JP6735617B2 - Paper sheet collection and transport system Transport auxiliary body relay device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a paper sheet collecting and conveying system and a conveyance auxiliary body relay device for conveying paper sheets such as banknotes by an airflow generated in a conveying pipe.

In the amusement hall, a gaming machine island that accommodates multiple sets of a gaming ball lending machine that lends gaming balls (pachinko balls, etc.) to players upon receipt of banknotes and a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine Is installed. Inside the gaming machine island, a transporting device for transporting bills inserted into each gaming ball lending machine to a safe provided at the end of the gaming machine island is provided along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island.

In addition to the belt type, there is a conveyance device for conveying paper sheets such as banknotes, which conveys paper sheets by the action of the air flow generated by an air blower inside a cylindrical conveyance pipe (for example, , Patent Document 1.). In addition, there is a transport device that transports a paper sheet by sending a transport auxiliary body that moves by receiving the airflow generated in the transport tube into the transport tube and pushing the paper sheet from the rear side by the transport auxiliary body ( See, for example, Patent Document 2).

Further, there is a paper sheet collecting and conveying system that collects the banknotes stored in the safes of the gaming machine islands dispersed in the game arcade to the collective safe in the store office by using the above-mentioned transfer auxiliary body ( For example, see Patent Document 3).

Patent No. 4130697 JP 2012-82062 A JP, 2014-188102, A

In a system that collects banknotes to the collective safes of stores through the safes of each gaming machine island dispersed in the game arcade, the transport route becomes considerably long. For example, a transfer aid sent from a collective safe installed in an office on the second floor of a store descends to the game floor on the first floor, and then sequentially goes around the safes on each gaming machine island installed on the first floor. After collecting the bills, the long transportation route is going up to the second floor and returning to the safe. Therefore, it takes a long time for one recovery operation until the transport auxiliary body sent out from the collective safe goes around the transport route and returns. As a result, when the safes on the gaming machine island do not progress and the banknotes on the gaming machine island are full of banknotes, the player cannot insert the banknotes into the game ball lending machine and must interrupt the game.

For example, assuming that one collection operation takes 2 minutes and a maximum of 6 banknotes can be collected in one collection operation, 180 banknotes can be collected in the safe in one hour. In a medium-sized amusement park with 300 amusement machines installed, even if a player plays a bill at the pace of inserting one bill into a game ball lending machine in one hour, if there are no seats, 300 bills in one hour Need to be recovered. Therefore, with a collection capacity of 180 sheets per hour, collection to the collective safe cannot be made in time, and eventually the safe on the gaming machine island becomes full.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet collection/conveyance system and a conveyance auxiliary body relay device capable of increasing the collection capacity per unit time.

The gist of the present invention for achieving such an object resides in the inventions of the following items.

[1] Paper sheet collection in which an air flow is generated in the transfer tube, and the paper sheet inserted in the transfer tube is pushed and moved from the rear by a transfer auxiliary body that moves in the transfer tube upon receiving the air flow. A transport system,
A transport auxiliary body insertion device that is provided upstream from an insertion position where a paper sheet is inserted into the transport pipe and sends out the transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe,
Provided in the middle of the transport tube between the conveying auxiliary member insertion device and the insertion position, and a holding unit for temporarily holding received the conveyance auxiliary body arriving from the conveyor pipe on the upstream side, the holding portion A transfer auxiliary body relay device including a moving unit that moves the held transfer auxiliary body toward the downstream transfer pipe, and a delivery unit that sends out the moved transfer auxiliary body into the downstream transfer pipe,
Have a,
The transfer auxiliary is configured such that a first movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves inside the upstream transfer tube and a second movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves inside the downstream transfer tube are performed in parallel. A paper sheet collecting and conveying system characterized by controlling the timing of body feeding.

In the above-mentioned invention, the auxiliary conveyance body sent out from the auxiliary conveyance body insertion device into the conveyance pipe is received and temporarily held by the holding portion of the auxiliary conveyance body relay device provided in the middle of the conveyance pipe. Conveying auxiliary member junction device, a conveyance auxiliary member held in the holding unit is moved toward the conveying pipe downstream, and sends the transport assisting member that the mobile to the downstream transport pipe of. Since there is no paper sheet inserting device in the transport pipe upstream of the transport assisting body relay device, the transport assisting body moves independently under the action of the air flow in this section. Since a sheet inserting device is provided in the conveying pipe downstream of the conveying auxiliary body relay device, the conveying auxiliary body sent out from the conveying auxiliary body relay device is a sheet inserted into the conveying pipe by the inserting device. Move and transport items while pushing them from the rear. Since the transfer auxiliary body relay device is provided upstream of the insertion device, it is not necessary to handle paper sheets during the relay, and the relay processing of the transfer auxiliary body can be easily performed.

Further, in the above invention, the first movement of the auxiliary transfer member in the section from the auxiliary transfer member insertion device to the auxiliary transfer device and the auxiliary transfer member sent out by the auxiliary transfer device are on the downstream side of the auxiliary transfer device. The feeding timing of the auxiliary transportation member is controlled so that the second movement of moving inside the transportation pipe is performed in parallel. This makes it possible to shorten the delivery cycle (time interval) of the auxiliary conveyance body as compared with the case where the auxiliary conveyance body continuously makes one turn around the entire conveyance path without providing the auxiliary conveyance body relay device. As a result, the ability to collect paper sheets per unit time can be improved. If at least a part of the first movement and the second movement are performed in parallel, the delivery cycle of the transport auxiliary body can be shortened accordingly.

[ 2 ] The paper sheet collecting and conveying according to [1 ], characterized in that the conveyance auxiliary body is sent out from the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device and the conveyance auxiliary body is sent out from the conveyance auxiliary body relay device at the same time. system.

In the above invention, it is possible to maximize the rate at which the first movement and the second movement are performed in parallel.

[ 3 ] The transfer auxiliary body insertion device is provided at a base point,
The transfer pipe constitutes a path from the base point to the transfer auxiliary body relay device and the insertion position to return to the base point,
At a predetermined position of the transport pipe downstream from the insertion position, further provided is a separation/collection device that separates the paper sheet and the transport auxiliary body that has transported the paper sheet to collect the paper sheet,
The transport auxiliary body that has been separated from the paper sheets by the separation/collection device and returned to the base point is reused as a transport auxiliary body sent out from the transport auxiliary body inserting device [1] or [2]. The paper sheet collecting and conveying system described in.

In the above-mentioned invention, the transport auxiliary body exits from the base point, goes around the transport path, returns to the base point, and is reused for the later delivery. In this case, if the auxiliary transfer body relay device is not provided, the delivery cycle of the auxiliary transfer body is longer than the time for the auxiliary transfer body to return after making one round of the transfer path. It is possible to shorten the delivery cycle of the transport auxiliary body.

[ 4 ] The transfer auxiliary body relay device has a blower that has a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe, or a function of sucking an air flow from the upstream transfer pipe and a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe. The paper sheet collecting and conveying system according to any one of [1] to [ 3 ].

In the above invention, a blower is provided in the auxiliary transport member relay device so that the air flow is not interrupted by inserting the auxiliary transport member relay device into the transfer pipe, and air is blown to the downstream transfer pipe, or the auxiliary transport member relay device is used. The device blows air to the downstream transport pipe and sucks an air flow from the upstream transport pipe.

[5] Paper sheet transport in which an air flow is generated in the transport tube, and the paper sheet inserted in the transport tube is pushed and moved from the rear by a transport auxiliary body that moves in the transport tube in response to the air flow. A transfer auxiliary body relay device used in the system,
In the middle of the transfer tube between the insertion position where the paper sheet is inserted into the transfer tube and the transfer auxiliary body insertion device which is provided upstream from the insertion position and sends out the transfer auxiliary body into the transfer tube. provided a holding unit for temporarily holding received the conveyance auxiliary body arriving from the conveyor pipe on the upstream side, moving section that moves the conveyance auxiliary body in which the holding portion is held towards the conveying pipe downstream And a delivery unit for delivering the moved transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe on the downstream side ,
The transfer auxiliary body is configured so that a first movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves in the upstream side transfer pipe and a second movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves in the downstream side transfer pipe are performed in parallel. A transfer auxiliary body relay device, characterized in that it controls the timing of delivery of the sheet .

[6] function for blowing air to the conveying pipe downstream, or characterized by having a blower function to blow the conveying pipe functions as a downstream side to suck the air flow from the upstream side conveying tube [5] The transfer auxiliary body relay device described.

According to the paper sheet collecting and conveying system and the conveyance assisting body relay device according to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the ability of collecting paper sheets per unit time.

It is a figure which shows an example of the in-store layout of the game hall in which the paper sheet collection conveyance system using the conveyance auxiliary body relay device which concerns on embodiment of this invention was installed. It is a figure showing the whole sheet collection transportation system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a conveyance auxiliary body pushes the banknote in a conveyance tube from the rear end side of this banknote. It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance pipe of a straight line part. It is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the extending direction of the straight portion of the transport pipe. It is a figure which shows the plane and front of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is sectional drawing which shows the conveyance pipe and the conveyance auxiliary body in the state which inserted the conveyance auxiliary body in the conveyance pipe. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a transport pipe around a collective safe and the inside of the collective safe in the paper sheet collecting and transporting system shown in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view showing the back of a safe. It is the perspective view which looked at a bill separation / conveyance auxiliary object circulation device from the ejection opening side of the separated bill. It is the perspective view which looked at a bill separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device from the connecting part side of a conveyance pipe. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline|summary of the isolation|separation operation|movement and the insertion operation by a banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device. It is a perspective view which shows a conveyance auxiliary body relay device. It is a perspective view showing a conveyance auxiliary body relay device in the state where a part of outer cover of a blower part was removed. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the relay part of a conveyance auxiliary body relay device. It is a figure which shows the state in the middle of rotating a rotating plate from a 1st stop position to a 2nd stop position. It is a figure which shows a mode that the relay part which removed the front cover was seen from the upper part. It is a figure showing a mode that a holding part in a receiving position holds a conveyance auxiliary body which arrives from an outward conveyance pipe. It is a figure which shows a mode that the holding|maintenance of the conveyance auxiliary body is automatically cancelled|released, when a holding part rotates to a discharge position. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of a relay part. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a holding part. It is a figure which shows the rotating plate provided with four holding parts for every 90 degrees. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a relay box, a sub-conveying pipe of the sub-conveying device, and a take-in device connected to the upper end thereof. It is a perspective view which shows the upper part of a subconveyance pipe, an intake device, and the conveyance pipe 12 before and behind it. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a sub-transport device and a take-in device (and a transport pipe before and after it) connected to an upper end of the sub-transport device. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a sub-transport device and an intake device (and a transport pipe before and after it) connected to the upper end thereof. It is sectional drawing which shows the upper part of a subcarrier pipe, and an intake device. It is sectional drawing which shows the banknote taking-in part provided in the lower part of the subcarrier pipe. It is a figure which shows the state which looked at the banknote taking-in part in the state which removed the lid of the passage part from the side which opposes an opening. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conveyance part which a capture device has. It is a plan view showing an island bill transporting device installed in the gaming machine island. It is a front view showing an in-island bill transport device installed in a gaming machine island. It is a figure which shows the inside (state which removed the door) of a relay box. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the temporary storage device which a relay box has. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a temporary storage device. It is a figure which shows the structure and operation|movement of a temporary storage apparatus typically. It is a figure which shows signs that the banknote pressed by the pressing plate slides down from a receiving plate, and a mode that the banknote pressed by the pressing plate separates from the receiving plate to which the natural rubber sheet was stuck. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a state where the banknote pressed by the pressing plate is detached from the receiving plate to which the natural rubber sheet is attached, in the improved type of the structure shown in FIG. 37( b ). It is a figure which shows the state which disconnected the connection part and the conveyance pipe before and behind it. It is a figure which shows the front surface, left side surface, right side surface, upper surface, and lower surface in the state which connected the conveyance pipe to the connection part. It is a figure which shows the front surface, left side surface, right side surface, upper surface, and lower surface of a connection adapter. It is a figure which shows a mode that the downstream end part of a connection adapter is connected to the upstream connection port of a connection main body part. It is a figure which expands and shows the state in which the rib by the side of a connection adapter and the rib by the side of a connection main body overlap and were connected. It is a figure which expands and shows the installation part of a blower apparatus. It is a figure which shows the twist part and the parts which comprise this. It is a figure which shows an operation|movement sequence at the time of a paper sheet recovery conveyance system recovering a banknote from each relay box. It is a figure which shows the reference|standard when dividing into groups according to the stock number. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the allocation status of the number of ejected sheets in pattern 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation condition of the discharge number in pattern 2 (when G3 is one). It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation condition of the discharge number in pattern 2 (when G3 is two). It is a figure which shows the example of the allocation condition of the discharge number in the pattern 2 (when G3 is three or more). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the allocation status of the number of ejected sheets in pattern 3. It is a front view showing an error indicator which a paper sheet collection transportation system has. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the location where the stagnation abnormality of the conveyance auxiliary body was detected. It is a figure which shows the relay part of the conveyance auxiliary body relay device before improvement, and the relay part of the improvement type conveyance auxiliary body relay device. It is a figure which shows the inside of the relay part of an improved conveyance auxiliary body relay apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an in-store layout of a game arcade 2 in which a paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 (see FIG. 2) according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed. In the store of the game arcade 2, a plurality of game machine islands 3 are arranged with passages in between. In each gaming machine island 3, a set of a gaming ball lending machine 4 for lending a gaming ball (pachinko ball) to a player upon receiving a bill and a gaming machine 5 such as a pachinko machine are back to back. And multiple sets are housed side by side.

Inside the gaming machine island 3, there is provided an intra-island banknote transporting device 8 that takes in the banknotes discharged from the back surface of each gaming ball lending machine 4 and transports them to a safe installed at one end of the gaming machine island 3. At the end of the gaming machine island 3, a relay box 6 having a function of a safe for temporarily storing the bills conveyed by the in-island bill conveying device 8 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows collecting coins from a relay box 6 of a plurality of gaming machine islands 3 installed in the game arcade 2 shown in FIG. 1 and a collecting safe 11 installed in an office of the game arcade 2 or the like. 1 shows a paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 for conveying.

The paper sheet collecting/transporting system 10 is a set safe 11 installed in an office or the like of the game arcade 2, and an installation location of the relay box 6 of each game machine island 3 that is set out from the safe 11 and installed in the game area. The transfer pipe 12 is provided so as to return to the collective safe 11 via the transfer pipe 12, and a transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 provided in the middle of the transfer pipe 12. The transport pipe 12 from the collective safe 11 to the auxiliary transport relay device 17 is referred to as an outward transport pipe 12a, and the transport pipe 12 from the auxiliary transport relay device 17 to the collective safe 11 is referred to as a return transport pipe 12b.

Although FIG. 2 shows the collective safe 11 installed on the same floor as the gaming area where the gaming machine island 3 is installed, the collective safe 11 may be provided on a different floor from the gaming area. In that case, the length of the carrier pipe 12 from the collective safe 11 to the game floor and the length of the carrier pipe 12 from the game floor to the collective safe 11 are considerably longer than those shown in FIG.

The carrier pipe 12 installed on the game floor is installed behind the ceiling of the game floor. In the case of FIG. 2, the forward transfer pipe 12a of the transfer pipe 12 exits the collective safe 11 installed at one end side of the game arcade, bends upward and extends to the height above the ceiling, and then bends again to the ceiling. It goes into the back side, passes through the place directly above the installation place of the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3, and extends to the auxiliary carrier relay device 17 installed on the other end side of the game hall. The return route transfer pipe 12b extends from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 and then extends along the forward route transfer pipe 12a (that is, one end of the game arcade is passed directly above the installation location of the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3). After being extended so as to return to the side), it bends downward and descends to the height of the collective safe 11, and then bends again and becomes horizontal and extends to the collective safe 11.

The paper sheet recovery/conveyance system 10 generates an air flow in the conveyance pipe 12 and pushes the banknote P from its rear side by a conveyance auxiliary body 16 (see FIG. 3) which receives the air flow and moves in the conveyance pipe 12. It is moved and transported downstream (transport direction FW). The safe 11 and the auxiliary transfer device 17 are each provided with a blower for generating an air flow. The collecting safe 11 generates an air flow from the start end of the outward transfer pipe 12a toward the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17, and the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17 sucks the air flow from the end of the outward transfer pipe 12a. Further, the auxiliary carrier relay device 17 generates an air flow from the start end of the return transfer pipe 12b toward the collecting safe 11, and the collecting safe 11 sucks the air flow from the end of the return transfer pipe 12b.

An auxiliary blower 18 is provided at a bent portion where the return path transfer tube 12b extends downward from the back of the ceiling so as to strengthen the air flow downstream (from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 to the collective safe 11).

The paper sheet collecting/conveying system 10 further includes a sub-conveying device 13 that conveys bills from each relay box 6 to a return conveying pipe 12b passing above the relay box 6, and a bill conveyed from the relay box 6 by the sub-conveying device 13. The paper is provided with a take-in device 14 for taking the paper in the return path transfer tube 12b in a posture in which the paper surface is along the extending direction of the return path transfer tube 12b.

Since the carrier pipe 12 is provided in the back of the ceiling, the carrier pipe 12 does not hinder the player's activities and traffic even if the carrier pipe 12 is routed around the game arcade 2. The transport pipe 12 is not limited to being placed under the ceiling, but may be extended along a high position near the ceiling, for example. In this example, the carrier pipe 12 is installed at a position higher than the area where a person is active (playing or passing) in the game arcade 2. Further, the game ball lending machine 4 in the gaming machine island 3 is installed at a height according to the player playing the game, and the relay box 6 of the gaming machine island 3 is also installed at the same height. The banknote P is transported by the sub-transport device 13 from 6 to the return transport tube 12b above it.

In the present embodiment, the transport auxiliary body 16 that is moved by the air flow and pushes the bills P from the rear side is sent from the collective safe 11, which is the base point, to the outward transport pipe 12a and reaches the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 when the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 is reached. It is temporarily held in the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17. The held transport auxiliary body 16 is then sent from the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 to the return transport pipe 12b, and moves while collecting the banknotes P taken into the return transport pipe 12b by the fetching device 14 and collected. Return to safe 11.

Here, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the collective safe 11 to the forward transfer tube 12a and the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17 to the return transfer tube 12b at the same time. The transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 receives and holds the transfer auxiliary body 16 coming from the outward transfer pipe 12a. Then, the held transport auxiliary body 16 is moved to the start end side of the return transport pipe 12b, and next time, the held transport auxiliary body 16 is sent to the return transport pipe 12b.

By using the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17, the transfer from the collecting safe 11 to the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 through the forward transfer pipe 12a and the transfer safe from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 to the return transfer pipe 12b. The movement returning to 11 will be performed in parallel at the same time. In the case where the transport auxiliary body 16 sent out from the base point (collection safe 11) continues to move as it is without using the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 and completes one round of the transport pipe 12 and returns to the base point (collection safe 11). Compared with the above, the conveyance assisting body 16 can be sent out in a shorter cycle (time interval), and the bill collecting capability per unit time can be improved.

For example, when the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 is installed at an intermediate point of the entire transport route, the transport auxiliary body 16 that has exited from the base point makes one round of the transport route and returns to the base point. The time required for one recovery operation by the auxiliary body 16 can be shortened to half, and the recovery capacity per unit time can be doubled.

As shown in FIG. 8, an airflow generation device 21 and a bill separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 22 are provided inside the safe 11. The banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22 has the function of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 that sends the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to the outward transfer pipe 12a, and the banknote P and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has moved the bills P from the rear side and conveyed. It has a function of a separation/collection device 24 that separates and collects each of them, and also has a function of passing the transport auxiliary body 16 collected by the separation/collection device 24 to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23 for cyclical use. The banknotes P collected by the separation/collection device 24 are stored in the banknote storage unit 25 in the collecting safe 11.

The airflow generation device 21 generates an airflow by rotating a blade with a motor. The air blowing side of the air flow generation device 21 is connected to the air inlet side of the auxiliary transfer body inserting device 23, and the start end of the forward transfer pipe 12a is connected to the air outlet side of the auxiliary transfer body inserting device 23. The end of the return transport pipe 12b is connected to the air inlet side of the separation/collection device 24, and the air intake side of the air flow generation device 21 is connected to the air outlet side of the separation/collection device 24.

The transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 has a function of sucking air in the forward transfer tube 12a from the terminal end side of the forward transfer tube 12a and a function of sending an air flow toward the start end of the return transfer tube 12b. That is, the air flow generation device 21 of the safe deposit box 11 sends the air flow to the forward transfer pipe 12a from the starting end side thereof, and the auxiliary transfer medium relay device 17 sucks the air flow from the final end side of the forward transfer pipe 12a, whereby A strong airflow is generated in the carrier tube 12a. Similarly, the auxiliary carrier relay device 17 sends an air flow to the return transfer pipe 12b from its start end side, and the air flow generation device 21 of the safe deposit box 11 sucks the air flow from the end side of the return transfer pipe 12b. A strong air flow is generated in the return path transport tube 12b.

Further, an auxiliary blower 18 is provided on the return path transport pipe 12b downstream of the most downstream intake device 14. The auxiliary blower 18 is a blower that blows air toward the downstream side, and plays a role of enhancing the forward airflow in order to make the transfer auxiliary body 16 surely reach the collective safe 11. In the example of FIG. 2, the transport pipe 12 from the installation location of the auxiliary blower 18 to the collective safe 11 is described shortly, but for example, the collective safe 11 may be provided on a floor different from the island banknote transport device 8. In many cases, the carrier pipe 12 downstream of the auxiliary blower 18 may have a long distance.

The banknote P is collected by the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 as follows.

The bill inserted from each gaming ball lending machine 4 of the gaming machine island 3 is transported to the relay box 6 at the end of the gaming machine island 3 and temporarily stored therein. When the banknotes P stored in the relay box 6 are collected in the collection safe 11, the banknotes P are ejected from the one or more relay boxes 6 toward the sub transport device 13. The banknote P ejected from the relay box 6 is conveyed upward by the sub-conveying device 13 and then sent out by the take-in device 14 into the return conveying pipe 12b.

The take-in device 14 sends out the banknote P into the return path transfer tube 12b in a posture in which the paper surface is along the extending direction of the return path transfer tube 12b. Here, the take-in device 14 sends out the banknote P into the return path transport tube 12b so that the paper surface is in a horizontal posture in which the paper surface faces up and down. The banknote P sent out by the take-in device 14 into the return path transport tube 12b stays at the delivery completion position. The part of the return path conveying pipe 12b passing through the plurality of intake devices 14 is horizontally oriented and is arranged in a straight line. The horizontal attitude is the attitude of the return path transfer tube 12b in which the paper surface of the banknote P in the return path transfer tube 12b is horizontal.

When the receipt of the bills P into the return transport pipe 12b is completed, the transport auxiliary body 16 is transported from the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 to the banknotes P staying in the return transport pipe 12b to the collecting safe 11 for recovery. It is sent out into the outward transport tube 12a. At the same time, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent out from the collective safe 11 into the outward transfer pipe 12a. The transport auxiliary body 16 sent out into the outward transport pipe 12a moves in the forward transport pipe 12a by the action of the air flow, reaches the auxiliary transport relay device 17, and is received by the secondary transport relay device 17. Retained. On the other hand, the transfer auxiliary body 16 sent out from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 into the return path transfer tube 12b moves in the return path transfer tube 12b under the action of the air flow, and is transferred to the safe 11 while collecting the banknotes P. Come back. At that time, the conveyance assisting body 16 pushes and moves the banknote P from the rear end side as shown in FIG. 3 (conveying direction FW in the figure).

In this way, the conveyance assisting body 16 moves under the action of the air flow, and the bills P are pushed by the conveyance assisting body 16 from the rear end side to be conveyed, so that the bills P themselves obtain propulsive force from the air flow. No need. Therefore, the bill P can be conveyed by the air flow without taking measures such as bending the bill P to receive the air flow. Further, since the conveyance assisting body 16 can obtain the propulsive force from the airflow more efficiently than the bill P, the bill P can be efficiently conveyed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main conveying pipe 12 of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of conveying pipes at a connecting portion 15. The connection portion 15 plays a role of absorbing a change in the length of the transfer tube 12 so that the entire installation state is not distorted even if the length of the transfer tube 12 changes due to a temperature change or the like. The intake device 14 also has a function of connecting the transport pipes 12 before and after the intake device 14.

Further, the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 includes a control unit 27 (see FIG. 8) including CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like as main components. The control unit 27 includes an air flow generator 21, a bill separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 22, a sub-conveying device 13, a take-in device 14, a conveyance auxiliary body relay device 17, an auxiliary blower 18, a sub-conveying device 13, and a relay box 6. Controls the operation of each part.

Next, the shapes of the transfer tube 12 and the transfer auxiliary body 16 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transport pipe 12 in the straight portion, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction FW (=the transport direction FW of the banknote P=the air flow direction) of the transport pipe 12 of the same portion. FIG. The carrier tube 12 is made of a resin having a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The carrier tube 12 is formed by extrusion molding, for example.

The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction FW of the straight portion of the transport pipe 12 is such that the central portion of the long side of the rectangle is extended outward to form a rectangle. In detail, the transport pipe 12 has a wall portion 31 having a rectangular short side in cross section, a side wall portion 32 having a long side rectangular shape in cross section, and an extension portion protruding outward in a rectangular shape at a central portion of the side wall portion 32. And 33. The short side direction and the long side direction in a substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport pipe 12 (the transport direction FW) are the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. In each of the X direction and the Y direction, the direction toward the center of the carrier tube 12 is called the inside, and the direction from the center to the inner wall is called the outside.

The expansion portion 33 is divided into two parts by a separation wall 34 that is erected inward of the transfer tube 12. The separation wall 34 is formed by attaching a T-shaped member to the inner wall of the expanded portion 33.

On the side wall portion 32, a plurality of ribs 35 projecting inward of the transport tube 12 are formed so as to extend along the transport direction. In the present example, ribs 35 projecting inward of the transport tube 12 are formed along the transport direction FW at the boundary between the side wall portion 32 and the expansion portion 33. The separation wall 34 has the same height as the rib 35, and the top of the separation wall 34 acts as a rib. Hereinafter, the separation wall 34 will also be referred to as a rib 34.

The side wall portions 32 are a pair of inner walls facing the paper surface of the banknote P being conveyed. The banknote P has a rectangular shape and is transported in the transport tube 12 in a direction in which the long side is the transport direction FW. In other words, the paper surface P faces the side wall portion 32 of the transport tube 12, and one short side of the banknote P is transported in a direction in which the leading side in the transport direction FW is the other short side.

The interval Dy between the pair of opposing wall portions 31 of the transport tube 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote P. In addition, the distance Dx between the pair of opposing side wall portions 32 (the portions where the ribs 35, the expansion portions 33, and the separation walls 34 are not formed (reference flat surface portions)) is set to about 21 mm. The extension portion 33 provided on each side wall portion 32 extends about 6 mm outward from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The ribs 35 and the tops of the separating walls 34 are about 2 mm in height from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The height of the rib 35 may be set appropriately.

The transport pipe 12 can be installed by using the longitudinal direction of the transport pipe 12 in a vertical or horizontal direction and at any angle, and the transport auxiliary body 16 can smoothly move in the transport pipe 12 at any angle. it can. For example, the banknote P and the auxiliary transfer member 16 can be smoothly conveyed also in the twisting portion 51 (see FIG. 9) described later. FIG. 5 shows the carrier tube 12 in a vertical position installed such that the long side of the rectangular cross section is vertical.

6A and 6B show a plan view and a front view of the transport auxiliary body 16. The conveyance assisting body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross section having a different diameter at each part. The transport auxiliary body 16 is used by being inserted into the transport tube 12 such that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction of the transport tube 12. The conveyance assisting body 16 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in the length direction, and in order from one end, a head 16a, a neck 16b having a slightly smaller diameter than the head, and a large diameter having a diameter larger than that of the head 16a. It is configured to have a constricted portion 16d having the same diameter as the portion 16c and the neck portion 16b and located at the center in the length direction, a large diameter portion 16c, a neck portion 16b, and a head portion 16a. The conveyance assisting body 16 is lightweight and durable, and has a hollow interior made of, for example, plastic. If it is lightweight and durable, it may be formed of expanded polystyrene or extruded expanded polystyrene.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section in a state in which the auxiliary transportation body 16 is inserted into the transportation pipe 12. The drawing is a cross section that is perpendicular to the extending direction FW and that passes through the central axis of the transport auxiliary body 16. The diameter of each part of the transfer auxiliary body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the transfer tube 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveyance assisting body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction FW, and the inside of the conveyance pipe 12 is separated from the inner wall. It is shaped so as to close a predetermined clearance.

In this way, the auxiliary conveyance body 16 has a shape (substantially the same shape with a slight clearance) corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 and closes almost the entire cross section of the conveyance pipe 12, so that the action of the air flow is exerted. Can receive and move efficiently. Further, the auxiliary transfer body 16 plays a role of preventing an air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream side of the auxiliary transfer body 16 and suppressing turbulence of the air flow on the downstream side.

The banknote P tends to stick to the side wall portion 32 when being affected by the air flow in the transport tube 12. That is, the distance between one paper surface of the banknote P and the side wall portion 32 facing the paper surface and the distance between the other paper surface and the side wall portion 32 facing the paper surface rarely become equal, and any distance is It will be narrower than the other. Since the flow velocity of the air flow is higher on the narrow gap side than on the wide gap side, the air pressure on the narrow gap side is lower than the air pressure on the wide gap side, and due to this pressure difference, the banknote P is adsorbed and pressed against the side wall portion 32 on the narrow gap side. To be done. Then, the interval on the narrow interval side is further narrowed, and a phenomenon occurs in which the bill P sticks to the side wall portion 32 and is adsorbed.

If the banknote P sticks strongly to the side wall portion 32, it becomes difficult to push and move the banknote P by the transfer auxiliary body 16. However, as described above, the transport assisting body 16 acts to block (reduce) the flow of air to the downstream side thereof, so that the force of sticking and adsorbing the bill P is reduced, and smooth transport is realized.

The two large-diameter portions 16c included in the transfer auxiliary body 16 engage with the two expanded portions 33 partitioned by the separation wall 34 of the transfer tube 12, respectively. In this example, since the expansion portion 33 is divided into two by the separation wall 34 and these expansion portions 33 are provided near the center in the Y direction of the transfer tube 12, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is maintained in a stable posture. Can be moved. Further, since the posture of the transport auxiliary body 16 is stable, the large-diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary body 16 can be appropriately brought into contact with the rear end of the bill P to give a stable transport force. Further, it becomes difficult for the banknote P to be caught between the transport tube 12 and the transport auxiliary body 16.

In addition, by providing the large-diameter portion 16c, the conveyance assisting body 16 expands the area of the portion affected by the air flow, and can efficiently receive the force for moving. Further, since the large-diameter portion 16c is provided to efficiently receive the action of the air flow, the diameter of the head portion 16a can be reduced accordingly. By reducing the diameter of the head portion, the interval (width (Dx)) between the pair of side wall portions 32 facing each other in the transport tube 12 can be narrowed, and the banknote P can be prevented from falling.

Further, the presence of the plurality of ribs 35 provided on the side wall portion 32 prevents the banknote P from sticking to the side wall portion 32 exactly. That is, the contact area between the banknote P and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, friction is reduced, and generation of static electricity can be suppressed. Further, even when the bill P sticks to the side wall portion 32, the bill P is supported by the tip end portion of the rib 35, so that a gap is secured between the side wall portion 32 and the bill P around the rib 35. The sticking force can be kept small. Further, since the banknote P is supported by the separation wall 34, the banknote P is prevented from falling into the recess of the expansion portion 33.

Further, the plurality of ribs 35 protruding inward from the side wall portion 32 and the tops of the separation walls 34 have a substantial passage width W of the banknote P in the width direction (X direction) of the transport pipe 12 as a reference plane portion distance Dx. Play a role of narrowing. This makes it difficult for the banknote P to fall toward the one side wall portion 32 side in the transport tube 12, and the banknote 6 is held so that the attitude of the banknote 6 is along the Y direction. In particular, by providing a plurality of ribs 35, it is possible to properly prevent the banknote P from falling down and effectively prevent the banknote P from sticking to the side wall portion 32. It should be noted that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 35 provided, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of the transfer tube 12 and making the transfer auxiliary body 16 more susceptible to the action of air flow.

In the case of the conveyance assisting body 16 according to the present embodiment, the diameter of the large diameter portion 16c is the largest, so that the large diameter portion 16c contacts the rear end of the banknote 6 and pushes it as shown in FIG. Become.

Next, the internal structure of the collective safe 11 will be described in more detail.

FIG. 8 shows the safe box 11 with the front cover removed and the transport pipe 12 in the vicinity thereof, and FIG. 9 shows the back side of the safe box 11. At the connection position with the safe 11, the forward transfer pipe 12a and the return transfer pipe 12b are each in a vertical posture, as shown in FIG.

The bank safe 11 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, an air flow generator 21 is arranged in the lower part inside, and a bill separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 22 is mounted in the upper part. In addition, inside the safe 11, the banknote storage section 25 for storing the banknotes P, the banknote transfer section 26 for transferring the banknotes P separated and collected by the separation/collection device 24 to the banknote storage section 25, and the paper sheet recovery/conveyance system. A control unit 27 for controlling the operation of 10, a power supply unit, and the like are housed.

The banknote P discharged from the rear end of the separation/collection device 24 travels along the path indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 8 and is delivered to the banknote transport section 26 provided side by side, and is transported to the banknote storage section 25 by the banknote transport section 26. To be done.

10 and 11 show an overview of the bill separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 22. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22 as seen from the outlet side of the separated banknotes, and FIG. 11 is the connection of the banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22 to the conveyance pipe 12. It is the perspective view seen from the part side.

The banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22 is arranged above the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 and the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 for feeding the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the conveyance pipe 12 (the starting end of the outward conveyance pipe 12a). Then, the end of the return transport pipe 12b is connected, and the separating/collecting device 24 that separates and collects the banknote P coming from the return transport pipe 12b and the transfer auxiliary body 16 that has pushed this from the rear is integrated. Composed.

The transport auxiliary body 16 separated and collected from the banknote P by the separation/collection device 24 falls downward from the separation/collection device 24 through the guide passage 28 (see FIG. 11) to the standby place 29 in the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23. Delivered. As a result, the collected transport auxiliary body 16 is used as the transport auxiliary body 16 that is subsequently sent into the outward transport pipe 12a, and the transport auxiliary body 16 is repeatedly used.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 12, the separation/collection device 24 has a function of passing the banknote P pushed and moved by the conveyance assisting body 16 to the downstream side and abutting the conveyance assisting body 16 to stop it. The holding unit 41 is provided. The holding portion 41 has a receiving portion 42 having a U-shaped cross-section for receiving the conveyance assisting body 16 at the tip of an arm that rotates about one end within a predetermined angle range. A slit 43 is provided at the center of the receiving portion 42 to allow the banknote P to pass therethrough. Further, a discharge port for dropping the auxiliary transport body 16 is provided on the bottom surface of the receiving portion 42.

Normally, the holding portion 41 is located at a position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 12) with the tip end having the receiving portion 42 facing the end of the transport pipe 12 (return transport pipe 12b). When the bill P that has been pushed and moved by the transport auxiliary body 16 passes through the slit 43 of the receiving portion 42 and is received by the receiving portion 42, the holding portion 41 is driven by a motor to rotate, and the receiving portion 41 is rotated. 42 is moved to a position (a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 12) that is aside from the extension of the transfer pipe 12 (return transfer pipe 12b). At this position, the opening at the bottom of the receiving portion 42 communicates with the guide passage 28, and the transport auxiliary body 16 drops downward through the guide passage 28.

The banknote P that has passed through the slit 43 is transported by a transport belt (not shown) and discharged from the discharge port at the rear end of the separation/collection device 24. The discharged banknote P is transported to the banknote transport unit 26 and sent to the banknote storage unit 25, as described above.

The auxiliary transport body 16 that has fallen through the guide passage 28 enters the standby position 29 provided in the auxiliary transport body insertion device 23 and is received.

The transport assisting body insertion device 23 is provided with a movable arm 46 that rotates around one end and that has a delivery portion 45 having a U-shaped cross section that holds the transport assisting body 16 at the other end. The delivery portion 45 is provided with a large opening for smoothly flowing the air flow from the air flow generation device 21.

The movable arm 46 has a standby position (position shown by a broken line in FIG. 12) in which the delivery section 45 is housed in the standby location 29, and a delivery section in which the delivery section 45 is an extension of the start end of the transport tube 12 (outgoing transport tube 12a). The motor rotates to a position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 12). The movable arm 46 is normally at the standby position, and the delivery unit 45 receives the transport auxiliary body 16 that has fallen from the separation/collection device 24 through the guide passage 28. When the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent into the transfer pipe 12 (outward transfer pipe 12a), the movable arm 46 is rotated to move the delivery portion 45 to the delivery position. Then, due to the air flow from the air flow generation device 21, the auxiliary transfer body 16 is separated from the delivery section 45 and is sent out into the transfer pipe 12 (outward transfer pipe 12a).

In this way, the transport auxiliary body 16 that has returned while pushing and moving the banknote P from the rear side is separated and collected from the banknote P by the separation/collection device 24, passed to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23, and then transferred. Reused for sending out.

Next, the posture of each part of the carrier tube 12 will be described.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, four gaming machine islands 3 are provided side by side with a passage, and in order to collect the banknotes P from the relay boxes 6 of these gaming machine islands 3, as shown in FIG. The case where the carrier pipe 12 is provided will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 2, the outward transfer pipe 12a is in a vertical posture when exiting from the back surface of the collective safe 11, but then, after passing through the twisting portion 51 and in a horizontal posture, the forward passage is vertically upward. Change. When it reaches the back of the ceiling, the course is returned to the horizontal state, and then the vertical posture is resumed via the twisting portion 51, and the ceiling is extended to the auxiliary carrier relay device 17 in the vertical posture. The terminal end of the outward transport pipe 12a is connected to the auxiliary transport relay device 17 in a vertical posture.

The return transport pipe 12b is in the vertical posture at the start end portion connected to the transport auxiliary body relay device 17, but is then in the horizontal posture via the twisted portion 51 before reaching the first take-in device 14. The return path transport pipe 12b is extended straight above the ceiling in the horizontal position while passing through the plurality of take-in devices 14 and above the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3. When the return path conveying pipe 12b reaches the end of the portion that passes through the ceiling, it changes its course vertically downward while keeping the horizontal posture, and when it gets down to the height of the safe box 11, it returns the course horizontally, and then passes through the twisting portion 51 to make a vertical posture. Then, it is vertically connected to the connection port on the back surface of the safe box 11 (see FIG. 9).

When the conveyance pipe 12 (return conveyance pipe 12b) in the portion where the bill P is conveyed is curved to change the course, if the paper surface of the bill P faces the inside and outside of the arc, the bill P can easily pass through the curved portion. can do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the carrier pipe 12 is in a horizontal position before and after the position where the path of the carrier pipe 12 (return carrier pipe 12b) is changed to horizontal/vertical.

Even when the bill P is not transported and the transport auxiliary body 16 is moving alone, the axis of the transport auxiliary body 16 is set to be perpendicular to the radial direction of the curved portion, so that a small radius is smooth. You can go through the curved part. That is, also for the forward transfer tube 12a, it is preferable that the transfer tube 12 be in a horizontal posture before and after the position where the path of the transfer tube 12 is changed to horizontal/vertical as shown in FIG.

Further, when the transfer tube 12 is extended in a thin wall, it is preferable that the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the transfer tube 12 is along the wall surface (the short side direction of the cross section is the wall thickness direction). Therefore, the portion of the conveying pipe 12 that extends vertically in the wall is oriented as described above.

Since the twisted portion 51 is provided in the middle of the transport pipe 12, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are mixed as the transport direction of the banknote P, and the course of the transport pipe 12 can be freely set within a plane such as the ceiling. ..

Next, the configuration of the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 13, the auxiliary transport relay device 17 removes air from the relay section 61 in the form of a rectangular thin box to which the forward transfer tube 12a and the return transfer tube 12b are connected and the end of the forward transfer tube 12a. A blower unit 62 having a function of sucking air and a function of blowing air to the start end of the return path transport tube 12b is provided. FIG. 14 shows a state in which a part of the outer cover of the blower portion 62 is removed. Inside the blower portion 62, a fan 63 driven by a motor and a control device 64 for controlling the operation of the auxiliary transport relay device 17 are provided. The suction duct 65 connected to the suction port of the fan 63 is connected to the suction duct connection port 71a (see FIGS. 15 and 16) opening on the back surface of the relay portion 61, and the air duct 66 connected to the air blowing port of the fan 63. Is connected to a ventilation duct connection port 71b (see FIGS. 15 and 16) that opens on the rear surface of the relay section 61.

As shown in FIG. 14, on the front side of the relay portion 61 of the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17, an inflow side connection port 67 to which the forward transfer pipe 12a is connected and an outflow side connection port 68 to which the return transfer pipe 12b is connected. Are provided so as to project forward. The inflow side connection port 67 and the outflow side connection port 68 each have an inner edge shape corresponding to the outer edge side shape of the transfer pipe 12, and the end of the outward transfer pipe 12a is densely inserted into the inflow side connection port 67. Then, the start end of the return path transfer pipe 12b is densely inserted into the outflow side connection port 68.

FIG. 15 shows a state in which the front cover of the relay section 61 is removed. The relay portion 61 includes a rectangular base plate 71 that constitutes the back surface of the relay portion 61, and a rotating plate 72 that is rotatably supported by a support shaft 73 on the base plate 71. The rotating plate 72 is provided with a pair of holding portions 74 at target positions with the support shaft 73 as the center. The holding unit 74 has a function of temporarily holding the transport auxiliary body 16.

The rotary plate 72 can be stopped at two positions, a first stop position shown in FIG. 15 and a second stop position rotated 180 degrees from the first stop position. FIG. 16 shows a state where the rotary plate 72 is in the process of rotating from the first stop position to the second stop position. A transmissive optical sensor 76 for detecting whether the rotary plate 72 is at the first stop position or the second stop position is provided.

When the rotary plate 72 is stopped at any of the stop positions, one holding portion 74 is located just behind the inflow side connection port 67 and is in a position where it is connected to the inflow side connection port 67 (referred to as a receiving position), and the other The holding portion 74 is located just behind the outflow-side connection port 68 and is in a position where it is connected to the outflow-side connection port 68 (referred to as a discharge position).

Ventilation holes 72 a are formed in the rotary plate 72 at positions corresponding to the centers of the holding portions 74. When the rotary plate 72 stops at the stop position, the suction duct 65 and the inflow side connection port 67 communicate with each other via the suction duct connection port 71a provided in the base plate 71 and the ventilation hole 72a provided in the rotary plate 72, and The ventilation duct 66 and the outflow side connection port 68 communicate with each other through the ventilation duct connection port 71b provided in the base plate 71 and the ventilation hole 72a provided in the rotary plate 72.

FIG. 17 is a view of the relay section 61 with the front cover removed, as seen from above. The holding portion 74 abuts on the auxiliary conveyance body 16 coming from the outward conveyance pipe 12a and receives the auxiliary conveyance body 16, and a pair of holding the auxiliary conveyance body 16 abutting the receiving section 81 from the left and right sides. The holding roller 82 is provided. The transport auxiliary body 16 is sandwiched and held between a pair of holding rollers 82 and a receiving portion 81. The receiving portion 81 is configured by a shock absorbing member that absorbs a shock when the transport assisting body 16 is received.

The pair of holding rollers 82 are arranged with a space left and right so that the transport auxiliary body 16 can push the space between them to pass through. The holding roller 82 is attached to the inner side of the tips of the pair of holding arms 83 whose longitudinal direction is the traveling direction of the transport auxiliary body 16. The rear end portion of the holding arm 83 is pivotally supported, and the distance between the pair of holding rollers 82 attached to the front end is slightly smaller than the diameter of the conveyance assisting body 16 and the distance between the pair of holding rollers 82 is conveyed. It is rotated to an open position that is sufficiently wider than the diameter of the auxiliary body 16, and is biased by a spring or the like toward the closed position.

Of the pair of holding arms 83, a release plate 84 that is parallel to the rotary plate 72 and projects outward is attached to the outer side surface of the outer holding arm 83. As shown in FIG. 15, the release plate 84 is a rectangular metal plate whose longitudinal direction is the tangential direction of the circle on which the rotary plate 72 rotates, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are obliquely bent in the direction away from the rotary plate 72. There is. When the rotating plate 72 rotates and the holding portion 74 reaches the discharge position, the base plate 71 is in contact with the release plate 84 of the holding portion 74 that has reached the discharge position, and the release plate 84 is attached. A release roller 85 is attached to push and hold the holding arm 83 to an open position where the tip of the holding arm 83 opens outward. The base plate 71 is provided with a sensor 75 that detects whether or not the holding portion 74 at the first stop position and the second stop position holds the auxiliary transport body 16. The sensor 75 is a transmissive optical sensor.

FIG. 18 shows a state in which the holding portion 74 at the receiving position holds the transport auxiliary body 16 coming from the outward transport tube 12a. As shown in FIG. 7A, the holding portion 74 stands by at the closed position where the distance between the pair of holding rollers 82 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the auxiliary conveyance body 16. The conveyance assisting body 16 coming from the end of the outward conveyance pipe 12a passes through a portion where the holding roller 82 is located while expanding the interval between the pair of holding rollers 82 as shown in FIG. ), it abuts on the receiving portion 81. At the position where it abuts on the receiving portion 81, the center of the transport assisting body 16 is slightly closer to the receiving portion 81 side than the line C1 connecting the centers of the pair of holding rollers 82, and the receiving portion 81 and the pair of holding rollers are located. Held by 82.

FIG. 19 shows a state in which the holding portion 74 has reached the discharge position. When the release position is reached, the release plate 84 comes into contact with the release roller 85, so that the outer holding arm 83 to which the release plate 84 is attached pivots in the opening direction so that the distance between the pair of holding rollers 82 is increased. The diameter of the auxiliary body 16 becomes larger than that of the auxiliary body 16, and the holding of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 by the receiving portion 81 and the holding roller 82 is released.

Inside the inflow side connection port 67 and the outflow side connection port 68, and inside the holding portion 74, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, various ribs 91 and 92 for restricting the position and posture of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 are provided. , 93 are provided. The ribs 91 and 92 are provided inside the inflow side connection port 67 and the outflow side connection port 68, and the rib 93 is provided inside the holding portion 74. The side ribs 91 that come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 16c of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 have a passage width that gradually narrows as the passage width of the portion through which the large-diameter portion 16c of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 advances from the inlet side of the connection port to the back. After that, it is set to spread a little suddenly. The side ribs 91 prevent rattling on the left and right of the conveyance assisting body 16.

The guide ribs 92 provided inside the inflow-side connection port 67 and the outflow-side connection port 68 and at the positions corresponding to the upper, middle, and lower constricted portions 16d of the transport assisting body 16 are located in the axial direction of the transport assisting body 16. Regulate your posture. Similarly, a pair of upper and lower guide ribs 93 provided inside the holding portion 74 and at positions corresponding to the upper and lower constricted portions 16d of the transport auxiliary body 16 regulate the position of the transport auxiliary body 16 in the axial direction.

The upper and lower guide ribs 92 have a taper in which the distance between the upper and lower guide ribs 92 increases toward the holding portion 74 side from the connection ports 67, 68 side. The pair of upper and lower guide ribs 93 continuing to the inner side of the upper and lower guide ribs 92 have a taper (a taper opposite to that of the guide rib 92) in which the distance between them widens toward the connection ports 67 and 68.

The auxiliary carrier relay device 17 operates as follows.

By driving the fan 63 of the blower unit 62, the air is sucked from the end of the forward transfer pipe 12a and the air flow is sent to the start of the return transfer pipe 12b. As a result, an air flow from the beginning to the end of the forward transfer pipe 12a and an air flow from the beginning to the end of the return transfer pipe 12b are generated and strengthened.

The holding portion 74 at the receiving position receives and holds the transport auxiliary body 16 coming from the outward transport tube 12a. At this time, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 coming from the outward conveyance pipe 12a is regulated in position and posture by the side surface ribs 91 and the guide ribs 92, 93 when passing through the inflow side connection port 67, and is held by the holding portion 74 at the receiving position. It is held in the correct position and posture.

After that, when the rotary plate 72 rotates 180 degrees, the holding portion 74 that was in the receiving position moves to the discharging position. When it moves to the discharge position, the release plate 84 comes into contact with the release roller 85 to release the holding of the auxiliary conveyance body 16. When the fan 63 of the blower unit 62 is operated in the released state, the auxiliary conveyance body 16 receives the air blown from the air blow duct 66 and is sent out to the return path conveyance pipe 12b through the outflow side connection port 68. At this time, the position and the posture of the conveyance assisting body 16 are regulated by the side ribs 91 and the guide ribs 92 and 93, and the conveyance assisting body 16 is fed into the return conveyance pipe 12b in the correct posture.

In the present embodiment, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 to the return path transfer tube 12b, and the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the transfer auxiliary body insertion device 23 of the collective safe 11 to the outward transfer tube 12a. Control to be performed at the same time. As a result, the first movement of the auxiliary transfer member 16 from the auxiliary transfer member insertion device 23 of the safe deposit box 11 to the auxiliary transfer member relay device 17 through the forward transfer pipe 12a and the auxiliary transfer member relay device 17 through the return transfer pipe 12b. The second movement of the transfer auxiliary body 16 to the separation/collection device 24 of the safe 11 is performed in parallel.

As a result, the transfer auxiliary body 16 sent out from the collective safe 11 to the outward transfer pipe 12a goes around the entire transfer pipe 12 without returning to the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17, and returns to the collective safe 11 before the next transfer auxiliary body. Compared to the case of sending out 16, the collection operation of the bill P by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can be performed in a shorter cycle, and the collection ability of the paper sheet collection and conveyance system 10 per unit time can be enhanced.

The transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 to the return transfer pipe 12b and the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the transfer auxiliary body insertion device 23 of the collecting safe 11 to the outward transfer pipe 12a at the same time. It is not limited to this. The first movement in which the auxiliary transportation member 16 sent out by the auxiliary auxiliary member insertion device 23 moves in the forward transfer pipe 12a, and the first movement in which the auxiliary auxiliary member 16 sent out by the auxiliary transfer device 17 moves in the backward transfer pipe 12b. At least a part of the two movements should be performed in parallel. If the first movement and the second movement are partially performed in parallel, the delivery cycle can be shortened and the recovery capability can be increased accordingly.

For example, when the second movement on the return path from the auxiliary transportation relay apparatus 17 to the collective safe 11 requires more time than the first movement on the outward path from the collective safe 11 to the auxiliary transportation relay apparatus 17, the movement time is long. It is also possible to first send the auxiliary transportation member 16 to the return path (return path transfer tube 12b) and then to send it to the forward path (outgoing path transfer tube 12a) having a short movement time. It is desirable to control the delivery at the same timing as the completion of the second movement on the return path or before the completion of the first movement on the outward path.

In the auxiliary carrier relay device 17, as shown in FIG. 13, at the connection point between the inflow side connection port 67 and the terminal end of the outbound transfer pipe 12a, and the connection point between the outflow side connection port 68 and the start end of the inbound path transfer pipe 12b. The inflow-side connection port 67 and the outflow-side connection port 68 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the outward transport pipe 12a and the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the inbound transport pipe 12b are parallel (coincident).

In the installation example of FIG. 2, the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 is an extension in which the outward transfer pipe 12a and the return transfer pipe 12b of the portion extended along the upper side of the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3 are straightened as they are. It is arranged on the line. However, for example, when it is necessary to bend and install the auxiliary transport relay device 17 from the above extension line, it is necessary to bend the forward transfer pipe 12a and the backward transfer pipe 12b. At this time, if the forward transport pipe 12a and the return transport pipe 12b are parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the cross section at the connection position to the transport auxiliary body relay device 17, the forward transport pipe 12a and the return transport pipe 12b have the same structure at the curved portions. A curve connecting member can be connected and dealt with.

However, when the forward transport pipe 12a and the return transport pipe 12b are not parallel in the cross-section longitudinal direction at the connection position to the auxiliary transport device 17, the curved portions of the forward transport pipe 12a and the return transport pipe 12b have different curvatures. It becomes necessary to use curved connecting members. Therefore, not only the time and effort for individually designing and manufacturing are required, but also because it becomes an individually manufactured work, it becomes difficult to maintain. Like the auxiliary transfer relay device 17 of the present embodiment, both the forward transfer pipe 12a and the return transfer pipe 12b are in the vertical posture at the connection points to the auxiliary transfer device 17, and the longitudinal directions of the cross sections are parallel. By doing so, the above problems can be solved, and the degree of freedom of the installation location of the auxiliary transport relay device 17 can be increased.

In the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 shown in FIG. 2, the return conveying pipe 12b needs to be in a horizontal posture in the portion passing above the relay box 6, and therefore the outflow side connecting port 68 of the conveying auxiliary body relay device 17 is required. The return path transfer pipe 12b connected to the first transfer device 12 is changed from the vertical posture to the horizontal posture by inserting the twisted portion 51 at a position upstream of the first take-in device 14.

Due to its mechanism, the auxiliary carrier relay device 17 is installed vertically (posture shown in FIG. 13) even if it is placed vertically (with respect to the posture shown in FIG. It may be installed in a rotated position) or in a direction in which the inflow side connection port 67 and the outflow side connection port 68 face upward. However, since the holding by the holding roller 82 is released at the discharge position, the posture in which the outflow side connection port 68 faces downward is prevented so that the transport auxiliary body 16 does not naturally drop into the return path transport pipe 12b through the outflow side connection port 68. Must be avoided.

The configuration of the auxiliary transfer device 17 is not limited to that illustrated in FIGS. For example, the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 is provided with a buffer section capable of holding a plurality of transfer auxiliary bodies 16 coming from the outward transfer pipe 12a, and one of the transfer auxiliary bodies 16 held in the buffer section is sent out to the next. It may be configured to be used for.

In addition, in the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 shown in FIG. 13 and the like, by rotating the rotating plate 72 by 180 degrees, the transport auxiliary body 16 received from the inflow side connection port 67 is moved to the outflow side connection port 68 side. However, the moving method may be arbitrary. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, four holding portions 74 are provided on the rotary plate 72 at every 90 degrees, and the stop position of the rotary plate 72 is set at every 90 degrees. Then, the inflow-side connection port 67 is provided at a position facing one holding portion 74a, and the outflow-side connection port 68 is provided at a position facing the holding portion 74b at a position where the rotary plate 72 is rotated 90 degrees therefrom, and is rotated. It is also possible to rotate the plate 72 by 90 degrees to move the auxiliary transport member 16 from the receiving position to the discharging position. In addition, a configuration in which the transport auxiliary body 16 is slid from the receiving position to the discharging position may be used.

In the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the transport auxiliary body 16 is moved from the receiving position to the discharge position by using the rotating plate 72, so that the relay portion 61 of the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 becomes thin, and the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 is transported. It becomes difficult for the installation of the auxiliary body relay device 17 to interfere with the ornaments on the game arcade 2 or the gaming machine island 3.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 catches the transport auxiliary body 16 with a holding roller 82 biased by a spring and holds it while the rotary plate 72 is rotating. When the holder 74 is rotated to reach the discharge position, the release plate 84 contacts the release roller 85 to release the holding by the spring-loaded holding roller 82. Therefore, it is not necessary to use an electromagnetic relay or the like, and the transport auxiliary body 16 can be received, held, and released with a simple configuration.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, since the side ribs 91 and the guide ribs 92 and 93 are provided inside the inflow side connection port 67 and the outflow side connection port 68, the posture of the auxiliary transfer body 16 is restricted, While ensuring stable catching of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 and correcting the posture of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 that is sent out from the inflow side connection port 67 to the return conveyance pipe 12b, the auxiliary conveyance body 16 is sent out to the return conveyance pipe 12b without tilting. You can

Next, a portion where the bill P conveyed from the sub-conveying device 13 is sent into the conveying pipe 12 by the taking-in device 14 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 23, the sub-transport device 13 has a function of transporting the banknote P from the relay box 6 toward the return transport pipe 12b horizontally extending above the relay box 6. When the bill P is taken in from the sub-conveyance device 13 to the return conveyance pipe 12b, the traveling direction of the bill P changes from vertical to horizontal. As described above, when the traveling direction is changed, it is necessary that the paper surface of the banknote P be in a position facing the inside and outside of the arc. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the attitude of the return path transport tube 12b extending horizontally above the relay box 6 is such that the paper surface of the banknote P (P3 in FIG. 24) to be transported is in the vertical direction. It is laid sideways. Then, at least the terminal end portion (portion immediately before reaching the take-in device 14) of the conveying pipe (hereinafter referred to as the sub-conveying pipe 101) extending in the vertical direction of the sub-conveying device 13 conveys the bill P (P1 in FIG. 24). ) Is arranged such that the paper surface of () is in a posture of facing the extending direction Fw of the return path transport pipe 12b at the location where the intake device 14 is present.

FIG. 24 shows the periphery of the take-in device 14 inserted in the return path transport pipe 12b in a portion passing above the relay box 6. The take-in device 14 changes the course of the banknote P to P1, P2, and P3 in FIG. 24, and sends it out into the return path transport tube 12b. The take-in device 14 can change the course of the banknote P conveyed by the sub-conveying device 13 without twisting it, and smoothly send it out into the conveying pipe 12.

It should be noted that in order to make the return path transfer pipe 12b vertically connected to the outflow side connection port 68 of the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 in a horizontal position before reaching the first intake device 14, a paper sheet recovery and transfer system. In FIG. 10, the twisted portion 51 is inserted into the return transport pipe 12b immediately after exiting the outflow side connection port 68 of the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 (see FIG. 2).

Next, the sub transport device 13 will be described.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the sub-transport device 13 and the take-in device 14 (and the transport pipe 12 before and after it) connected to the upper end thereof. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the sub-transport device 13 and the intake device 14 (and the transport pipe 12 before and after it) connected to the upper end thereof. FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the upper portion of the sub-transporting pipe 101 of the sub-transporting device 13 and the intake device 14. FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the lower portion of the sub-conveying pipe 101 of the sub-conveying device 13.

The sub-transport device 13 transports the banknote P using a transport auxiliary body 16 different from the transport auxiliary body 16 that moves in the transport tube 12. However, the shape is the same as that of the transfer auxiliary body 16 that moves the transfer tube 12. In the sub-transport device 13, one transport auxiliary body 16 reciprocates in the sub-transport pipe 101 extending in the vertical direction. The cross-sectional shape of the sub-conveyance pipe 101 is the same as the straight line portion of the conveyance pipe 12, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the sub-transport device 13 includes a sub-transport pipe 101 extending in the vertical direction, a transport auxiliary body 16 that vertically reciprocates in the sub-transport pipe 101, and a sub-transport pipe. The banknote take-in section 103 is attached to the lower end of the banknote 101, and the upward flow generating section 102 that sends an air flow from the lower side of the banknote take-in section 103 upward to the sub-conveying pipe 101 through the banknote take-in section 103. There is.

The sub-conveyance pipe 101 is provided with a twisted portion 51 just before its upper end. The twisting portion 51 twists the sub-conveying pipe 101 by 90 degrees. As described above, the portion of the sub-conveyance pipe 101 above the twisted portion 51 is arranged such that the paper surface of the banknote P passing through the portion faces the extension direction of the return conveyance pipe 12b at the installation location of the take-in device 14. (See FIG. 24). On the other hand, in the portion below the twisted portion 51, the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the sub-conveyance pipe 101 coincides with the extension direction of the return conveyance pipe 12b at the installation location of the intake device 14.

As shown in FIG. 28, the bill taking-in section 103 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the sub-conveying tube 101 and a passage section 104 communicating with the lower end of the sub-conveying tube 101 and having a length of about 15 cm. An opening 104b for taking in the banknotes P, which is provided on one side wall of the section 104, and a conveyance roller 105a and a conveyance belt 105b for feeding the banknotes P obliquely upward into the passage section 104 from the opening 104b are provided. There is.

The lower end of the passage portion 104 has a narrow width, and receives and holds the auxiliary conveyance body 16. Further, at the lower end of the passage portion 104, an inflow port 104c for the air flow from the upflow generation portion 102 is provided. A blower duct 102b extending from a fan 102a (see FIG. 25) of the upflow generator 102 is connected to the inflow port 104c.

FIG. 29 shows a state in which the banknote acceptor 103 with the lid of the passage 104 (the wall on the side facing the opening 104b) removed is viewed from the side facing the opening 104b. The transport rollers 105a and the transport belts 105b spanned by the transport rollers 105a are provided on the left and right sides of the passage portion 104 in the width direction. Since the bills P are sent into the passage 104 by the left and right transport belts 105b, the bill P can be sent straight into the passage 104 without tilting the bill P obliquely when the bill P is sent upward.

As shown in FIG. 27, the upper end of the sub-conveyance pipe 101 is provided with a narrowed opening 101a, and the auxiliary conveyance body 16 comes into contact with the narrowed portion of the upper end of the sub-conveyance pipe 101 and stops. The banknote P pushed up by the conveyance assisting body 16 passes through the opening 101a and advances into the taking-in device 14.

The sub transport device 13 operates as follows.

The ascending flow generation unit 102 is normally stopped, and the conveyance assisting body 16 is held at the lower end of the passage unit 104 of the bill taking unit 103 (see FIG. 26). When the bill P is sent into the sub-conveying pipe 101 by the bill take-up unit 103, the conveyance rollers 105a and the like of the bill take-up unit 103 are driven by a motor, and the bill P received from the outside (relay box 6) is passed through the passage unit 104. It is sent toward the opening 104b. When the banknote P is completely sent out into the passage 104, the upward flow generator 102 is operated to generate an upward airflow. Due to the action of this air flow, the conveyance assisting body 16 moves up in the sub-conveying pipe 101 while pushing the bill P from the rear end.

The banknote P, which has been conveyed to the upper end of the sub-conveying pipe 101 by the conveyance assisting body 16 that rises due to the airflow, advances into the taking-in device 14 as it is through the opening 101a and is taken into the taking-in device 14 (see FIG. 27). The transfer auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with the narrow portion of the upper end of the auxiliary transfer pipe 101 and stops. After that, when the ascending flow generating unit 102 is stopped, the transport assisting body 16 naturally falls, returns to its original position, and is held at the lower end of the passage portion 104 of the bill accepting unit 103. This completes a series of operations for transporting the banknote P to the upper pickup device 14.

The sub-transport device 13 has a transport capability of transporting a plurality of (for example, three to five) banknotes P upward at a time. The bill take-in unit 103 performs the operation of feeding the bills P one by one into the passage unit 104 a plurality of times to form a state in which a plurality of bills P stay in the passage unit 104. When the ascending flow generation unit 102 is operated in this state, the conveyance assisting body 16 conveys the plurality of banknotes P to the take-up device 14 at the upper end at one time.

Next, the capturing device 14 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 27, the intake device 14 has a cross-sectional shape equivalent to that of the transfer tube 12 and a passage portion 121 to which the transfer tube 12 (return path transfer tube 12b) is connected in the front and rear. The passage portion 121 has an inner shape similar to that of the straight portion of the conveying pipe 12, and the conveyance assisting body 16 can smoothly pass through the passage portion 121. The passage portion 121 is in a horizontal posture. An opening 121b for taking the bill P into the passage portion 121 is formed on the wall surface on the lower side of the passage portion 121. The take-in device 14 includes a transport unit 122 for sending the banknote P from the opening 121b into the passage 121.

The transport unit 122 transports the bill guide path 123 leading to the opening 121b, the transport belt 124 that transports the bill P transported by the sub-transport device 13 toward the opening 121b of the passage unit 121 through the bill guide path 123, and the transport belt 124. In order to prevent the leakage of the air flow from the feeding roller 125a and the feeding belt 125b, which have a function of completely feeding the bill P sent into the passage portion 121 by the belt 124 to the end thereof, and the bill feeding path 123. A shutter 126 provided in the middle of the bill guiding path 123 for opening and closing the bill guiding path 123, a motor for driving the conveying belt 124, the feeding roller 125a, and the feeding belt 125b are provided. The shutter 126 is biased to the closed position by a spring or the like.

When the deformed banknote P or the weak banknote P is discharged from the relay box 6 to the sub-transport device 13, the banknote P transported to the capturing device 14 by the sub-transport device 13 and the transport belt 124 of the capturing device 14. There may be a case in which the contact with the banknote P becomes insufficient, and the banknote P cannot be conveyed by the conveyor belt 124 and taken into the passage portion 121 well. Therefore, the take-in device 14 presses the banknote P, which is not properly conveyed by the conveyor belt 124, toward the conveyor belt 124, and clamps it between the conveyor belt 124 and the conveyor belt 124 so as to assist the conveyance. The roller 128 is further provided.

As shown in FIG. 30, the nipping roller 128 is attached to the lower end of the movable arm 129 pivotally supported by the support point 129a at the upper end, and swings the movable arm 129 by turning on/off the solenoid 130. When the solenoid 130 is turned on, the nipping roller 128 at the lower end advances into the paper money guide path 123 to reach a nipping position for nipping the paper money P with the conveyor belt 124 (see FIG. 30B), and the solenoid 130 is turned off. Then, the nip roller 128 is returned to the retracted position (see FIG. 30A) retracted to the side of the bill guide path 123 by being biased by a spring or the like.

The conveyor belts 124 are separately provided at two positions on the left and right in the width direction of the banknote P, and the nipping rollers 128 are located between the left and right conveyor belts 124. A banknote detection sensor 131 for detecting banknotes P is provided in the vicinity of the center in the transfer direction within the range where the transfer belt 124 is stretched. Here, the bill detection sensor 131 is an optical sensor. Since the bill detection sensor 131 and the movable arm 129 are extremely close to each other, the movable arm 129 does not interfere with the installation of the optical sensor and the movable arm 129 does not block the light of the optical sensor. An opening is provided to avoid the sensor and its light.

When the banknote detection sensor 131 detects the banknote P, the solenoid 130 is turned on to displace the nipping roller 128 to the nipping position, and the banknote P is nipped between the nipping roller 128 and the conveyor belt 124 to be conveyed. When the bill detection sensor 131 no longer detects the bill P, the solenoid 130 is turned off and the holding roller 128 is returned to the retracted position.

The pick-up device 14 has a main body side provided with a holding roller 128 and a door side provided with a conveyor belt 124 facing the holding roller 128 in order to deal with a case where the bill P is jammed inside. In addition, it has a structure that can be separated at the bill guide path 123. The main body side is integrated with the passage portion 121 and is fixedly installed. When the bill P is jammed, the door side is removed to deal with it. Since the movable mechanism including the relatively heavy holding rollers 128 and the like is provided on the fixed main body side, the door side can be easily removed. Further, since the movable mechanism, which is a heavy object, is also a vibration generating element, if it is provided on the door side, problems such as loose attachment on the door side easily occur. Therefore, movable mechanisms such as the nip roller 128 and the movable arm 129 are provided on the main body side.

As described above, since the capturing device 14 is provided with the sandwiching roller 128, even the deformed banknote P or the weak banknote P can be stably captured in the passage portion 121.

When a plurality of banknotes P are conveyed at one time from the sub-conveying device 13, the take-in device 14 can make the plurality of banknotes P stand by in the banknote guide path 123 at a time. When receiving the command to send the banknote P to the transport tube 12 from the control unit 27, the take-in device 14 transfers the banknote P waiting in the banknote guide path 123 to the transport belt 124, the nipping roller 128, the feeding roller 125a, and the feeding belt. 125b etc. are driven and conveyed, and it sends out in the passage part 121.

Next, the collection of the bills P in the gaming machine island 3 and the relay box 6 will be described.

The in-island banknote transfer device 8 that takes in the banknotes P discharged from the back surface of each game ball lending machine 4 in the game machine island 3 and transfers it to one end of the game machine island 3 also moves the transfer auxiliary body 16 by the air flow, The bill P is pushed from the rear by the conveyance assisting body 16 and conveyed.

31 is a plan view showing the in-island banknote transporting device 8 installed in the gaming machine island 3, and FIG. 32 is a front view showing the in-island banknote transporting device 8 installed in the gaming machine island 3. FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the inside of the relay box 6.

Inside the gaming machine island 3, a carrier pipe 140 having the same sectional shape as the carrier pipe 12 is installed. The transfer tube 140 is in a vertical position, and the banknote P transferred through the transfer tube 140 is transferred in an upright position. On the gaming machine island 3, the gaming ball lending machine 4 is formed in a box shape with a narrow front width in order to increase the number of installed machines. Therefore, the bill insertion slot provided in the game ball lending machine 4 is also usually vertically long. The banknote P is inserted into the banknote insertion slot in an upright posture, and the banknote P is discharged from the back surface of the game ball lending machine 4 in the upright posture. Therefore, the transport pipe 140 of the in-island banknote transport device 8 is configured to receive the banknote P from the game ball lending machine 4 in an upright position and transfer the banknote P in the upright position.

The transport pipe 140 extends from the relay box 6 toward the other end of the gaming machine island 3, and is piped so as to make a U-turn at the other end and return to the relay box 6. In the middle of the portion of the carrier pipe 140 that makes a U-turn and then returns to the relay box 6 (return path), the balls are discharged from the back surface of the game ball rental machine 4 to a position corresponding to each game ball rental machine 4. A bill taking device 142 for taking bills P into the conveying pipe 140 is installed. The bill capturing device 142 is a bill P from the gaming ball lending machine 4 arranged on the front side of the gaming machine island 3 and a bill P from the gaming ball lending machine 4 arranged on the back side of the gaming machine island 3. Are provided on both sides of the side wall of the carrier pipe 140 to take in the. The banknote P taken in from the banknote taking-in device 142 into the carrying tube 140 stays at a predetermined taking-in completion position with its paper surface along the extending direction of the carrying tube 140.

In the relay box 6, an air flow generator 144 similar to the air flow generator 21 provided in the collecting safe 11, and a bill separating device having the same configuration as the bill separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 22 provided in the collecting safe 11. A transfer auxiliary body circulation device 145 is provided. The banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 145 has a conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 146 similar to the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23, and a separation/collection device 147 similar to the separation/collection device 24 (FIGS. 32 and 33). reference).

Furthermore, the relay box 6 is provided with a banknote transport unit 148 (see FIG. 33) that transports the banknotes P discharged from the separating and collecting apparatus 147, and a temporary storage device 150 that temporarily stores the banknotes P. The temporary storage device 150 temporarily stores a plurality of banknotes P received from the banknote transport unit 148, and also pays out the stored banknotes P based on an instruction from the control unit 27 to perform the sub-transportation described above. It has a function of sending out to the bill taking-in section 103 of the device 13.

When the banknotes P discharged from the back surface of the game ball rental machine 4 in the gaming machine island 3 are transported to the relay box 6 and collected, from the transport auxiliary body insertion device 146 in the relay box 6 into the start end of the transport tube 140. The transport auxiliary body 16 is sent out. The transfer auxiliary body 16 sent out into the transfer pipe 140 receives the air flow generated by the air flow generator 144, moves toward the downstream inside the transfer pipe 140, and in the middle of the return path after making a U-turn, The bill P is collected by the bill fetching device 142 from the gaming ball lending machine 4 into the return route and returned to the separating and collecting device 147 in the relay box 6. The separation/collection device 147 separates the banknote P conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 from the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and delivers the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to the conveyance auxiliary body inserting device 146. On the other hand, the separated banknotes P are transported by the banknote transport unit 148 to the temporary storage device 150 in the relay box 6. FIG. 33 shows a path M through which the bill transport unit 148 transports the bill P. At this time, the banknote P is conveyed in an upright posture.

34 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the temporary storage device 150, and FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the temporary storage device 150. The temporary storage device 150 receives and stores the banknotes P transported by the banknote transport unit 148 in an upright posture.

The temporary storage device 150 includes a posture conversion unit 151 that changes the orientation of the banknote P received from the banknote transport unit 148 from a posture in which the paper surface is vertical (standing posture) to a posture in which the paper surface is horizontal (sleeping posture), and The elevator unit 152 that conveys the horizontal banknotes P to the lower storage unit 154, and the banknotes P stored in the storage unit 154 are fed out one by one in a lying posture, and the banknote take-in unit of the sub-transport device 13 is provided. And a feeding and conveying unit 153 that conveys toward 103. A thick line 156 shown in FIG. 34 indicates a conveyance path of the bill P by the feeding/conveying unit 153.

FIG. 36 schematically shows the configuration and operation of the temporary storage device 150. As shown in FIG. 36, the posture changing unit 151 includes a pair of U-shaped grooves having a U-shaped cross section facing each other along both long sides of a U-shaped base plate having one short side and a pair of long sides. As it is formed, it has a shape in which L-shaped protrusions are provided along both long sides. The posture changing unit 151 is capable of storing a plurality of banknotes P between the pair of grooves. The posture changing unit 151 supports and stores only the edge portion of the banknote P by the pair of U-shaped grooves facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 36(a), the posture changing unit 151 is in a vertical posture in which it stands upright (a posture in which the stored banknotes P stand upright) during standby. In this state, the banknote transported from the banknote transport unit 148 in an upright posture is received and stored between the pair of U-shaped grooves facing each other. The posture conversion unit 151 has a vertical posture shown in FIG. 36A and a horizontal posture in which the vertical posture is rotated by 90 degrees about the lower end and horizontally collapsed (the posture in which the stored banknote P is in the lying posture, FIG. 36). (See (b)). The posture conversion unit 151 is displaced into a vertical posture and a horizontal posture by a motor (not shown).

The elevator unit 152 conveys the banknote P that has been laid in the horizontal position by the position conversion unit 151 in the horizontal position in the direction facing the paper surface (here, downward). The elevator part 152 has a receiving plate 152a that supports the banknotes P in the horizontal position from below, and a pressing plate 152b for sandwiching the banknotes P placed on the receiving plate 152a from the upper side with the receiving plate 152a. .. The receiving plate 152a is composed of two plates that support only both ends of the banknote P in the width direction, and the pressing plate 152b is a plate-shaped member having a width narrower than the distance between the two plates of the receiving plate 152a. The plate 152a can be passed between two plates.

During standby, the receiving plate 152a stops at a position just in contact with the lower surface of the posture changing portion 151 in the horizontal posture (the lower surfaces of the pair of U-shaped grooves of the posture changing portion 151 rotated in the horizontal posture). Therefore, the pressing plate 152b is stopped right above the receiving plate 152a (between the two plates) and at a position higher than the vertical posture changing unit 151.

When the banknotes P stored in the posture changing unit 151 are conveyed downward by the elevator unit 152 and stored in the storage unit 154, the temporary storage device 150 operates as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 36A, the posture changing unit 151 stands by in a vertical posture, and in this state, the bill P conveyed from the bill conveying unit 148 in an upright posture is received and stored. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the posture conversion unit 151 is tilted to the horizontal posture. The pressing plate 152b is sized and positioned so as to pass through between a pair of U-shaped grooves facing each other (referred to as penetrating portions) of the posture changing portion 151 in the horizontal posture.

After the posture changing unit 151 has changed to the horizontal posture, the pressing plate 152b of the elevator unit 152 starts to descend (FIG. 36(c)). When the pressing plate 152b reaches the penetrating portion of the posture changing unit 151, the receiving plate 152a also starts descending at the same speed as the pressing plate 152b, and thereafter, the receiving plate 152a and the pressing plate 152b integrally descend. .. As a result, the banknote P held by the posture changing unit 151 moves down while being sandwiched between the receiving plate 152a and the pressing plate 152b of the elevator unit 152.

Since the posture changing unit 151 holds only the edge of the bill P, the bill P easily separates from the posture changing unit 151 as the elevator unit 152 descends. Then, the banknote P is conveyed downward by the elevator section 152 while being sandwiched between the receiving plate 152a and the pressing plate 152b of the elevator section 152 (FIG. 36(d)).

The posture conversion unit 151 returns to the vertical posture when the elevator unit 152 descends below the posture conversion unit 151 to some extent (FIG. 36(e)).

When the elevator section 152 descends to a predetermined position, the receiving plate 152a stops descending and the pressing plate 152b continues further descending (FIG. 36(e)). The space between the stopped receiving plate 152a and the surface of the feeding/transporting unit 153 where the transport belt 153b is present is a storage unit 154 (see FIGS. 34 and 35).

When the pressing plate 152b continues to descend while the descending of the receiving plate 152a is stopped, the pressing plate 152b descends below the receiving plate 152a by passing between the two plates forming the receiving plate 152a. At this time, the banknote P whose both ends are supported by the two plates constituting the receiving plate 152a is pressed by the pressing plate 152b and is gradually curved, and eventually both ends come off the receiving plate 152a and fall downward to be stored. It is stored in the section 154 (FIGS. 36(e) and 36(f)). In addition, in order to separate both ends of the banknote P from the receiving plate 152a and drop them, the receiving plate 152a may be raised while lowering the pressing plate 152b.

After that, the elevator section 152 (the receiving plate 152a and the pressing plate 152b) starts to rise (FIG. 36(g)). Then, when the receiving plate 152a rises to the height of the lower end of the posture changing unit 151 (the height at the time of standby) (FIG. 36(h)), it stops at that position, and the holding plate 152b continues to rise, changing the posture. It moves to a position higher than the portion 151 (position at standby) and stops (FIG. 36(i)).

By repeating the above operation, the temporary storage device 150 can convert the banknotes P received from the banknote transport unit 148 from the vertical position to the horizontal position and store a large number of them in the storage unit 154. The storage unit 154 of this example can store about 500 banknotes P. When the conveyor belt 153b is driven in a state where the banknotes P are present in the storage section 154, the bottommost banknote P of the banknotes P stored in the storage section 154 is fed out, and along the path indicated by the thick line 156 in FIG. It is conveyed toward the bill taking unit 103 of the sub-conveying device 13.

When paying out the bill P, as shown in FIG. 36(f), it is desirable to press the bill P downward with the pressing plate 152b. Therefore, when the position shown in FIG. 36(f) is set to a normal position and the banknotes P are accumulated in the attitude conversion unit 151, the elevator unit 152 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 36(g) to (i) and (a) to (f). Alternatively, the bill P may be controlled to be conveyed to the storage portion 154 by moving the bill P to the storage unit 154.

In the temporary storage device 150, by rotating the posture conversion unit 151 between the vertical posture and the horizontal posture, the posture of the banknote P is changed from the state in which the paper surface is vertical (the standing posture) to the state in which the paper surface is horizontal (the lying posture). Since the paper money P is converted, the attitude of the paper money P can be converted in a smaller space as compared with the case where a mechanism for changing the attitude of the paper money P from a vertical state to a horizontal state is conveyed while twisting the paper money P. it can.

Further, when the posture changing unit 151 is in the horizontal posture, the pressing plate 152b immediately starts descending, and as soon as the entire elevator unit 152 is lowered from the posture changing unit 151, the posture changing unit 151 immediately returns to the vertical posture, so that the posture changing unit 151 is performed. Does not accept the bill P from the bill transport unit 148 for only a short period of time, and does not hinder the collection of the bill P in the gaming machine island 3. In the present embodiment, the return of the posture changing unit 151 to the vertical posture is a condition for the next island auxiliary bill carrier 8 to send out the carrier auxiliary body 16.

Further, since the posture changing unit 151 can store a plurality of banknotes P, the elevator unit 152 is lowered for some reason for a long time, and the banknote conveying unit 148 conveys the plurality of banknotes P during that time. Even if they come, they can be received and stored.

As shown in FIG. 36( e ), when the pressing plate 152 b is moved lower than the receiving plate 152 a to separate the banknote P from the receiving plate 152 a and move it to the storage section 154, the banknote P is disturbed and stored. As a result, the bill P may be jammed when the transport belt 153b of the delivery transport unit 153 feeds the bill P from the storage unit 154. For example, as shown in FIG. 37(a), when the pressing plate 152b is started to be lowered below the receiving plate 152a, only one end of the bill P slips off the receiving plate 152a, and the bill P Storage may be disturbed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 37B, a sheet 155 made of a material (for example, natural rubber) having a frictional force with respect to the banknote P is attached to the upper surfaces of the two plates constituting the receiving plate 152a.

When the pressing plate 152b descends with respect to the receiving plate 152a and presses the banknote P downward from above in order to store the banknote P on the receiving plate 152a of the elevator part 152 in the storage part 154, the natural rubber The sheet 155 of 1 rubs against both ends of the banknote P to prevent slipping off. As a result, as shown in FIG. 37(b), the central portion of the banknote P pressed by the action of the pressing plate 152b is lowered first, and both ends thereof are detached from the receiving plate 152a and fall into the storage portion 154. Like Thereby, as shown in FIG. 37(a), one end portion does not drop first and the posture is not disturbed, and the bill P can be moved and stored in the storage unit 154 in a stable posture, Subsequent transportation by the delivery transportation unit 153 can also be performed smoothly.

FIG. 38 shows a case where the structure of FIG. 37(b) is further improved. A sheet 155 made of a material (for example, natural rubber) having elasticity and having a frictional force with respect to the banknote P is attached to the upper surfaces of the two plates forming the receiving plate 152a and the lower surface of the pressing plate 152b. Further, the end portions on the inner side (banknote passage side) of the two plates constituting the receiving plate 152a are bent downward to form an inverted L shape, and a material having elasticity and frictional force (sheet 155) is provided on the banknote passage side. It is made to project. By bending it into an inverted L-shape, the strength of the receiving plate 152a increases.

Further, when the material having frictional force (sheet 155) is natural rubber or the like, it has elasticity. Therefore, when the pressing plate 152b descends from the receiving plate 152a and presses the banknote P downward, the sheet 155 is placed on the banknote passing side. Since the protruding portion is slightly curved downward, the bill P comes to fall more smoothly while receiving friction from the sheet 155. Further, the presence of the elastic sheet 155 provided on the upper surface of the receiving plate 152a and the lower surface of the pressing plate 152b prevents the bill P from being damaged or damaged. Even in the improved type shown in FIG. 38, one end of the bill P does not drop first and the posture is not disturbed, and the bill P can be moved and stored in the storage portion 154 in a stable posture. Subsequent transportation by the delivery transportation unit 153 can also be performed smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 31, in the in-island banknote transporting device 8, the transport pipe 140, which is piped along the longitudinal direction of the island, is straightly extended and connected to the relay box 6. The space to be secured at the end of the island for installing the relay box 6 can be made smaller than in the case of adopting a configuration in which it is bent 90 degrees via a bending tube immediately before connection.

However, as shown in FIG. 2, in the configuration in which the return path transport tube 12b passes above the plurality of relay boxes 6, as shown in FIG. It is necessary that the paper surface of (1) faces the extending direction Fw of the return transport pipe 12b. Therefore, it is necessary to change the longitudinal direction of the banknote P flowing into the relay box 6 from the carrier pipe 140 of the island banknote carrier 8 by 90 degrees. Since it is difficult to perform such a direction change in the relay box 6 in terms of space, as shown in FIG. 23, a twisting portion 51 is provided in the middle of the sub-conveying pipe 101 of the sub-conveying device 13 to cope with the situation.

Since the transfer pipe 140 in the gaming machine island 3 is connected straight to the relay box 6, a transfer error is less likely to occur and the transfer quality can be improved as compared with the case where the transfer tube 140 is bent 90 degrees in front of the relay box 6. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 23, the door of the relay box 6 is in the front (the direction in which the island end faces), so that the work of opening the door and performing maintenance and inspection of the inside of the relay box 6 becomes easy.

In the present embodiment, the relay box 6 is not provided with a bill determination device that inspects the bill P for authenticity or detects the denomination. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 34, it is possible to shorten the transport path of the payout transport unit 153 that transports the banknote P from the storage unit 154 of the temporary storage device 150 to the banknote intake unit 103 of the sub-transport device 13.

Since the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 is provided with the relay box 6 on the game machine island 3 as described above, the paper money collecting apparatus 8 and the paper money collecting apparatus 8 for collecting and conveying the paper money P in the game machine island 3 The banknotes P collected in the gaming machine island 3 can be automatically transferred to the collective safe 11 of the office while the transfer system 10 is configured as a separate device. That is, since the relay box 6 converts the posture of the banknote P from the standing posture to the lying posture, the bill P received from the intra-island bill transporting device 8 that transports the bill P in the standing posture is billed in the lying posture. The P can be smoothly sent to the sub-transport device 13. Further, since the temporary storage device 150 has a function of temporarily storing and storing the banknotes P, the timing when the banknotes P are transported by the in-island banknote transporting device 8 and the bills P are sent to the sub-transporting device 13. It is possible to absorb the deviation from the right timing.

If there is a possibility that the transportation route from the relay box 6 to the office safe deposit box 11 is abnormal due to a disaster in the office safe deposit box 11 or a disaster such as an earthquake, the use of the safe safe box 11 is stopped and relayed. By switching the box 6 to the independent operation mode, it can be used as a conventional island-only safe.

Next, the connecting portion 15 inserted in the middle of the transport tube 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the main conveying pipe 12 of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of conveying pipes at a connecting portion 15. Unlike the in-island banknote transporting device 8, the transporting pipe 12 of the paper sheet collecting and transporting system 10 is extended over a very long distance, so that the expansion and contraction of the transporting pipe 12 due to temperature change cannot be ignored in construction. When the carrier tube 12 is contracted, a large gap is generated at the connecting point, and when it is extended, the carrier tubes 12 collide with each other at the connecting point and a large stress is applied, which may cause refraction. Such gaps and refractions hinder the smooth movement of the banknote P and the conveyance assisting body 16 and cause jamming.

Therefore, even if the length of the transfer tube 12 changes due to temperature change or the like, the change in the length of the transfer tube 12 is adjusted so that the entire installation state is not distorted or a large gap is not generated. Absorb with.

FIG. 39 is a diagram in which the connection between the connection portion 15 and the transport pipe 12 before and after the connection portion 15 is released. The connecting portion 15 includes a connecting main body portion 160 and a connection adapter 170. In the figure, the conveyance direction of the banknote P (the direction in which the airflow flows) is indicated by an arrow Fw. Further, the connection body 160 is shown with one side wall removed.

40 is a view showing the front surface, the left side surface, the right side surface, the upper surface, and the lower surface in the state where the transfer pipe 12 is connected to the connecting portion 15, and FIG. 41 is the front surface, the left side surface, the right side surface, the upper surface of the connection adapter 170. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a lower surface.

The downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170 is inserted into the upstream connection port 161 of the connection body 160, and the upstream transfer pipe 12 is connected to the upstream connection port 171 of the connection adapter 170. The downstream transfer pipe 12 is connected to the downstream connection port 162 of the connection body 160.

The inner shape of the upstream side connection port 171 of the connection adapter 170 corresponds to the outer shape of the carrier tube 12. Further, the inner shape of the downstream side connection port 162 of the connection main body 160 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the transport pipe 12. The carrier pipe 12 is inserted into the upstream connection port 171 of the connection adapter 170 and the downstream connection port 162 of the connection body 160, respectively, with a thin packing (not shown) formed of an elastic material such as rubber covered on the outer periphery. Connected airtightly.

The downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170 has an inner shape and an outer shape that are substantially the same as the transport tube 12, and the upstream connection port 161 of the connection body 160 has an inner shape that is the downstream end of the connection adapter 170. It has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the portion 172. The downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170 is also inserted into the upstream connection port 161 of the connection main body 160 in a state of being covered with the same packing as above, and is hermetically connected.

The downstream transfer pipe 12 is connected and fixed with its upstream end abutting against the abutting portion 162b provided inside the downstream connecting port 162 of the connection body 160. For example, glued. The upstream-side transport pipe 12 is inserted and connected until it abuts the inner side of the upstream-side connection port 171 of the connection adapter 170. Inside the downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170, ribs 173 and 174 similar to the ribs 34 and 35 formed inside the transport tube 12 are formed, and these ribs 173 and 174 are of the connection adapter 170. It further extends in the downstream direction and projects from the downstream end 172.

Ribs 163 and 164 are provided inside the connection main body 160 as well as the ribs 34 and 35 of the carrier tube 12. When the connection adapter 170 is connected to the connection main body 160, the ribs 173 and 174 of the connection adapter 170 are provided. The ribs 163 and 164 of the connection body 160 are continuous with each other.

FIG. 42 shows how the downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170 is connected to the upstream connection port 161 of the connection body 160. When the downstream end 172 of the connection adapter 170 is inserted into the upstream connection port 161 of the connection body 160, the ribs 173 and 174 of the connection adapter 170 and the rib 163 of the connection body 160 are inserted as shown in FIG. , 164 and overlap with each other. FIG. 7C shows a state in which the connection adapter 170 is inserted into the downstream side connection port 162 of the connection body 160 to the farthest end.

At the time of construction, as shown in (b) of the figure, the connection is made in a state of being 10 mm in front of the innermost part. Accordingly, when the length changes due to contraction/expansion of the transport tube 12, the change in the length can be absorbed by the connecting portion between the connection main body 160 and the connection adapter 170. It is in a state where the position 20 mm before the innermost position is the shallowest and the position is connected, and the connecting portion 15 can absorb a change in length due to contraction and expansion of ±10 mm compared to the time of construction. The ribs 163 and 164 on the side of the connecting main body 160 and the ribs 173 and 174 on the side of the connecting adapter 170 exceed a predetermined length (for example, 5 mm) even when the connecting adapter 170 is connected to the connecting main body 160 at the shallowest position. Wrap.

FIG. 43 is an enlarged view showing a connection state between the ribs 173 and 174 on the side of the connection adapter 170 and the ribs 163 and 164 on the side of the connection body 160. The central rib 163 on the side of the connecting body 160 is divided into two parallel ribs 163a and 163b, and the central rib 173 on the side of the connection adapter 170 is inserted between them. The distance between the two ribs 163a and 164b forming the rib 163 is equal to the thickness of the rib 173, and the rib 173 is inserted between the two ribs 163a and 163b without a gap. In this way, by inserting the rib 173 on the side of the connection adapter 170 between the two ribs 163a and 163b on the side of the connection main body 160, the rib 173 on the side of the connection adapter 170 is inserted into the upstream side connection port 161 of the connection main body 160 and the side of the downstream side of the connection adapter 170. Even if the depth of connection when the end portion 172 is connected changes greatly due to contraction and expansion, the rib 163 on the side of the connection body 160 and the rib 173 on the side of the connection adapter 170 can be connected without their positional relationship shifting. You can

The ribs 164 of the connecting body 160 and the ribs 174 on the side of the connection adapter 170 overlap with each other so that one side surface thereof abuts. Here, the ribs 164 abut on the inside and the ribs 174 abut on the outside. The outer rib 174 slightly presses the inner rib 164 inward, so that the ribs 174 come into close contact with each other and are smoothly connected.

As described above, in the connecting portion 15 of the present embodiment, the rib 173 is fitted between the two ribs 163a and 163b instead of simply facing the ribs on the connecting main body portion 160 side and the connecting adapter 170 side. The mating structure was adopted, and the length of the mating ribs was set to a length that could absorb fluctuations due to contraction and expansion. Accordingly, even if the temperature of the installation environment changes, the contraction/expansion amount of the conveyance path due to the temperature change can be absorbed by the connecting portion 15, so that a gap is generated at the connection portion of the conveyance pipe or the conveyance pipe is bent due to stress. It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as Further, since the ribs are fitted and connected to each other, the ribs are not displaced or a step is not formed at the connection portion, and the transport auxiliary body 16 and the bill P can be smoothly passed.

As shown in FIG. 42, the connection body 160 of the connection unit 15 is provided with a sensor 166 (optical sensor) for detecting passage or catching of the banknote P or the transport auxiliary body 16. The jamming of the bill P and the catching of the conveyance assisting body 16 are apt to occur at the connecting portion.

(About auxiliary blower)
In the return transport pipe 12b in which the transport auxiliary body 16 moves while transporting the bill P, the load is larger than that in the forward transport pipe 12a in which the bill P is not pushed, and the moving speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 tends to decrease. Therefore, an auxiliary blower is provided to strengthen the air flow.

In particular, the larger the game hall 2 is, the more the transport pipes 12 of the paper sheet collecting and transporting system 10 need to go around a large number of gaming machine islands 3, and moreover, be spread over a plurality of floors. Since there is also a portion, the portion that curves the transfer tube 12 increases. In the curved portion, the resistance is increased, the advance of the transport assisting body 16 is deteriorated, and the flow of the air flow is easily obstructed. Further, in the curved portion, the connection with the straight line portion before and after the curved portion also occurs. Air leaks can occur at the connection points.

Therefore, an auxiliary blower for increasing the air volume is installed at a place where the carrier pipe 12 is curved. For example, immediately upstream of the curve (immediately before reaching the curve), an auxiliary blower that enhances the air flow toward the downstream is provided. Alternatively, an auxiliary blower directed downstream may be provided immediately downstream of the curve.

Also, an auxiliary blower may be provided downstream of the most downstream intake device 14. That is, the transfer auxiliary body 16 moves to the collective safe 11 while transferring the banknotes P after collecting the banknotes P by going around the installation positions of the relay boxes 6 of the respective gaming machine islands 3 in the game arcade. When the collective safe 11 is installed on a floor different from the gaming machine island 3, the transport pipe 12 from the last take-in device 14 to the collective safe 11 may be a long distance.

In such a case, it is difficult to obtain an air volume that ensures that the auxiliary transportation body 16 reaches the collective safe 11 only by blowing air from the auxiliary transportation relay device 17. Therefore, an auxiliary blower is provided downstream of the most downstream intake device 14 to enhance the air volume. In addition, the auxiliary blower is provided at an appropriate position on the way of the conveying path, if necessary.

Even if the air volume is increased by the auxiliary blower, in the curved portion as described above, distortion may occur at the connecting points at both ends of the connection, and the posture of the auxiliary conveying member 16 may be changed at the connecting point of the curved conveying pipe. There is a risk that it will get caught because it will collapse. Therefore, a release wind blower for generating an air flow (release wind) from the downstream to the upstream is provided downstream of the place where the transport assisting body 16 is easily caught, and the transport assisting body 16 is installed up to the location where the release wind blower is installed. Is not reached, the release air blower is operated to send the release air for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) to release the catching of the auxiliary conveyance body 16. A fault in which the transport auxiliary body 16 does not reach a predetermined position is a transport auxiliary body transport error.

For example, a release wind blower that generates an air flow (release wind) from a downstream side to an upstream side is provided immediately upstream of the curve or in the middle of the curve, and when the conveyance assisting body 16 does not reach the downstream side of the curve, the release is performed. The air blower is operated to feed the release air, and the catching of the auxiliary conveyance body 16 is released.

The air flow in the normal direction is stopped while sending the release wind. When the blowing of the release wind is completed, the airflow in the normal direction is generated again, and the conveyance assisting body 16 is moved to convey the banknote P. Thereby, the catch of the transport auxiliary body 16 can be released, and the banknote P can be stably transported by the transport auxiliary body 16.

It should be noted that the location of the release air blower is not limited to the upstream or the middle of the curve, as long as the catch of the transport assisting body 16 can be released, the blower port of the release wind blower is located near the transport assisting body 16. I wish I had it. That is, a release air blower is provided at an appropriate place on the transfer route, particularly at a position where the transfer auxiliary body 16 is easily caught, or when there are several positions where the transfer auxiliary body 16 is easily caught, the release air blower is most downstream. A release air blower may be provided immediately downstream of the location. Further, the wind direction of the release wind is not limited to the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side, and if the change in the wind direction in the conveying pipe has an effect of releasing the catch, the wind direction is not limited to one direction.

FIG. 44 shows an example in which a release air blower 19 is added to the system shown in FIG. The release wind blower 19 blows air (feeds release air) from a position downstream of the most downstream intake device 14 (a position before reaching the curved portion) toward the upstream side. The auxiliary blower 18 blows air downstream from a position downstream of the most downstream intake device 14 (a position immediately after passing through the curved portion) to enhance the forward airflow.

(Auxiliary blower startup setting)
The auxiliary blower is operated for a predetermined time based on the time when the sensor (see FIG. 44) provided slightly downstream of the installation location detects the passage of the auxiliary conveyance body 16. Normally, the bill P is moved by being pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16, but the bill P may be self-propelled even if the bill P is not pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 due to the action of the air flow. When the above-mentioned sensor detects the self-propelled bill P, it will erroneously detect that the transport auxiliary body 16 has passed though the transport auxiliary body 16 has not arrived. At this time, the transport auxiliary body 16 is still upstream of the banknote P in the transport direction.

When the auxiliary blower is turned on, an air flow retention phenomenon may occur around the blower port of the auxiliary blower, and a back wind that flows upstream may occur downstream of the auxiliary blower. Therefore, when the auxiliary blower is operated at the timing when the above-described sensor detects the self-propelled banknote P, the movement of the transport assisting body 16 located upstream of the sensor is hindered due to the retention phenomenon of the air flow and the generation of the back wind. An error may occur in the transfer auxiliary body transfer.

Therefore, the following measures were introduced.
1. After the delivery auxiliary body 16 is sent out, after setting the scheduled passage time required for the delivery auxiliary body 16 to pass through a portion where the above-mentioned sensor is used as a reference of the operation timing of the auxiliary blower, the delivery auxiliary body 16 is sent out. Until the passage time has passed, the auxiliary blower is not turned on even if the sensor detects passage of an object. That is, when the sensor is turned on before the passage of the scheduled passage time, the auxiliary blower is turned on after the passage of the scheduled passage time. When the sensor turns on after the scheduled passage time, the auxiliary blower is immediately turned on.

2. A test run in which the transport auxiliary body 16 is moved alone without transporting the banknote P is continuously performed three times, and the time from the delivery of the transport auxiliary body 16 to the detection of the transport auxiliary body 16 is automatically measured. If the time difference between the three times is within 2 seconds, the latest measurement time is set as the scheduled passage time.

3. The scheduled passage time can be changed by operating the control device (DIP-SW, push button, etc.).

By the above measures, the sensor does not detect the self-propelled bill P and the auxiliary blower is not turned on before the auxiliary conveyance body 16 reaches the installation position of the auxiliary blower. Transport errors are prevented.

(Automatic setting of reference time for auxiliary body circulation)
In the paper sheet collecting and transporting system 10, the auxiliary body circulation reference time is set until the transportation auxiliary body 16 sent out from the collective safe 11 goes around the transport pipe 12 and returns to the collective safe 11, and the auxiliary body circulation standard is set. Based on the time, it is determined whether or not there is a transport auxiliary body transport error. The auxiliary body circling reference time may be set based on the time manually measured by a worker using a stopwatch or the like for the time taken for the auxiliary transfer body 16 to actually make a turn around the transfer tube 12. If it can be measured and set at, it is convenient and convenient.

Therefore, the paper sheet recovery/conveyance system 10 continuously and automatically makes a plurality of test revolutions in which the conveyance assisting body 16 makes one revolution around the conveyance pipe 12 without conveying the bills P, and the circulation time is automatically set. It has the function of automatically setting the reference time for auxiliary body circulation after measuring and considering the device configuration. In addition, the auxiliary body circulation reference time can be manually changed. By providing the function of automatically setting the auxiliary body circulation reference time, it is possible to reduce the time and effort for the initial setting and to avoid the human error at the time of input setting.

(About control of auxiliary blower)
If the configuration of the transport path is complicated (eg, there are many curves), or if there is a very long distance to the safe box 11, it becomes necessary to install a plurality of auxiliary blowers 18 at appropriate places on the transport path. A plurality of control methods for controlling one or a plurality of auxiliary blowers 18 will be shown below. In any control method, each auxiliary blower 18 is controlled so as to be activated at the timing when the auxiliary conveyance body 16 has passed.

<Independent control>
In the independent control, as described in the section of "Activation setting of auxiliary blower", when the sensor detects the passage of the auxiliary conveying body 16 which is provided slightly downstream of the auxiliary blower 18, the operation is judged based on the passage time. , The auxiliary blower 18 is activated and operated for a predetermined time. Even if a plurality of auxiliary blowers 18 are installed, each auxiliary blower 18 determines the operation individually. In the independent control, if there is a place where the air volume is insufficient in the midway of the conveyance route, it can be dealt with only by adding the auxiliary blower 18 of the independent control in the vicinity of the upstream of the place, so the measure to increase the air volume should be taken as necessary. It can be done easily.

<Management control>
In the management control, the control unit (the control unit 27 of the collective safe 11) that controls the overall operation of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 collectively manages the operation timing of the auxiliary blower 18. In the management control, the timing (elapsed time after sending out) of the auxiliary transporting body 16 passing through each point of the transporting path is checked and grasped in advance. The passing point is, for example, the installation location of the sensor 166 (see FIG. 42) provided in the connecting portion 15, and the passing timing at each point is checked by detecting the passing with this sensor.

The starting timing for operating each auxiliary blower 18 is preset based on the passage timing of each point thus examined. The control unit 27 measures the elapsed time from the time when the auxiliary conveyance body 16 is sent to the conveyance pipe 12, and transmits an operation instruction to each auxiliary blower at the activation timing of the auxiliary blower. Upon receiving this operation instruction, the auxiliary blower 18 operates the fan for a predetermined time and stops it.

As a result, when a plurality of auxiliary blowers 18 are installed, the auxiliary blowers 18 operate for a predetermined period of time in sequence from the one installed upstream, and then stop.

In the management control, it is not necessary to provide a determination unit for determining the activation timing on the auxiliary blower 18 side, and the configuration is simplified. Further, even if the sensor for detecting the passage of the conveyance assisting body is defective or abnormal while the system is moving, each auxiliary blower 18 can be operated at a predetermined timing, and the paper sheet collection with higher reliability can be achieved. A transfer system 10 can be provided.

As another control method, the activation timing of each auxiliary blower 18 checked as described above is set for each auxiliary blower 18, and the control unit 27 indicates that when the auxiliary conveyance body 16 is sent out. Is notified to each auxiliary blower 18, and the time elapsed since each auxiliary blower 18 receives the notification is timed, and the fan is autonomously started when the start timing set in the own device is reached. May be. With this configuration, each auxiliary blower 18 requires a circuit for measuring the elapsed time and determining whether or not the activation timing has arrived. However, even if the passage sensor is defective or abnormal, each auxiliary blower 18 is set in advance. It can be operated at timing.

Next, the structure of the twisted portion 51 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 45, the twisted portion 51 connects a plurality of short sub-twisted pipes 51a that are twisted little by little to realize twisting at a desired angle. In this example, ten sub-twist pipes 51a are connected to form a 90-degree twist, and the downstream end thereof is connected to the connecting portion 51b with the transport pipe 12. The connecting portion 51b has no twist.

Next, an operation sequence when the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 collects the banknotes P from the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3 will be described.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the above sequence. The control unit 27 of the collective safe 11 inquires the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3 and confirms the number of banknotes P stored in the banknote storage unit 25 of each relay box 6 (P1, P2).

Next, based on the number of banknotes P stored in the banknote storage section 25 of each relay box 6, how many banknotes P are collected from the banknote storage section 25 of which relay box 6 is determined (P3). A bill discharge instruction specifying the number of discharged sheets is transmitted to one or a plurality of relay boxes 6 determined as the collection destination (P4).

The relay box 6 that has received the bill discharge instruction discharges the designated number of bills P from the bill storage unit 25, and the sub-transport device 13 installed in the relay box 6 causes the corresponding return device 12b to pick up the return transport pipe 12b. The banknote P is conveyed to 14 (P5). When the take-in device 14 takes in the bills P inside, a signal indicating that the completion of the discharge of the bills P into the return transport tube 12b is detected is transmitted from the take-in device 14 to the control unit 27 of the safe deposit box 11. (P6).

When the control unit 27 of the collective safe 11 confirms that the bill P instructed by the bill discharge instruction has been taken into the conveyance pipe 12 (return conveyance pipe 12b) by the take-in device 14, the control unit 27 and the conveyance auxiliary body relay The apparatus 17 is instructed to start the air blowing/suction operation and to send out the auxiliary transport body 16 (P7).

The controller 27 of the safe deposit box 11 moves the air flow generator 21 to blow air to the start end of the forward transfer pipe 12a and suck the air flow from the end of the return transfer pipe 12b, and at the same time to insert a transfer auxiliary body. The auxiliary transporting body 16 is sent to the outward transport tube 12a by the device 23 (P8, P9). At the same time, the transfer auxiliary body relay device 17 operates the fan 63 of the blower unit 62 to suck the air flow from the end of the forward transfer pipe 12a and from the start end side of the return transfer pipe 12b to the inside of the return transfer pipe 12b. To the inward transport pipe 12b, and the transport auxiliary body 16 is sent to the return transport pipe 12b (P10, P11). That is, the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the collective safe 11 to the forward transfer tube 12a and the transfer auxiliary body 16 is sent from the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17 to the return transfer tube 12b at the same time.

A sensor provided in the middle of the forward transport pipe 12a or the backward transport pipe 12b detects passage of the auxiliary transport body 16 (P12, P13). When the transport auxiliary body 16 sent out from the collective safe 11 at P8 reaches the inflow side connection port 67 of the own device, the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 receives and holds it by the holding portion 74 (P14). Then, the control unit 27 of the safe deposit box 11 is notified that the transport auxiliary body 16 has been received and held (P15).

When the transport auxiliary body 16 sent to the return transport pipe 12b from the transport auxiliary body relay device 17 at P11 reaches its own device, the collecting safe 11 separates the banknote P and the transport auxiliary body 16 by the separation/collection device 24, The banknotes P are collected in the banknote storage unit 25, and the transport auxiliary body 16 is moved to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23 and put on standby for the next delivery (P16).

Then, the control unit 27 of the safe deposit box 11 instructs the self-device and the auxiliary transfer medium relay device 17 to stop the blowing/sucking operation (P17). In response to this instruction, the airflow generation device 21 of the cash box 11 and the fan 63 of the blower unit 62 of the auxiliary transfer device 17 are stopped (P18 to P20).

Further, the auxiliary transport relay device 17 that has received this instruction rotates the rotary plate 72 by 180 degrees (P21). When this rotation is completed, the lock (holding) of the auxiliary transport body 16 by the holding roller 82 of the holding portion 74 that has moved to the outflow side connection port 68 is automatically released (P22).

The above operation is repeated every time the bill P is collected.

Next, an operation in which the control unit 27 of the collective safe 11 determines how many banknotes P to be collected from which relay box 6 in P3 of the above-described collection operation will be described.

The paper sheet recovery/conveyance system 10 can recover a maximum of six banknotes P for each recovery operation of the banknotes P by the transfer auxiliary body 16. Further, the number of bills P that the sub-conveyance device 13 conveys to the take-in device 14 at one time is restricted to 3 or less.

The control unit 27 of the collecting safe 11 sets the total number of banknotes P collected by the collecting operation for each collecting operation of the banknotes P within the maximum number (6 in this example) that can be collected by one collecting operation. In this way, the number of bills P to be collected from each of the one or more relay boxes 6 that are collection destinations and each of them is determined. Here, the number of banknotes P to be ejected from one relay box 6 is further limited to a predetermined upper limit or less. The maximum value of the maximum number is 3, and the maximum number is changed according to the number of stocks.

That is, the control unit 27 of the collective safe 11 ensures that the number of sheets to be assigned to each relay box 6 does not exceed the set upper limit number (for example, 3 sheets) for each collection operation, and the total number of banknotes P to be collected. The maximum number of sheets that can be collected is six, and the number of discharged sheets is assigned to one or more relay boxes 6.

The control unit 27, which controls the entire operation of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10, controls the number of the stored banknotes P (the number of stocks) so that the temporary storage device 150 of each relay box 6 does not become full during business. The collection destination and the number of discharged sheets at each collection destination are determined so that the larger the number of relay boxes 6, the more preferentially the discharge is performed.

The control unit 27 classifies the stock number of the banknotes P in each relay box 6 into a plurality of levels, and manages the relay boxes 6 by grouping them by level. Since each relay box 6 can store about 500 banknotes P, as shown in FIG. 47, they are managed by dividing them into 7 levels (G1 to G7). FIG. 47 shows the relationship among the groups (G1 to G7), the number of stocks, and the collection priority order.

In this example, G1 is a group with one stock, G2 is a group with two stocks, G3 is a group with 3-9 stocks, G4 is a group with 10-49 stocks, and G5 is A group of 50 to 149 stock sheets, a group of 150 to 254 stock sheets, and a group of G7 or more stock sheets of G7.

G7 has the highest priority of collection, G6, G5, G4, G3, and G2 have lower priority in order, and G1 has the lowest priority of collection.

G1 and G2 are provided so that the number of sheets less than the maximum number (three sheets) that can be instructed to be discharged into one relay box 6 is divided into groups according to the number of stock sheets. If G3 is set as a group with the minimum stock number without G1 and G2 provided, and the relay box 6 belonging to G3 is instructed to discharge three, the actual stock number is two or one. In that case, only that number of stocks will be discharged. In order to prevent such a situation, G1 and G2 are provided so that the same number of banknotes P as the number of ejected sheets instructed by the control unit 27 is ejected from the relay box 6.

For example, when there are four relay boxes 6 of G1 (the number of stock is one) and one relay box 6 of G2 (the number of stock is two), there is a bill P in the four relay boxes 6 belonging to G1. Can be instructed to be ejected one by one, and one relay box 6 belonging to G2 can be instructed to eject two banknotes P.

Further, even when the number of stocks is large, a plurality of groups (G4 to G7) are set according to the number of stocks, so that the discharge from the relay box 6 having a large number of stocks can be preferentially performed. Specifically, since G4 to G7 are provided, the discharge can be finely controlled as compared with the case where all 10 or more sheets are classified into one group.

The control unit 27 determines the number of bills P and the collection destination so that the bills P are preferentially collected in the relay box 6 having a larger number of stocks.

Further, the control unit 27 classifies the relay boxes 6 into a plurality of groups based on the number of stocks, and limits the number of discharged sheets allocated to one relay box 6 within a predetermined upper limit in order from the group having the largest number of stocks. After that, the number of discharged bills P and the collection destination are determined by allocating the number of discharged bills to the relay boxes 6 belonging to the same group as evenly as possible.

For example, if there are six or more relay boxes 6 belonging to G7, the number of discharged sheets is assigned to each of the six relay boxes 6 among them. If there is only one relay box 6 belonging to G7 and there are two relay boxes 6 belonging to G6, 3 sheets are assigned to one relay box 6 belonging to G7, and one of the relay boxes 6 belonging to G6 is assigned. Two pieces are allocated to the table, and one piece is allocated to the other one.

Further, the upper limit number set for the group having the stock number less than the predetermined number (the upper limit number of discharge sheets assigned to one relay box 6) is made smaller than the upper limit number set for the group having the stock number or more than the predetermined number. In this example, the upper limit number is 3 for G4 and above, and the upper limit number is 2 for G3 and below.

If the total number of sheets does not reach 6 as a result of allocating the number of discharged sheets with the upper limit number limited to 2, the upper limit number may be changed to 3. If the total number of ejected sheets does not reach the maximum number (6 sheets) that can be collected by one collection operation even if the number of ejected sheets is assigned in order from the group with the largest number of stocks, even if all groups are circulated once. The remaining number of discharged sheets may be sequentially assigned from the relay box 6 belonging to a group having a large number of stock sheets. For example, if only G3 or less exists, and the total number of sheets does not reach 6 even if the maximum number of sheets is set to 2 and the number of discharged sheets is assigned to these, the upper limit number of sheets for G3 is changed to 3 and the order is from G3. An operation such as allocating the remaining number of sheets is performed.

The method of determining the collection destination and the number of discharged sheets will be described below by showing a specific example.

Depending on what groups (G1 to G7) exist in the entire system, the following three patterns are controlled.

<Pattern 1>
When there is a relay box 6 corresponding to G4 or higher In this case, the relay box 6 having a higher priority is preferentially discharged.

The specific procedure is as follows:-The number of discharged sheets is assigned in order from the group with the highest priority.
-The upper limit of the number of ejected sheets to be assigned to one relay box 6 is set to 3, and the ejected sheets are made to be as even as possible, and are assigned to the same group until the total number of ejected sheets reaches 6.
If the total number of ejected sheets does not reach 6 even if the number of ejected sheets is assigned to all the relay boxes 6 belonging to the group, the ejected sheet number is assigned to the next highest priority group.

In the example shown in FIG. 48(a), there are seven relay boxes 6 belonging to G7, and therefore, six of them (ID1 to 6) are evenly allocated one by one. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, since the number of relay boxes 6 belonging to G7 is five (ID1 to 5), 2 sheets are allocated to the relay box 6 of ID1 as the number of ejected sheets, and the other relay boxes 6 (ID2 to 5). ) Is assigned one as the number of discharged sheets. For example, the first sheet is sequentially assigned to each of the relay boxes 6 belonging to G7, and when the number of sheets is less than 6 after one round, the second sheet is sequentially assigned to the relay box 6 belonging to G7. Should be done.

In the example shown in FIG. 7C, there are three relay boxes 6 (ID1 to 3) that belong to G7, so two sheets are assigned to each of them. In the example shown in FIG. 7D, as the first-stage allocation work, since only one relay box 6 (ID1) belongs to G7, the upper limit number of three sheets is allocated to the relay box 6. Then, as the second-stage allocation work, the remaining number is allocated to the next highest priority group. In this example, since only one relay box 6 (ID2) belongs to G6 having the next highest priority, the upper limit of three sheets is allocated to the relay box 6 (ID2).

<Pattern 2>
When all the relay boxes 6 are G3 or less and there is a relay box 6 belonging to G3 [a] When the number of G3 is only one In this case, the number of ejected sheets instructed to the relay box 6 of G3 is 2 ( By setting the remaining four sheets to G2 and below, the number of relay boxes 6 below G2 is reduced.

The specific procedure is as follows: Two relay sheets (upper limit number) are assigned to one relay box 6 belonging to G3, and the remaining four sheets are assigned to the relay box 6 belonging to G2 and below.
If there is a relay box 6 belonging to G2, 2 sheets (upper limit number) are assigned to each relay box 6 belonging to G2 as the number of ejected sheets.
If the total number of sheets does not reach 6, the remaining number is assigned to each relay box 6 belonging to G1 one by one.
-If the total number of sheets does not reach 6, increase the number of ejected sheets in the relay box belonging to G3 to 3 (the upper limit number is increased from 2 to 3).
-If the total number of sheets still does not reach 6, the allocation process ends.

In the example shown in FIG. 49(a), as the first-stage allocation work, two relay sheets (upper limit number) are assigned to one relay box 6 (ID1) belonging to G3. As the second-stage allocation work, there are two relay boxes 6 (ID2, 3) belonging to G2, and therefore two sheets are allocated to each of them. With this, the total number of sheets reaches 6, so the allocation process is terminated.

In the same figure (b), as the allocation work of the first stage, two relay sheets (upper limit number) are assigned to one relay box 6 (ID1) belonging to G3. Next, as the assignment work of the second stage, since only one relay box 6 (ID2) belongs to G2, two sheets (upper limit sheet number) are assigned to this. Since the total number of sheets is still four at this stage, one sheet is further assigned to each of the relay boxes 6 (ID3, 4) belonging to G1 as the third stage assignment work. Since the total number of sheets reaches 6, the allocation process is completed.

In the case of FIG. 7C, as the first-stage allocation work, two relay sheets 6 (ID1) belonging to G3 are allocated as discharge sheets (upper limit number), and the second-stage allocation work is performed by G2. Since there is only one relay box 6 (ID2) belonging to, the number of discharged sheets (upper limit number) is assigned to this. Further, as the allocation work of the third stage, one sheet is allocated to the relay box 6 (ID3) belonging to G1. Since the total number of sheets is 5 at this stage, the number of sheets discharged from the relay box 6 of ID1 belonging to G3 is incremented by 1 to 3 sheets as the remaining processing. With this, the total number of sheets reaches 6, so the allocation process is terminated. That is, since the total number of sheets does not reach 6 even after going through each group, the upper limit number of G3 is increased to 3, and the remaining number of sheets is allocated again in order from the group with the largest number of stocks.

[B] When the number of G3 is two In this case, the number of ejected sheets instructed to the relay box 6 of each G3 is set to two (the upper limit number), and the remaining two sheets are allocated to G2 or less, so that the relay of G2 or less Box 6 is reduced.

The specific procedure is as follows: Two relay boxes 6 belonging to G3 are each assigned a discharge number (upper limit number), and the remaining two are assigned to relay boxes 6 belonging to G2 and below.
If there is a relay box 6 belonging to G2, 2 sheets (upper limit number) are allocated to the relay box 6 belonging to G2 as the number of ejected sheets.
If the total number of sheets does not reach 6, the remaining number is assigned to each relay box 6 belonging to G1 one by one.
-If the total number of sheets does not reach 6, increase the number of ejected sheets in the relay box belonging to G3 to 3 (the upper limit number is increased from 2 to 3).

In the example shown in FIG. 50A, as the first-stage allocation work, two relay boxes 6 (ID1 and 2) belonging to G3 are each allocated with two discharge sheets (upper limit number). As the assignment work of the second stage, there are two relay boxes 6 (ID3, 4) belonging to G2, and one of them is assigned two sheets (upper limit number) as the number of ejected sheets. With this, the total number of sheets reaches 6, so the allocation process is terminated.

In the same figure (b), as the allocation work of the first stage, two relay boxes 6 (ID1) belonging to G3 are each allocated with two discharge sheets (upper limit number). Next, as the second-stage assignment work, the assignment work is performed to the relay box 6 belonging to G2. However, in this example, since there is no relay box 6 belonging to G2, the assignment is not performed. Next, as the third-stage allocation work, the relay box 6 belonging to G1 is allocated. Since there are four relay boxes 6 (ID3 to 7) belonging to G1, two of them (ID3 and 4) are assigned one as the number of ejected sheets. Since the total number of sheets reaches 6, the allocation process is completed.

In the figure (c), as the allocation work of the first stage, two relay boxes 6 (ID1) belonging to G3 are each allocated with two discharge sheets (upper limit number). Next, as the second-stage assignment work, the assignment work is performed to the relay box 6 belonging to G2. However, in this example, since there is no relay box 6 belonging to G2, the assignment is not performed. As a third-stage allocation work, the relay box 6 belonging to G1 is allocated. Since only one relay box 6 (ID3) belongs to G1, one relay box 6 (ID3) is assigned as the number of ejected sheets. Since the total number of sheets is 5 at this stage, the number of sheets discharged from the relay box 6 of ID1 belonging to G3 is incremented by 1 to 3 sheets as the remaining processing. With this, the total number of sheets reaches 6, so the allocation process is terminated. In the remaining processing, the upper limit of G3 is increased from 2 to 3.

[C] When the number of G3 is three or more: The number of discharged sheets is assigned only to the relay box 6 of G3, and the discharge from the relay box 6 of G3 is prioritized.

The specific procedure is as follows: The number of ejected sheets is assigned to the relay box 6 belonging to G3 one by one.
-If the total number of ejected sheets does not reach 6 in the above, reallocate them one by one in descending order of stock number.

In the example shown in FIG. 51(a), there are seven relay boxes 6 (ID1 to 7) belonging to G3, so six of them are assigned one by one as the number of ejected sheets. In the example shown in FIG. 9B, there are four relay boxes 6 (ID1 to 4) belonging to G3, so one is assigned to each. Since the total number of sheets is four and does not reach six, the relay boxes 6 belonging to G3 are sequentially assigned one by one until the total number of sheets reaches six. In this example, the second box is assigned to the relay boxes 6 of ID1 and ID2.

In the allocation in the pattern 2, the upper limit of the number of ejectable sheets that can be assigned to one relay box 6 belonging to G3 is set to 2 and less than the maximum number of ejectable sheets that can be assigned to the relay box 6 belonging to a group of G4 or more is three. I am doing it. Thereby, the bills P are collected by being dispersed in a larger number of relay boxes 6.

<Pattern 3> When all the relay boxes 6 are G2 or less In this case, one sheet (upper sheet number) is allocated to each relay box 6 in the descending order of the stock number.

In the example shown in FIG. 52A, since there are two relay boxes 6 belonging to G2 (ID1, 2) and five relay boxes 6 belonging to G1 (ID3 to 7), the stock box belongs to G2 having a large number of stocks. The relay boxes 6 (ID1, 2) are preferentially assigned one by one, and subsequently, one is assigned to each of the four relay boxes 6 (ID3 to 6) belonging to G1.

In the example shown in FIG. 7B, there are two relay boxes 6 belonging to G2 (ID1, 2) and three relay boxes 6 belonging to G1 (ID3 to 5), so that the stock number is large and belongs to G2. The relay boxes 6 (ID1, 2) are preferentially assigned one by one, and subsequently, one relay box 6 (ID3 to 5) belonging to G1 is assigned one by one. Since the total number of sheets at this stage is five and does not reach six, the number of ejected sheets of the relay box 6 of ID1 belonging to G2 is incremented by one to two as a remaining process. With this, the total number of sheets reaches 6, so the allocation process is terminated. This corresponds to the fact that the upper limit number of sheets for G2 is increased from one sheet to two sheets and the allocation is performed again.

Note that the above allocation method is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

In addition, the administrator or the like can arbitrarily change the priority order of the relay box 6 regardless of the number of stocks. For example, when the administrator switches the collecting mode of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 to the special collecting mode after the end of business hours, the controller 27 causes the banknote P to be transferred to the relay box 6 having the higher priority. The collection destination and the number of ejected sheets to be instructed to each collection destination are determined so that the collection is performed preferentially.

For example, during business hours, banknotes P continue to be inserted into the game ball lending machine 4 of the gaming machine island 3 in which many popular models are installed, so the banknote P is stocked in the relay box 6 of the gaming machine island 3. Due to the control during operation, in which the bills P are easily collected and the bills P are preferentially collected from the relay box 6 having a large number of stocks, the deviation in the stock amount of the bills P between the gaming machine islands 3 may not be eliminated. Further, after the end of business, it is often desired to replace or maintain the gaming machine 5 for a specific gaming machine island 3 early. In order to meet such a demand, the banknote P can be collected according to an arbitrarily set priority order by switching to the special collection mode after business.

Next, an error display device provided in the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 will be described.

FIG. 53 shows the front of the error indicator 180 included in the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10. The error display device 180 has a function of displaying an error occurrence place in an easy-to-understand manner. The error display device 180 displays the layout of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 installed in the game hall 2. The display is customized according to each game hall 2.

The error display device 180 has a vertical transport path display unit 181 and a horizontal transport path display unit 182 as layout display units. The vertical transport path display unit 181 schematically shows a transport path from the ceiling on the first floor to the safe 11 in the office on the fourth floor. The horizontal transport path display unit 182 displays the status of the transport path under the ceiling on the first floor and the relay box 6 on the first floor.

Further, the error display device 180 includes a message display portion 183, an up/down button 184, and an alarm button 185. The message display unit 183 displays the content of the error when the error occurs. The up/down button 184 is used to select which error is displayed when a plurality of errors occur. The alarm button 185 lights up when an error occurs. When an error occurs, the fact is notified to the intercom inserted by the staff at the game arcade. When the alarm button 185 is pressed in the lighted state, the error output to the income is stopped.

On the vertical transport path display unit 181 and the horizontal transport path display unit 182, the symbols corresponding to the gaming machine island 3 and the transport pipe 12 are displayed according to the layout of the game arcade 2, and further superimposed on the symbols, the relay box 6 and icons corresponding to passage sensors installed at various points along the transport tube 12 are displayed. When the gaming machine island 3 is installed on a plurality of floors, it is possible to switch which floor the status is displayed on the horizontal transport path display unit 182. When an error occurs, the status of the floor in which the error occurred may be automatically displayed.

When an error occurs, the error location flashes in red. When an abnormality occurs in the auxiliary blower 18 and the auxiliary transfer body relay device 17, only that portion blinks in red. When the banknote P or the conveyance assisting body 16 is clogged, as shown in FIG. 54, the section from the passage sensor that has detected the banknote P or the conveyance assisting body 16 to the passage sensor in the unexamined place one downstream thereof. The part corresponding to the carrier tube flashes red.

In this way, the error display 180 displays the content of the error and the location where the error occurred in an easy-to-understand manner, so that the error can be dealt with quickly. A plurality of error display devices 180 may be provided in each place of the game arcade 2.

As described above, the paper sheet collecting/conveying system 10 according to the present embodiment transfers the banknotes P collected in each of the plurality of gaming machine islands 3 arranged in the game hall 2 from each gaming machine island 3. Since they can be collected and transported to the collective safe 11 of the office, the banknotes P can be safely and effortlessly collected from each gaming machine island 3 to the collective safe 11 of the office.

Next, an improved type of the auxiliary transfer device 19 will be described.

55 and 56 show the relay portion 61B of the improved transport auxiliary body relay device 19B. In the improved transfer auxiliary body relay device 19B, when the transfer auxiliary body 16 sent from the collective safe 11 does not reach the transfer auxiliary body relay device 19B normally, the second transfer auxiliary body 16 is removed from the collective safe box 11. The following two points have been improved in order to deal with the problem that occurs when the transfer auxiliary body relay device 19B is sent out.

(Improvement 1)
A part of the second conveyance auxiliary body 16 does not enter the holding portion 74 while the first conveyance auxiliary body 16 is received by the holding portion 74.
55(a) shows the relay portion 61 of the pre-improvement transport auxiliary body relay device 19 in a state where the two transport auxiliary bodies 16 have successively arrived, and FIG. 55(b) shows the improved transport in the same state. The relay part 61 of the auxiliary body relay device 19B is shown. In the transport auxiliary body relay device 19 before the improvement, since the position where the holding portion 74 holds the first transport auxiliary body 16 is the deep position of the holding portion 74, when the second transport auxiliary body 16 arrives continuously. , A part thereof enters into the holding portion 74, and stops at a position where the second conveyance assisting body 16 straddles both the inflow side connection port 67 (fixed side) and the holding portion 74 (rotation side). Therefore, if it is attempted to rotate the rotary plate 72 in this state, the second transport auxiliary body 16 is caught between the inflow side connection port 67 and the holding portion 74, and the rotation of the rotary plate 72 is hindered. ..

Therefore, in the improved transport assisting body relay device 19B shown in FIG. 55(b), the position where the holding portion 74 assists the first transport assisting body 16 is made shallow, and the second transport assisting body 16 is set to 1 position. The second transfer auxiliary body 16 is prevented from entering the holding portion 74 when it comes into contact with the second transfer auxiliary body 16. As a result, the second conveyance assisting body 16 does not stop at a position straddling both the inflow side connection port 67 (fixed side) and the holding portion 74 (rotation side), and does not hinder the rotation of the rotating plate 72. ..

In the improved transport auxiliary body relay device 19B, in order to make the holding portion 74 hold the transport auxiliary body 16 shallow, the receiving portion 81 is lengthened toward the downstream side, and the pair of holding arms 83 has the base plate 71. Side rear end is pivotally supported, and the leading end on the inflow side connection port 67 side is provided with a holding roller 82 to open and close. Further, the positions of the release plate 84 and the release roller 85 are changed. Further, the position of the transmissive optical sensor 75 for detecting the auxiliary conveyance body 16 held by the holding portion 74 is changed as the position for holding the auxiliary conveyance body 16 becomes shallow.

(Improvement 2)
During the rotation of the rotary plate 72, the inflow-side connection port 67 is closed so that the transport auxiliary body 16 does not pass through the inflow-side connection port 67.
In the pre-improvement transfer auxiliary body relay device 19, while the rotating plate 72 is rotating, the transfer auxiliary body 16 arriving from the upstream side flows in even though the holding portion 74 is not located behind the inflow side connection port 67. Since it was in a state of being able to pass through the side connection port 67 and enter the relay portion 61, when the second transport assisting body 16 arrives in this state, the second transport assisting body 16 is held by the holding portion 74. Without being received, it jumps into the suction duct 65, or falls into the relay section 61 to hinder the rotation of the rotary plate 72.

Therefore, in the improved transport auxiliary body relay device 19B, as shown in FIG. 56, the guard plate 87 that prevents the transport auxiliary body 16 coming from the upstream from passing through the inflow side connection port 67 while the rotating plate 72 is rotating. Was established.

The guard plate 87 shown in FIG. 56 has a circular plate, which is concentric with the rotary plate 72 and has a radius just covering the holding portion 74, and which is obtained by hollowing out a circular disc with concentric small circles. The metal plate is a metal plate having a shape corresponding to the remaining portion and is attached to the rotary plate 72 so as to be flush with the upper end of the holding portion 74 (the opening of the end portion on the inflow side connection port 67 side). Rotate with. The guard plate 87 faces the outlet of the inflow side connection port 67 and closes the inflow side connection port 67 during rotation when the holding portion 74 is not in a position facing the inflow side connection port 67.

Here, for convenience of manufacturing and mounting, the guard plate 87 is divided into two parts with the holding portion 74 as a boundary. A collar portion 88 that is flush with the guard plate 87 and extends outward is provided on the periphery of the opening of the holding portion 74 on the inflow side connection port 67 side. The collar portion 88 and the outer periphery of the opening of the holding portion 74 on the inflow side connection port 67 side when the holding portion 74 is slightly displaced from the position facing the front surface of the inflow side connection port 67 immediately after the start of rotation or immediately before the end of rotation. It plays a role of closing a small gap generated between the inflow side connection port 67.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to those shown in the embodiments, and there are changes and additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

In the embodiment, the in-island banknote transfer device 8 in the gaming machine island 3 also adopts the transfer method using the airflow and the transfer auxiliary body 16, but the in-island banknote transfer device 8 transfers the banknotes P by the belt and the like. Other methods may be used.

In the embodiment, the transfer pipe 12 is installed in the back of the ceiling, but it may be configured to be installed near the ceiling or under the floor. In the case of an underfloor, the sub-transport device 13 may transport the banknote discharged from the back surface of the relay box 6 downward.

In the embodiment, the carrier pipe 12 is arranged in the vertical direction and in the horizontal plane, but the carrier pipe 12 may be installed at an angle. For example, in the case of an inclined ceiling, the conveying pipe 12 may be inclined and piped along the ceiling.

The gaming machine island 3 is not limited to the configuration that accommodates the pachinko machine and the gaming ball lending machine illustrated in the embodiment, and may be a gaming machine island that houses a medal lending machine, a slot machine, and the like.

The shape of the transport assisting body 16 is not limited to that shown in the embodiment. For example, a pillar shape such as a rectangular or polygonal cross section may be used. Further, although the conveyance assisting body 16 has a symmetrical shape with respect to the central portion in the Y direction, it may have an asymmetrical shape in the Y direction.

In the embodiment, the paper money P is described as an example of the paper sheet, but other kinds of paper sheets such as a ticket and a card may be used. Further, the shape of the paper sheet is not limited to the rectangular shape. Further, the installation place of the paper sheet collecting and conveying system 10 is not limited to the game hall, and may be another facility.

In the embodiment, the cross section of the carrier tube 12 is substantially rectangular, but it may be circular or elliptical. However, it is preferable that the transport auxiliary body has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape thereof and closes almost the entire cross section. In addition, a plurality of ribs may be provided to narrow the substantial passage width of the paper sheet.

2... Game hall 3... Gaming machine island 4... Gaming ball lending machine 5... Gaming machine 6... Relay box 8... Island banknote transporting device 10... Paper sheet collecting and transporting system 11... Collecting safe box 12... Transporting pipe 12a... Outgoing transporting pipe 12b... Return path transport tube 13... Sub-transport device 14... Intake device 15... Coupling part 16... Transport auxiliary body 16a... Head 16b... Neck portion 16c... Large diameter part 16d... Constriction part 17... Transport auxiliary body relay device 18... Auxiliary Blower 19... Release wind blower 21... Air flow generator 22... Banknote separation/conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 23... Conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 24... Separation and collection device 25... Banknote storage section 26... Banknote conveyance section 27... Control section 28... Guide passage 29... Standby place 32... Side wall part 33... Expanded part 34... Rib 34a... Slope 36... Guide rail 37... Connecting wall part 41... Holding part 42... Receiving part 43... Slit 45... Sending part 46... Movable arm 51... Twisted portion 51a... Sub twisted tube 51b... Connection portion 61... Relay portion 62... Blower portion 63... Fan 65... Suction duct 66... Blower duct 67... Inflow side connection port 68... Outflow side connection port 71... Base plate 71a... Suction duct Connection port 71b...Blower duct connection port 72...Rotating plate 72a...Ventilation hole 73...Support shaft 74...Holding part 75...Sensor 76...Transmissive optical sensor 81...Reception part 82...Holding roller 83...Holding arm 84...Release plate 85 ... Release roller 87... Guard plate 88... Collar 91... Side rib 92... Guide rib 93... Guide rib 101... Sub-conveying pipe 101a... Opening 102... Ascending flow generating part 102a... Fan 102b... Blower duct 103... Banknote intake part 104... Passage portion 104b... Opening 104c... Inflow port 105a... Conveying roller 105b... Conveying belt 121... Passage portion 122... Conveying portion 123... Banknote guide path 124... Conveying belt 125a... Feeding roller 125b... Feeding belt 126... Shutter 128... Nip roller 129 ... Movable arm 129a... Support point 130... Solenoid 131... Banknote detection sensor 140... Conveying pipe 142... Banknote taking-in device 144... Air flow generator 145... Banknote separating/conveying auxiliary body circulation device 146... Conveying auxiliary body inserting device 147... Separation/collection device 148... Banknote transport unit 150... Temporary storage device 151... Posture conversion unit 152... Elevator unit 152a... Receiving plate 152b... Pressing plate 153... Feeding transport unit 153b... Conveying bell 154... Storage section 155... Natural rubber sheet 156... Thick line showing the transport path 160... Connection main body section 161... Upstream side connection port 162... Downstream side connection port 162b... Abutting section 163... Rib (center)
163a, 163b... Two parallel ribs 164... Ribs (both sides)
166... Sensor 170... Connection adapter 171... Upstream side connection port 172... Downstream side end 173... Rib (center)
174... Ribs (both sides)
180... Error display 181... Vertical transport path display 182... Horizontal transport path display 183... Message display 184... Up/down button 185... Alarm button Dx... Distance between reference planes of transport tube Dy... Y of transport tube Inner dimension of direction Ds... Shift amount FW... Extension direction of transport pipe M... Banknote transport path P, P1, P2, P3... Banknote W... Passage width X... Transport pipe passage width direction Y... Transport pipe height Direction

Claims (6)

A paper sheet collecting and conveying system that generates an air flow in a conveying pipe and pushes and moves the paper sheets inserted in the conveying pipe from the rear by a conveying auxiliary body that moves in the conveying pipe by receiving the air flow. There
A transport auxiliary body insertion device that is provided upstream from an insertion position where a paper sheet is inserted into the transport pipe and sends out the transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe,
Provided in the middle of the transport tube between the conveying auxiliary member insertion device and the insertion position, and a holding unit for temporarily holding received the conveyance auxiliary body arriving from the conveyor pipe on the upstream side, the holding portion A transfer auxiliary body relay device including a moving unit that moves the held transfer auxiliary body toward the downstream transfer pipe, and a delivery unit that sends out the moved transfer auxiliary body into the downstream transfer pipe,
Have a,
The transfer auxiliary is configured such that a first movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves inside the upstream transfer tube and a second movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves inside the downstream transfer tube are performed in parallel. A paper sheet collecting and conveying system characterized by controlling the timing of body feeding. Wherein the feeding of the transport assisting member from the conveyance auxiliary member insertion device, a sheet collection conveying system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport aid of feed simultaneously from the transport assisting member junction device. The transfer auxiliary body insertion device is provided at a base point,
The transfer pipe constitutes a path from the base point to the transfer auxiliary body relay device and the insertion position to return to the base point,
At a predetermined position of the transport pipe downstream from the insertion position, further provided is a separation/collection device that separates the paper sheet and the transport auxiliary body that has transported the paper sheet to collect the paper sheet,
Wherein the separated and recovered auxiliary conveyance body that has returned to the starting point is separated from the paper sheet by the apparatus, to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that reuse the transport assisting member that is sent to the transport assisting member insertion device Paper sheet collection and transportation system. The transfer auxiliary body relay device has a blower that has a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe, or a function of sucking an air flow from the upstream transfer pipe and a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe. The paper sheet collecting and conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Used in a paper sheet conveying system in which an air flow is generated in a conveying pipe, and a paper sheet inserted in the conveying pipe is conveyed by being pushed and moved from behind by a conveyance auxiliary body that moves in the conveying pipe upon receiving the air flow. Is a transfer auxiliary body relay device,
In the middle of the transfer tube between the insertion position where the paper sheet is inserted into the transfer tube and the transfer auxiliary body insertion device which is provided upstream from the insertion position and sends out the transfer auxiliary body into the transfer tube. provided a holding unit for temporarily holding received the conveyance auxiliary body arriving from the conveyor pipe on the upstream side, moving section that moves the conveyance auxiliary body in which the holding portion is held towards the conveying pipe downstream And a delivery unit for delivering the moved transport auxiliary body into the transport pipe on the downstream side ,
The transfer auxiliary body is configured so that a first movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves in the upstream side transfer pipe and a second movement in which the transfer auxiliary body moves in the downstream side transfer pipe are performed in parallel. A transfer auxiliary body relay device, characterized in that it controls the timing of delivery of the sheet . The carrier according to claim 5 , further comprising a blower having a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe, or a function of sucking an air flow from the upstream transfer pipe and a function of blowing air into the downstream transfer pipe. Auxiliary relay device.