JP7083555B1 - Paper leaf transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transport a bill to a bill storage chamber without requiring two transport pipes as a transport pipe for using a carrier. SOLUTION: Banknotes discharged from a gaming ball lending machine (21) adjacent to each gaming machine (20) of a gaming machine (20) of a plurality of groups (15A-15E) to a first duct (120) are relay devices ( It is sent to the second duct (120A) via 160), and is finally transported to the bill storage room (140) for storage. The carrier that conveys banknotes in the second duct (120A) reciprocates in the second duct (120A) by the carrier sending device (350) and the carrier returning device. The reciprocation of the carrier is performed only by the second duct (120A) and does not require another duct (conveying pipe). [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a paper leaf transport device for transporting banknotes and other sheet-shaped paper sheets by an air flow generated in a duct.

As an example of such a paper leaf transport device, there is one described in JP-A-2020-168504 (Patent Document 1).
FIG. 58 is a perspective view of the in-store layout of the amusement park 2 in which the paper leaf transport device 10 described in Patent Document 1 is installed, and FIG. 59 is a perspective view of the paper leaf transport device 10.
In the store of the game hall 2, a plurality of game machine islands 3 (the area where a group of game machines are arranged is called an "island") are arranged across a passage. On each game machine island 3, a plurality of sets of a game ball lending machine 4 and a game machine (pachinko machine) 5 that lend a game ball (pachinko ball) when a bill is inserted are arranged back to back. There is.
Inside each gaming machine island 3, banknotes discharged from the back of each gaming ball lending machine 4 are taken in and transported to a relay box 6 installed at one end of each gaming machine island 3 and having a function as a safe. A bill carrier 8 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 59, the paper leaf transport device 10 is piped so as to return to the collection safe 11 again via the collection safe 11, the carrier relay device 17, and each relay box 6 starting from the collection safe 11. The transport pipe 12 and the like are provided.

The transport pipe 12 passes through the outward transport pipe 12a starting from the collective safe 11 and reaching the carrier relay device 17, and the collective safe 11 via each take-in device 14 communicating from the transport auxiliary relay device 17 to each relay box 6. It is composed of a return communication pipe 12b leading to the above.
The collective safe 11 and the carrier relay device 17 each include a blower that generates an air flow. The paper leaf transport device 10 generates an air flow in the transport pipe 12 by each blower, and pushes and moves the banknotes from behind by a carrier (not shown) that moves in the transport pipe 12 in response to the air flow. Transport downstream. The blower of the collective safe 11 generates an air flow from the start end of the outward transport pipe 12a toward the carrier relay device 17, and the blower of the carrier relay device 17 generates an air flow from the start end of the return transport pipe 12b toward the collective safe 11. ..

The paper leaf transport device 10 further comprises a sub-conveyor device 13 for transporting banknotes from each relay box 6 to a return transport tube 12b passing above the relay box 6, and a sub-conveyor device 13 for transporting banknotes from the relay box 6 by the sub-transport device 13. The take-in device 14 is provided so that the paper surface is taken into the return transport pipe 12b in a posture along the extending direction of the return transport pipe 12b.
The carrier that pushes the bill from the rear by the air flow is sent out from the collecting safe 11 to the outbound transport pipe 12a, and when it reaches the carrier relay device 17, it is temporarily held by the carrier relay device 17. The carrier is then sent out from the carrier relay device 17 to the return transport pipe 12b, and returns to the collection safe 11 while collecting the banknotes taken into the return transport pipe 12b by the capture device 14.
The carrier is sent out from the safe 11 to the outbound transport pipe 12a and the carrier is sent out from the carrier relay device 17 to the inbound transport pipe 12b at the same time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-168504

As shown in FIG. 59, the paper leaf transport device 10 requires two transport pipes, an outward transport pipe 12a and a return transport pipe 12b, for reciprocating the carrier in order to repeatedly use the carrier.
Therefore, the installation space of the paper leaf transport device 10 has to be large, and the structure of the paper leaf transport device 10 itself is inevitably complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional paper leaf transport device, and a paper leaf transport device that does not require two transport tubes as a transport tube for using a carrier is provided. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of first ducts, each of which is arranged for each group of a plurality of groups of gaming machines, to which paper leaves are fed, and a plurality of first ducts. A single second duct communicating with each, a paper leaf storage chamber arranged so as to communicate with the second duct at one end of the second duct, and each of the plurality of first ducts. A first carrier traveling inside, a second carrier traveling inside the second duct, and a first carrier that sends out the first carrier toward the second duct inside each of the plurality of first ducts. A carrier feeding device, a first carrier feeding device that feeds the first carrier sent from the first carrier sending device back to the first carrier sending device, and a paper leaf storage chamber inside the second duct. The first carrier is provided with a second carrier sending device for sending out the second carrier and a second carrier sending back device for sending the second carrier sent out from the second carrier sending device back to the second carrier sending device. The carrier sending device includes a first blower that generates an air flow toward the second duct inside each of the plurality of first ducts, and the first carrier feeding device is each of the plurality of first ducts. A second blower that generates an air flow in the direction opposite to the air flow generated by the first blower is provided inside the second carrier, and the second carrier sending device is directed toward the paper leaf storage chamber inside the second duct. The second carrier feed back device includes a fourth blower that generates an air flow in the direction opposite to the air flow generated by the third blower inside the second duct. Provided is a paper leaf transport device which is a thing.

In the paper leaf transport device, the first carrier feeding device includes a first carrier storage duct branched from the first duct in front of the second duct, and the first duct is the first duct. It is composed of a first region through which only paper sheets can pass and a second region through which the first carrier can pass, and the first region passes through the center of the second region and is a second region. Protruding from both sides, the first region extends to the second duct, and the second region branches from the first duct in front of the second duct to form the first carrier storage duct. It is preferable that it is a thing.

In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, the second carrier feed-back device includes a second carrier storage duct branched from the second duct in front of the paper leaf storage chamber, and the second duct is It is composed of a first region through which only the paper leaves can pass and a second region through which the second carrier can pass, and the first region passes through the center of the second region and the second region is passed. Protruding from both sides of the region, the first region extends to the paper leaf storage chamber, the second region branches from the second duct in front of the paper leaf storage chamber, and the second carrier. It preferably constitutes a storage duct.
In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, it is preferable that the first carrier storage duct is connected to the second blower.

In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, it is preferable that the second carrier storage duct is connected to the fourth blower.
In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, the first carrier storage duct or the second carrier storage duct has a length capable of storing two or more of the first carrier or the second carrier. Is preferable.
In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, it is preferable that the first carrier and the second carrier have the same shape having a circular vertical cross section.

In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, the first carrier delivery device or the second carrier delivery device includes a carrier container having an opening through which the first carrier or the second carrier can pass, and the first carrier container. In a space adjacent to a duct or the entrance of the second duct, the carrier accommodating body is moved between the first position and the second position in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends. The first position comprises an opening capable of communicating with the first duct or the second duct and air from the first blower or the third blower. The position where the flow flows into the opening, in which the carrier accommodating body is located below the first duct or the second duct and from the first blower or the third blower. It is preferable that the air flow is at a position where the air flow does not flow into the opening, and at least one of the first carrier or the second carrier is placed on the carrier accommodating body.

In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, the first carrier sending device or the second carrier sending device is a carrier accommodating body having a carrier mounting table on which the first carrier or the second carrier can be placed, and the said. A carrier accommodating body moving device capable of moving the carrier accommodating body up and down in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends in a space adjacent to the entrance of the first duct or the second duct. And, when the carrier accommodating body moving device sends out the first carrier or the second carrier, the top of a plurality of first carriers or second carriers mounted on the carrier mounting table. The carrier is located adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct, and receives the air flow from the first blower or the third blower. It is preferable that the mounting table is moved up and down.

In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, each of the first carrier sending device or the second carrier sending device sends out N (N is an integer of 1 or more) carriers that send out the first carrier or the second carrier. The carrier feeding device comprises a carrier accommodating body having an opening through which the first carrier or the second carrier can pass, and the carrier feeding device in a space adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct. The first position is provided with a carrier housing moving device for moving the carrier housing between the first position and the second position in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends. Is a position where the opening communicates with the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower flows into the opening, and the second position is , The carrier accommodating body is located below the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower does not flow into the opening, and the N It is preferable that the carrier feeding devices are arranged adjacent to each other along the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends.
In the above-mentioned paper leaf transport device, the first carrier or one second carrier that communicates with the first duct or the second duct adjacent to the entrance of the first duct or the second duct. It is preferable that a space of length is formed.

Banknotes discharged into the first duct from the gaming ball lending machines adjacent to each gaming machine of the plurality of game machines are conveyed to the second duct via the first carrier sent out by the first carrier sending device. The first carrier that has conveyed the banknotes to the second duct is once housed in the first carrier feed-back device, and then is sent back to the first carrier delivery device in the first duct by the first carrier feed-back device.
As described above, in the banknote transport device according to the present invention, the first carrier travels in the first duct to transport the banknotes, travels in the first duct, and returns. That is, it is possible to reciprocate the first carrier with only one duct (a transport pipe in a conventional bill transport device), and unlike a conventional bill transport device, two transport pipes (outbound transport pipe 12a and) It is not necessary to provide the return transport pipe 12b).

The same applies to the second duct. The banknotes conveyed from the first duct are conveyed to the banknote storage chamber via the second carrier sent out by the second carrier sending device. The second carrier that has conveyed the bills to the bill storage chamber is once stored in the second carrier feed-back device, and then is sent back to the second carrier delivery device in the second duct by the second carrier feed-back device.
In this way, the second carrier travels in the second duct to carry the banknotes, travels in the second duct, and returns. That is, it is possible to reciprocate the second carrier with only one duct, and unlike the conventional banknote transport device, it is not necessary to provide two transport pipes (outward transport pipe 12a and return transport pipe 12b). Is.
As described above, the banknote transport device according to the present invention does not provide two transport pipes (ducts) such as the outward transport pipe 12a and the return transport pipe 12b, and further does not reduce the banknote transport efficiency. The carrier can be reciprocated with only one duct, and the structure of the bill carrier can be simplified or made compact.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the environment around it. It is a perspective view when the carrier used in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is seen from the front side. It is a perspective view when the carrier of FIG. 2 is seen from the back side. It is a perspective view of the duct used in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mutual positional relationship of a carrier, a banknote and a duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mutual positional relationship of a carrier, a banknote and a duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view including the partially exploded view of the part 7A surrounded by the broken line of FIG.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the 1st carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the first carrier feeding device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the carrier accommodating body and the carrier accommodating body moving apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the third member of the first carrier feeding device shown in FIG. 8 when viewed from the rear side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hood of the first carrier feeding device shown in FIG. 8 when viewed from the rear side. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the inside of the hood shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the inside of the hood shown in FIG.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent out from the 1st carrier feeding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent out from the 1st carrier feeding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent out from the 1st carrier feeding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent out from the 1st carrier feeding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent out from the 1st carrier feeding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent back from the 1st carrier feed back device to the 1st carrier delivery device.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 1st carrier is sent back from the 1st carrier feed back device to the 1st carrier delivery device. It is a perspective view of the 1st carrier feed back device in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 1st carrier is sent back to the 1st carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 1st carrier is sent back to the 1st carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 1st carrier is sent back to the 1st carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 1st carrier is sent back to the 1st carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is a partial perspective view of the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the second carrier feeding device shown in FIG. 27. 29 (A) is a vertical sectional view of the second carrier feeding device, FIG. 29 (B) is a left side view of the second carrier feeding device, and FIG. 29 (C) is a right side view of the second carrier feeding device. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sequentially sent out from the 2nd carrier sending apparatus in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sent back to the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus at once in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sent back to the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus at once in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sent back to the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus at once in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sent back to the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus at once in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the situation when the 2nd carrier is sent back to the 2nd carrier feeding apparatus at once in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the 2nd duct and the carrier storage duct branched from the 2nd duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial perspective view of the 2nd duct and the carrier storage duct when viewed from the carrier storage duct side. It is a partial perspective view of the 2nd duct and the carrier storage duct when viewed from the 2nd duct side. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is stored in the carrier storage duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is stored in the carrier storage duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is stored in the carrier storage duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is stored in the carrier storage duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is stored in the carrier storage duct in the banknote transporting apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is sent out from the carrier storage duct. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is sent out from the carrier storage duct.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the 2nd carrier is sent out from the carrier storage duct. It is a perspective view of the carrier accommodating body used in the modification of the 1st carrier feeding apparatus. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the operation of the modification of the 1st carrier feeding apparatus. It is a perspective view of the in-store layout of a playground where a conventional paper leaf transport device is installed. It is a perspective view of the paper leaf transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 58.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of the banknote carrier 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the surrounding environment.
The bill transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment is arranged for each group of the gaming machines 20 of the plurality of groups 15A-15E, and five bills are sent from the gaming ball lending machine 21 adjacent to the gaming machine 20. First duct 120, a single second duct 120A communicating with each of the five first ducts 120, and a first carrier 110 running inside each of the five first ducts 120. The second carrier 110R running inside the second duct 120A, the bill storage chamber 140 arranged so as to communicate with the second duct 120A at one end of the second duct 120A, and each of the five first ducts 120. A first carrier sending device 200 that sends out the first carrier 110 toward the second duct 120A inside, and a first carrier sending device 200 that sends out the first carrier 110 sent out from the first carrier sending device 200 in the first duct 120. The first carrier sending back device 135, the second carrier sending device 350 that sends out the second carrier 110R toward the bill storage chamber 140 inside the second duct 120A, and the second carrier sending device 350 that is sent back from the second carrier sending device 350. A second carrier feed-back device 138 that feeds the two carriers 110R back to the second carrier delivery device 350 in the second duct 120A is provided.

The first carrier feeding device 200 includes a first blower 150A that generates an air flow toward the second duct 120A inside each of the five first ducts 120, and the first carrier feeding device 135 has five first carriers. A second blower 150B is provided inside each of the ducts 120A to generate an air flow in the direction opposite to the air flow generated by the first blower 150A, and the second carrier sending device 350 is a bill storage chamber inside the second duct 120A. A third blower 150C that generates an air flow toward 140 is provided, and the second carrier feed back device 138 generates an air flow inside the second duct 120A in a direction opposite to the air flow generated by the third blower 150C. It is equipped with four blowers 150D.
The first duct 120 arranged for each group 15A-15E of the game machine 20 is attached to the game ball lending machine 21 adjacent to the game machine 20 as in the island bill transport device 8 of the conventional banknote transfer device 10. The bills that have been thrown in and discharged from the back of the gaming ball lending machine 21 are transported to the second duct 120A.

Each first duct 120 and the second duct 120A are connected via a relay device 160. Each relay device 160 changes the direction of the bills conveyed from each first duct 120 and sends them out to the second duct 120A.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first carrier 110 used in the banknote transport device 100 according to the present embodiment when viewed from the front side, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first carrier 110 when viewed from the back side.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first carrier 110 has a “bullet” shape, and specifically, is continuous with a cylindrical main body portion 110a and a main body portion 110a on the back side of the main body portion 110a. It is composed of a hemispherical rear portion 110b and the like.
The first carrier 110 has a hollow structure in order to reduce the weight.

The first carrier 110 pushes banknotes on the front surface 110c of the main body portion 110a to convey the banknotes. A plurality of protrusions 110d having the same shape are formed at equal intervals along the circumference on the front surface 110c of the main body portion 110a. A banknote is sandwiched between two protrusions 110d adjacent to each other to hold the banknote. The protrusion 110d has, for example, a hemispherical shape.
The length of the main body portion 110a of the first carrier 110 in the central axis direction is set as short as possible. By shortening the length of the main body portion 110a, it becomes possible to smoothly bend the curved duct.
The first carrier 110 advances by receiving an air flow (wind) from the first blower 150A at the rear portion 110b.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first duct 120 used in the banknote transport device 100 according to the present embodiment. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the mutual positional relationship between the first carrier 110, the bill 50, and the first duct 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first duct 120 is composed of a first region 120a and a second region 120b.
The first region 120a has a vertically long rectangular shape, and the height thereof is a height at which the short side 50a of the banknote 50 having the short side 50a and the long side 50b (see FIG. 5) can pass through. The width is such that the banknote 50 can sufficiently pass through even when the banknote 50 is bent or curved.
The second region 120b has a circular vertical cross section, and is set to a size (radius) through which the first carrier 110 can pass.
The first region 120a and the second region 120b partially overlap each other, and the first region 120a passes through the center of the second region 120b and protrudes from the second region 120b with equal lengths in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first carrier 110 pushes the short side 50a of the bill 50 at its front surface 110c and conveys the bill 50 inside the first duct 120. The bill 50 passes through the first region 120a of the first duct 120, and the first carrier 110 passes through the second region 120b of the first duct 120.
As described above, only the bill 50 can pass through the first region 120a, and the first carrier 110 cannot pass through the first region 120a (to be exact, the first carrier 110 is above and below the second region 120b). It is not possible to pass through the portion of the first region 120a protruding in the direction).
The second carrier 110R traveling inside the second duct 120A and the second duct 120A has the same structure as the first duct 120 and the first carrier 110, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view including a partially exploded view of the portion 7A surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 1 (the gaming machine 20 is not shown in FIG. 7, but is actually adjacent to the gaming ball lending machine 21. The gaming machine 20 is installed).
As shown in FIG. 7, a first carrier feeding device 200 is provided at one end (right end in FIG. 7) of the first duct 120 in each group 15A-15E of the gaming machine 20. The first carrier sending device 200 sends out the first carrier 110 toward the relay device 160 (or the second duct 120A) inside the first duct 120.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the first carrier feeding device 200, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the first carrier feeding device 200.
As shown in FIG. 8, the first carrier feeding device 200 includes a carrier accommodating body 210, a carrier accommodating body moving device 220, and a cover block 230 covering the carrier accommodating body 210.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the carrier accommodating body 210 and the carrier accommodating body moving device 220.
As shown in FIG. 10, the carrier housing 210 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a circular opening 211 penetrates horizontally between the pair of vertical faces. The radius of the opening 211 is slightly larger than the radius of the first carrier 110, and is large enough for the first carrier 110 to pass through.
The carrier accommodating body moving device 220 includes a rack member 221 extending vertically downward from the carrier accommodating body 210, a pinion 222, and a motor 222A for rotating the pinion 222.
A convex body 221A capable of meshing with the pinion 222 is formed on the surface of the rack member 221.

The pinion 222 is fixed to the cover block 230 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, if the pinion 222 rotates clockwise, the rack member 221 and thus the carrier housing 210 move downward, and if the pinion 222 rotates counterclockwise, the rack member 221 and thus the carrier housing 210 move upward. do.
The operation of the motor 222A that drives the pinion 222 is controlled by a central control device (not shown), and the carrier housing moving device 220 positions the carrier housing 210 in the first position and the second position in response to a command from the central control device. Move up and down between and.
The first position is such that the axis of the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210 substantially coincides with the axis of the second region 120b of the first duct 120. As will be described later, at the first position, the opening 211 of the carrier accommodating body 210 faces the second region 120b of the first duct 120, communicates with the second region 120b, and communicates with the first carrier 110. Receives wind pressure from the air flow from the first blower 150A at the rear portion 110b.

The second position is the position where the carrier housing 210 is located directly below the second region 120b of the first duct 120. As will be described later, at the second position, the opening 211 of the carrier accommodating body 210 does not face the second region 120b of the first duct 120, does not communicate with the second region 120b, and further. The first carrier 110 is not subjected to wind pressure due to the air flow from the first blower 150A.
As shown in FIG. 9, the cover block 230 is composed of a first member 231, a second member 232, and a third member 233.
The first member 231 includes a plate 231A and a duct frame 231B standing upright with respect to the plate 231A.
The first duct 120 is positioned by being fitted inside the duct frame 231B. The plate 231A is formed with an opening (not shown) having the same shape as the vertical cross section of the first duct 120.

The second member 232 includes a first plate 232A, a second plate 232B, and a hollow box 232C sandwiched between the first plate 232A and the second plate 232B.
The lower part of the box 232C is open, and the carrier housing 210 is positioned inside the box 232C so that the rack member 221 of the carrier housing moving device 220 is exposed from below the box 232C (see FIG. 8). Is fixed to.
An opening 232AA is formed in the first plate 232A and an opening (not shown) is formed in the second plate 232B, and these openings are formed when the carrier housing 210 is fixed inside the box 232C. It communicates with the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210 and the opening of the plate 231A.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the third member 233 when viewed from the rear side.
As shown in FIG. 11, the third member 233 includes a first plate 233A having a vertical surface and a second plate 233B fixedly attached to the first plate 233A so as to be orthogonal to the first plate 233A. It is composed of a hood 233C attached over both the first plate 233A and the second plate 233B, a third plate 233D attached orthogonally to the first plate 233A inside the hood 233C, and an opening / closing plate 233E. ing.
The second plate 233B is formed with an opening 233BA that communicates with the hood 233C. As shown in FIG. 8, the first blower 150A is attached to the second plate 233B. The air flow (wind) generated by the first blower 150A passes through the inside of the hood 233C through the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B, the opening 233AA formed in the first plate 233A, and the second of the second member 232. It is supplied to the inside of the first duct 120 through the opening of the plate 232B, the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210, the opening 232AA of the first plate 232A of the second member 232, and the opening of the plate 231A of the first member 231.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the hood 233C when viewed from the rear side.
As shown in FIG. 11, an opening 233CA is formed on the back surface of the hood 233C. As will be described later, the air flow from the second blower 150B is discharged to the outside through the opening 233CA.
13 and 14 are exploded perspective views showing the inside of the hood 233C.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the opening / closing plate 233E has a size that covers the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B, and is attached to the inner wall of the hood 233C via the hinge 233EA. Therefore, when the first blower 150A is not operating (when no air flow is generated), as shown in FIG. 13, the opening / closing plate 233E closes the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B. When the first blower 150A is operating (when an air flow is generated), as shown in FIG. 14, the opening / closing plate 233E rotates about the hinge 233EA due to the wind pressure of the air flow, and the second plate The opening 233BA of 233B is kept open.

As shown in FIG. 11, the third plate 233D is fixedly attached at the center of the first plate 233A in the width direction so as to be orthogonal to the first plate 233A. The third plate 233D has a protrusion 233DA extending outward from the opening 233AA of the first plate 233A and a semi-cylindrical stopper 233DB attached facing the opening 233AA of the first plate 233A. As shown in FIG. 15, which will be described later, the lower edge of the protrusion 233DA is on the same horizontal line as the upper edge of the second region 120b of the first duct 120, and the stopper 233DB stops the first carrier 110 that has been sent back. It is a thing.
15 to 19 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a situation when the first carrier 110 is sent out from the first carrier sending device 200, and FIGS. 20 and 21 show that the first carrier 110 sends out the first carrier from the first carrier feeding device 135. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the situation when it is sent back to the apparatus 200.

Hereinafter, the operation of the first carrier feeding device 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 21.
In the stage before the first carrier sending device 200 sends out the first carrier 110, the carrier accommodating body 210 is arranged at the second position as shown in FIG. That is, the carrier accommodating body 210 is located below the second region 120b of the first duct 120 in the space 120S formed adjacent to the entrance of the first duct 120, and the opening 211 of the carrier accommodating body 210 is located. It does not communicate with the second region 120b of the first duct 120. Further, the opening 211 of the carrier accommodating body 210 is not in a position to receive the wind pressure due to the air flow from the first blower 150A.

One first carrier 110B is loaded inside the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210, and another first carrier 110A is placed in the space 120S above the carrier housing 210. .. The first carrier 110A is located facing the first duct 120, and is stopped in a state where the rear portion 110b thereof is in contact with the stopper 233DB.
Since the first blower 150A is not operating at this stage, the opening / closing plate 233E keeps the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B closed.
When the bill 50 is inserted into the first duct 120, a sensor (not shown) detects the bill 50 and transmits a bill insertion signal to the central control device.
Upon receiving this bill insertion signal, the central control device operates the first blower 150A. When the first blower 150A starts operating, as shown by the arrow S in FIG. 16, the air flow from the first blower 150A bounces up the opening / closing plate 233E, flows into the inside of the hood 233C, and opens the first plate 233A. Wind pressure is applied to the rear portion 110b of the first carrier 110A which passes through 233AA and is placed on the carrier housing 210.

The first carrier 110A, which receives the wind pressure on the rear portion 110b, starts toward the relay device 160, catches the banknote 50 on the way, and conveys the banknote 50 to the relay device 160. The first carrier 110A that has completed the transfer of the banknote 50 to the relay device 160 is temporarily stored in the first carrier return device 135 (described later).
When the first carrier 110A reaches the relay device 160, a sensor (not shown) detects the first carrier 110A and transmits a detection signal to the central control device. Upon receiving this detection signal, the central controller stops the operation of the first blower 150A and then rotates the pinion 222 counterclockwise. As a result, the carrier housing 210 moves upward and moves from the second position to the first position. In the first position, the first carrier 110B is located facing the entrance of the first duct 120.

When the carrier housing 210 moves to the first position, a sensor (not shown) detects this and sends a detection signal to the central control device. Upon receiving this detection signal, the central control device operates the first blower 150A as shown in FIG.
When the first blower 150A starts operating, as shown by the arrow S in FIG. 18, the air flow from the first blower 150A bounces up the opening / closing plate 233E, flows into the inside of the hood 233C, and opens the first plate 233A. Wind pressure is applied to the rear portion 110b of the first carrier 110B mounted on the carrier housing 210 through 233AA.
The first carrier 110B, which has received wind pressure on the rear portion 110b, starts toward the relay device 160, catches the banknote 50 on the way, and conveys the banknote 50 to the relay device 160. The first carrier 110B, which has completed the transfer of the banknote 50 to the relay device 160, is temporarily stored in the first carrier feed-back device 135, similarly to the first carrier 110A.

When the first carrier 110B reaches the relay device 160, a sensor (not shown) detects the first carrier 110B and transmits a detection signal to the central control device. Upon receiving this detection signal, the central control device stops the operation of the first blower 150A as shown in FIG. When the first blower 150A stops operating, the opening / closing plate 233E closes the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B again. The carrier housing 210 is fixed in the first position as it is.
As described above, the two first carriers 110A and 110B start toward the relay device 160, capture the banknotes 50 on the way, and convey the captured banknotes 50 to the relay device 160.

When the transport of the banknote 50 by the two first carriers 110A and 110B is completed, the first carriers 110A and 110B stored in the first carrier return device 135 are transferred by the first carrier return device 135 as follows. It is sent back to the first carrier sending device 200 (the operation of the first carrier sending back device 135 will be described later).
The central control device operates the second blower 150B after stopping the operation of the first blower 150A.
When the second blower 150B starts operating, the first carriers 110A and 110B receive the wind pressure of the air flow on their front surfaces 110c, and collectively start traveling toward the first carrier sending device 200.

As shown in FIG. 20, the first carriers 110A and 110B hit the stopper 233DB and stop. Since the carrier housing 210 is stationary at the first position, the leading first carrier 110A is housed inside the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210. The air flow from the second blower 150B passes through the inside of the hood 233C from the first duct 120 and is discharged to the outside through the opening 233CA (see FIG. 12) formed in the hood 233C. Since the opening / closing plate 233E closes the opening 233BA of the second plate 233B, the air flow from the second blower 150B does not flow into the first blower 150A.
When the first carriers 110A and 110B hit the stopper 233DB and stop, a sensor (not shown) that detects this hits the stopper 233DB and transmits a detection signal to the central control device. Upon receiving this detection signal, the central control device rotates the pinion 222 clockwise and lowers the carrier housing 210 from the first position to the second position, as shown in FIG.

When the carrier accommodating body 210 accommodating the first carrier 110A inside the opening 211 descends from the first position to the second position, the first carrier 110B located behind the first carrier 110A becomes the second blower. It advances further by the wind pressure of the air flow from 150B, hits the stopper 233DB, and stops.
When the first carrier 110B hits the stopper 233DB and stops, a sensor (not shown) that detects this hits the stopper 233DB and transmits a detection signal to the central control device. Upon receiving this detection signal, the central control device stops the operation of the second blower 150B.
In the above operation, the two first carriers 110A and 110B are sent out from the first carrier sending device 200, and after the banknotes 50 are conveyed to the relay device 160, they are sent back to the first carrier sending device 200 by the first carrier sending back device 135. It is an operation of one cycle until it comes. This operation is repeated every time the bill 50 is inserted into the first duct 120.

When the first carriers 110A and 110B are sent out by the first carrier sending device 200, the amount of air blown from the first blower 150A is electrically controlled.
For example, when each of the first carriers 110A and 110B is sent out, the initial output of the first blower 150A is set to about 50% of the maximum output and gradually approaches 100%. By controlling the output of the first blower 150A in this way, it is possible to reduce the impact on the banknote 50 when each of the first carriers 110A and 110B starts pushing the banknote 50, and as a result, troubles such as banknote jamming can be reduced. Can be avoided.

When the first duct 120 is upright upward, the output is set to 100% of the maximum output, and the first carriers 110A and 110B are pushed at the maximum output so that the first carriers 110A and 110B are pressed. It is possible to surely ascend in the first duct 120.
In one group of the gaming machines 20 of the plurality of groups 15A-15E, the order in which the plurality of gaming ball lending machines 21 accept the bills 50 and each gaming ball lending machine 21 sends the bills 50 to the first duct 120. When waiting, the bill 50 is sent out to the first duct 120 from the gaming ball lending machine 21 having a predetermined bill acceptance order. After that, the first carrier sending device 200 sends out the first carriers 110A and 110B, and the bill 50 is sent to the relay device 160. The banknotes 50 are sequentially sent out to the first duct 120 according to the order of receiving the banknotes, and are sent to the relay device 160 by the first carriers 110A and 110B. When there are no bills 50 waiting to be sent to the relay device 160, the operation of the first carrier sending device 200 is stopped.

Even if the first carrier 110A transports the bill 50 to the relay device 160, if the bill 50 waiting for the transport turn still remains, the output is reduced to about 50% of the maximum output. The first blower 150A is operated. After that, the bills 50 are sent out from the plurality of game ball lending machines 21 to the first duct 120, the output of the first blower 150A is gradually increased to 100%, and the second first carrier 110B is used as the first duct 120. send out. By continuously firing the two first carriers 110A and 110B in this way, it is possible to eliminate the state of waiting for the banknotes to be transported.
Normally, the output of the blast is gradually increased from 0% to 100%, but as described above, the output is increased to 0% by controlling the output of the blast from 50% to 100%. It is possible to reduce the interval between banknote transport cycles by eliminating the time required to raise from to 50%.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the first carrier feedback device 135.
As shown in FIG. 22, the first carrier feed-back device 135 has a carrier storage duct 130 branching from the first duct 120 in front of the relay device 160 and a second blower connected to the tip of the carrier storage duct 130. It is composed of 150B, a sensor 131a provided in the first duct 120 at a branch point between the first duct 120 and the carrier storage duct 130, and two sensors 131b and 131c provided in the carrier storage duct 130. Has been done.
23 to 26 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which the first carrier 110 is sent back to the first carrier sending device 200.
As shown in FIG. 23, of the first region 120a and the second region 120b constituting the first duct 120, the first region 120a extends to the relay device 160, and the second region 120b is in front of the relay device 160. It branches to the left from the first region 120a. The branched second region 120b constitutes the carrier storage duct 130.

The carrier storage duct 130 (second region 120b) branches from the first region 120a at an angle (obtuse angle) exceeding 90 degrees with respect to the direction toward the relay device 160.
The tip of the carrier storage duct 130 is thin, and the first carrier 110 sent out from the first carrier delivery device 200 hits the tip of the carrier storage duct 130 and stops.
Each of the three sensors 131a, 131b, and 131c detects the passage of the first carrier 110, and when the first carrier 110 passes, a carrier passage signal is transmitted to the central control device.

Hereinafter, the operation of the first carrier feedback device 135 will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 26.
The two first carriers 110A and 110B sent out from the first carrier sending device 200 each catch the bill 50 and travel toward the relay device 160. When the first carriers 110A and 110B reach the branch point between the first duct 120 and the carrier storage duct 130, the bill 50 traveling in the first region 120a of the first duct 120 is in the direction in which the first region 120a continues. Continue running as it is. That is, the bill 50 continues to travel toward the relay device 160, and is finally housed in the relay device 160.
On the other hand, the second region 120b of the first duct 120 is curved in front of the relay device 160, and the first carriers 110A and 110B can pass only in the second region 120b, so that the first carrier 110A , 110B is guided into the inside of the carrier storage duct 130 by being guided by the curved second region 120b (carrier storage duct 130). First, the first carrier 110A and then the first carrier 110B hit the tip of the carrier storage duct 130 and stop.

As shown in FIG. 23, the two first carriers 110A and 110B delivered from the first carrier delivery device 200 are housed inside the carrier storage duct 130.
When both the sensor 131a and the sensor 131b transmit the second oversignal to the central controller, the central controller activates the second blower 150B.
As shown in FIG. 24, the two first carriers 110A and 110B that have received the wind pressure of the air flow (wind) from the second blower 150B are grouped together from the carrier storage duct 130 to the first duct 120. It is sent back toward the carrier delivery device 200.
As shown in FIG. 25, when it is detected that the two first carriers 110A and 110B are sent out from the carrier storage duct 130 and the second first carrier 110B is sent out hits the stopper 233DB and stops ( (See FIG. 21), the central controller stops the operation of the second blower 150B. At this point, as shown in FIG. 26, the carrier storage duct 130 does not have the first carriers 110A and 110B remaining, 110B is housed in the carrier housing 210, and the first carrier 110A is the carrier housing 210. It is in the state of being placed on the top (see FIG. 15).

As described above, the two first carriers 110A and 110B sent out into the first duct 120 toward the relay device 160 by the first carrier sending device 200 are the first after transporting the banknote 50 to the relay device 160. It is sent back to the first carrier sending device 200 in the first duct 120 by the carrier sending back device 135.
As described above, the banknote transport device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the first carrier sending device 200 and the first carrier feeding device 135, so that the banknote transport device 100 is different from the conventional banknote transport device 10 in that it has an outward transport pipe 12a and a return transport pipe. It is possible to reciprocate the carriers 110A and 110B using only one transport pipe (first duct 120) without requiring the two transport pipes 12 of 12b.

The bill 50 sent by the first carrier 110 from the game ball lending machine 21 corresponding to each group 15A-15E of the game machine 20 is sent to the second duct 120A via the relay device 160. Therefore, the number of bills 50 that can be transported in the second duct 120A needs to be larger than the number of bills that can be transported in the first duct 120. The second carrier delivery device 350 that feeds the second carrier 110R to the second duct 120A has more than the first carrier delivery device 200 in order to enable a transportable number of bills 50 that is larger than the transportable number of banknotes 50 in the first duct 120. It is configured to be able to send out a number of carriers.
The second carrier sending device 350 is arranged at an end (right end in FIG. 1) opposite to one end (left end in FIG. 1) of the second duct 120A in which the bill storage chamber 140 is arranged.

27 is a partial perspective view of the second carrier feeding device 350, and FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the second carrier feeding device 350.
The first carrier delivery device 200 is configured to have a single carrier container 210 and a single carrier container moving device 220, whereas the second carrier delivery device 350 has five carrier containers. It has 210A-210E and five carrier housing moving devices 220A-220E, and is configured to send out six second carriers 110S and 110A-110E. Each of the carrier accommodating bodies 210A-210E has the same structure as the carrier accommodating body 210 in the first carrier feeding device 200, and each of the carrier accommodating body moving devices 220A-220E has a carrier accommodating body moving device in the first carrier feeding device 200. It has the same structure as 220.

29 (A) is a vertical sectional view of the second carrier feeding device 350, FIG. 29 (B) is a left side view of the second carrier feeding device 350, and FIG. 29 (C) is a right side view of the second carrier feeding device 350. Is.
The second carrier feeding device 350 includes five carrier housings 210A-210E, five carrier housing moving devices 220A-220E, and a third blower 150C.
As shown in FIG. 29 (A), in the second carrier feeding device 350, the five carrier accommodating bodies 210A-210E and the carrier accommodating body moving device 220A-220E are adjacent to the second duct 120A and the second duct 120A. Immediately below the second region 120b of the above, they are arranged adjacent to each other along the second duct 120A.

Carriers 110A-110E are housed in each opening 211 of the five carrier housings 210A-210E.
A space 111 having a length of one carrier is formed adjacent to the entrance of the second duct 120A. The space 111 faces the second region 120b of the second duct 120A and communicates with the second region 120b. The carrier 110S is housed in the space 111 in a state of being in contact with the stopper 233DB.
30 to 39 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a situation when the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are sequentially delivered from the second carrier feeding device 350, and FIGS. 40 to 44 are the second carrier 110S and 110A-110E. Is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a situation when is sent back from the second carrier sending back device 138 (described later) to the second carrier sending back device 350 at once.

Hereinafter, the operation of the second carrier delivery device 350 will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 to 44.
Prior to the second carrier delivery device 350 delivering the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E, each of the carrier accommodating bodies 210A-210E is in the second position, as shown in FIG. The carrier 110S is housed in the space 111.
When the bill 50 is sent from the first duct 120 to the inside of the second duct 120A via the relay device 160, the third blower 150C is activated and is first loaded in the space 111 as shown in FIG. 31. The carrier 110S receives the wind pressure of the air flow from the third blower 150C and is sent out to the inside of the second duct 120A.

When the second carrier 110S conveys the banknote 50 to the banknote storage chamber 140 and is stored in the second carrier return device 138 (described later), the operation of the third blower 150C is stopped, and then, as shown in FIG. 32, the operation of the third blower 150C is stopped. The carrier accommodating body moving device 220A is raised to shift the carrier accommodating body 210A from the second position to the first position.
After that, as shown in FIG. 33, the third blower 150C starts operating, and the second carrier 110A housed in the opening 211 of the carrier housing body 210A is sent out. The carrier housing 210A is anchored in the first position. When the second carrier 110A conveys the bill 50 to the bill storage chamber 140, the second carrier 110A is stored in the second carrier return device 138 (described later), and the operation of the third blower 150C is stopped.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 34, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220B is raised to shift the carrier accommodating body 210B from the second position to the first position. After that, the third blower 150C starts operating, and the second carrier 110B housed in the opening 211 of the carrier housing body 210B is sent out. FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view showing a state when the carrier accommodating body 210B is raised to the first position.
After that, in the same manner, the second carrier 110C is sent out (FIG. 36), then the second carrier 110D is sent out (FIG. 37), and finally the second carrier 110E is sent out (FIG. 38).
In this way, all the second carriers 110A-110E are sent out, and as shown in FIG. 39, no carriers remain in the second carrier sending device 350. In this state, all carrier accommodating bodies 210A-210E are located in the first position.

The second carrier 110A-110E is stored in the second carrier feed-back device 138 (described later) after the bill 50 is conveyed. When the transport of the banknote 50 by the second carrier 110A-110E is completed, the fourth blower 150D, which is a component of the second carrier return device 138, starts to operate, and all the second carriers 110A-110E are from the fourth blower 150D. Under the wind pressure from the air flow of the above, the inside of the second duct 120A travels as a group in the direction toward the second carrier sending device 350.
After that, as shown in FIG. 40, the second carriers 110A-110E hit the stopper 233DB and stop. The air flow from the fourth blower 150D is discharged to the outside through the opening 233CA of the hood 233C.

In this state, the leading second carrier 110S is in contact with the stopper 233DB and is housed inside the space 111. The remaining second carriers 110A-110E are in a state of being inserted into the opening 211 of the carrier housing 210A-210E, respectively.
When all the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are sent back to the second carrier sending device 350, the operation of the fourth blower 150D is stopped. Then, as shown in FIG. 41, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220A is lowered, and the carrier accommodating body 210A is lowered from the first position to the second position.
After that, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220B lowers the carrier accommodating body 210B to the second position (FIG. 42), the carrier accommodating body moving device 220C lowers the carrier accommodating body 210C to the second position (FIG. 43), and the carrier. The accommodating body moving device 220D lowers the carrier accommodating body 210D to the second position (FIG. 44), and finally, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220E lowers the carrier accommodating body 210E to the second position.

In this way, the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are returned to the state before being sent out from the second carrier sending device 350 (FIG. 30).
The above operation is a one-cycle operation from the time when the second carrier sending device 350 sends out all the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E until all the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are sent back to the second carrier sending device 350. Is. After that, this operation is repeated.
When the second carrier 110S and 110A-110E are sent out by the second carrier sending device 350, the amount of air blown from the third blower 150C is electrically controlled.

For example, when each of the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E is sent out, the initial output of the third blower 150C is set to about 50% of the maximum output and gradually approaches 100%. By controlling the output of the third blower 150C in this way, it is possible to reduce the impact on the bill 50 when each of the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E starts pushing the bill 50, and as a result, the bill is jammed or the like. Trouble can be avoided.
When the waiting for the feeding order for sending the banknotes 50 to the second duct 120A occurs in the relay device 160 of three or more, for example, the waiting for the feeding turn is eliminated as follows.
(A) The banknote 50 is sent out to the second duct 120A from one of the plurality of relay devices 160 waiting for the transfer turn. The third blower 150C is operated, the output of the third blower 150C is initially suppressed to about 50% of the maximum output, gradually increased to 100%, and the bill 50 is conveyed to the bill storage chamber 140.

(B) The output of the third blower 150C is reduced to about 50% of the maximum output, and the bill 50 is sent out from the next relay device 160 to the second duct 120A. The output of the third blower 150C is gradually increased to 100%, and the banknote 50 is conveyed to the banknote storage chamber 140.
(C) The above operations (a) and (b) are repeated according to the order of accepting banknotes until there are no more banknotes 50 waiting in the order of transportation.
(D) If all of the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are sent from the second carrier sending device 350 to the second carrier sending back device 138 during the operation of the above (c), the second carrier sending back The operations (a) and (b) above are repeated according to the order of accepting banknotes until the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are sent back from the device 138 to the second carrier sending device 350 and there are no banknotes 50 waiting in the order of transportation. ..

The second carrier sending device 350 makes it possible to use a total of six second carriers 110S and 110A-110E, and can efficiently convey a large number of banknotes 50 sent from the first duct 120. Is.
The number of carrier accommodating bodies and carrier accommodating body moving devices that can be used is not limited to 5, and any number can be selected as needed.
Further, it is not always necessary to provide the space 111 formed facing the second region 120b of the second duct 120A, and it is possible to omit the space 111.
The second carrier feed-back device 138 includes a carrier storage duct 130D branching from the second duct 120A in front of the bill storage chamber 140, a fourth blower 150D connected to the tip of the carrier storage duct 130D, and a second duct. It is composed of a sensor 131 provided at a branch point between the 120A and the carrier storage duct 130D.

FIG. 45 is a partial cross-sectional view of the carrier storage duct 130D branched from the second duct 120A and the second duct 120A, and FIG. 46 shows the second duct 120A and the carrier storage duct when viewed from the carrier storage duct 130D side. A partial perspective view of the 130D, FIG. 47 is a partial perspective view of the second duct 120A and the carrier storage duct 130D when viewed from the second duct 120A side.
As shown in FIGS. 45 to 47, of the first region 120a and the second region 120b constituting the second duct 120A, the first region 120a extends to the bill storage chamber 140, and the second region 120b stores bills. It branches to the left from the first region 120a in front of the chamber 140. The branched second region 120b constitutes the carrier storage duct 130D.

The carrier storage duct 130D (second region 120b) is curved from the first second duct 120A at an angle (obtuse angle) exceeding 90 degrees with respect to the direction toward the bill storage chamber 140 (Θ> 90 °). It branches from one area 120a. The carrier storage duct 130D is connected to the fourth blower 150D at its tip.
48 to 52 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are stored in the carrier storage duct 130D, and FIGS. 53 to 55 are views from the carrier storage duct 130D to the second carriers 110S and 110A. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which -110E is sent out.

As shown in FIG. 48, the carrier storage duct 130D is composed of a first portion 130a that curves linearly from the second duct 120A and then extends linearly, and a second portion 130b that curves linearly from the first portion 130a and then extends linearly. Has been done. The second portion 130b extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first region 120a.
A circular stopper 130c for stopping the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E is fitted inside the second portion 130b of the carrier storage duct 130D. The second carriers 110S and 110A-110E hit the stopper 130c and stop after passing through the first portion 130a and the second portion 130b of the carrier storage duct 130D from the second duct 120A.
As shown in FIG. 45, a sensor that detects the passage of the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E at the position where the carrier storage duct 130D starts bending from the second duct 120A and transmits a carrier passage signal to the central control device. 131 is arranged.

Hereinafter, the operation of the second carrier feedback device 138 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 48 to 55.
The second carrier 110S first sent out from the second carrier sending device 350 catches the bill 50 sent from the first duct 120 to the second duct 120A via the relay device 160, and faces the bill storage chamber 140. As shown in FIG. 48, it reaches the front of the carrier storage duct 130D.
As the second carrier 110S continues to travel, the second carrier 110S reaches the branch point between the second duct 120A and the carrier storage duct 130D, as shown in FIG. 49. The bill 50 traveling in the first region 120a of the second duct 120A continues to travel in the direction in which the first region 120a continues. That is, the banknote 50 continues to travel toward the banknote storage room 140, and is finally stored in the banknote storage room 140.

On the other hand, the second region 120b of the second duct 120A is curved in front of the bill storage chamber 140, and the second carrier 110S can pass only in the second region 120b, as shown in FIG. The second carrier 110S is guided to the carrier storage duct 130D by being guided by the curved second region 120b (carrier storage duct 130D), and travels inside the carrier storage duct 130D. At this time, the sensor 131 detects the passage of the second carrier 110S and transmits the first carrier passage signal to the central control device. Upon receiving the carrier passage signal, the central control device temporarily stops the operation of the third blower 150C.
After that, as shown in FIG. 51, the second carrier 110S hits the stopper 130c and stops. The second carrier 110S is stopped at this stop position as it is.

When the transfer of the first bill 50 to the bill storage chamber 140 is completed, the central control device operates the third blower 150C while leaving the first second carrier 110S inside the carrier storage duct 130D. The second carrier 110A is driven toward the bill storage chamber 140. Like the first second carrier 110S, the second second carrier 110A also catches the bill 50 on the way and conveys the bill 50 toward the bill storage chamber 140.
When the second second carrier 110A reaches the branch point between the second duct 120A and the carrier storage duct 130D, only the bill 50 is the first of the second duct 120A, as in the first second carrier 110S. The area 120a travels toward the bill storage chamber 140, and is finally accommodated in the bill storage chamber 140. The second carrier 110A is guided by the branched second region 120b (carrier storage duct 130D), travels inside the carrier storage duct 130D, and hits the already stopped first second carrier 110S to stop.

After that, the third to sixth second carriers 110B-110E convey the bill 50 to the bill storage chamber 140 and store it in the carrier storage duct 130D in the same manner as the first second carrier 110S. Will be done. At this point, as shown in FIG. 52, the six second carriers 110S and AE are housed inside the carrier storage duct 130D, and the sensor 131 has so far six carriers. The passing signal is transmitted to the central controller. In addition, six banknotes 50 are stored in the banknote storage room 140.
Upon receiving the sixth carrier pass signal from the sensor 131, the central controller activates the fourth blower 150D. A hole for passing an air flow is formed in the stopper 130c, and when the fourth blower 150D is operated, the air flow generated by the fourth blower 150D passes through the hole of the stopper 130c to the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E. It exerts wind pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the six second carriers 110S and 110A-110E that have received the wind pressure of the air flow (wind) from the fourth blower 150D are grouped together to be the second from the carrier storage duct 130D. It is sent back to the second carrier delivery device 350 via the duct 120A.
When the first second carrier 110S reaches the second carrier sending device 350, a sensor (not shown) detects the arrival of the second carrier 110S and transmits a carrier arrival signal to the central control device.
Upon receiving the carrier arrival signal, the central controller stops the operation of the fourth blower 150D. At this point, as shown in FIG. 55, the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E do not remain in the carrier storage duct 130D.
As described above, the six second carriers 110S and 110A-110E are housed in the space 111 and the carrier housing 210A-210E, respectively.

The above operation is a one-cycle operation until the six second carriers 110S, 110A-110E sent from the second carrier sending device 350 are sent back to the second carrier sending device 350 by the second carrier sending back device 138. Is.
According to the banknote transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
Banknotes discharged into the first duct 120 from the gaming ball lending machine 21 adjacent to each gaming machine 20 of the gaming machines 20 of the plurality of groups 15A-15E are sent through the first carrier 110 sent by the first carrier sending device 200. Is transported to the relay device 160. The first carrier 110 that has conveyed the banknote 50 to the relay device 160 is sent back to the first carrier sending device 200 in the first duct 120 by the first carrier sending back device 135.

As described above, in the bill transport device 100, the first carrier 110 travels in the first duct 120 to transport the bill 50, travels in the first duct 120, and returns. That is, it is possible to reciprocate the first carrier 110 with only one duct (a transport pipe in a conventional bill transport device), and unlike a conventional bill transport device, two transport pipes (outbound transport pipe 12a) can be reciprocated. And it is not necessary to provide the return transport pipe 12b).
The same applies to the second duct 120A. The banknote 50 conveyed from the first duct 120 via the relay device 160 is conveyed to the banknote transfer device 140 via the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E sent out by the second carrier sending device 350. The second carriers 110S and 110A-110E that have conveyed the banknotes 50 to the banknote transfer device 140 are sent back to the second carrier delivery device 350 in the second duct 120A by the second carrier return device 138.

As described above, in the bill transfer device 100, the second carriers 110S and 110A-110E travel in the second duct 120A to transport the bill 50, travel in the second duct 120A, and return. That is, it is possible to reciprocate 110S and 110A-110E with only one duct, and unlike the conventional banknote transport device, two transport pipes (outward transport pipe 12a and return transport pipe 12b) are provided. Is unnecessary.
As described above, the banknote transport device 100 according to the present embodiment can reciprocate the carrier with only one duct without providing two ducts and without lowering the banknote transport efficiency. Therefore, the structure of the bill carrier can be simplified or made compact.

The banknote transfer device 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above structure, and various modifications can be made.
The shape of the carrier used in this embodiment is not limited to the shapes of the first carrier 110 and the second carrier 110R (second carrier 110S, 110A-110E). A carrier having an arbitrary shape can be selected, and the shapes of the first duct 120 and the second duct 120A can be changed according to the shape of the carrier. However, in the banknote transport device 100 according to the present embodiment, the first carrier 110 and the second carrier 110R (second carrier 110S, 110A-110E) are from the first duct 120 or the second duct 120A to the carrier storage duct 130, Since it is necessary to turn a curve when changing the course to 130D, a shape having a circular vertical cross section is suitable.

In the present embodiment, the carrier storage duct 130D is set to a length that can store the six second carriers 110S and 110A-110E, but the length of the carrier storage duct 130D is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to set the length so that seven or more second carriers can be stored. The carrier storage duct 130D needs to be set to a length that can store at least two second carriers.
A magnetic medium such as a metal foil or a metal tape is attached to the inner wall of the main body portion 110a of the first carrier 110 and the second carrier 110R (second carrier 110S, 110A-110E), and the first carrier 110 and the second carrier 110R (second carrier 110R) are attached. It is also possible to detect the position of the two carriers 110S, 110A-110E) with a magnetic sensor. For example, if the position of the first carrier 110 can be grasped, the bill 50 inserted from the game ball lending machine 21 closest to the current position of the first carrier 110 can be captured in the shortest time.

The first carrier delivery device 200 is configured to use two first carriers 110A and 110B, but it is also possible to use three or more first carriers 110.
The first carrier feeding device 200 (including the modification described below) and the second carrier feeding device 350 can be mutually replaced, and similarly, the first carrier feeding device 135 and the second carrier feeding device 138 are mutually interchangeable. Can be replaced with.
FIG. 56 is a perspective view of the carrier accommodating body 300 used in the modified example of the first carrier feeding device 200.
The carrier housing 210 in the first carrier feeding device 200 has a box shape in which the opening 211 is formed, whereas the carrier housing 300 in the modified example of the first carrier feeding device 200 has the first carrier 110. It has a carrier mounting table 310 on which it can be mounted.

A semi-circular groove 311 is formed on the carrier mounting table 310, the first carrier 110 is placed on the groove 311, and a plurality of first carriers 110 are stacked on the first carrier 110. It has become like.
FIG. 57 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of a modified example of the first carrier feeding device 200.
As shown in FIG. 57, the first carrier 110A is placed on the carrier mounting table 310, and four first carriers 110B, 110C, 110D, 110E are further stacked on the first carrier 110A. ing. A total of five first carriers 110A-110E are stacked on the carrier mounting table 310.

The carrier housing moving device 220 moves the carrier mounting table 310 up and down in a state where one or a plurality (2 to 5) of the first carriers 110 are stacked on the carrier mounting table 310. The front and rear of each first carrier 110A-110E are supported by a box 232C.
The operation of delivering each of the first carriers 110A to 110E in the modified example of the first carrier feeding device 200 is basically the same as the operation of feeding the carrier of the first carrier feeding device 200 as described below.
In the stage before the modification of the first carrier feeding device 200 feeds out the first carriers 110A-110E, as shown in FIG. 57, the carrier mounting table 310 is located at the top of the first carriers 110A-110E. The first carrier 110E is positioned so as to face the second region 120b of the first duct 120 inside the space 120S formed adjacent to the entrance of the first duct 120.

From this state, the first blower 150A operates and the first carrier 110E is sent out. After the first carrier 110E conveys the bill 50 to the relay device 160, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220 raises the carrier mounting table 310 by the height of one carrier. As a result, the next first carrier 110D is located at the top and faces the second region 120b of the first duct 120. Next, the first blower 150A is activated and the first carrier 110D is sent out.
After that, this operation is repeated, and the first carrier 110C, the first carrier 110B, and the first carrier 110A are sent out in this order.

When the transfer of the bill 50 by the five first carriers 110A-110E is completed, the five first carriers 110A-110E are collectively once passed through the first duct 120 by the second blower 150B of the first carrier feedback device 135. Will be sent back to.
When the five first carriers 110A-110E sent back hit the stopper 233DB and stop, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220 lowers the carrier mounting table 310 by the height of one carrier. Only the leading first carrier 110A descends while being mounted on the carrier mounting table 310.
When the leading first carrier 110A descends, the first carrier 110B-110E following the first carrier 110A is pushed forward by the wind pressure of the air flow from the second blower 150B, hits the stopper 233DB, and stops. After that, the carrier accommodating body moving device 220 lowers the carrier mounting table 310 by the height of one carrier. As a result, the first carrier 110B located at the head of the first carriers 110B-110E is lowered, and the first carrier 110A and the first carrier 110B are placed on the carrier mounting table 310. ..

After that, the same operation is executed for the first carriers 110C and 110D. The final first carrier 110E hits the stopper 233DB and is placed in a stopped state. In this way, the five first carriers 110A-110E are returned to the stage before being sent out. After that, the above operation is repeated.
The number of carriers that can be used is not limited to 5, and any number can be selected as needed.
It is also possible to apply the carrier accommodating body 210 in the first carrier feeding device 200 to this modification. That is, instead of the carrier mounting table 310, the carrier accommodating body 210 in the first carrier feeding device 200 is formed, the first carrier 110A is accommodated in the opening 211 of the carrier accommodating body 210, and the first carrier 110A is accommodated on the carrier accommodating body 210. It is also possible to stack one carrier 110B-110E.

20 Game machine 21 Game ball lending machine 100 Banknote transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention 110 First carrier 110R Second carrier 120 First duct 120A Second duct 135 First carrier feed return device 138 Second carrier feed return device 140 Banknote storage room 150A 1st blower 150B 2nd blower 150C 3rd blower 150D 4th blower 200 1st carrier sending device 350 2nd carrier sending device

Claims (12)

Multiple first ducts, each of which is placed for each group of multiple groups of gaming machines and to which paper leaves are fed,
A single second duct communicating with each of the plurality of first ducts,
A paper leaf storage chamber arranged so as to communicate with the second duct at one end of the second duct,
A first carrier traveling inside each of the plurality of first ducts,
The second carrier traveling inside the second duct and
A first carrier feeding device that feeds the first carrier toward the second duct inside each of the plurality of first ducts.
A first carrier sending back device that sends back the first carrier sent out from the first carrier sending device to the first carrier sending device, and
A second carrier feeding device that feeds the second carrier toward the paper leaf storage chamber inside the second duct, and a second carrier feeding device.
A second carrier sending back device that sends back the second carrier sent out from the second carrier sending device to the second carrier sending device, and
Equipped with
The first carrier feeding device includes a first blower that generates an air flow toward the second duct inside each of the plurality of first ducts.
The first carrier feed back device includes a second blower that generates an air flow in the direction opposite to the air flow generated by the first blower inside each of the plurality of first ducts.
The second carrier feeding device includes a third blower that generates an air flow toward the paper leaf storage chamber inside the second duct.
The second carrier feed-back device is a paper leaf transport device including a fourth blower that generates an air flow in the direction opposite to the air flow generated by the third blower inside the second duct. The first carrier feed-back device includes a first carrier storage duct branching from the first duct in front of the second duct.
The first duct is composed of a first region through which only the paper leaves can pass and a second region through which the first carrier can pass.
The first region passes through the center of the second region and protrudes from both sides of the second region.
The first region extends to the second duct and
The paper leaf transport device according to claim 1, wherein the second region branches from the first duct in front of the second duct and constitutes the first carrier storage duct. The second carrier feed-back device includes a second carrier storage duct branching from the second duct in front of the paper leaf storage chamber.
The second duct is composed of a first region through which only the paper leaves can pass and a second region through which the second carrier can pass.
The first region passes through the center of the second region and protrudes from both sides of the second region.
The first area extends to the paper leaf storage chamber and extends to the paper leaf storage chamber.
The paper leaf according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second region branches from the second duct in front of the paper leaf storage chamber and constitutes the second carrier storage duct. Class transfer device. The paper leaf transport device according to claim 2, wherein the first carrier storage duct is connected to the second blower. The paper leaf transport device according to claim 3, wherein the second carrier storage duct is connected to the fourth blower. The paper leaf transport device according to claim 2 or 4 , wherein the first carrier storage duct has a length capable of storing two or more of the first carriers . The paper leaf transport device according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the second carrier storage duct has a length capable of storing two or more of the second carriers. The paper leaf transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the first carrier and the second carrier have the same shape having a circular vertical cross section. The first carrier delivery device or the second carrier delivery device
With a carrier container having an opening through which the first carrier or the second carrier can pass,
In the space adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct, the carrier accommodating body is placed between the first position and the second position in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends. A carrier housing moving device that can be moved, and
Equipped with
The first position is a position where the opening communicates with the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower flows into the opening.
The second position is a position where the carrier accommodating body is located below the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower does not flow into the opening. And
The paper leaf according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein at least one of the first carrier or the second carrier is placed on the carrier container. Transport device. The first carrier delivery device or the second carrier delivery device
A carrier accommodating body having a carrier mounting table on which the first carrier or the second carrier can be mounted, and
Carrier accommodating body movement capable of moving the carrier accommodating body up and down in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends in a space adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct. With the equipment
Equipped with
When the carrier accommodating body moving device sends out the first carrier or the second carrier, the first carrier located at the top of the plurality of first carriers or second carriers mounted on the carrier mounting table. The carrier or the second carrier is located adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct, and the carrier mounting table is moved up and down so as to receive the air flow from the first blower or the third blower. The paper leaf transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the device is to be used. Each of the first carrier delivery device or the second carrier delivery device includes N (N is an integer of 1 or more) carrier delivery devices that deliver the first carrier or the second carrier.
The carrier delivery device is
With a carrier container having an opening through which the first carrier or the second carrier can pass,
In the space adjacent to the first duct or the entrance of the second duct, the carrier accommodating body is placed between the first position and the second position in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends. Carrier housing moving device to move and
Equipped with
The first position is a position where the opening communicates with the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower flows into the opening.
The second position is a position where the carrier accommodating body is located below the first duct or the second duct, and the air flow from the first blower or the third blower does not flow into the opening. And
One of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the N carrier feeding devices are arranged adjacent to each other along a direction in which the first duct or the second duct extends. The paper leaf transport device described in the section. A space having a length equivalent to that of the first carrier or one second carrier that communicates with the first duct or the second duct is formed adjacent to the entrance of the first duct or the second duct. 11. The paper leaf transport device according to claim 11 .

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