JP5820042B2 - Paper sheet transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper sheet transport apparatus that transports paper sheets such as banknotes using an air flow generated in a transport pipe.

  When paper sheets such as banknotes are transported by airflow, when the paper sheets are stretched straight, the airflow flows along the paper surface, so that it is difficult to receive wind pressure as a driving force and the paper sheets are The phenomenon of being attracted to the wall surface occurs, making it difficult to carry. Therefore, when a paper sheet is fed into the transport pipe, a part of the paper sheet (for example, the rear end portion) is deformed into a rounded curved surface or an L shape, and the paper sheet is subjected to wind pressure acting on the deformed portion. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4130697

  In the method of deforming a part of the paper sheet, a mechanism for applying the deformation is required, and accordingly, the apparatus cost and the running cost related to the maintenance increase. Moreover, in paper sheets, such as a banknote, when collect | recovering the conveyed banknotes to a safe etc., a banknote with a wrinkle, a bend, etc. is detected as a bad banknote, and it accommodates in a storage part different from a normal banknote. However, if deformation is applied for conveyance, the ratio of defective banknotes increases. In addition, when stored in a deformed state, it is bulky and the number of sheets that can be stored is less than the specified number.

  In order to prevent such an adverse effect, if a mechanism for returning deformation at the end of conveyance is provided, the configuration becomes more complicated and the apparatus price further increases.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and allows paper sheets to be transported using an air flow generated in a transport pipe without deforming the paper sheets. The object is to provide a transport device.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A transport pipe that serves as a transport path for paper sheets,
An air flow generator for generating an air flow in the extending direction of the transport pipe in the transport pipe;
A paper sheet take-in device for taking the paper sheets into the transport pipe;
A conveyance auxiliary body that is inserted into the conveyance pipe, moves in the conveyance pipe by the air flow , and pushes and conveys the paper sheets taken into the conveyance pipe by the paper sheet taking-in device ;
A transport auxiliary body insertion device for sending the transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe upstream of the paper sheet taking-in device;
Paper sheet conveying apparatus characterized by comprising a.

In the above invention, Ru is conveyed sheet by pushes later sheet by conveying auxiliary member that moves by the air flow caused in the conveying pipe is to the downstream direction of the air flow.

[2] The transfer auxiliary body insertion device includes a standby unit that waits for the transfer auxiliary body, and sends the transfer auxiliary body that is waiting in the standby unit into the transfer pipe by an air flow.
  Provided with a return path for returning the transport auxiliary body separated by the transport auxiliary body separating device to the standby unit
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to [1], wherein

[3] The conveyance auxiliary body separating apparatus includes a contact portion that allows the paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body to pass therethrough and contacts the conveyance auxiliary body to stop the conveyance auxiliary body,
  The return path is a path for returning the conveyance auxiliary member stopped at the contact portion to the standby portion.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to [2], wherein

[4] A paper sheet separating device that separates paper sheets separated from the transport auxiliary body from the air flow by the transport auxiliary body separating apparatus,
  Paper sheets separated from the air flow are transported and stored in a safe.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein:

[5] The paper sheet conveyance device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a circular cross section.

  In the above invention, because of the circular cross section, it becomes 360 degrees non-directional with the axis as the center of rotation, and the handling and the like of insertion and collection of the conveyance auxiliary body into the conveyance pipe becomes easy.

[6] The paper sheet conveyance device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a rectangular cross section.

  In the above invention, because of the rectangular cross section, it is difficult for paper sheets to be caught between the transport pipe and the transport auxiliary body. In addition, if the shape is rectangular, the orientation at the time of insertion is allowed in two directions, and if the shape is square, four directions are allowed. Therefore, handling of the auxiliary auxiliary body into the transport pipe and collection are facilitated accordingly.

[7] The transport auxiliary body has a shape corresponding to an inner edge shape of a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe, and has a predetermined clearance between the inner side of the transport pipe and the inner wall of the transport pipe. The paper sheet conveying device according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the paper sheet is substantially closed by opening.

  In the said invention, the conveyance auxiliary body has comprised the shape which plugs up the cross section of a conveyance pipe substantially. Thereby, the conveyance auxiliary body can efficiently receive the air pressure from the air flow. Further, since almost the entire cross section of the transfer pipe is closed, it is possible to prevent the transfer auxiliary body from rattling in the transfer pipe and to suppress the disturbance of the air flow downstream from the transfer auxiliary body. Thereby, sticking and adsorption | suction to the inner wall surface of a conveyance pipe of the paper sheets downstream from a conveyance auxiliary body can be reduced and prevented. Further, even if the paper sheet is already stuck and adsorbed to the inner wall surface of the conveyance pipe, if the conveyance auxiliary body that has moved upstream reaches the paper sheet that has been stuck and adsorbed and stops moving, it will be downstream from the conveyance auxiliary body. Since the air flow at the side is almost cut off, the sticking of the paper sheets is naturally eliminated. The clearance may be provided so as to ensure smooth movement of the conveyance auxiliary body, and it is preferable that the clearance is small if smooth movement is ensured.

  According to the paper sheet transport device according to the present invention, paper sheets can be transported using the air flow generated in the transport pipe without deforming the paper sheets.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the paper sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the paper sheet conveying apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a conveyance auxiliary body pushes and moves the banknote in a conveyance pipe from the rear end side of this banknote. It is sectional drawing of the conveyance pipe in a straight part (portion of an outward path and a return path). It is a figure which shows the plane and front of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is sectional drawing which shows a conveyance pipe and a conveyance auxiliary body in the state which inserted the conveyance auxiliary body in the conveyance pipe. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning reference | standard of the rib in a conveyance pipe. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the part of the largest diameter of a conveyance auxiliary body abuts on the rear end of a banknote, and pushes it. It is a figure which shows the front and side surface of the connection cover of a conveyance pipe. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fitted the connection cover to the conveyance pipe. It is a front view which shows the turn part of a conveyance pipe. It is explanatory drawing which shows the difference in the rotation radius in the turn part of each part of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is sectional drawing which shows the conveyance pipe and conveyance auxiliary body which concern on a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the undesirable conveyance pipe | tube. It is sectional drawing which shows another example of the unpreferable conveyance pipe. It is explanatory drawing which compares and shows the conveyance auxiliary body of a cross-sectional rectangle, and the conveyance auxiliary body of a cross-section circle. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a comparison between a conveyance pipe and a conveyance auxiliary body having a shape corresponding to the conveyance pipe when the extension portion has a two-stage configuration, and the conveyance pipe and conveyance auxiliary body having the shapes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. . A state in which a conveyance auxiliary body having a shape corresponding to this is inserted into a conveyance pipe provided with an expansion portion having a two-stage configuration, and a state in which the conveyance auxiliary body shown in FIG. 5 is inserted into the conveyance pipe shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which compares and shows.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the paper sheet transport apparatus 10. In the present embodiment, the paper sheet transport device 10 is a set of a gaming ball lending machine 3 that lends a gaming ball (pachinko ball) to a player upon receipt of a bill and a gaming machine 4 such as a pachinko machine. Are provided in a gaming machine island 2 that accommodates a plurality of sets on the front and back surfaces so that they are back-to-back with each other, and the banknotes 6 discharged from the back of each gaming ball lending machine 3 are taken in to end the gaming machine island It is comprised as a banknote conveyance apparatus conveyed to the safe 5 provided in the section.

  The paper sheet transport apparatus 10 includes a transport pipe 12 that serves as a transport path for banknotes (paper sheets) and an air flow generator 14 that generates an air flow that flows in the extending direction in the transport pipe 12. . In the paper sheet transport apparatus 10, a transport auxiliary body 16 that can move in the transport pipe 12 by receiving an air flow is inserted into the transport pipe 12 upstream from the banknote to be transported, and transported by the transport auxiliary body 16. The banknote in the pipe 12 is pushed and moved from the rear to be conveyed downstream.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, an air flow generator 14 and a safe 5 are arranged at one end of the gaming machine island 2, and the transport pipe 12 of the paper sheet transport device 10 A forward path 12a extending from the start end to the other end of the gaming machine island 2 at the end of the gaming machine island 2 on the side where the generator 14 is installed, and the other end A turn part 12b that is folded in a U-shape at the part, and a return path 12c that is folded back at the turn part 12b and then extended to the end part.

  The air outlet 14a of the air flow generator 14 is connected to the start end side of the transport pipe 12 (outward path 12a), and the suction port 14b of the air flow generator 14 is connected to the terminal end side of the transport pipe 12 (return path 12c). ing. The air flow generator 14 blows air from the start end side into the transport pipe 12 by rotating the fan with a motor, and sucks out the air in the transport pipe 12 from the terminal end side, so that the air flow generator 14 enters the transport pipe 12. An air flow from the start end to the end (flows along the extending direction of the transfer pipe 12) is generated. The air flow generator 14 sends a part of the air in the transport pipe 12 sucked out from the suction port 14b to the transport pipe 12 through the blowout port 14a and circulates it again.

  At the starting end of the transport pipe 12, a transport auxiliary body insertion device 18 that feeds the transport auxiliary body 16 into the transport pipe 12 is provided. Moreover, the banknote separator 20 is arrange | positioned at the terminal part of the conveyance pipe 12, and the conveyance auxiliary body separator 22 is arrange | positioned in the upstream of the banknote separator 20 slightly. Further, in the middle of the return path 12 c of the transport pipe 12, a banknote take-in device 24 that takes the banknote 6 discharged from the back of the game ball lending machine 3 into the transport pipe 12 at a position corresponding to each game ball lending machine 3. Is arranged. The banknote capturing device 24 includes a banknote 6 from the gaming ball lending machine 3 disposed on the front surface side of the gaming machine island 2, and a banknote 6 from the gaming ball lending machine 3 disposed on the back side of the gaming machine island 2. Are provided on both sides of the side wall of the transport pipe 12.

  The banknote 6 taken in from the banknote taking-in device 24 into the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 stays at the take-up completion position with the paper surface in a posture along the extending direction of the transport pipe 12. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is fed into the conveyance pipe 12 by the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 18 in order to convey and collect the bill 6 that has been taken in and stayed in the conveyance pipe 12 to the safe 5. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 sent into the conveyance pipe 12 from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18 moves in the forward path 12a toward the turn portion 12b in response to the action of the air flow generated by the air flow generation device 14, After making a U-turn at the turn part 12b, the inside of the return path 12c further moves toward the terminal part. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 pushes and moves the banknote 6 in the conveyance pipe 12 from the rear end side of the banknote 6 toward the end of the conveyance pipe 12 (in the drawing). The bill 6 is transported in the transport direction F).

  The conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18 (see FIG. 2) includes a standby section for waiting the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and an air flow from the air flow generator 14 to the start end of the conveyance pipe 12 via the standby section. And a switching valve for switching between feeding and blocking the feeding. The switching valve is normally set on the side that blocks the air flow. When the conveyance auxiliary body 16 waiting in the standby section is sent out into the conveyance pipe 12, the air flow from the air flow generator 14 is switched to the side fed into the conveyance pipe 12 via the standby section. At this time, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has been waiting in the standby portion is sent into the conveyance pipe 12 from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion port under the action of the air flow. The air flow is continued until at least the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is collected by the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22.

  The conveyance auxiliary body separating device 22 performs a function of separating the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the banknote 6 conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and collecting the conveyance auxiliary body 16. Specifically, the conveyance auxiliary body separating device 22 does not touch the banknote 6 among the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has been moved by the action of the air flow and the banknote 6 that has been moved by being pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16. And an abutting portion that abuts only on the conveyance auxiliary member 16. The conveyance auxiliary body separating device 22 causes the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to come into contact with the abutting portion to stop it, and the banknote 6 advances as it is downstream to separate the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the banknote 6.

  In addition, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has come into contact with the contact portion and stopped is guided from the collection port provided in the side wall of the conveyance pipe 12 to the standby portion of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18 through the return path. Yes. The air flow of the air flow generator 14 is also used in the recovery of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. More specifically, a switching valve for determining whether or not to communicate between a predetermined location in the return path and the suction port 14b of the airflow generator 14 is provided, and is opened on the side wall of the transport pipe 12 by switching to the communication state. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is sucked into the return passage from the collection port. The return passage extends from the recovery port to the temporary stop position directly above the standby portion of the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 18 and then communicates with the standby portion immediately below the temporary stop position. When the transfer auxiliary body 16 reaches the temporary stop position in the return passage and stops, when the switching valve is returned to a state where the communication with the suction port 14b is shut off, the transfer auxiliary body 16 that is no longer affected by the airflow is directly below. It falls to the standby part. In addition, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is dropped from the temporary stop position to the standby unit, the operation of the airflow generator 14 may be controlled to be stopped. That is, if the operation of the air flow generator 14 is stopped, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 does not receive the action of the air flow as in the case where the communication with the suction port 14b is interrupted by the switching valve, and the standby part is held by its own weight. Fall to.

  The banknote 6 separated from the conveyance auxiliary body 16 by the conveyance auxiliary body separating apparatus 22 is separated from the air flow by the banknote separation apparatus 20. The banknotes 6 separated from the air flow are transported to a transport belt driven by a motor and stored in the safe 5.

  The conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18, the banknote separation device 20, the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22, and the banknote take-in device 24 operate under the control of a control unit (not shown) including CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like as main parts. In this example, the air flow generator 14 is always operated, and the control unit detects the bill 6 discharged from the back of the game ball lending machine 3 by the sensor provided in the bill pickup device 24. 24 is operated to take the bill 6 into the transport pipe 12. When this taking-in operation is completed, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is fed into the transfer pipe 12 by controlling the switching valve of the transfer auxiliary body inserting device 18. Then, this conveyance auxiliary body 16 receives the effect | action of an air flow, moves the inside of the conveyance pipe 12, and pushes and moves the banknote 6 from back. Then, when the sensor provided in the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22 detects the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has come into contact with the contact portion and stops, the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22 is operated to recover the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and convey the auxiliary body. Guide to the standby section of the insertion device 18. Further, when the banknote separator 20 detects the banknote 6, control is performed such that the transport belt of the banknote separator 20 is driven to transport the banknote 6 to the safe 5. The air flow generator 14 is operated only when necessary (for example, from when the banknote take-in device 24 detects a banknote from the game ball lending machine 3 to when the banknote has been transported to the safe 5). You may control.

  In this way, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is moved under the action of the airflow, and the banknote 6 is pushed and conveyed from the rear end side by the conveyance auxiliary body 16, so that the banknote 6 itself receives the airflow and propulsion force. No need to get. Therefore, the banknote 6 can be conveyed by the airflow without taking measures such as bending the banknote 6 to receive the airflow.

  Next, the shape of the conveyance pipe | tube 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 4 shows the shape of a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F of the transport pipe 12 of the transport pipe 12 (= the banknote transport direction F = the direction in which the airflow flows) in the straight section (the forward path 12a and the return path 12c). Show. The straight portion of the transport pipe 12 has a cylindrical shape having the cross-sectional shape of FIG. 4 and extending linearly. A cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe 12 is substantially rectangular, and a pair of opposing side wall portions 32 forming a long side thereof is formed with a plurality of ribs 34, guide rails 36, and extended portions 38 to be uneven. Yes. A pair of opposing wall portions 33 forming the short side of the substantially rectangular cross section are substantially flat.

  Further, the connecting portion between the side wall portion 32 and the wall portion 33 has four corners having a substantially rectangular cross section. That is, the connecting portion between the side wall portion 32 and the wall portion 33 orthogonal to the side wall portion 32 is a planar connecting wall portion 37 having an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the side wall portion 32 and the wall portion 33. Hereinafter, the short side direction in the substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe 12 (transport direction F) is defined as the X direction (or width direction), and the long side direction is defined as the Y direction (or height direction).

  The side wall part 32 is a pair of inner walls facing the paper surface of the bill 6 to be conveyed. The banknote 6 has a rectangular shape and is transported in the transport tube 12 with the long side in the direction of the transport direction F. In other words, the paper surface is transported in such a direction that the paper surface faces the side wall portion 32 of the transport pipe 12 and one short side of the banknote 6 is the front end side in the transport direction and the other short side is the rear end side.

  The distance Dy between the pair of opposing wall portions 33 of the transport pipe 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote 6. The distance Dx between the pair of side wall portions 32 where the ribs 34, the guide rails 36, and the extended portions 38 are not formed (referred to as a reference plane portion) is set to about 2 cm.

  The guide rail 36 is formed at the center of the side wall 32 in the Y direction (height direction). The guide rail 36 protrudes in a U shape from the reference plane portion to the outside of the transport pipe 12 and also serves as a rectangular extension portion 38 that expands the internal space of the transport pipe 12. The distance between the inner walls of the guide rail 36 in the Y direction is about 23 mm. Further, the protruding amount of the guide rail 36 from the reference flat portion to the outside is about 5 mm.

  A plurality of ribs 34 are formed so as to protrude from the side wall part 32 toward the inside of the transport pipe 12 (opposite side wall part 32). The height from the reference plane portion to the top of the rib 34 is about 2 mm. What is necessary is just to set the height of the rib 34 suitably. The ribs 34 are formed along both edges of the guide rail 36. Further, they are also provided at positions 10 mm away from the center in the Y direction. The rib 34 has a mountain shape in which the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction F faces the paper surface of the banknote 6. Since the rib 34 protrudes inward from the side wall portion 32, the rib 34 plays a role of making the substantial passage width of the banknote 6 in the X direction narrower than the distance Dx between the reference plane portions.

  The conveyance tube 12 is formed of a resin having a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The conveyance pipe 12 is formed by extrusion molding, for example.

  FIG. 5 shows a plane and a front surface of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross section having a different diameter at each portion. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is used by being inserted into the conveyance pipe 12 so that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction (height direction) of the conveyance pipe 12. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is light and strong with polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam or the like. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 may be formed with a hollow inside.

  As described above, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross section, if the central axis is in the Y direction of the conveyance pipe 12, the conveyance force or the like depends on the direction around the central axis as the rotation center. There will be no difference. That is, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is 360 degrees non-directional with the central axis as the rotation center, and there are few restrictions on the direction when inserting into the conveyance pipe 12, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can be inserted into the conveyance pipe 12. Collection etc. become easy. Furthermore, in this example, the Y direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5) is also a target shape with respect to the center, so that there is no restriction on the direction in the vertical direction, and handling is further facilitated.

  For example, when an employee of a game hall manually inputs the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the conveyance pipe 12, even an unaccustomed employee can easily insert the conveyance auxiliary body 16. In addition, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is automatically inserted and collected using the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18 or the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22, these mechanisms can be simplified. Compared with a card-like one having no thickness, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 according to the present embodiment has a depth, so that the posture when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 moves is stabilized. Also, in the case of a thin card shape, it will be provided with wings etc. in order to efficiently receive the action of air flow, and its shape and handling will be complicated, but by making the conveyance auxiliary body a column shape such as a circular cross section, Air flow is efficiently received, and handling during collection and insertion is facilitated.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F and passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in a state where the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the conveyance pipe 12. The diameter of each part of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F, and the inside of the conveyance pipe 12 is between the inner wall. It has a shape that closes with a predetermined clearance.

  Thus, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 makes the shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe | tube 12, and closes the whole cross section of the conveyance pipe | tube 12, it can receive the effect | action of an airflow efficiently, and can move. Further, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 serves to block the air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream and suppress the disturbance of the air flow on the downstream side.

  The banknote 6 sticks to the side wall portion 32 when it receives an action from the air flow in the transport pipe 12. That is, the interval between one paper surface of the banknote 6 and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface and the interval between the other paper surface and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface are hardly uniform. Narrower than the other. Since the flow velocity of the air flow is faster on the narrow interval side than on the wide interval side, the air pressure on the narrow interval side is lower than the air pressure on the wide interval side, and this pressure difference causes the banknote 6 to be attracted and pressed to the side wall portion 32 on the narrow interval side. Then, the interval on the narrow interval side is further narrowed, and a phenomenon occurs in which the banknote 6 is stuck and adsorbed to the side wall portion 32.

  If the banknote 6 sticks strongly to the side wall part 32, it becomes difficult to push and move the banknote 6 with the transport auxiliary body 16, but the transport auxiliary body 16 blocks the flow of air to the downstream side as described above ( Therefore, the force with which the bill 6 is stuck and attracted is small, and smooth conveyance is realized. Even if the banknote 6 is already stuck and attracted to the inner wall surface of the transport pipe 12, if the transport auxiliary body that has moved upstream reaches the stuck paper sheet and stops moving, the transport auxiliary body 16 Since the air flow on the downstream side is almost interrupted, the sticking of the banknote 6 is naturally eliminated.

  The portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 corresponding to the guide rail 36 is an engagement portion that engages with the guide rail 36, and the clearance between the guide rail 36 and the engagement portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is other than the guide rail 36. This clearance is smaller than the clearance between the transport pipe 12 and the transport auxiliary body 16. Specifically, the clearance between the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the side wall portion 32 in the portion B of the guide rail 36 is between the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in the other portion A and the side wall portion 32, the rib 34, the wall portion 33, and the like. It is smaller than the clearance. Since the clearance in the portion B is smaller than the clearance in the other portion A, the guide rail 36 plays a role of regulating and holding the posture of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. In other words, the front-rear direction (direction along the transport direction F) and the inclination in the width direction X of the transport auxiliary body 16 are regulated by the clearance at the portion B of the guide rail 36.

  In particular, even when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inclined to the maximum in the front-rear direction within the restriction range of the guide rail 36, the clearances are set so that the end portion in the axial direction of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 does not contact the wall portion 33. It is. If the clearance of this portion is narrow, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is tilted back and forth, the end portion in the axial direction of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 abuts against the wall portion 33 of the conveyance pipe 12 to be stretched, and the portion B of the guide rail 36 is Will interfere with the movement of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 as compared with the case where the posture of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is restricted by contact. Therefore, the clearance between the axial end portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the wall portion 33 of the conveyance pipe 12 facing the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is set so that such a situation does not occur.

  In this example, since the guide rail 36 is provided near the center of the transport pipe 12 in the Y direction, the transport auxiliary body 16 can be moved while being maintained in a stable posture. Moreover, since the attitude | position of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is stabilized, it can contact | abut to the rear end of the banknote 6 appropriately, can provide the stable conveyance force, and the banknote 6 is caught between the conveyance pipe | tube 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16. FIG. It is easy to avoid the situation.

  Further, since the guide rail 36 is provided near the center of the transport pipe 12 in the Y direction, the transport auxiliary body 16 is also inclined with the central portion in the Y direction (axial direction) as the center of rotation. As a result, the length from the rotation center to the end (inclination radius) becomes shorter compared to the case where the inclination rotation center is offset toward the end of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in the axial direction. The displacement necessary for preventing contact between the end portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and the wall portion 33 of the conveyance tube 12 can be reduced. By reducing the clearance, the conveyance assisting body 16 can receive more airflow. Furthermore, since the guide rail 36 is provided at the center in the Y direction, the guide rail portion having a small clearance can be provided at only one place.

  Further, the guide rail 36 is an extended portion 38 that expands the internal space of the transport pipe 12 to the outside, and the transport auxiliary body 16 also has a shape (engagement portion) corresponding to the shape of the guide rail 36. Yes. Thereby, the area of the part which receives the effect | action of an airflow expands, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can receive the force for moving efficiently. Moreover, since the width | variety (Dx) in the conveyance pipe 12 in parts other than the expansion part 38 can be narrowed by providing the expansion part 38, the fall of the banknote 6 can be prevented.

  Furthermore, the presence of the plurality of ribs 34 provided on the side wall portion 32 prevents the banknote 6 from sticking to the side wall portion 32 exactly. That is, the contact area between the bill 6 and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, friction is reduced, and generation of static electricity can be suppressed. Even when the banknote 6 sticks to the side wall portion 32, the banknote 6 is supported by the tip portions of the plurality of ribs 34. A gap is secured between the bill 6 and the sticking force is kept small.

  Further, the plurality of ribs 34 projecting inward from the side wall portion 32 serve to narrow the passage width W of the banknote 6 in the width direction (X direction) of the transport pipe 12 to be smaller than the distance Dx between the reference plane portions. . Thereby, the banknote 6 becomes difficult to fall down in the conveyance pipe 12, and the attitude | position of the banknote 6 is hold | maintained along a Y direction. In particular, by providing a plurality of ribs 34, the banknote 6 can be prevented from falling down and sticking to the side wall 32 of the banknote 6 can be effectively prevented. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 34 provided, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of the transport pipe 12 and making the transport auxiliary body 16 susceptible to the action of airflow.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the rib 34 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction, which is a mountain shape facing the paper surface of the banknote 6 (opposite side wall portion 32). And has a slope 34a inclined at a non-right angle. For example, when the cross-sectional shape of the rib 34 is rectangular, the base portion of the rib 34 protruding from the side wall portion 32 has a corner perpendicular to the side wall portion 32, so that the end of the banknote 6 is easily caught at the corner portion, Once hooked, resistance occurs and obstructs conveyance. If the rib 34 is a mountain shape having an inclined surface 34a, even if the end of the banknote 6 comes into contact therewith, the rib 34 slides along the inclined surface 34a, so that it is difficult to catch. The connecting wall portion 37 that forms the boundary between the side wall portion 32 and the wall portion 33 is also non-perpendicular (45 degrees) with respect to the side wall portion 32 so that an angle perpendicular to the side wall portion 32 is not formed. Therefore, it is difficult for the end of the bill 6 to be caught on the connecting wall portion 37 (four corners of the transport pipe 12).

  Further, the rib 34 has a mountain shape as indicated by broken lines 41 and 42 in FIG. 7, and the bill 6 is between the rib 34 and the rib 34 or between the rib 34 and the end portion of the side wall portion 32 (the connecting wall portion 37... The arrangement is set so as not to be caught between the corners of the tube 12. That is, in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F of the transport pipe 12, between two ribs 34 formed on one side wall portion 32 (for example, between ribs 34 a and 34 b as indicated by a broken line 41 in FIG. 7) or 1 Between one rib 34 and the end portion 37 of the one side wall portion 32 (for example, between the rib 34a and the connecting wall portion 37 as shown by a broken line 42 in FIG. 7) abuts on the other side wall portion 32 (FIG. 7). In the case of the curve 41, the ribs 34c formed on the other side wall 32 are brought into contact with each other, and in the curve 42, they are connected by a mountain-shaped curve that is brought into contact with the rear wall portion of the guide rail 36 formed on the other side wall 32. The maximum length of the chevron-shaped curves 41 and 42 obtained in the above is shorter than the path length from one end of the banknote 6 to the other end in the cross section perpendicular to the transport direction F (that is, the length of the short side of the banknote 6). In addition, a rib 34 is provided.

  If the bill 6 is caught between the ribs 34 in the state shown by the broken lines 41 and 42 in FIG. 7, the bill 6 is stretched to return to the flat state from the chevron state. The force required to push and move becomes large, making it difficult to transport the bill 6. In the transport pipe 12 according to the present embodiment, the ribs 34 are arranged so that the maximum length of the chevron-shaped curves 41 and 42 is shorter than the length of the short side of the banknote 6, so that the state shown in FIG. A banknote is not caught and smooth conveyance of the banknote 6 is ensured.

  Further, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 and covers almost the cross section of the conveyance pipe 12 except for a slight clearance, any portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is surely included in the conveyance pipe 12. It abuts on the rear end of the inner bill 6. In the case of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 according to the present embodiment, the diameter of the portion corresponding to the guide rail 36 is the largest, so that the maximum diameter portion 16m comes into contact with the rear end of the bill 6 as shown in FIG. It comes to push.

  FIG. 9 shows the front and side surfaces of the connecting cover 50 that connects the transport pipe 12 and the transport pipe 12. The forward path 12a and the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 have a predetermined length, for example, a length corresponding to the width of one set of the gaming machine 4 and the gaming ball lending machine 3 accommodated in the gaming machine island 2 in units. By connecting the necessary number of these, the path length can be adjusted according to the length of the gaming machine island 2 in the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the connection cover 50 is a cylindrical member having an outer edge shape of the cross section of the transport pipe 12 as an inner edge shape. By inserting the transport pipe 12 and the transport pipe 12 to be connected into the connecting cover 50 from both sides, they are connected. The connection cover 50 fits tightly outside the transport pipe 12 with almost no gap. Further, the connecting cover 50 is formed to be sufficiently rigid and difficult to deform as compared with the transport pipe 12. For example, the connection cover 50 is formed of a sufficiently thick plastic or metal compared to the transport pipe 12. For this reason, the deformation | transformation of the conveyance pipe 12 is prevented by externally fitting the connection cover 50 to the conveyance pipe 12.

  When the transport pipe 12 is formed of a thin resin or the like for weight reduction and cost reduction, the side wall portion 32 forming the long side of the rectangular cross section is in a direction toward the center of the transport pipe 12 or in a direction in which it bulges outward from the center. There is a possibility of distortion. However, by disposing the connection cover 50 at a connection place or an appropriate place in the middle, distortion of the transport pipe 12 is prevented. In particular, when the side wall 32 of the transport pipe 12 (part of the guide rail 36 having a particularly small clearance) is deformed toward the center, the clearance of the part disappears, and the transport auxiliary body 16 may not be able to move in the transport pipe 12. Although the connection cover 50 is externally fitted, the deformation of the transport pipe 12 is prevented, and the smooth movement of the transport auxiliary body 16 in the transport pipe 12 is ensured.

  The inner size of the connecting cover 50 in the Y direction (height direction) is slightly smaller than the outer size of the transport pipe 12 in the Y direction, and the pair of wall portions 33 facing the transport pipe 12 are transported from the outer side. You may form so that it may press slightly toward the center of 12. By doing in this way, the side wall part 32 of the conveyance pipe 12 receives the force of the direction which swells slightly outside in the X direction, and can effectively prevent the side wall part 32 of the conveyance pipe 12 from being deformed toward the center. it can. Since the deformation toward the center is a deformation in a direction in which the clearance between the guide rail 36 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is eliminated, this can be effectively prevented.

  Next, the turn part 12b in the transport pipe 12 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a front view of the turn portion 12b. The turn part 12b has a shape in which the transport pipe 12 is extended so as to draw a 180-degree arc with the Y direction as the radial direction. The rib 34 and the guide rail 36 are also formed in the turn portion 12b. However, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not turned on when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 moves in the arc shape in the turn portion 12b. The rib 34 and the guide rail 36 are allowed to escape from the range of the trajectory passing through the arc (the clearance is larger than that of the straight line portion). Thereby, the rotation radius in the turn part 12b can be made small. The relief portion 61 such as the rib 34 is larger toward the inner side where the rotation radius is smaller.

  More specifically, the columnar conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a certain length in the conveyance direction (front-rear direction). Therefore, if the rotation center is taken on the extension of the axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, the center portion in the front-rear direction is obtained. The rotation radius of the front end portion and the rear end portion is larger than the rotation radius. In particular, since the extension portion 38 has a large diameter of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, as shown in FIG. 12, the rotation radius R2 at the front end portion is longer than the rotation radius R1 at the center portion in the front-rear direction. When the clearance is set based on the radius R1 in 12b, the front end portion and the rear end portion collide with and support the inner wall of the extended portion 38. Therefore, in the turn portion 12b, the clearance is larger than that of the straight portion, and when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is rotated by taking the rotation center on the extension of the shaft, the rib 34 or the extension is provided in a portion where the trajectory of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 passes. The portion 38 or the like is prevented from coming into contact.

  Next, modified examples of the shapes of the transport pipe and the transport auxiliary body will be described.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the transport pipe 12 ′ and the transport auxiliary body 16 ′ according to the modification. In the modified example shown in FIG. 13, the corresponding parts having the same names as those of the basic conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 shown in FIG.

  The transport pipe 12 ′ shown in FIG. 13 includes two expansion portions 38 ′. Specifically, a guide rail 36 ′ is provided at the center in the Y direction of the pair of opposing side wall portions 32 ′, and an extension 38 ′ is provided adjacent to both outer sides in the Y direction. Also in the modification, the function of each part is the same as the basic form shown in FIG. Also in the modified example, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 ′ has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance tube 12 ′ and has a shape that closes substantially the entire cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the conveyance tube 12 ′. Further, the clearance of the portion of the guide rail 36 'is narrower than the clearance of other portions. The guide rail 36 'is provided at the center in the Y direction. In the modified example, the guide rail 36 ′ and the extended portion 38 ′ are provided separately, but their functions are the same as in the basic form.

  The rib 34 'protrudes inward from the side wall 32', and a plurality of ribs 34 'are provided. The cross section of the rib 34 'has a mountain shape and includes a slope 34a'. The extended portion 38 'extends outward by a wall portion 38a' perpendicular to the side wall portion 32 '.

  The inner dimension Dy in the Y direction of the transport pipe 12 ′ is slightly longer than the length (the length of the short side of the banknote 6) in which the banknote 6 is stored in a straight state.

  FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show examples (unsatisfactory examples) of unfavorable transport pipes. In the first defective example of FIG. 14, reference numerals in which the same numbers as those of the basic conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 shown in FIG. In the second defect example, the reference numeral “E2” is attached. The transfer pipe 12E1 in FIG. 14 shows an example with one expansion part 38E1, and the transfer pipe 12E2 in FIG. 15 shows an example with two expansion parts 38E2. In FIG. 14, the extended portion 38E1 also functions as a guide rail, and has a substantially circular cross section. Although the shape of the portion corresponding to the extended portion 38E1 is a spherical shape in the conveyance auxiliary body used in the first defective example, even if the clearance in that portion is reduced, the conveyance auxiliary body is inclined in the front-rear direction. It is difficult to properly regulate and is not preferable because it tends to tilt forward and backward. Moreover, the rib 34E1 is not a mountain-shaped cross section but has a rectangular cross section, and the end of the banknote 6 is easily caught, which is not preferable.

  In the transport pipe 12E2 shown in FIG. 15, the wall portion 38aE2 of the expansion portion 38E2 is not perpendicular to the side wall portion 32 but is inclined, so that the end of the banknote 6 is connected to the inner wall 38aE2 of the expansion portion 38E2 and the conveyance auxiliary body. It becomes easy to get caught in between. That is, since the wall portion 38aE2 of the expansion portion 38E2 is inclined so as to be closer to the center in the Y direction as the wall portion 38aE2 expands outward, when the banknote 6 sticks to the side wall portion 32E2 side, the end portion 6a of the banknote 6 becomes the expansion portion. Since it curves and sticks along the inclined wall part 38aE2 of 38E2, it becomes easy to be caught between the conveyance auxiliary member and the extended part 38E2. On the other hand, in the case of the modification shown in FIG. 13, even if the banknote is stuck, the banknote has a certain amount of waist, so that the banknote sticks in a curved state as shown by the broken line 44 and expands outward vertically. There is no sticking along the wall portion 38a 'of the portion 38', a gap is formed, and banknotes are prevented from being caught.

  Next, a case where the extension part has a two-stage configuration will be described.

  FIG. 17 shows the conveyance pipe 12K and the conveyance auxiliary body 16K having a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12K when the extension portion has a two-stage configuration, and the conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance having the shapes shown in FIGS. The auxiliary body 16 is shown in comparison. In addition, in the conveyance pipe 12K and the conveyance auxiliary body 16K, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part of the same shape as the conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and those description is abbreviate | omitted. The conveyance pipe 12K has the same shape as the conveyance pipe 12 except for the expansion part.

  The extended portion 38K of the transport pipe 12K includes a first projecting portion 38Ka projecting outward from the side wall portion 32, a second projecting portion 38Kb, and an inward projecting portion that is in between and returns (projects) inward. 38Kc. That is, the extended portion has a two-stage configuration of a first protruding portion 38Ka and a second protruding portion 38Kb, and an inward protruding portion 38Kc protruding inward is provided between them. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the expansion portion 38 in the transport pipe 12 is a “U” shape, but the expansion portion 38K is changed to a “3” shape.

  The conveyance auxiliary body 16K is a first engagement portion having a large diameter along the inner shape of the first overhanging portion 38Ka at a position corresponding to the first overhanging portion 38Ka of the expansion portion 38K of the conveyance tube 12K as an engagement portion. 17a and a second engaging portion 17b having a large diameter along the inner shape of the second overhanging portion 38Kb at a location corresponding to the second overhanging portion 38Kb. The first engaging portion 17a and the second engaging portion A space between the joint portions 17b has a small-diameter columnar shape corresponding to the inward projecting portion 38Kc.

  FIG. 18 shows a comparison between the state where the conveyance auxiliary body 16K is inserted into the conveyance pipe 12K and the state where the conveyance auxiliary body 16 shown in FIG. 5 is inserted into the conveyance pipe 12 shown in FIG. ing. In the transport pipe 12 shown in the right half of FIG. 18, the clearance A with the transport assisting body 16 is less than the clearance at other portions on the entire inner surface of the extension portion 38, and the entire inner surface of the extension portion 38 serves as the guide rail 36. Plays the function.

  On the other hand, in the transfer pipe 12K, the clearance A between the upper surface and the side surface portion of the inner surface of the first overhanging portion 38Ka and the lower surface and the side surface portion of the inner surface of the second overhanging portion 38Kb. Is made smaller than other portions, and this portion functions as a guide rail 36. On the other hand, the clearance B between the inward projecting portion 38Kc (all surfaces facing the inside of the transport pipe 12K in the inward projecting portion 38Kc) and the transport auxiliary body 16K is larger than the clearance A, and this portion is a guide rail. There is no function. In the transport pipe 12K of FIG. 18, the portion that functions as the guide rail 36 is indicated by a bold line.

  If the clearance of the inward projecting portion 38Kc is reduced in the same manner as the clearance A, the portion of the guide rail that regulates the posture of the transport auxiliary body 16K increases as compared with the case of the transport pipe 12, and the transport pipe 12K and the transport auxiliary body The contact resistance with 16K increases. In the transport pipe 12K, the clearance B of the inward projecting portion 38Kc is increased so that the propulsion of the transport auxiliary body 16 is not hindered by the increase in contact resistance.

  It should be noted that the portion that functions as the guide rail 36 (the portion with a small clearance) and the portion that does not function (the portion with a large clearance) are not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the lower surface and the side surface of the inner surface of the first overhanging portion 38Ka, and the upper surface and the side surface portion of the inner surface of the second overhanging portion 38Kb are used as guide rails with reduced clearance from the conveyance auxiliary body 16K. The portion may be configured not to function as a guide rail by increasing the clearance with the conveyance auxiliary body 16K.

<Effect of the expansion part 38K>
As described above, in the transport pipes 12 and 12K, the bills 6 tend to stick to the inner wall by the action of the air flow. And if an air flow is strong, the sticking effect will also become strong. When strong sticking occurs, in the case of the transport pipe 12, as shown in the right halves of FIGS. 17 and 18, the banknote 6 falls down and sticks along the inner shape of the expansion part 38. As a result, as shown in the right half of FIG. 18, the banknote 6 is easily caught by the maximum diameter portion 16 m of the conveyance auxiliary body 16.

  Basically, since the air flow sent from the beginning of the transport pipes 12 and 12K hits the transport auxiliary body 16 on the upstream side of the banknote 6, the air flow is weakened on the downstream side of the transport auxiliary body 16, and the bank 6 has an inner wall of the transport pipe. The sticking action of is also weakened. However, the paper sheet conveying apparatus 10 feeds air from the starting end side of the conveying pipe 12 and circulates the air flow by sucking air from the terminal end side of the conveying pipe 12 by the air flow generating device 14. In the vicinity, a force for sucking air (suction force) acts greatly, and the air flow is strengthened also on the downstream side of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and the sticking of the banknote 6 to the inner wall is strengthened. Moreover, since the moving speed of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 increases as it approaches the end of the transfer pipe 12 due to the acting force of the strong air flow, it is taken into the transfer pipe 12 from the bill taking-in device 24 near the end of the transfer pipe 12. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 that arrives from the upstream side strongly collides with the banknote 6 that is waiting. Due to the strong collision and the strong sticking of the banknote 6 to the inner wall, the phenomenon that the maximum diameter portion 16m of the transport auxiliary body 16 winds the banknote 6 easily occurs near the end of the transport pipe 12.

  The expanded portion 38 of the transport pipe 12 shown in the right half of FIG. 18 has a large rib interval (width in the Y direction). Therefore, when the acting force of the air flow is strong, the banknote 6 is aligned along the inner shape of the expanded portion 38. Depressed and easy to stick. On the other hand, in the transfer pipe 12K, the extended portion 38K has a two-stage configuration of a first projecting portion 38Ka and a second projecting portion 38Kb, and an inward projecting portion 38Kc projecting inward is provided therebetween. In this way, by configuring the extended portion 38K with a plurality of protruding portions 38Ka, 38Kb, the width of one protruding portion 38Ka, 38Kb in the Y direction (vertical direction) is reduced, and the inner shape of the protruding portions 38Ka, 38Kb The banknote 6 is prevented from dropping down and sticking along.

  Substantially, the bill 6 to be stuck to the inner wall of the first and second overhanging portions 38Ka and 38Kb is supported by the inwardly protruding portions 38Kc between them, so the inner shape of the overhanging portions 38Ka and 38Kb The banknote 6 is prevented from dropping and sticking along. The smaller the width in the Y direction of each of the overhang portions 38Ka and 38Kb and the greater the amount of protrusion of the inward protrusion 38Kc to the inside of the transport pipe 12K, the more the banknote 6 is prevented from sticking to the overhang portions 38Ka and 38Kb. The effect is increased.

  In the transport pipe 12K shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the second overhanging portion 38Kb has the same height as the rib 34. Therefore, even if the banknote 6 sent out to the transport pipe 12K is in a state of receiving a strong airflow, the top of the rib 34 and the top of the inward projecting portion 38Kc are connected to the upper and lower wall parts of the transport pipe. The rectangular space 70 (see FIG. 17) is almost contained. As a result, the rear end portion of the bill 6 collides with a portion closer to the center of the maximum diameter portion 16m (the first engagement portion 17a and the second engagement portion 17b) of the conveyance auxiliary body 16K coming from the upstream. Involvement is prevented. Note that the inward projecting portion 38Kc may project further to the inside of the transport pipe 12K than the rib 34. In this case, the banknote 6 can be collided with a portion closer to the center of the maximum diameter portion 16m.

  In addition, since the extended portions 38Ka and 38Kb are formed in a plurality of stages in the extended portion 38K of the transport pipe 12K, the extended portion 38K as a whole is extended even if the width of each of the extended portions 38Ka and 38Kb is small. The width in the Y direction can be ensured. Thereby, the conveyance auxiliary body 16K can receive and propel the air flow efficiently.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment, the Y direction of the transport pipe 12 is the vertical direction, but the transport pipe 12 may be disposed with the Y direction as the horizontal direction, and may be in another direction.

  In the embodiment, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross section, but may have a columnar shape with a rectangular cross section. As shown in FIG. 16, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 </ b> B having a rectangular cross section has a flat surface on which the banknote abuts and does not generate a gap in the portion in contact with the side wall, as compared with the conveyance auxiliary body 16 having a circular cross section. Has the advantage of That is, in the case of a polygonal shape such as a circular cross-section or a hexagon or octagon, the peripheral surface of the conveyance auxiliary body forms a slope that moves away from the side wall toward the front in the traveling direction of the conveyance auxiliary body from the clearance portion closest to the side wall. Therefore, there is a risk that banknotes may be wound along the slope, but in the case of a rectangular cross section, the surface that contacts the banknote is a flat surface perpendicular to the side wall, and does not form the slope, so that the banknote is involved. hard. In addition, since the cross-section is rectangular if there are two directions, and if the cross-section is square, there are no restrictions on the four directions. Therefore, handling of the auxiliary conveyance body 16B can be easily handled, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. The configuration such as 18 can be simplified.

  In addition, when it is set as the column shape of circular cross section, the radius in the turn part 12b can be made smaller. That is, by making the cross section circular, the length in the conveyance direction F of the portion where the conveyance auxiliary body 16 contacts the rib 34 and the guide rail 36 is shorter than that in the case of the rectangular cross section, and accordingly, the rotation radius is reduced accordingly. Or the amount of relief of the ribs 34 and the like can be reduced.

  In the embodiment, the bill 6 is described as an example of the paper sheets, but other types of paper sheets such as tickets and cards may be used. Moreover, the shape of paper sheets is not limited to a rectangle. Further, the paper sheet transporting apparatus 10 is not limited to the one installed in the gaming machine island 2, and may be configured to go around a plurality of gaming machine islands 2 or a management room in the game hall, for example.

  In the embodiment, an example in which only one sheet is conveyed is shown in FIG. 3 and the like. However, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted in a state where a plurality of banknotes 6 exist in the middle of the conveyance tube 12. It is also possible to transport the plurality of banknotes 6 at a time. For example, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is fed from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18 in a state where the banknotes 6 are stopped at the completion positions of the respective banknote pickup devices 24 in the middle of the return path 12c of the conveyance pipe 12, the conveyance assistance is performed. The number of banknotes 6 to be pushed by the body 16 increases in order on the way along the forward path 12a, and all the banknotes 6 can be conveyed to the terminal portion. Such a large conveying force is due to the fact that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a shape that substantially closes the cross section of the conveyance tube 12, the sticking / adsorption of the bills 6 is reduced, and the presence of the expansion portion 38. It is ensured by the large area that receives the action of In addition, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape that does not deform, a large number of sheets can be conveyed at a time, which is not realized with a wing or the like.

  In the embodiment, the cross section of the transfer tube 12 is substantially rectangular, but may be other shapes such as a circle or an ellipse. However, it is preferable that the conveyance auxiliary body closes substantially the entire cross section with a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape. Moreover, it is good to provide a some rib and to narrow the substantial channel | path width | variety of paper sheets.

  Moreover, although the conveyance auxiliary body 16 was made into the object shape with respect to the Y direction center part, you may make it an asymmetrical shape in a Y direction. In the embodiment, the guide rail 36 is provided at the center in the Y direction. However, it may be provided near the center. Further, a plurality of guide rails 36 (for example, two) may be provided closer to the center.

  The conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 18, the banknote separation device 20, the conveyance auxiliary body separation device 22, the banknote take-in device 24 and the like are not limited to the configurations exemplified in the embodiment. Further, the bill 6 may be inserted or collected manually by an operator.

  In addition, the gaming machine island is not limited to the configuration that accommodates the pachinko machine and gaming ball lending machine exemplified in the embodiment, and may be a gaming machine island that accommodates medal lending machines and slot machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Game machine island 3 ... Game ball lending machine 4 ... Game machine 5 ... Safe 6 ... Banknote 10 ... Paper sheet conveyance apparatus 12, 12 ', 12K ... Conveyance pipe 12a ... Outward path 12b ... Turn part 12c ... Return path 14 ... Air Flow generator 14a ... Blowout port 14b ... Suction port 16, 16 ', 16B, 16K ... Conveyance auxiliary body 16m ... Maximum diameter portion of the conveyance auxiliary body 17a ... First engagement portion 17b ... Second engagement portion 18 ... Transport assistance Body insertion device 20 ... bill separating device 22 ... transport auxiliary body separating device 24 ... bill taking device 32, 32 '... side wall 33 ... wall portion 34, 34' ... rib 34a, 34a '... slope 36, 36' ... guide Rail 37 ... Connecting wall part 38, 38 ', 38K ... Expansion part 38Ka ... First overhanging part 38Kb ... Second overhanging part 38Kc ... Inward projecting part 50 ... Connecting cover 61 ... Escape part 70 ... Rectangular space (substantially) Nusa get as part)
Dx: Distance between reference plane portions of transfer pipe Dy: Inner dimension of transfer pipe in Y direction F: Extension direction of transfer pipe W: Passage width X: Passage width direction of transfer pipe Y: Height direction of transfer pipe

Claims (7)

A transport pipe that serves as a transport path for paper sheets;
An air flow generator for generating an air flow in the extending direction of the transport pipe in the transport pipe;
A paper sheet take-in device for taking the paper sheets into the transport pipe;
A conveyance auxiliary body that is inserted into the conveyance pipe, moves in the conveyance pipe by the air flow , and pushes and conveys the paper sheets taken into the conveyance pipe by the paper sheet taking-in device ;
A transport auxiliary body insertion device for sending the transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe upstream of the paper sheet taking-in device;
A conveyance auxiliary body separating device for separating the conveyance auxiliary body and the paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body and collecting the conveyance auxiliary body;
Paper sheet conveying apparatus characterized by comprising a.   The transport auxiliary body insertion device includes a standby unit that waits for the transport auxiliary body, and sends the transport auxiliary body waiting on the standby unit into the transport pipe by an air flow.
  Provided with a return path for returning the transport auxiliary body separated by the transport auxiliary body separating device to the standby unit
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1.   The conveyance auxiliary body separating device includes a contact portion that allows the paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body to pass therethrough and contacts the conveyance auxiliary body to stop the conveyance auxiliary body,
  The return path is a path for returning the conveyance auxiliary member stopped at the contact portion to the standby portion.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2.   A paper sheet separating device for separating paper sheets separated from the transport auxiliary body from the air flow by the transport auxiliary body separating apparatus;
  Paper sheets separated from the air flow are transported and stored in a safe.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a circular cross section.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   The conveyance auxiliary body has a columnar shape with a rectangular cross section.
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   The transport auxiliary body has a shape corresponding to an inner edge shape of a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe, and a predetermined clearance is provided between the inner side of the transport pipe and the inner wall of the transport pipe. Almost plug
  The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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