pairs of gaming ball dispensers 4, which receive inserted banknotes and provide gaming balls (pachinko balls) to players, and gaming machines 5, such as pachinko machines, back-to-back on the front and back sides. Inside the gaming machine island 3, an intra-island banknote transport device 7 is provided, which takes in banknotes discharged from the back of each gaming ball dispenser 4 and transports them to a relay box 6 at the end of the gaming machine island 3.

Figure 2 shows the overall configuration of the paper sheet collection and transport system 1. The paper sheet collection and transport system 1 has each gaming machine island 3 as a local area, and is configured with relay boxes (relay devices) 6 that have the function of temporarily storing paper sheets collected from the gaming ball dispensing machines 4 by the island banknote transport device 7 in each gaming machine island 3 and the function of dispensing the stored paper sheets, main transport devices 8 that are installed throughout each store and transport paper sheets to the office safe 41 by passing above the relay boxes 6 of each gaming machine island 3, and sub-transport devices 9 that transport the banknotes dispensed from the relay boxes 6 to the transport path (main transport pipe 40) of the main transport device 8 that passes above the relay boxes 6. The transport path (main transport pipe 40) of the main transport device 8 is installed, for example, so as to pass through the ceiling of the gaming center 2.

The relay box 6 has a control unit 23 (see FIG. 3) inside that controls the intra-island banknote transport device 7, the sub-transport device 9, and the take-in device 45 connected to the sub-transport device 9 associated with the relay box 6. A main control unit that controls the operation of the entire paper sheet collection and transport system 1 is also provided inside the office safe 4, and the main control unit and the control units in each relay box 6 are connected via communication to operate in conjunction with each other.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the intra-island banknote transport device 7. The intra-island banknote transport device 7 includes a transport tube 12 (intra-island transport tube) that serves as a transport path for banknotes (paper sheets), and an airflow generator (blower) 14 that generates an airflow in the transport tube 12 that flows in the extension direction of the transport tube 12. The intra-island banknote transport device 7 inserts a transport auxiliary body 16 that can move in the transport tube 12 by receiving the airflow into the transport tube 12 upstream of the banknote P to be transported, and the transport auxiliary body 16 pushes the banknote P in the transport tube 12 from behind to transport it downstream.

An airflow generating device 14 and a bill separation/transport auxiliary circulation device 11 are provided inside a relay box 6 provided at the end of the gaming machine island 3. The bill separation/transport auxiliary circulation device 11 has the function of a transport auxiliary insertion device 11a that sends out the transport auxiliary 16 into the transport tube 12, and the function of a separation/recovery device 11b that separates the bill P from the transport auxiliary 16 that has been pushed from behind and collected, and also returns the collected transport auxiliary 16 to the transport auxiliary insertion device 11a for circulation. The bills P collected by the separation/recovery device 11b are temporarily stored in the relay box 6 and then sent out to the auxiliary transport device 9.

The air blowing side (air blowing passage 14a) of the air flow generating device 14 is connected to the air inlet side of the transport auxiliary insertion device 11a, and the starting end of the transport pipe 12 is connected to the air outlet of the transport auxiliary insertion device 11a. The transport pipe 12 is composed of an outgoing path 12a extending from the air outlet of the transport auxiliary insertion device 11a to the other end of the game machine island 3, a turn section 12b that turns back in a U-shape at the other end, and a return path 12c that turns back at the turn section 12b and then extends above the outgoing path 12a to return to the relay box 6 along the outgoing path 12a. The end of the return path 12c is connected to the air inlet of the separation and recovery device 11b, and the air intake side (air intake passage 14b) of the air flow generating device 14 is connected to the air outlet of the separation and recovery device 11b.

The airflow generating device 14 generates an airflow by rotating a fan with a motor. The airflow generated by the airflow generating device 14 flows from the air outlet passage 14a through the transport auxiliary body insertion device 11a to the beginning of the transport pipe 12, passes through the outgoing path 12a, the turning section 12b, and the return path 12c, and then flows through the separation and recovery device 11b and the air suction passage 14b, so that it is drawn into the suction side of the airflow generating device 14.

The outbound path 12a and return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 are divided into units of a predetermined length, for example, a length corresponding to the width of one set of gaming machines 5 and gaming ball dispensing machines 4 housed side by side on the gaming machine island 3, and by connecting the required number of these with the connecting unit 17, the path length can be adjusted according to the longitudinal length of the gaming machine island 3. In addition, at the construction site, the transport pipe 12 is cut to the required length on the spot for use.

A bill take-in device 18 is provided in the middle of the return path 12c of the transport tube 12 at a position corresponding to each game ball dispensing machine 4, and takes in bills P discharged from the back of the game ball dispensing machine 4 into the transport tube 12. The bill take-in devices 18 are provided in pairs, with one taking in bills P from the game ball dispensing machine 4 located on the front side of the game machine island 3 and the other taking in bills P from the game ball dispensing machine 4 located on the back side of the game machine island 3. The bill take-in devices 18 are interposed between the transport tubes 12 that make up the return path 12c, and play the role of connecting them.

In the island banknote transport device 7, the banknote P taken into the return path 12c of the transport tube 12 from the banknote take-in device 18 stays at a predetermined take-in completion position with its paper surface aligned along the extension direction of the transport tube 12. In order to transport the banknote P taken into and staying in the transport tube 12 to the relay box 6 and collect it, the transport auxiliary 16 is sent into the transport tube 12 by the transport auxiliary insertion device 11a in the relay box 6.

The transport auxiliary body 16 sent into the transport tube 12 moves in the outbound path 12a toward the turn section 12b under the action of the air flow generated by the air flow generating device 14, makes a U-turn at the turn section 12b, and then moves further in the inbound path 12c toward the terminal end. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the transport auxiliary body 16 pushes the banknote P in the transport tube 12 from the rear end side of the banknote P, so that the banknote P is transported toward the terminal end of the transport tube 12 (in the transport direction F in the figure). As shown in FIG. 4, the banknote P is transported in the transport tube 12 in a vertical position with the paper surface vertical.

The banknote separation/transport auxiliary circulation device 11 and the banknote intake device 18 operate under the control of a control unit 23 (see FIG. 3), whose main components include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory).

In this example, the airflow generating device 14 is operated at all times, and when the sensor installed in the bill intake device 18 detects a bill P discharged from the back of the game ball dispenser 4, the control unit 23 operates the bill intake device 18 to take the bill P into the conveying tube 12. Then, when this intake operation is completed, the conveying auxiliary 16 is sent into the conveying tube 12 from the conveying auxiliary insertion device 11a of the bill separation/conveying auxiliary circulation device 11. Then, this conveying auxiliary 16 moves inside the conveying tube 12 under the action of the airflow, and pushes the bill P from the rear and conveys it. Then, when the separation and recovery device 11b in the relay box 6 detects the arrival of the conveying auxiliary 16, it separates the bill P and the conveying auxiliary 16 and recovers them, and guides the recovered conveying auxiliary 16 to the conveying auxiliary insertion device 11a in preparation for the next delivery, and the recovered bill P is temporarily stored in the relay box 6 and then sent to the sub-conveying device 9 (see FIG. 2).

The air flow generating device 14 may be controlled to operate only when necessary (for example, from the time when the bill intake device 18 detects a bill from the game ball dispensing machine 3 until the bill is collected by the separation and collection device 11b in the relay box 6).

In this way, the transport auxiliary body 16 moves in response to the action of the air flow, and the banknote P is pushed and transported from its rear end by this transport auxiliary body 16, so the banknote P itself does not need to receive the air flow to obtain propulsive force. Therefore, the banknote P can be transported by the air flow without taking measures such as folding the banknote P to receive the air flow. Also, the transport auxiliary body 16 can obtain propulsive force from the air flow more efficiently than the banknote P, so the banknote P can be transported efficiently.

Next, we will explain in detail the shape of the conveying tube 12 and the conveying aid 16.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the conveying tube 12 in the straight portion (the outward path 12a and the return path 12c), and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extension direction F of the conveying tube 12 in the same portion (= the conveying direction F of the banknotes = the direction in which the air flows). The conveying tube 12 is made of resin with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The conveying tube 12 is formed, for example, by extrusion molding.

The cross-sectional shape of the straight section of the conveying tube 12 perpendicular to the extension direction F is a rectangular shape in which the central parts of the left and right side walls of a vertically long rectangle expand outward. In detail, the conveying tube 12 has upper and lower wall parts 31, left and right side wall parts 32, and an expansion part 33 that protrudes outward in a rectangular shape at the central parts of the left and right side wall parts 32 in the vertical direction. The short side direction of the approximately rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extension direction (conveying direction F) of the conveying tube 12 is the X direction (or width direction, left and right direction), and the long side direction is the Y direction (or height direction, up and down direction). In the X direction and Y direction, the direction toward the center of the conveying tube 12 is called the inside, and the direction from the center toward the inner wall is called the outside. In this embodiment, the conveying tube 12 is used with the long side of its cross section in the vertical direction, but it may be used with the short side in the vertical direction.

The expansion section 33 is divided into two sections, upper and lower, by a separation wall 34 erected toward the inside of the conveying pipe 12. The separation wall 34 is formed by attaching a T-shaped member to the inner wall of the expansion section 33.

The side wall portion 32 has multiple ribs 35 extending in the conveying direction and protruding toward the inside of the conveying tube 12. In this example, the ribs 35 protruding inward of the conveying tube 12 are formed along the conveying direction at the boundary between the side wall portion 32 and the expansion portion 33. The separation wall 34 is at the same height as the ribs 35, and the top of the separation wall 34 functions as a rib.

The side walls 32 are a pair of inner walls that face the paper surface of the transported banknote P. The banknote P is rectangular and is transported inside the transport tube 12 with its long side oriented in the transport direction F. In other words, the paper surface faces the side walls 32 of the transport tube 12, and the banknote P is transported with one short side facing the leading edge of the transport direction and the other short side facing the trailing edge.

The distance Dy between the upper wall 31 and the lower wall 31 of the transport tube 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote P. The distance Dx between the left and right side wall 32 (parts where the ribs 35, the extensions 33, and the separation wall 34 are not formed (reference plane parts)) is set to about 21 mm. The extensions 33 on the left and right side wall 32 each extend about 6 mm outward from the side wall 32 (reference plane part). The tops of the ribs 35 and the separation wall 34 are about 2 mm high inward from the side wall 32 (reference plane part). The height of the ribs 35 can be set appropriately.

Figure 7 shows the top and front views of the transport auxiliary 16. The transport auxiliary 16 is a columnar shape with a circular cross section and different diameters at each part. The transport auxiliary 16 is inserted into the transport tube 12 so that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction (height direction) of the transport tube 12. The transport auxiliary 16 is symmetrical from top to bottom, and is composed of, from the top, a head 16a, a neck 16b with a slightly smaller diameter than the head, a large diameter part 16c with a larger diameter than the head 16a, a constricted part 16d with the same diameter as the neck 16b and located in the center from top to bottom, the large diameter part 16c, the neck 16b, and the head 16a. The transport auxiliary 16 is lightweight and strong, and is hollow inside, for example, made of plastic. It may be made of polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam, if it is lightweight and strong.

Figure 8 shows a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction F and passing through the central axis of the transport auxiliary 16 when the transport auxiliary 16 is inserted into the transport tube 12. The diameter of each part of the transport auxiliary 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the transport tube 12. In other words, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the transport auxiliary 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the transport tube 12 in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction F, and is shaped to almost completely block the inside of the transport tube 12 with a specified clearance between it and the inner wall.

In this way, the transport auxiliary body 16 has a shape that corresponds to the inner edge shape of the transport pipe 12 (almost the same shape with some clearance) and blocks almost the entire cross section of the transport pipe 12, so it can move efficiently under the action of the air flow. Furthermore, the transport auxiliary body 16 prevents the air flow from upstream from reaching the downstream side of the transport auxiliary body 16, and plays a role in suppressing turbulence of the air flow on the downstream side.

When acted upon by the air flow inside the transport tube 12, the banknote P tends to stick to the side wall 32. In other words, the distance between one side of the banknote P and the opposing side wall 32 and the distance between the other side of the banknote P and the opposing side wall 32 are rarely equal, and when one of the distances is narrower than the other, the air flow speed is faster on the narrower side than on the wider side, so the air pressure on the narrower side is lower than on the wider side, and this air pressure difference causes the banknote P to be attracted to and pressed against the side wall 32 on the narrower side. When this happens, the distance on the narrower side becomes even narrower, causing the banknote P to stick to and be attracted to the side wall 32.

If the banknote P sticks strongly to the side wall portion 32, it becomes difficult for the transport auxiliary body 16 to push and transport the banknote P. However, as described above, the transport auxiliary body 16 acts to block (reduce) the air flow downstream, so the force with which the banknote P sticks and adheres is reduced, and smooth transport is achieved.

The two large diameter portions 16c of the transport auxiliary 16 engage with the two expansion portions 33 separated by the separation wall 34 of the transport tube 12. The expansion portions 33 engage with the large diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary 16, thereby serving as guides that regulate the position and posture of the transport auxiliary within the transport tube 12. In this example, the expansion portion 33 is separated into two by the separation wall 34, and these expansion portions 33 are provided toward the center of the transport tube 12 in the Y direction, so that the transport auxiliary 16 can be moved while maintaining a stable posture. In addition, since the posture of the transport auxiliary 16 is stable, the large diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary 16 linearly abuts against the rear end of the banknote P, providing a stable transport force. In addition, the banknote P is less likely to get caught between the transport tube 12 and the transport auxiliary 16.

By providing the large diameter portion 16c, the transport auxiliary body 16 has an increased area that is affected by the airflow, and can efficiently receive the force required for movement. In addition, since the large diameter portion 16c is provided to efficiently receive the airflow, the diameter of the head portion 16a can be reduced accordingly. By reducing the diameter of the head portion, the distance (width (Dx)) between a pair of opposing side wall portions 32 inside the transport tube 12 can be narrowed, and banknotes P can be prevented from falling over.

Furthermore, the presence of multiple ribs 35 on the side wall portion 32 prevents the banknote P from sticking tightly to the side wall portion 32. In other words, the contact area between the banknote P and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, reducing friction and suppressing the generation of static electricity. Even if the banknote P sticks to the side wall portion 32, the banknote P is supported by the tip portion of the ribs 35, so a gap is secured between the side wall portion 32 and the banknote P around the ribs 35, and the sticking force is kept small. In addition, because the banknote P is supported by the separation wall 34, the banknote P is prevented from falling into the recess of the expansion portion 33.

The multiple ribs 35 protruding inward from the side wall 32 and the tops of the separation walls 34 serve to make the effective passage width W of the banknote P in the width direction (X direction) of the transport tube 12 narrower than the distance Dx between the reference flat surfaces. This makes it difficult for vertically oriented banknotes P to tip sideways inside the transport tube 12, and the orientation of the banknotes P is maintained along the Y direction. In particular, by providing multiple ribs 35, the banknotes P are appropriately prevented from tipping over and are effectively prevented from sticking to the side wall 32. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 35 provided, which increases the cross-sectional area of the transport tube 12 and makes the transport auxiliary body 16 more susceptible to the action of airflow.

In the case of the transport auxiliary body 16 according to this embodiment, the diameter of the large diameter portion 16c is the largest, so as shown in FIG. 4, this large diameter portion 16c comes into contact with the rear end of the banknote P and pushes it. Note that the shape of the transport auxiliary body 16 and the shape of the transport tube 12 are not limited to the above. For example, they may be a shape with only one large diameter portion 16c, a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter, or a rugby ball-like shape with a gradually increasing diameter toward the center of the axis.

The transport pipe 12 of the island bill transport device 7 is in a vertical position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the bills P are transported in the transport pipe 12 of the island bill transport device 7 with the bills facing up (vertical position). In the gaming machine island 3, the game ball dispensing machine 4 is formed with a narrow front width in order to increase the number of machines to be installed, so the bill insertion slot provided in the game ball dispensing machine 4 is also usually made vertical, and the bills P are inserted into the bill insertion slot in a vertical position with the bills facing up. Therefore, the transport pipe 12 of the island bill transport device 7 accepts the bills P from the game ball dispensing machine 4 in a vertical position with the bills facing up, and transports them in a vertical position.

The main transport device 8 has a main transport pipe 40 as a transport path, which is a transport pipe with the same structure as the transport pipe 12 of the intra-island banknote transport device 7 (see Figure 2), and moves the transport auxiliary body 16 with an air flow generated inside the main transport pipe 40, which pushes the banknotes P from behind and transports them to the destination (safe 41). The main transport pipe 40 of the main transport device 8 is in a vertical position throughout.

The main transport device 8 is equipped with an air flow generating device 14, a transport auxiliary body insertion device 11a, and a separation and recovery device 11b inside the safe 41. In addition, a relay device 44 is inserted in the middle (at the turnaround point) of the main transport pipe 40. The relay device 44 receives the transport auxiliary body 16 arriving from the outward path of the main transport pipe 40, holds it temporarily, and then sends it out on the return path of the main transport pipe 40. It also functions to strengthen the air flow by sucking in air from the end of the outward path of the main transport pipe 40 and sending the air flow to the start of the return path.

Along the return path of the main transport pipe 40, which constitutes the transport path of the main transport device 8, there is provided an intake device 45 that takes in the banknotes P transported by the sub-transport device 9 into the main transport pipe 40 in a vertical position.

The auxiliary transport device 9 receives the banknotes P fed from the relay box 6 and transports them to the intake device 45 provided on the way back of the main transport tube 40 that is extended above the ceiling or the like. The auxiliary transport device 9 has an auxiliary transport tube 91 as a transport path, which has the same structure as the transport tube 12 of the island banknote transport device 7, and pushes up and transports the banknotes P with the transport auxiliary body 16 that moves with the air flow. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the auxiliary transport device 9 transports the banknotes P upward in a vertical position, changes the course to the horizontal direction at the second curved tube 52 on the way, puts the banknotes P in a horizontal position, and delivers the banknotes P to the intake device 45 in the horizontal position.

The method of transporting banknotes P in the intra-island banknote transport device 7, main transport device 8, and sub-transport device 9 is not limited to the method using air flow and the transport auxiliary body 16, and may be, for example, a method of transporting banknotes P by the action of air flow without using a transport auxiliary body.

The main transport tube 40 and the secondary transport tube 91 are constructed by connecting a straight tube and a curved tube. The straight tube is a straight transport tube as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. There are two types of curved tubes: a first curved tube 51 through which the banknote P passes while bending the paper surface inward, changing the traveling direction by 90 degrees, and a second curved tube 52 through which the banknote P is curved within a plane that includes the paper surface while keeping the paper surface flat, changing the traveling direction by 90 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the banknote P is transported in a vertical position, the first curved tube 51 is used where it bends left and right, and the second curved tube 52 is used where the path changes from vertical (up and down) to horizontal (horizontal).

Figure 9 shows an example of the positional relationship between the relay box 6, the sub-transport device 9, and the intake device 45. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 2. The sub-transport tube 91 of the sub-transport device 9 is composed of a straight tube 50, a twisted tube 54, and a second curved tube 52. In the example of Figure 9, the banknote P initially travels upward through the straight tube 50 in a vertical orientation parallel to the banknote P transported in the main transport tube 40 before and after the intake device 45, and then changes the orientation of the paper surface by 90 degrees through the twisted tube 54 while still in a vertical orientation. After that, the banknote P changes its traveling direction to the horizontal direction toward the intake device 45 through the second curved tube 52, and takes a horizontal vertical orientation, and is delivered to the intake device 45 through the straight tube 50 while still in the horizontal vertical orientation. The take-in device 45 bends the banknote P in a landscape orientation so that its paper surface faces inward, changes its course to the extension direction of the main transport pipe 40, and sends it into the main transport pipe 40.

As shown in FIG. 10, the twisted tube 54 is made by connecting multiple short sub-twisted tubes 54a that are twisted by small increments to achieve the desired angle of twist. Here, ten sub-twisted tubes 54a are connected to form a 90-degree twist, and a connection part 54b with the conveying tube is connected to the downstream end. There is no twist in the connection part 54b, and it is straight.

Figure 11 shows another example of the positional relationship between the relay box 6, the sub-transport device 9, and the intake device 45. In Figure 11, the sub-transport tube 91 of the sub-transport device 9 is composed of a straight tube 50 and a second curved tube 52. In this figure, the banknote P initially travels upward through the straight tube 50 in a vertical position with the paper surface oriented perpendicular to the paper surface of the banknote P being transported in the main transport tube 40 before and after the intake device 45, then changes its traveling direction to a horizontal direction toward the intake device 45 through the second curved tube 52, and takes a horizontal vertical position, and is delivered to the intake device 45 through the straight tube 50 in this horizontal vertical position. The intake device 45 bends the banknote P in the horizontal vertical position so that the paper surface faces inward, changes its course to the extension direction of the main transport tube 40, and sends it into the main transport tube 40.

Figure 12 shows another example of the positional relationship between the relay box 6, the sub-transport device 9, and the intake device 45. In Figure 12, the sub-transport tube 91 of the sub-transport device 9 is composed of a straight tube 50, a twisted tube 54, a first curved tube 51, and a second curved tube 52. In Figure 12, the banknote P initially travels upward through the straight tube 50 in a vertical position with the paper surface perpendicular to the paper surface of the banknote P being transported in the main transport tube 40 before and after the intake device 45, and then, while still in the vertical position, the orientation of the paper surface is changed by 90 degrees through the twisted tube 54, so that the paper surface is oriented parallel to the paper surface of the banknote P being transported in the main transport tube 40. Then, the traveling direction is changed to the horizontal direction through the second curved tube 52, and the paper surface is in a horizontal vertical position, and then, through the first curved tube 51, the course is changed by 90 degrees to the left while still in the horizontal vertical position, and the paper surface is delivered to the intake device 45. The take-in device 45 bends the banknote P in a landscape orientation so that its paper surface faces inward, changes its course to the extension direction of the main transport pipe 40, and sends it into the main transport pipe 40.

Next, the shape of the second bent tube 52 will be described in detail. A type 1 second bent tube 52a and a type 2 second bent tube 52b are shown.

<Second bending tube 52a of type 1>
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the second bent tube 52a of Type 1, Fig. 14 is a front view and a plan view of the second bent tube 52a of Type 1, and Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 14. The cross-sectional shape of the second bent tube 52a of Type 1 perpendicular to the conveying direction is basically the same as that of the conveying tube 12, and includes upper and lower wall portions 31, left and right side wall portions 32, an extension portion 33, a separation wall 34, and a rib 35.

The second curved pipe 52a of type 1 has the same cross-sectional shape and size as the conveying pipe 12 at the inlet and outlet, but is formed so that the distance (Dy) between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall of the curve gradually increases from both ends (inlet and outlet) of the path toward the center of the path from the inlet to the outlet. The distance (Dy) between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall is maximum at the center of the path.

In addition, at any point on the path from the inlet to the outlet, the distance L1 from the outer diameter side inner wall to the expansion section 33 and the distance L2 from the inner diameter side inner wall to the expansion section 33 are the same (L1 = L2). The width of the expansion section 33 in the Dy direction (Dy - (L1 + L2)) is constant at any point on the path from the inlet to the outlet.

Therefore, at any point on the path from the entrance to the exit, the expansion section 33 is located in the center between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall, and L1 and L2 gradually increase from the entrance to the center and gradually decrease from the center to the exit, returning to the same length as the entrance at the exit. The transport auxiliary 16 moves by engaging the large diameter section 16c with the expansion section 33 (moving while being guided by the expansion section 33), so the transport auxiliary 16 passes through the second curved tube 52a while being located in the center between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall inside the second curved tube 52a.

<Second bending tube 52b of type 2>
Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the second curved tube 52b of Type 2, Fig. 17 is a front view and a plan view of the second curved tube 52b of Type 2, and Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 17. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the conveying direction of the second curved tube 52b of Type 2 is basically the same as that of the conveying tube 12 of the straight section 50, and includes upper and lower wall sections 31, left and right side wall sections 32, an expansion section 33, a separation wall 34, and a rib 35.

The second curved pipe 52b of type 2 has the same cross-sectional shape and size at the inlet and outlet as the straight conveying pipe 12, but is formed so that the distance (Dy) between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall of the curve gradually increases from both ends (inlet and outlet) of the path toward the center of the path from the inlet to the outlet. The distance (Dy) between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall is maximum at the center of the path.

The differences from the curved section 52a of Type 1 are as follows. In the second curved tube 52b of Type 2, the distance L1 from the outer diameter side inner wall to the expansion section 33 and the distance L2 from the inner diameter side inner wall to the expansion section 33 are the same at the inlet and outlet, but L2 gradually becomes larger than L1 from the inlet to the center of the path, and the difference between L2 and L1 gradually decreases from the center to the outlet, and at the outlet, L1 returns to L2 = L2. Here, L1 is constant at every point on the path from the inlet to the outlet, and L2 becomes larger as it approaches the center.

Therefore, the expansion section 33 is located in the center between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall at the entrance and exit of the second curved tube 52b, and the closer it gets to the center, the greater L2 increases, so it is positioned more biased toward the outer diameter side inner wall. The transport aid 16 moves by engaging the large diameter section 16c with the expansion section 33 (it moves while being guided by the expansion section 33), so the transport aid 16 passes through the second curved tube 52b while being biased toward the outer diameter side inner wall.

Figure 19 shows how a normal bill P without folds passes through the second curved tube 52a of type 1, and Figure 20 shows how a normal bill P without folds passes through the second curved tube 52b of type 2. As shown in Figure 19, in the second curved tube 52a of type 1, at any point on the path from the entrance to the exit, the gap between the inner diameter side wall and the end of the transport auxiliary 16 facing it and the gap between the outer diameter side wall and the end of the transport auxiliary 16 facing it are equal, and the transport auxiliary 16 always passes through the second curved tube 52a while being positioned in the center between the outer diameter side wall and the inner diameter side wall.

As shown in Figures 19 and 20, near the entrance and exit of the second curved tube 52, the axial direction of the transport auxiliary body 16 is parallel to the rear edge of the banknote P, so the large diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary body 16 makes linear contact over a wide area with the rear edge of the banknote P, pushing and moving the banknote P.

Meanwhile, in the center of the path from the entrance to the exit, the side of the rear end of the banknote P is inclined relative to the axial direction of the transport aid 16. This reduces the contact area between the large diameter portion 16c of the transport aid 16 and the rear end of the banknote P, but if the banknote P is normal and not folded, the large diameter portion 16c of the transport aid 16 will come into linear contact with the side of the rear end of the banknote P, not with the corner of the rear end of the banknote P, so the transport aid 16 can firmly push the banknote P.

In addition, since the central portion of the transport auxiliary body 16 in the axial direction is a large diameter portion 16c that is thicker than both ends, even if the rear end edge of the banknote P is inclined relative to the axial direction of the transport auxiliary body 16, the large diameter portion 16c is likely to come into linear contact with the rear end edge of the banknote P.

As shown in FIG. 21, the banknotes P to be transported include various types of abnormal banknotes, such as Z-shaped banknotes, cut banknotes with torn ends, folded banknotes with bent corners, curled banknotes, and rolled banknotes with the leading or trailing ends rolled inward. The curved portion 52 must be able to pass even such abnormal banknotes without jamming.

Figure 22 shows an abnormal card (e.g., Z card) passing through the second bent tube 52a of type 1, and Figure 23 shows the same abnormal card P as in Figure 22 passing through the second bent tube 52b of type 2.

22, in the second curved tube 52a of type 1, the banknote P advances toward the outer diameter side inner wall while contacting the corners of the leading and trailing ends with the outer diameter side inner wall in the center of the path, while the conveying auxiliary 16 is guided by the expansion section 33 and moves in the center between the outer diameter side inner wall and the inner diameter side inner wall. Therefore, in the case of a Z-type bill whose height has been reduced due to folding, the corner of the trailing end of the banknote P comes into contact with the large diameter section 16c of the conveying auxiliary 16 at a point, not the side of the trailing end of the banknote P. As a result, the large diameter section 16c of the conveying auxiliary 16 cannot stably push the banknote P, and the corner of the banknote P that is in point contact may come off the large diameter section 16c of the conveying auxiliary 16, or the part that comes off the large diameter section 16 may get stuck between the inner wall of the second curved tube 52a and the conveying auxiliary 16, causing the banknote P to become jammed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 23, in the second curved tube 52b of type 2, the banknote P advances toward the outer diameter inner wall while contacting the corners of the leading and trailing ends with the outer diameter inner wall in the center of the path, and the transport auxiliary 16 is also guided by the expansion section 33 and moves toward the outer diameter inner wall. Therefore, even in the case of a Z-note whose height has been reduced due to folding, the side of the trailing end of the banknote P contacts the large diameter section 16c of the transport auxiliary 16 in a line, not the corner of the trailing end of the banknote P, and the large diameter section 16c of the transport auxiliary 16 can stably push the banknote P. Therefore, the trailing end of the banknote P does not come off the large diameter section 16c of the transport auxiliary 16, and the banknote P that has come off the large diameter section 16 does not get caught between the inner wall of the second curved tube 52b and the transport auxiliary 16, and even an abnormal banknote can be passed without clogging.

The second curved tube 52b of type 2 is more preferable than the second curved tube 52a of type 1 when abnormal tags are taken into consideration, but even the second curved tube 52a of type 1 can pass abnormal tags such as Z tags without any problems if the radius of curvature is large enough.

The width of the extension 33 may be gradually increased from both ends to the center.

Next, we will explain the sub-transport device 9.

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the sub-transport device 9 and the take-in device 45 connected to the sub-transport device 9 (and the main transport pipes 40 before and after it). In Figure 24, the middle of the sub-transport pipe 91 is not shown. In the lower half of Figure 24, the sub-transport pipe 91 extends in the vertical direction, and a cross section is shown of the sub-transport pipe 91 cut in the center in a direction perpendicular to and perpendicular to the paper surface of the banknote being transported upward. In the upper half of Figure 24, the sub-transport pipe 91 extends horizontally toward the take-in device 45, and a cross section is shown of the sub-transport pipe 91 cut in the center in a direction perpendicular to and perpendicular to the paper surface of the banknote being transported horizontally in a landscape portrait position.

The sub-transport device 9 includes a sub-transport pipe 91, a transport auxiliary body 16 that moves back and forth within the sub-transport pipe 91, a banknote delivery device 93 that is attached to the lower end of the sub-transport pipe 91 and delivers banknotes P from the relay box 6 into the sub-transport pipe 91, an outward air flow generating device 95 that generates an air flow within the sub-transport pipe 91 from the banknote delivery device 93 side toward the take-in device 45 side from the banknote delivery device 93 side, and a return air flow generating device 97 that generates an air flow within the sub-transport pipe 91 from the take-in device 45 side toward the banknote delivery device 93 side from the take-in device 45 side toward the banknote delivery device 93 side.

As shown in Figures 9, 11, and 12, the auxiliary conveying pipe 91 is constructed by connecting a straight pipe 50 to a second curved pipe 52, or by further connecting a twisted pipe 54.

As shown in FIG. 25, the bill dispensing device 93 includes a passage 101 having the same cross-sectional shape as the auxiliary transport pipe 91 and communicating with the lower end of the auxiliary transport pipe 91, a bill intake opening 102 for taking in bills P provided on one side wall of the passage 101, and a transport roller 103 for sending bills P diagonally upward from the bill intake opening 102 into the passage 101. A shutter 104 is provided in the middle of the bill passage leading to the bill intake opening 102 to prevent air from leaking out of the auxiliary transport pipe 91. The shutter 104 is biased by a spring in the direction of closing the bill passage, and bills P push it open to pass through.

The lower end of the passage 101 is narrowed and serves as a standby position for receiving and holding the transport aid 16. In addition, a lower air vent 105 is provided at the lower end of the passage 101, which serves as an inlet for the air flow from the outgoing air flow generator 95 and an outlet for the air flow from the return air flow generator 97. The air flow from the return air flow generator 97 is exhausted to the outside via the lower air vent 105 and the outgoing air flow generator 95.

As shown in FIG. 24, the upper end of the auxiliary transport tube 91 is provided with a narrowed banknote passing opening 106, and the transport auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with the periphery of the narrowed banknote passing opening 106 at the upper end of the auxiliary transport tube 91 and stops, and the banknote P transported by the transport auxiliary body 16 passes through the banknote passing opening 106 and enters the take-in device 45. The position where the transport auxiliary body 16 stops at the narrow part at the upper end of the auxiliary transport tube 91 is the transport completion position.

The return air flow generator 97 is connected to the middle of the passage from the bill passing port 106 to the take-in device 45, and the air flow from the return air flow generator 97 is sent from the bill passing port 106 into the sub-transport pipe 91. The air flow from the outward air flow generator 95 is exhausted to the outside from the bill passing port 106 via the return air flow generator 97.

As shown in FIG. 24, the sub-transport device 9 includes a banknote feed sensor S11 that detects whether or not a banknote P is passing through the banknote intake opening 102, a standby position sensor S12 that detects whether or not the transport auxiliary body 16 is in the standby position, and a transport completion position sensor S13 that detects whether or not the transport auxiliary body 16 is in the transport completion position.

The banknote feed sensor S11, standby position sensor S12, transport completion position sensor S13, and the banknote detection sensor S14 and banknote discharge detection sensor S15 described below are each a transmissive optical sensor with a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged opposite each other, and the sensor output becomes (dark) when an object that blocks light (a detection target such as a banknote P or a transport auxiliary body 16) is present between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, and becomes on (bright) when there is no object that blocks light between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. Note that the type of sensor is not limited to this and may be selected as appropriate.

The auxiliary transport device 9 transports the banknotes P taken into the passage 101 at the lower end of the auxiliary transport tube 91 by the banknote delivery device 93 to the take-in device 45 (transport completion position) by pushing them from behind with the transport auxiliary body 16, which moves due to the air flow generated by the outward air flow generating device 95, and operates the outward air flow generating device 95 to hold the transport auxiliary body 16 in the transport completion position until the banknotes P are sent into the main transport tube 40 by the take-in device 45.

When the transported banknotes P are sent into the main transport tube 40, the outward airflow generating device 95 is stopped and the return airflow generating device 97 is operated instead, and the airflow generated by the return airflow generating device 97 moves the transport auxiliary body 16 to a standby position at the lower end of the sub-transport tube 91. Because the sub-transport tube 91 extends horizontally for a predetermined range just before it reaches the intake device 45, the transport auxiliary body 16 does not return to the standby position simply by turning off the outward airflow generating device 95, and the return airflow generating device 97 is used to move the transport auxiliary body 16 to the standby position.

Next, we will explain the capture device 45.

Figure 26 is a plan view showing the appearance of the capture device 45, Figure 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 26, and Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view of the capture device 45 in Figure 26 taken along line D-D in Figure 27.

The take-in device 45 has the same cross-sectional shape as the straight tube 50 of the main transport tube 40, and has an interposed passage section 120 to which the straight tube 50 of the main transport tube 40 is connected at the front and rear. The interposed passage section 120 has an inner shape similar to the straight section 50 of the main transport tube 40, and the transport auxiliary body 16 can pass through the interposed passage section 120 smoothly. The interposed passage section 120 of the take-in device 45 passes banknotes P in a horizontally long vertical position, similar to the main transport tube 40.

An opening 121 is formed in the wall surface of the interposing passage section 120 facing one side of the passing banknote P for taking in the banknote P transported by the sub-transport device 9 into the interposing passage section 120. A banknote discharge detection sensor S15 is provided in the interposing passage section 120 near the downstream side of the opening 121 to detect the banknote P entering through the opening 121 (see FIG. 24).

The take-in device 45 is provided with an entrance passage section 130 that serves as a passage for receiving the banknotes P transported by the sub-transport device 9 and sending them from the opening 121 into the interposing passage section 120. The entrance passage section 130 is perpendicular to the interposing passage section 120.

The entrance passage section 130 is connected to the banknote passing port 106 of the sub-transport device 9, and the range of the entrance passage section 130 from the banknote passing port 106 to a predetermined distance downstream is a passing section 130a in which ribs 131 protrude inward toward the surface of the banknote P from the inner wall facing the surface of the banknote P entering from the banknote passing port 106 and extend along the entrance direction of the banknote P. The space between the ribs 131 protruding inward from both inner walls becomes the passage for the banknote P in the passing section 130a. The height of the ribs 131 increases as it proceeds downstream, and the passage width in the thickness direction of the banknote becomes narrower as it proceeds to the end of the passing section 130a.

The downstream side of the passage section 130a where the rib 131 is formed in the entry passage section 130 is the transport section 130b that transports the banknotes P that have passed through the passage section 130a toward the opening 121 of the insertion passage section 120.

The conveying section 130b is equipped with a bill guide path 133 that leads to the opening 121, a conveying belt 134 that conveys the bills P, a pair of bill discharge rollers 135a and a pay-out roller 135b that send the bills P conveyed by the conveying belt 134 further toward the opening 121 and send the bills P completely into the interposing passage section 120 to its end, a shutter 136 that is provided midway along the bill guide path 133 to prevent the air flow in the main conveying pipe 40 from leaking out of the opening 121 of the interposing passage section 120 through the bill guide path 133 to the outside, and a motor that drives the conveying belt 134, the bill discharge roller 135a, and the pay-out roller 135b.

The shutter 136 is normally biased toward the closed position by a spring or the like, so that when a bill P moves toward the opening 121, it pushes the shutter 136 open and passes through.

The conveying unit 130b further includes a clamping roller 137 that presses banknotes P that are stuck in the banknote guide path 133 due to poor conveyance by the conveying belt 134 toward the conveying belt 134 and clamps the banknotes between the conveying belt 134 and the banknotes to assist in conveyance.

The clamping roller 137 is supported at one end of a swingable movable arm 139, and is displaced between a clamping position (see FIG. 29) where the clamping roller 137 advances into the banknote guide path 133 and clamps the banknote P between the conveyor belt 133 and the conveyor belt 133, and a retreated position (see FIG. 28) where the clamping roller 137 is retreated from the banknote guide path 133, by turning on and off a solenoid 138 connected to the other end of the movable arm 139.

As shown in FIG. 27, two conveyor belts 134 are stretched across the left and right sides of the width of the banknote P, and the clamping roller 137 is located between these conveyor belts 134 (at the center of the width of the banknote) and upstream of the conveyor belt 134. In addition, a banknote detection sensor S14 that detects the banknote P is provided slightly downstream of the clamping roller 137. As mentioned above, the banknote detection sensor S14 is a transmissive optical sensor that has a light emitting section and a light receiving section.

When the banknote detection sensor S14 detects a banknote for a predetermined period of time or longer, i.e. when it detects that the transport belt 134 is not transporting properly and the banknote P is jammed in the banknote guide path 133, the take-in device 45 turns on the solenoid 138 to displace the clamping roller 137 to the clamping position, and clamps and transports the banknote P between the clamping roller 137 and the transport belt 134.

When the banknote detection sensor S14 no longer detects banknote P, the solenoid 138 is turned off and the clamping roller 137 is returned to the retracted position. If the banknote detection sensor S14 does not detect a banknote jam, the take-in device 45 does not turn on the solenoid 138, keeps the clamping roller 137 in the retracted position, and transports the banknote P by the conveyor belt 134, banknote discharge roller 135a, and pay-out roller 135b.

In addition, the bill guide path 133 just before reaching the pair of bill discharge rollers 135a is provided with bill discharge roller guides 135c that contact the bill P from both the left and right sides and guide the bill P to the bill discharge rollers 135a (see Figure 27).

As shown in FIG. 27, the rib 131 is provided only in the center of the width of the entrance passage 130, and both sides are restriction sections 141 that form wall surfaces corresponding to the height of the apex of the rib 131.

Between the passage section 130a and the conveying section 130b, a guide wall 143 is provided that slopes obliquely from the base of the rib 131 formed in the passage section 130a to the top side and leads to the downstream conveying section 130b (see Figure 28 for the slope of the guide wall 143).

The role of the regulating portion 141 and the guide wall 143 will be explained in comparison with the case where they are not present.

Figure 30 shows a take-in device 45' that does not have a restricting portion 141 or a guide wall 143. Figure 30 corresponds to Figure 27. The same parts as those of the take-in device 45 in Figure 27 are given the same reference numerals.

<Role of Restriction Unit 141>
In a configuration such as the intake device 45' which does not have a regulating section 141 and has ribs 131 arranged at predetermined intervals across the entire width of the passing section 130a, when a curled bill enters at an angle from the sub-conveying device 9, as shown in Figure 31 (a), the widthwise end of the curled banknote P gets caught between the ribs 131 and 131, and passes through the passing section 130a in its curled shape to reach the conveying section 130b.

When such a bill P becomes stuck in front of the pay-out roller 135b and the bill detection sensor S14 detects the bill P for a predetermined period of time or longer (detects a jammed bill), the solenoid 138 is activated and the curled and tilted bill P is clamped and conveyed between the clamping roller 137 and the conveyor belt 134.

Even if the banknote P is such, if it is transported normally by the transport belt 134 and the pay-out roller 135b and does not stagnate, it will not be clamped by the clamping roller 137 (if it is clamped, it will be fixed in its curled or tilted position and transported), and the banknote P will become less tilted as it moves downstream through the play in the passage. Also, since the banknote guide path 133 narrows as it moves toward the pay-out roller 135b, the position of the banknote P is regulated as it moves downstream, and the curl is gradually eliminated, and the banknote P is discharged into the insertion passage section 120 without getting jammed or being damaged by hitting the banknote discharge roller guide 135c.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 32, when a curled banknote P stagnates in front of the payout roller 135b and the clamping roller 137 is activated, the banknote P is clamped between the clamping roller 137 and the conveyor belt 134 and conveyed while being fixed in its curled shape and tilted position. Therefore, even when the banknote P proceeds downstream, the curled shape and tilted position are not corrected, and the end of the banknote P hits the banknote discharge roller guide 135c. If the end of the banknote P enters between the pair of banknote discharge rollers 135a in this state (see FIG. 33), the end of the banknote P (the end indicated by the thick line in FIG. 33) may be damaged or jammed.

In contrast, if the rib 131 is provided only at the center of the passage width of the passage section 130a as in the take-in device 45 of the present invention, and both sides are made into regulating sections 141 that form flat walls at the height of the tops of the ribs 131, then as shown in FIG. 31(b), both ends of the curled bill P in the width direction come into contact with the regulating sections 141, and the position is regulated to reduce the curl. And because the regulating sections 141 exist, the ends of the bill P in the width direction do not get between the ribs 131, so the inclination of the position gradually corrects as the bill moves downstream, and by the time it reaches just before the pay-out roller 135b, there is no curl and the inclination has been corrected.

Figure 34 shows the leading edge of the bill P passing through the passage section 130a where the regulating section 141 is located, and Figure 35 shows the bill P reaching just before the pay-out roller 135b. The inclination of the bill P is corrected by the time it reaches the position shown in Figure 35.

Therefore, even if the banknote P stagnates in front of the payout roller 135b and the clamping roller 137 is activated to clamp the banknote P between the clamping roller 137 and the conveyor belt 134 and fix its position, the banknote P has already been corrected from its tilt, so as shown in Figure 36, the banknote P will enter almost straight between the pair of banknote discharge rollers 135a without its end hitting the banknote discharge roller guide 135c, and will be discharged from the opening 121 into the insertion passage section 120 without being damaged or clogged.

Figure 37 shows the take-in device 45 as seen from the direction of arrow E in Figure 26. As shown, the restricting unit 141 restricts curled banknotes to straight lines.

Figure 38 shows a conventional take-in device 45' as seen in the same manner as Figure 37. Since there is no restricting section 141, the ends of the bills P get caught between the ribs, and the bills P remain curled and unrestricted.

As shown in FIG. 39, the width E1 in the bill thickness direction at the exit of the passing section 130a of the take-in device 45 according to the present invention (FIG. 39(a)) is considerably narrower than the width E2 in the bill thickness direction at the exit of the passing section 130a' of the conventional take-in device 45' (FIG. 39(b)). This allows the bill P to be sufficiently straightened and curled when it leaves the passing section 130a of the take-in device 45. Also, in the conventional take-in device 45', the end of the bill P gets into the gap between the ribs (the shaded area), so the curl of the bill P is maintained (see FIG. 31(a)).

<Role of guide wall 143>
Fig. 40 shows a transition portion from the passing portion 130a to the transport portion 130b of the take-in device 45 having the guide wall 143, and Fig. 41 shows the same portion of the take-in device 45' without the guide wall 143. As shown in Fig. 41, the inner wall of the bill guide path 133 of the transport portion 130b (the inner wall facing the paper surface of the bill P) is located at a height between the base and the top of the rib 131. This allows the bill P entering along the top of the rib 131 to transition to the transport portion 130b after passing through a small step.

However, if a cut or Z bill attempts to move from the passing section 130a to the transport section 130b with the end of the cut or Z bill deeply embedded between the ribs 131, the deeply embedded portion between the ribs 131 will abut against the transport section 130b, preventing a smooth transition to the transport section 130b, resulting in a jam or damage to the banknote P.

The guide wall 143 serves to solve this problem. That is, the guide wall 143 is provided between the passing section 130a and the conveying section 130b, inclining obliquely from the base (or the outer side of the base) of the rib 131 formed in the passing section 130a to the top side (toward the inside of the passage) and reaching the downstream conveying section 130b. Therefore, even if the end of a cut bill or Z bill is deeply embedded between the ribs 131 and proceeds from the passing section 130a to the conveying section 130b as shown in FIG. 40, the part deeply embedded between the ribs 131 and 131 does not hit the end of the guide wall 143, but rides up onto the guide wall 143 and is guided by the guide wall 143, allowing it to move smoothly to the conveying section 130b, preventing clogging and damage to the banknote P.

The secondary transport device 9 and the intake device 45 transport banknotes P from the relay box 6 into the main transport pipe 40 as follows:

In the standby state before transport, the forward airflow generating device 95 and the return airflow generating device 97 are stopped. The transport auxiliary body 16 is held in a standby position at the lower end of the passage portion 101 of the sub-transport device 9 (see Figures 24 and 25).

The sub-transport device 9 can transport multiple (maximum three) banknotes P in a stack at one time, and the take-in device 45 can hold the multiple banknotes P in the banknote guide path 133 at one time. When the control unit issues a command to send the banknotes P into the main transport pipe 40 (the interposition path section 120 of the take-in device 45), the transport belt 134, the clamping roller 137, the banknote discharge roller 135a, the pay-out roller 135b, etc. are driven to send the banknotes P waiting in the banknote guide path 133 into the interposition path section 120.

<Normal operation>
42, when the banknote dispensing device 93 of the auxiliary transport device 9 sends out a banknote P into the auxiliary transport pipe 91, it drives the transport rollers 103 to send out the banknote P arriving from the relay box 6 toward the banknote intake opening 102 of the passage section 101 (step S101). At this time, while the banknote P is passing through the banknote intake opening 102, the banknote feed sensor S11 becomes (dark), and when the banknote P is completely sent out into the passage section 101, the banknote feed sensor S11 returns to (light). The banknote dispensing device 93 can send out a maximum of three banknotes P into the auxiliary transport pipe 91 at one time.

When the auxiliary conveying device 9 confirms that the conveying auxiliary body 16 is waiting at the waiting position by the standby position sensor S12 being (dark) (step S102; Yes), it activates the outward air flow generating device 95 to generate an upward air flow (step S103).

The action of this air flow causes the transport auxiliary 16 to rise in the auxiliary transport pipe 91 while pushing the banknote P from its rear end, pass through the second curved pipe 52, and come into contact with the banknote passing port 106 at the other end of the auxiliary transport pipe 91, stopping at the transport completion position. The banknote P transported by the transport auxiliary 16 passes through the banknote passing port 106 and advances into the intake device 45. The transport completion position sensor S13 (dark) confirms that the transport auxiliary 16 has reached the transport completion position, and the banknote detection sensor S14 (dark) confirms that the banknote P has entered the banknote guide path 133 of the intake device 45 (step S104). Note that even after the transport auxiliary 16 has reached the transport completion position, the outward air flow generating device 95 continues to generate an air flow until the intake device 45 has finished discharging the banknote P into the main transport pipe 40.

When the take-in device 45 confirms that the transport completion position sensor S13 is (dark) and the banknote detection sensor S14 is (dark) (step S104; Yes), it drives the motor of the transport section 130b and operates the transport belt 134, the banknote discharge roller 135a, and the pay-out roller 135b (step S105). As a result, the banknote P is sent from the take-in device 45 into the main transport pipe 40 (more specifically, the interposing passage section 120 of the take-in device 45). At this time, the transport completion position sensor S13 remains (dark), and the take-in device 45 recognizes that the banknote P has passed through the transport section 130b by the banknote detection sensor S14 becoming (light), and further recognizes that the banknote P is being discharged from the opening 121 to the interposing passage section 120 by the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 becoming (dark).

After that, when the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 turns (light) (step S106; Yes), it is determined that discharge of the banknotes P into the main conveying pipe 40 (the insertion passage section 120 of the intake device 45) is complete, and the outward air flow generating device 95 of the sub-conveying device 9 is stopped. After a predetermined time (e.g., 5 seconds) has elapsed since the stop, the return air flow generating device 97 is activated (step S107).

The transport auxiliary 16 held at the transport completion position moves inside the auxiliary transport pipe 91 toward the standby position at the other end due to the action of the air flow generated by the return air flow generator 97. As a result, the transport completion position sensor S13 becomes (light). After that, when it is confirmed by the standby position sensor S12 (dark) that the transport auxiliary 16 has arrived at the standby position (step S108; Yes), the return air flow generator 97 is stopped (step S109), and the normal series of transport operations is completed (end).

Next, we will explain the conditions under which an abnormality occurs during the operation of transporting banknotes P from the relay box 6 into the main transport pipe 40, as well as the recovery operation.

＜Err01 Transport auxiliary standby abnormality＞
Conditions for occurrence: This occurs when the transport assistant 16 is not in the standby position at the lower end of the sub-transport pipe 91 in the standby state.

Restoration condition: Set the transport auxiliary body 16 in the standby position at the lower end of the auxiliary transport pipe 91. This changes the standby position sensor S12 to (dark) and automatically restores the state.

<Err02: Error in clogging of auxiliary transport body on return route>
Conditions for occurrence: This occurs when the transport auxiliary body 16 does not return to the standby position during the transport operation by the sub-transport device 9.

Recovery condition: The blockage in the transport auxiliary body 16 is removed from inside the auxiliary transport pipe 91, and the transport auxiliary body 16 automatically recovers by returning to the standby position (standby position sensor S12 (dark)).

The operation until a clogging error (Err02) occurs in the transport auxiliary body on the return path is as follows.

(1) In step S107 of FIG. 42, the return airflow generating device 97 is started. The return airflow generating device 97 is stopped after a preset return blower operation time has elapsed. The return blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(2) If the standby position sensor S12 remains at (light) even after the return blower operation time has elapsed, wait for a predetermined air flow direction switching waiting time (e.g., 3 seconds) to elapse.

(3) After the air flow direction switching waiting time has elapsed, the outward air flow generating device 95 is started. Note that the outward air flow generating device 95 is stopped after a preset outward blower operation time has elapsed. The outward blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(4) Wait for the airflow direction switching waiting time to elapse.

(5) An abnormality occurs if the transport aid 16 does not return to the standby position even after the above steps (1) to (4) are repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times).

＜ERR03: Abnormal jamming of the transport auxiliary body on the outbound route＞
Conditions for occurrence: This occurs when the transport completion position sensor S13 does not change to (dark) during the transport operation by the sub-transport device 9 (when the transport auxiliary body 16 does not reach the transport completion position).

Recovery conditions: After removing the cause of the banknote jam near the banknote delivery device 93 at the lower end of the auxiliary transport pipe 91, recovery is achieved by operating the error reset switch in the relay box 6. However, a condition is that both the transport completion position sensor S13 and the banknote detection sensor S14 are (light) when the error reset switch is operated.

- When an error occurs, no transport is performed by the main transport device 8.

- Place the removed banknotes on the transport auxiliary body 16 inside the sub-transport pipe 91.

- Upon recovery operation (operation of the error release switch), the auxiliary transport device 9 is activated and transports the item to the intake device 45.

- When the banknote P is sent from the intake device 45 into the main transport pipe 40, it is transported by the main transport device 8.

- If there is a transport auxiliary body 16 in the auxiliary transport pipe 91 before the recovery operation, it is necessary to return it to the standby position (manually operate the blower or return blower in the control unit of the relay box 6).

- If the recovery operation is performed without setting the removed banknote on the transport auxiliary body 16 in the sub-transport tube 91, Err04 occurs during the transport operation by the sub-transport device 9.

The operation until a clogging error (Err03) occurs in the transport auxiliary body on the outbound route is as follows:

(1) In step S103 of FIG. 42, the forward airflow generating device 95 is started. The forward airflow generating device 95 is stopped after a preset forward blower operation time has elapsed. The forward blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(2) If the transport completion position sensor S13 and the banknote detection sensor S14 remain (light) even after the outward blower operation time has elapsed, wait for a predetermined air flow direction switching waiting time (e.g., 3 seconds) to elapse.

(3) After the air flow direction switching waiting time has elapsed, the return air flow generating device 97 is started. The return air flow generating device 97 is stopped after a preset return blower operation time has elapsed. The return blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(4) Wait for the airflow direction switching waiting time to elapse.

(5) An abnormality occurs if the transport aid 16 does not return to the standby position even after the above steps (1) to (4) are repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times).

<ERR04 Feeding sensor jam: Bill jam error near the transport completion position sensor S13>
Conditions for occurrence: Occurs when the transport auxiliary body 16 stagnates at the top of the sub-transport tube 91 during the transport operation by the sub-transport device 9. (In step S104 of FIG. 42, the transport completion position sensor S13 (dark) turns to ON, but the banknote detection sensor S14 (light: never changes to dark) remains the same, or after detecting the banknote detection sensor S14 (dark) in S104 and the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 (dark) in S105, the banknote detection sensor S14 (light) does not change to ON).

Recovery conditions: After removing the cause of the jam near the transport completion position sensor S13 in the sub-transport pipe 91, recovery is achieved by operating the error reset switch in the relay box 6. However, a condition is that both the transport completion position sensor S13 and the banknote detection sensor S14 are (light) when the error reset switch is operated.

- Place the removed banknotes into the main transport pipe 40.

- Upon recovery, perform error checks for Err02, Err03, and Err04 to confirm any remaining banknotes, etc.

- Upon recovery, transportation will be performed by the main transport device 8.

There are two types of behavior before Err04 occurs: A and B.

A, in step S104 of Fig. 42, the conveyance completion position sensor S13 (dark) is detected but the banknote detection sensor S14 (dark) is not detected (1) In step S103 of Fig. 42, the forward air flow generating device 95 is started. Note that the forward air flow generating device 95 is stopped after a preset forward blower operation time has elapsed. The forward blower operation time is set according to the path length of the sub-conveyor pipe 91.

(2) After the transport completion position sensor S13 detects (dark), the banknote detection sensor S14 does not detect (dark).

(3) Activating the solenoid 138 (the clamping roller 137) (Note that this is not activated the first time, but is activated during activation of the forward airflow generating device 95 from the second time onward).
(4) The outward airflow generating device 95 is stopped, and the airflow direction switching waiting time is awaited.

(5) After the air flow direction switching waiting time has elapsed, the return air flow generating device 97 is started. Note that the return air flow generating device 97 is stopped after a preset return blower operation time has elapsed. The return blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(6) Wait for the airflow direction switching waiting time to elapse.

(7) An abnormality occurs if the transport aid 16 does not return to the standby position even after the above steps (1) to (6) are repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times).

B, if the bill detection sensor S14 (dark) is detected in step S104 of Fig. 42 and the bill discharge detection sensor S15 (dark) is detected in S105, and then the bill detection sensor S14 (light) does not change (1) The outward air flow generating device 95 is started in step S103 of Fig. 42. Note that the outward air flow generating device 95 is stopped after a preset outward blower operation time has elapsed. The outward blower operation time is set according to the path length of the sub-transport pipe 91.

(2) Transport completion position sensor S13 (dark) and banknote detection sensor S14 (dark) detect.

(3) When the transport completion position sensor S13 is in the (dark) state and the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 is in the (dark) state, the banknote detection sensor S14 does not become (light).

(4) Activate the solenoid 138 (the clamping roller 137) (this is not activated the first time, but is activated during activation of the forward airflow generating device 95 from the second time onward).
(5) The outward airflow generating device 95 is stopped, and the airflow direction switching waiting time is awaited.

(6) After the air flow direction switching waiting time has elapsed, the return air flow generating device 97 is started. Note that the return air flow generating device 97 is stopped after a preset return blower operation time has elapsed. The return blower operation time is set according to the path length of the auxiliary conveying pipe 91.

(7) Wait for the airflow direction switching waiting time to elapse.

(8) If the above steps (1) to (7) are repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) and the transport aid 16 does not return to the standby position, an abnormality occurs.

<ERR05: Banknote jamming error near the opening 121 of the insertion passage 120>
Conditions for occurrence: Occurs when a bill P is stagnated in the bill guide path 133 near the opening 121 of the take-in device 45. (After detection by the bill detection sensor S14 (dark) during conveyance, the bill discharge detection sensor S15 (dark) does not detect.)
Recovery condition: After removing the cause of the jam in the bill guide path 133 near the opening 121 of the take-in device 45, recovery is achieved by operating the error reset switch in the relay box 6. However, a condition is that the conveyance completion position sensor S13 and the bill detection sensor S14 are both (light) when the error reset switch is operated.

- Place the removed banknotes into the main transport pipe 40 (insertion passage section 120 of the intake device 45).

- Upon recovery, perform error checks for Err02, Err03, and Err04 to confirm any remaining banknotes, etc.

- Upon recovery, transportation will be performed by the main transport device 8.

The operations that occur before Err05 occurs are as follows:

(1) During the transport operation by the sub-transport device 9, after the banknote detection sensor S14 (dark) detects a banknote in S104 of FIG. 42, the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 (dark) does not detect a banknote in S105. (2) After waiting a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), the solenoid 138 is turned on (driven for 15 seconds).
(3) If the banknote discharge detection sensor S15 does not become dark even after the above operations (1) and (2) are repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, three times), an abnormality occurs.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and the present invention includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

The gaming machine island 3 is not limited to a configuration that houses pachinko machines and gaming ball lending machines as exemplified in the embodiment, but may be a gaming machine island that houses medal lending machines and slot machines, etc.

In the embodiment, banknotes have been used as an example of paper sheets, but other types of paper sheets such as tickets and cards may also be used. Furthermore, the shape of the paper sheets is not limited to a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the installation location of the paper sheet collection and transport system 1 is not limited to an amusement park, and may be other facilities.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Paper sheet collection and transport system 2...Amusement parlor 3...Amusement machine island 4...Amusement ball dispensing machine 5...Amusement machine 6...Relay box 7...In-island banknote transport device 8...Main transport device 9...Sub-transport device 11...Banknote separation and transport auxiliary body circulation device 11a...Transport auxiliary body insertion device 11b...Separation and collection device 12...Transport pipe 12a...Outward path 12b...Return path 14...Air flow generation device 14a...Air blowing passage 14b...Air suction passage 16...Transport auxiliary body 16a...Head portion 16b...Small neck portion 16c...Large diameter portion 16d...Constricted portion 18...Banknote take-in device 23...Control portion 31...Upper and lower wall portions 32...Side wall portion 33...Expansion portion (guide)
34…Separation wall (rib)
35...Rib 40...Main conveying pipe 41...Safe 44...Relay device 45...Taking device 50...Straight pipe 51...First curved pipe 52...Second curved section 52a...Second curved pipe of type 1 52b...Second curved pipe of type 2 54...Twisted pipe 91...Sub-conveying pipe 93...Banknote feeding device 95...Outward air flow generating device 97...Returning air flow generating device 101...Passage section 102...Banknote taking-in opening 103...Conveying roller 104...Shutter 105...Lower ventilation hole 106...Banknote passing opening 120...Interposition passage section 121...Passage section 121...Opening 130...Entry passage section 130a...Passing section 130b...Conveying section 131...Rib 133...Banknote guide path 134...Conveying belt 135a...Banknote discharge roller 135b... Feed roller 135c... Banknote discharge roller guide 136... Shutter 137... Clamp roller 138... Solenoid 139... Movable arm 141... Regulating section 143... Guide wall S11... Banknote feed sensor S12... Standby position sensor S13... Transport completion position sensor S14... Banknote detection sensor S14... Banknote detection sensor S15... Banknote discharge detection sensor P... Banknote Dx... Distance between reference flat portions of transport tube Dy... Inner dimension of transport tube in Y direction F... Extension direction of transport tube W... Passage width X... Passage width direction of transport tube Y... Height direction of transport tube

Claims (2)

A paper sheet collection and transport system that collects paper sheets from a plurality of collection points within a facility and transports the collected paper sheets to a predetermined destination by the action of an air flow,
a main conveying device including a conveying pipe extending to the destination via the plurality of intake locations, an air flow generating device that generates an air flow in the conveying pipe toward the destination, and a paper sheet intake device that is provided at each of the plurality of intake locations and sends out paper sheets into the conveying pipe;
a relay device provided in correspondence with the paper sheet feed device and having a function of temporarily storing paper sheets collected in a predetermined local area and a function of feeding the stored paper sheets;
a sub-transport device including a sub-transport pipe connecting the relay device and the corresponding paper sheet intake device, and an outward air flow generating device that generates an air flow in the sub-transport pipe toward the paper sheet intake device, the sub-transport device transporting the paper sheets fed from the relay device into the sub-transport pipe by the action of the air flow generated by the outward air flow generating device and delivering them to the paper sheet intake device;
Equipped with
the paper sheet take-in device includes an entrance passage portion connected to a terminal end of the sub-conveyor pipe, and a conveying portion that receives paper sheets from an exit of the entrance passage portion, conveys the paper sheets, and sends them into the conveyor pipe;
The entrance passage has a passage width in a thickness direction of the paper sheets that gradually narrows toward the outlet, and the passage width at the outlet is set to a size that corrects curls of the paper sheets.
A paper sheet collection and transport system. The paper sheet recovery and transport system of claim 1, characterized in that the passage width of the transport path of the transport section is wider at the entrance section connected to the exit of the entry passage section than at the exit of the entry passage section and gradually narrows toward the downstream, and the center of the passage width of the transport path is aligned with the center of the passage width at the exit of the entry passage section .