JP5015554B2 - Reflux banknote processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a banknote handling device equipped in a currency handling device such as various vending machines, deposit / withdrawal devices, and money changers having a function of depositing / withdrawing money. The present invention relates to a technique for speeding up an operation of collecting all banknotes in one banknote storage section or the like at the end of work in a reflux banknote processing apparatus including a plurality of reflux banknote storage sections.

Banknote processing devices with a deposit function that accepts inserted banknotes and a withdrawal function that dispenses banknotes as change or withdrawal are equipped in various vending machines, deposit and withdrawal devices, money changers, etc. The apparatus is equipped with a banknote storage unit for storing banknotes prepared at the start of business or banknotes inserted during operation in denominations.
In this type of banknote handling apparatus, when collecting all banknotes remaining in the apparatus main body at the end of work, etc., if the banknote bundles respectively stored in the denomination banknote storage unit are individually taken out of the machine However, it is necessary to make all the banknote storage parts cassette-type so that they can be taken in and out of the machine. However, such a configuration not only increases the size of the banknote storage part, but also makes the collection work complicated and long. Make time.

In order to cope with the problems as described above, for example, in a reflux-type banknote handling apparatus that conventionally handles, for example, a thousand-yen banknote, a 5,000-yen banknote, and a 10,000-yen banknote, a reflux-type banknote storage unit corresponding to each denomination of each banknote is provided. In addition, there is a thing in which the function of performing banknote access for replenishment / collection of banknotes is assigned to the 1,000-yen banknote storage unit.
The reflux-type banknote storage unit is used not only to store banknotes stored in advance at the start of business, but also to temporarily store banknotes inserted by the user during the operation of the apparatus, while using the banknotes as change etc. A bill storage unit of a type having a function of feeding out (discharging) to the outside is designated. Further, there are a loop type and a switchback type in the reflux type banknote storage unit. The loop method is a method in which the entrance (accepting direction) and the exit (feeding direction) of bills are different, and the switchback method is a method of receiving and delivering bills from the same entrance / exit.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a conventional switchback-type reflux banknote processing apparatus.
This banknote processing apparatus 101 is roughly configured from a reflux-type banknote processing mechanism 102 and an exterior body 103 that houses the banknote processing mechanism.
The banknote handling mechanism 102 includes a plurality of banknotes of different denominations, or a deposit taking-in unit 104 that can accept one by one, and a conveyance path for carrying the banknotes received from the depositing-in unit 104 into the apparatus. 105, a transport mechanism 110 including a roller, a belt, a branch gate, a motor, a solenoid, and the like that generates and transmits a driving force for transporting bills along the transport path 105, and a downstream side of the deposit taking-in portion 104. Identification device 115 for determining the authenticity and denomination of banknotes placed on the transport path and fed one by one, and a first banknote connected to the transport path 105 and related to the first denomination (for example, A recirculation-type first banknote storage unit 120 that stores a 10,000-yen banknote in a freely removable manner, and a second banknote (for example, a thousand-yen banknote) connected to the transport path 105 and related to the second denomination. Reflux-type second that is housed freely A bill storage unit 121; a withdrawal holding unit 130 having a function of discharging bills out of the apparatus as change or the like and depositing and holding a plurality of bills; and a control means 140 for controlling them. Yes.

The deposit taking-in part 104 is provided with a separation / feeding mechanism for feeding a plurality of banknotes that have been batch-loaded into the transport path 105 while separating them one by one.
The transport mechanism 110 has a sorting transport function for feeding banknotes fed one by one from the deposit taking-in section 104 to the first or second banknote storage section 120, 121 in denomination, and the first or second And a function of conveying the banknotes sent out one by one from the banknote storage units 120 and 121 to the withdrawal holding unit 130. The transport mechanism 110 includes rollers, belts, first and second branch gates 111 and 112 (not shown), a motor for driving these movable parts, a solenoid, and the like, and is controlled by the control unit 140. By driving each roller, belt, and branch gate, each conveyance function can be realized at a predetermined timing.

The first banknote storage unit 120 is dedicated to the first banknote, for example, a 10,000 yen banknote, and has a reflux function for sending 10,000 yen banknotes once received via the transport path 105 to the transport path 105 one by one. Have.
The second banknote storage unit 121 is dedicated to the second banknote, for example, a thousand-yen banknote, and has a reflux function for sending the thousand-yen banknotes once received via the transport path 105 to the transport path 105 one by one. ing. The second banknote storage unit 121 is a cassette type that can be pulled out of the machine. At the end of work, the denomination banknotes stored in the first banknote storage unit 120 are sequentially fed into the second banknote storage unit 121. By collecting in step 1, all the banknotes can be taken out collectively using the second banknote storage unit 121.
In addition, although the reflux-type banknote processing apparatus according to this conventional example is configured on the premise of miniaturization as much as possible, the direction changing portion by the branch gates 111 and 112 is a U-turn or the like having a small curvature. Since the curved conveyance is difficult, the direction changing portion by the branch gate has to be a curved path with a large curvature, and there is a limit to the reduction in the lateral width of the conveyance path 105.

At the time when the operation of the vending machine equipped with the banknote handling apparatus is finished, the banknotes stored in the banknote storage unit 120 are automatically transferred to the second banknote storage unit 121 one by one, Then, the second bill storage unit 121 is pulled out to collect the sales price (all bills).
As an operation of transferring and storing the banknote from the first banknote storage unit 120 to the second banknote storage unit 121, for example, one 10,000 yen banknote from the banknote bundle stored in the first banknote storage unit 120 is used. After separating and feeding to the conveyance path 105 and moving to the point R on the conveyance path, the sheet is reversely conveyed and the path is changed by the branch gate 112 and transferred to the second banknote storage unit 121.
In addition, since it is sufficient to set a predetermined number of thousand yen bills to be used as change in the second bill storage unit 121 at the start of work, it is possible to limit the number of access points to the bills by workers and improve security. At the same time, it reduces the burden on workers.

However, in the conventional switchback recirculation type banknote processing apparatus, when the collection operation is performed from the first banknote storage unit 120 to the second banknote storage unit 121, one sheet from the first banknote storage unit. There is a problem that the collection time is prolonged because each bill sent out to the transport path must be transported in reverse at the R point.
As an improvement measure for shortening the collection time, as shown in FIG. 6, the first banknote storage unit is provided by providing the triple branch gate 114 at the transfer path branch point connected to the entrance / exit of the second banknote storage unit 121. 120 stored banknotes can be continuously transferred to the second banknote storage unit 121 one by one.
However, when the triple branch gate 114 is actually incorporated, a considerably large curvature is required for the curved conveyance of banknotes, and an extremely complicated and large conveyance mechanism is required. Cost was inevitable.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-260059 includes a denomination-type banknote storage section and a large-capacity replenishment / collection banknote storage section. At the end of work, all banknotes in each banknote storage section are stored one by one in the replenishment / collection banknote storage section. A banknote dispensing machine is disclosed in which all banknotes can be taken out from the replenishment / collection banknote storage by feeding them.
However, in this conventional example, the work of transferring a large amount of banknotes stored in each banknote storage unit one by one to the replenishment / collection banknote storage unit is required, so that the recovery operation takes a long time. There is. Moreover, since it is necessary to arrange a large replenishment / collection banknote storage part in the apparatus separately from a plurality of banknote storage parts, not only the mechanism for banknote storage and conveyance is complicated, but also the apparatus is large. There was a drawback of becoming. Moreover, since it is a loop-type reflux-type banknote processing apparatus using a denomination-type banknote storage unit that is separately provided with an inlet and an outlet for banknotes, it is a large-scale reflux-type banknote processing apparatus having a complicated transport path.
While demands for miniaturization of various banknote handling apparatuses are increasing, it is difficult to adopt a configuration that causes such an increase in size.
JP 2002-260059 A

As described above, in the banknote handling apparatus including a plurality of switchback type banknote storage units, it is necessary to transfer all banknotes remaining in each banknote storage unit one by one to one reflux-type banknote storage unit at the end of work. For this reason, there is a problem that the transport mechanism is enlarged and there is a limit to shortening the collection time. If a complicated and large transport mechanism such as a triple branch gate is added to shorten the collection time, there is a problem that the size and cost are further increased.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a banknote handling apparatus provided with a plurality of reflux-type banknote storage units for each denomination, a large-sized apparatus is equipped with a special cassette dedicated for collection in addition to the banknote storage section. To provide a reflux-type banknote processing device capable of collecting banknotes from each banknote storage unit in one place in the shortest time at the end of work, etc. while actively reducing the size without incurring cost and cost It is an object.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a plurality of banknotes of different denominations can be received in batches or one by one, and a banknote accepted from the depositing section. A transport path for transporting into the apparatus, a transport mechanism for generating a driving force for transporting banknotes along the transport path, and a first banknote connected to the transport path and relating to the first denomination can be freely inserted and removed. Switchback recirculation-type first banknote storage section, and a switchback recirculation-type second banknote that is connected to the transport path and accommodates the second banknote relating to the second denomination in a freely retractable manner. A storage section, a temporary storage section for receiving and depositing banknotes transported via the transport path one by one, and simultaneously sending the accumulated banknote bundles to the transport path, and control means for controlling them And a reflux-type banknote processing apparatus comprising the control The stage sends out the first banknotes in the first banknote storage unit one by one and deposits a predetermined number of sheets on the temporary storage unit, and then the first banknote bundle in the temporary storage unit is transferred to the second banknote. All the 1st banknotes accommodated in the said 1st banknote storage part are transferred to a said 2nd banknote storage part by repeating the operation | movement collectively conveyed in a banknote storage part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
By using one of the reflux-type banknote storage units that store banknotes by denomination as the recovered banknote storage unit, the overall shape of the apparatus can be reduced in size. Furthermore, since the transfer operation in units of banknote bundles using the temporary storage unit can be carried out, the transport path and the transport mechanism can be simplified and downsized, which increases the overall shape of the apparatus. And can be recovered in a short time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the second banknote storage unit is a cassette that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.
By making the banknote storage part used as the recovery banknote storage part into a cassette that can be attached to, detached from, and put into the apparatus main body, the recovery operation can be made more efficient.
A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the first or second aspect, the second banknote is a banknote that is used more frequently than the first banknote.
The 2nd banknote accommodating part which accommodates the banknote with a high frequency used as a change etc. is comprised in a cassette shape. That is, at the end of operation, the most frequently used banknotes are stored, and when the banknotes are collected, the banknotes of other banknote storage units are transferred to the second banknote storage unit in a short time. The collected work can be carried out. In addition, the usage frequency of a banknote here refers to the degree used in a vending machine etc., and in the present banknote, 1000 yen banknote> 10,000 yen banknote> 5,000 yen banknote> 2,000 yen It becomes the frequency of use in the order of bills.

  According to the present invention, in a configuration in which a denomination type switchback reflux type banknote storage unit is provided, when collecting banknotes stored in one banknote storage unit into the other banknote storage unit, it has only an accumulation function. Since the batch conveyance is performed with the temporary holding unit having a simple configuration, the transfer processing time can be shortened without increasing the size of the apparatus. That is, using a temporary storage unit having a simpler configuration than the reflux-type banknote storage unit, the stored banknotes to be transferred are continuously fed to the temporary storage unit one by one and accumulated, and the stacked banknote bundle is conveyed as it is. Since the paper is fed onto the path and bundled and transported to the banknote storage unit which also serves as the collected banknote storage unit, the time required for the banknote transfer process can be shortened.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a banknote handling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This banknote processing apparatus 1 is equipped with, for example, a vending machine (ticket vending machine) such as a food ticket, and has a function of accepting banknotes and paying out banknotes as change.
The banknote handling apparatus 1 is schematically configured from a reflux-type banknote handling mechanism 2 and an exterior body 3 that houses the banknote handling mechanism 2 therein.
The banknote handling mechanism 2 transports a plurality of banknotes of different denominations at a time, or a banknote accepting unit 4 that can accept each banknote and a banknote received from the depositing unit 4 into the apparatus main body. A path 5, a transport mechanism 10 including a motor, a solenoid, a roller, a belt, and a gate for generating and transmitting a driving force for transporting bills along the transport path 5, and immediately downstream of the deposit taking-in portion 4. The identification device 15 for determining the authenticity and denomination of bills arranged on the transport path on the side and fed one by one, and the first banknote connected to the transport path 5 and relating to the first denomination Switchback recirculation type first banknote storage unit 20 that is detachably accommodated, and switchback recirculation type that is connected to the transport path 5 and accommodates the second banknote relating to the second denomination. It is conveyed via the second banknote storage unit 25 and the conveyance path 5. The banknotes received and deposited one by one, and the accumulated banknote bundles are collectively sent to the transport path, the withdrawal holding section 35 for discharging the banknotes as change to the outside of the apparatus, and Control means 40 for controlling.
The deposit taking-in unit 4 is provided with a separating and feeding mechanism for feeding a plurality of bills that have been batch-loaded into the transport path 5 while separating them one by one.

The transport mechanism 10 sorts and transports the banknotes fed one by one from the deposit taking-in section 4 to the first or second banknote storage sections 20 and 25 by denomination by transporting the banknotes by a predetermined route. And a function for sequentially transporting and depositing banknotes that have been fed out from the first or second banknote storage units 20 and 25 one by one into the temporary storage unit 30 and a banknote that has been fed out from the temporary storage unit 30 And a collective conveyance function for collectively sending the bundle to the second banknote storage unit 25 which also serves as a collection storage unit. By switching and driving each roller, belt, and gate 11 under the control of the control means 40, each of the above transport functions can be realized at a predetermined timing.
The first banknote storage unit 20 is dedicated to the first banknote, for example, a 10,000 yen banknote, and has a reflux function for sending 10,000 yen banknotes once received via the transport path 5 to the transport path 5 one by one. Have.
The second banknote storage unit 25 is a second banknote that is frequently used as change, for example, a thousand-yen banknote, and sends one thousand-yen banknote once received via the transport path 5 to the transport path 5 one by one. It has a switchback type reflux function.
The temporary storage unit 30 receives the banknotes fed out one by one from the first and second banknote storage units 20 and 25 one by one, and stacks a predetermined allowable number of banknotes, and stacked banknotes It has a batch delivery function for feeding a bundle to the transport path 5 in a batch.

In the present invention, for example, the second banknote storage unit 25 is configured to be detachable (including in / out) in a cassette manner, and is provided on the wall of the exterior body 3 facing the second banknote storage unit 25 (not shown). The second banknote storage unit 25 is taken out by opening the door, and the stored banknotes can be collected.
The feature of the present invention is that the control means 40 separates 10,000 yen banknotes in the first banknote storage unit 20 one by one when the operator operates a predetermined collection switch in banknote collection work at the end of work. 15 sheets of 10,000 yen banknotes in the temporary storage unit after being deposited on the temporary storage unit 30 by being continuously sent to the transport path 5 and transported at high speed by the transport mechanism 10 By repeating the operation of batch transporting the bundle as it is in the second banknote storage unit 25, all the 10,000 yen banknotes stored in the first banknote storage unit 20 are transferred to the second banknote storage unit 25. It is the structure which was made to transfer to. The number of banknotes sent to the temporary storage unit 30 is counted based on passage information detected by a paper passing sensor disposed at an appropriate position such as a conveyance path.

In this embodiment, the second banknote storage unit 25 is also used as a collected banknote storage unit, and collects all the first and second banknotes in the second banknote storage unit 25 at the end of work. The collection work can be performed. Therefore, it is preferable that the second banknote storage unit 25 is configured as a cassette type that can be detached from the apparatus main body or can be taken in and out. Of course, the second banknote storage unit 25 that stores thousand-yen banknotes that are frequently used as banknotes that are used as change as well as banknotes that are thrown in by the user is also used as the banknote collection storage section. By adopting a configuration in which bills with low usage frequency such as yen bills are transferred to the second bill storage unit 25, it is possible to shorten the collection time.
The temporary storage unit 30 has a configuration for stacking banknotes conveyed at high speed one by one in a stacked state, and sending the stacked banknote bundles to the transport path in a lump, and the banknotes sent to the transport path Since the bundle is fed into the second banknote storage unit 25 at once, the collection efficiency can be greatly increased. That is, 10,000 yen banknotes in the first banknote storage unit with a small number of stored sheets are stacked and accumulated in the temporary storage unit 30, and then transferred as a banknote bundle into the second banknote storage unit one by one. It is clear that the recovery time is significantly shortened as compared with the conventional apparatus to be transferred. And since the exclusive collection banknote accommodating part is not provided separately, the whole size of an apparatus can be made small.

  According to the banknote handling apparatus according to this embodiment, when collecting the banknotes stored in one banknote storage part in the other banknote storage part in the configuration in which the denominated switchback reflux type banknote storage part is provided, Since the batch conveyance with the temporary holding unit interposed is performed, the transfer processing time can be shortened without increasing the size of the apparatus. That is, using a temporary storage unit having a simpler structure than the reflux-type banknote storage unit, the stored banknotes to be transferred are fed to the temporary storage unit one by one and accumulated, and the stacked banknote bundle is directly placed on the same transport path. Since it is fed out and bundled and conveyed to the banknote storage part that also serves as the collected banknote storage part, the time required for the banknote transfer process can be shortened.

Next, FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory view of a banknote handling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the banknote handling mechanism 2 according to this embodiment stores a collected banknote dedicated to the banknote handling mechanism 2 of FIG. The structure which added the part (cassette only for collection | recovery banknotes) 50 is characteristic.
In this embodiment, the 10,000 yen banknote bundle is stored in the temporary storage section 30 by high-speed conveyance one by one from the first banknote storage section 20 to the temporary storage section 30, and then the 10,000 yen banknote bundle. , The 10,000 yen banknote in the first banknote storage unit 20 is emptied by repeating the operation of transporting the collected banknotes to the recovered banknote storage unit 50, and then the thousand yen banknotes stored in the second banknote storage unit 25 Are all transferred to the collected banknote storage 50 by the same procedure.
The collected banknote storage unit 50 only needs to have a simple receiving structure for sequentially stacking banknote bundles conveyed from the temporary storage unit 30 on the stacking plate 51, and a complicated mechanism for refluxing is provided. Since it becomes unnecessary, the collection | recovery banknote accommodating part 50 does not increase in cost.
That is, when there is a capacity margin in the apparatus main body, the configuration of the collection unit for collection can be simplified by providing the cassette 50 for collecting collected bills separately from the reflux-type bill storage unit. . Further, when the banknote storage part is also used as the recovered banknote storage part, it is necessary to set the capacity larger in advance, but this need is eliminated by providing a dedicated cassette for recovered banknotes.

FIG. 3 is a modification of the banknote processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and is characterized by the addition of a banknote storage unit for banknotes related to the third denomination. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as each component of FIG.
That is, the banknote handling apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the third returnable banknote storage unit 26 that is a reflux type for storing the third banknote (for example, five thousand yen banknote) according to the third denomination. A banknote storage unit 20 and a second banknote storage unit 25 are juxtaposed with each other, and banknotes can be exchanged between the storage units by the transport path 5 and the transport mechanism 10.
FIG. 4 is a modification of the banknote processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is characterized by a configuration in which a banknote storage unit for banknotes according to a third denomination is added. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as each component of FIG.
That is, the banknote handling apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the third returnable banknote storage unit 26 that is a reflux type for storing the third banknote (for example, five thousand yen banknote) according to the third denomination. The banknote storage unit 20, the second banknote storage unit 25, and the recovered banknote storage unit 50 are juxtaposed with each other, and the transfer path 5 and the transfer mechanism 10 are configured to allow transfer of banknotes between the storage units.

It is a schematic block diagram of the banknote processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is composition explanatory drawing of the banknote processing apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is composition explanatory drawing of the modification of the banknote processing apparatus of FIG. It is composition explanatory drawing of the modification of the banknote processing apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the conventional reflux type banknote processing apparatus of a switchback system. It is structure explanatory drawing of another prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Banknote processing apparatus, 2 ... Banknote processing mechanism, 3 ... Exterior body, 4 ... Deposit taking-in part, 5 ... Conveyance path, 10 ... Conveyance mechanism, 11 ... Gate, 15 ... Identification apparatus, 20, 25, 26 ... Bill Storage unit, 30 ... Temporary storage unit, 35 ... Withdrawal storage unit, 40 ... Control means, 50 ... Collected banknote storage unit

Claims (3)

A plurality of banknotes of different denominations can be received in batches or one by one, a deposit taking-in part, a carrying path for carrying bills received from the deposit taking-in part into the apparatus main body, and the carrying path A transport mechanism that generates a driving force for transporting bills along the switch path, and a switchback reflux-type first bill storage that is connected to the transport path and accommodates the first bill related to the first denomination in a freely retractable manner. And a switchback reflux type second banknote storage section connected to the transport path and storing the second banknote relating to the second denomination in a freely retractable manner, and transported via the transport path. A reflux-type banknote processing apparatus including a temporary storage unit that receives and deposits banknotes one by one and sends the accumulated banknote bundles collectively to the transport path, and a control unit that controls them. ,
The control means sends out the first banknotes in the first banknote storage part one by one and deposits a predetermined number of sheets in the temporary storage part, and then transfers the first banknote bundle in the temporary storage part to the first banknote. A recirculation system characterized in that all the first banknotes stored in the first banknote storage section are transferred to the second banknote storage section by repeating the operation of collectively transporting them into the second banknote storage section. Banknote processing device.   The reflux-type banknote processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second banknote storage unit is a cassette that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.   The reflux-type banknote processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second banknote is a banknote that is used more frequently than the first banknote.

Images