JPH06176244A - Paper sheet processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify structure and to receive the next paper sheet even before the paper sheet is housed in a housing box by returning the paper sheet at a holding position before housing standby position. CONSTITUTION:A control means 12 conveys a paper sheet P inserted to a paper sheet insert port 3 to the holding position by driving a conveying mechanism 5 so that the rear end part can reach a roller 23, and temporarily holds the paper sheet at holding position. When a paper sheet return signal is outputted, the paper sheet P is oppositely conveyed to the insert port 3 or when there is any paper sheet housing signal such as a housing signal from the main body of an automatic vending machine or a detecting signal detecting the insertion of the next paper sheet at the paper sheets processor, for example, the paper sheet P is conveyed up to the housing standby position faced across from a paper sheets housing box 4. Thus, since the paper sheets are returned at the holding position before the paper sheets housing standby position, mechanism parts such as a press roller can be eliminated, and the next paper sheet can be also received from the paper sheet insert port 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing apparatus used for carrying paper sheets in a paper sheet storage device of an automatic vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to a sheet processing apparatus of an automatic vending machine shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the paper sheet processing apparatus 61 is configured to include a paper sheet insertion opening 63 on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body having a paper sheet storage 62 inside. Inside the main body of the apparatus, there is provided a transport mechanism for transporting the paper sheets inserted from the paper sheet insertion port 63 to a position facing the paper sheet storage 62 (hereinafter referred to as “storage standby position”). . The transport mechanism includes a first roller 64, a second roller 65, and a third roller 66 arranged along a transport path, and a first transport belt stretched between the first roller 64 and the second roller 65. 67, the second roller 65, the third
It has a second conveyor belt 68 stretched between rollers 66. Further, in the figure, the free rollers 69 to 71, the pressing roller 72, and the receiving roller 73 sandwich the paper sheet between it and the first belt 67 or the second belt 68, and apply a conveying force to it.

The first roller 64 is a drive roller that rotates in the normal and reverse directions. When this roller rotates in the normal direction, the first roller 64 and the third roller 66 are interlocked with each other, and the paper sheets inserted from the paper sheet insertion port 63 are inserted. To the storage standby position. On the other hand, if it rotates in the reverse direction, the first roller 64 and the third roller 66 rotate in reverse,
Insert the paper sheets waiting in the storage standby position into the paper sheet insertion port 6
Reverse transport to 3. During the reverse conveyance, the pressing roller 72 and the receiving roller 73 apply a conveying force to the paper sheets in the storage standby position.

Further, on the conveying path, an insertion detection sensor 74 for monitoring the insertion of the paper sheet is provided between the paper sheet insertion port 63 and the free roller 74 to identify whether the paper sheet is authentic or not. The sensor 75 is provided between the free roller 70 and the free roller 71. Further, at the storage standby position, a pushing mechanism 76 for pushing the paper sheet into the paper sheet storage is provided.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the method of conveying the paper sheets.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Whether or not the paper sheet has been inserted into the apparatus main body is monitored by the insertion detection sensor 74 (step 81), and when it is confirmed that the paper sheet has been inserted, the authenticity of the paper sheet is entered ( Step 82). When it is determined that the bill is a genuine note, an appropriate signal is sent to the CPU of the vending machine body (not shown) (step 83). In this state, the paper sheet is conveyed to the storage standby position, and the paper sheet is put in the standby state (step 84). At this time, when the next paper sheet is inserted into the paper sheet insertion opening 63, if the first belt 68 is driven to accept the paper sheet, the second belt 68 is interlocked to store the paper sheet. The paper sheets in the standby position move, causing jams and the like. Therefore, acceptance of the next paper sheet is prohibited (step 85). In this acceptance prohibited state, the apparatus waits for reception of the storage signal (step 86), and when the storage signal is received, the paper sheet storage operation is performed (step 87).
When the storing operation is completed, the prohibition of receiving the paper sheets is released (step 88), and the paper sheets are again waited for being put into the apparatus (step 81). On the other hand, although not shown, when it is determined that the bill is a counterfeit bill, the transport mechanism reversely transports the paper sheet and returns the paper sheet from the storage standby position to the paper sheet insertion port 63.

[0006]

However, such a conventional paper sheet conveying method has the following problems. That is, when the inserted paper sheet is located at the storage standby position, the reception of the paper sheet is prohibited even if the next paper sheet is inserted into the paper sheet insertion port 63. The user must be on standby with the paper sheets. Therefore, in FIG. 4, the first belt 67 and the second belt 68 are not interlocked with each other and are separately driven to move the first and second sheets without moving the paper sheets positioned corresponding to the second belt 68. By driving the belt 67, it is possible to insert the next paper sheet without prohibiting the reception of the next paper sheet. However, there is a problem that the transport mechanism is complicated, such as requiring two driving devices. Further, when the paper sheets are held in the storage standby position, the pressing roller 72, the receiving roller 73, and their roller supporting mechanism for reversely conveying the paper sheets to the paper sheet insertion port 63 are required for returning. , Causing an increase in product cost. In addition, these mechanical parts are used to store the paper sheets from the standby position for storing the paper sheets 62.
There is a hindrance in the storing operation of the push-in mechanism 76 that is fed into, jamming occurs, and there is a restriction in the structural design of the push-in mechanism 76.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and can receive the next paper sheet even before the paper sheet is stored in the paper sheet storage. ,
An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus which can simplify the paper sheet transport mechanism and reduce the product cost.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object,
The paper sheet processing apparatus of the present invention has a conveyance mechanism that conveys the paper sheets inserted into the paper sheet insertion port to a paper sheet storage standby position for storing the paper sheets in the paper sheet storage. In the provided paper sheet processing apparatus, the conveyance mechanism is driven to convey the paper sheets inserted into the paper sheet insertion port to the holding position between the paper sheet insertion port and the paper sheet storage standby position. A holding means for temporarily holding the paper at the holding position and carrying it backward to the paper sheet insertion port by the paper sheet return signal or carrying it normally to the paper sheet storage standby position by the paper sheet storage signal. Characterize.

[0009]

According to the paper sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, the control means drives the conveying mechanism to convey the paper sheets inserted into the paper sheet insertion port to the holding position, and temporarily hold the paper sheet at the holding position. Then, the paper sheet is conveyed backward to the paper sheet insertion port by the paper sheet return signal, or the paper sheet storage signal, for example, the storage signal from the vending machine main body, or the next sheet in the paper sheet processing apparatus. The sheet is normally conveyed to the sheet storage standby position by a detection signal or the like which detects that the sheet has been inserted. As described above, since the return operation of the paper sheet is performed at the holding position before the paper sheet storage standby position, it is possible to eliminate the mechanical parts such as the pressing roller 72 at the paper sheet storage standby position and When a paper sheet is loaded, the temporarily held paper sheet is conveyed to the paper sheet storage standby position so that the next paper sheet can also be received from the paper sheet insertion port.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the structure of the paper sheet processing apparatus will be described. This paper sheet processing apparatus is a type mounted on an automatic vending machine, a so-called bill validator, and FIG. 1 is a cutting side view thereof. As shown in the figure, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus case 2
And a paper sheet insertion opening 3 opened on the upper front surface of the device case 2.
And a paper storage box 4 that is openably and closably stored in the rear part of the device case 2, and a storage standby position where the paper sheet P inserted from the paper sheet insertion slot 3 faces the paper sheet storage box 4 ( A transport mechanism 5 for transporting along a transport path 7 to a paper sheet storage standby position),
The paper feeding device 6 includes a feeding mechanism 6 that laterally moves the paper sheet P conveyed to the storage standby position in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and sends the paper sheet P into the paper sheet storage case 4. Further, inside the front surface of the apparatus case 2, there is provided a control board 12 which is a control means for receiving control signals from the outside of the apparatus, controlling the transportation of the transport mechanism 5, sending various signals to the outside, and the like. . In addition, a loading detection sensor 10 and an identification sensor 11 are arranged on the transport path 7.

The transport mechanism 5 includes a first roller 21, a second roller 22, a third roller 23, and a fourth roller 24 arranged from the upstream side along the transport path 7, and first and third rollers 21. , 23, and a second conveyor belt 26, which is laid between the third and fourth rollers 23, 24. The first roller 21 and the second roller 22 are provided with pressing rollers 21a and 22a that freely rotate with the first conveyor belt 25 interposed therebetween, and the third roller 23 is provided with the first and second conveyor belts. Two
A pressing roller 23a that freely rotates with the Nos. 5 and 26 interposed is also provided. Further, the second conveyor belt 26 is guided between the third roller 23 and the fourth roller 24, and
Two guide rollers 2 that apply tension to the conveyor belt 26
7, 27 are provided.

Although not shown in the drawing, the first conveyor belt 25 and the second conveyor belt 26 are each composed of a pair of left and right, and correspondingly, the first roller 2 is formed.
The first roller 22, the second roller 22 and the fourth roller 24 are formed as a left and right pair. Further, the third roller 23 around which the first and second conveyor belts 25 and 26 are stretched is
Corresponding to this, it is composed of two pairs of left and right.

The third roller 23 constitutes a drive roller which is controlled by the motor 9 to rotate in forward and reverse directions, and operates the first and second conveyor belts 25 and 26. The first roller 21 and the second roller 22 are connected to the third roller via the first conveyor belt 25.
It is driven to rotate by the roller 23, and these are driven by the third roller 2
3 together with the respective pressure rollers 21a, 22a, 2
A feed roller is constituted by 3a. Fourth roller 24
The guide rollers 27, 27 are connected to the second conveyor belt 26.
Is a free roller.

When the paper sheet P is inserted into the paper sheet insertion port 3, the loading detection sensor 10 detects the insertion (tip) of the paper sheet P and causes the motor 9 to rotate via the control device 12. ,
The transport mechanism 5 is driven. The front end of the paper sheet P is the first roller 2
When the sheet P is inserted to the position 1, the front end of the paper sheet P is sandwiched between the pressing roller 21a of the first roller 21 and the first transport belt 25, and the transport of the paper sheet P is started. A curving guide 8 is arranged between the second roller 22 and the third roller 23 along the conveyance path 7, and the tip of the paper sheet P that has passed through the second roller 22 has the curving guide. The course is changed downward by 8 and is guided to the third roller 23.

Between the second roller 22 and the third roller 23, the identification sensor 11 detects the pattern on the surface of the paper sheet P and the quality of the ink, and determines the suitability of the paper sheet P. At the same time, the rear end position of the paper sheet P is detected by the identification sensor 11, the motor 9 feeds the paper sheet P a predetermined number of steps thereafter, and the rear end of the paper sheet P is moved to the third roller 2.
When it is transported to the position 3, it is temporarily stopped. That is, this position is the paper sheet holding position. This holding position is in front of the paper sheet storage box 4, the rear end of the paper sheet P is at the position of the third roller 23, and the pressing roller 23a of the third roller 23 and the first and second conveyances are performed. It is sandwiched between the belts 25 and 26, and the paper sheets can be conveyed forward and backward.

Here, when the identification result of the identification sensor 11 is "counterfeit bill", the transport mechanism 5 is reversely driven, and the paper sheet P
Is conveyed in the reverse direction and returned to the paper sheet insertion port 3. On the other hand, when the identification result is “genuine bill”, the transport mechanism 5 is again driven in the forward direction again to transport the paper sheet P to the storage standby position facing the paper sheet storage 4. When the paper sheet P stops at the storage standby position, the feeding mechanism 6 then operates to laterally move the paper sheet P and feed it into the paper sheet storage 4.

The paper sheet storage 4 is composed of a vertically long box body composed of both side plates 31, 31, a bottom plate 32 and a back plate 33, and the back plate 33 also serves as a part of the apparatus case 2. The paper sheet storage case 4 includes a support shaft 34 that is inserted under the side plates 31, 31.
The device can be opened and closed with respect to the device case 2 by leaning backward around the. Paper storage 4 in closed position
Is arranged parallel to the second conveyor belt 26, that is, parallel to the storage standby position, and the paper storage container 4 in the open position is
It is designed to be tilted to an angle such that an operator can insert his / her hand from above and take out the paper sheets P inside. A leaf spring 35 fixed to the back plate 33 and a contact plate 36 attached to the leaf spring 35 are accommodated inside the paper sheet storage 4, and the leaf spring is interposed via the contact plate 36. The paper sheets P are densely stacked and stored by the urging force of 35. on the other hand,
At the center of the front end of the bottom plate 32, a paper sheet holding plate 37 that is erected parallel to the back plate 33 is formed.

The paper sheet holding plate 37 is arranged in front of the conveyance path 7 and has a structure capable of holding the paper sheet P when the paper sheet storage 4 is opened. Therefore, there is no obstacle in feeding the paper sheet P, and even if the paper sheet P remains at the storage standby position due to a jam or the like, the paper sheet P is opened by opening the paper sheet storage box 4. It acts to scrape. When the paper sheet performs the paper sheet storage operation, it is conveyed on the conveyance path 7 and between the paper sheet already stored in the paper sheet storage 4 and the paper sheet holding plate 37. Because it is stored
It is possible to reliably store the paper sheets without any obstacle to the storage operation.

An actuator portion 37a bent forward in a hook shape is formed at the upper end of the paper sheet holding plate 37, and in the closed position where the paper sheet storage case 4 is stored in the apparatus case 2. The actuator portion 37a faces the gap of the photo interrupter 38 arranged in the apparatus case 2, and is pulled out from the gap of the photo interrupter 38 at the open position where the actuator portion 37a falls rearward. As a result, the opening / closing of the paper sheet storage 4 is detected, and the opening / closing signal is sent to the control board 1
The output to 2 completes the paper sheet storage operation.

Next, the feeding mechanism 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c). As shown in the figure, the feeding mechanism 6 includes a pair of left and right guide plates 41, 41 for guiding the paper sheets P conveyed by the second conveyor belts 26, 26 to the storage standby position, and each guide plate 41. It is composed of a pair of left and right shafts 42, 42 for rotatably supporting the shaft, and a motor and a link mechanism (not shown) for rotating the shaft 42. A pair of guide plates 41, 41
Are arranged outside the left and right second conveyor belts 26, 26 so as to face the storage standby position and the paper sheet storage 4, respectively, and the surface on the side of the second conveyor belt 26. Then, the paper sheet P is guided so as to be sandwiched between it and the second conveyor belt 26. Each guide plate 41 is formed to be somewhat shorter than the length of the paper sheet storage case 4, and is arranged in parallel with the storage standby position and the paper sheet storage case 4 (see FIG. 1). Further, each guide plate 41 faces the paper sheet P from the outside,
Both edges Pa in the conveying direction of the paper sheet P, that is, the width direction,
Pa is in sliding contact.

On the other hand, at the tip of each guide plate 41, a protruding portion 41a is formed which is bent and extends toward the paper sheet storage case 4 side. This protruding portion 41a faces the paper storage box 4,
The paper sheets P in the paper sheet storage 4 are held so as to be stacked against each other against the leaf spring 35.

The base of each guide plate 41 is fixed to each shaft 42, and each guide plate 41 is reciprocally rotated forward by an angle of 90 degrees from the steady guide position. That is, when both guide plates 41, 41 rotate forward (forward), the protrusions 41a, 41a wrap around to the back side of the paper sheet, and when they rotate in the opposite direction (return), the paper sheet is stored. Store in storage 4.

Next, a paper sheet conveying method of the paper sheet identifying apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The paper sheet processing apparatus 1 monitors whether or not the paper sheet P has been loaded into the apparatus main body by inputting the output signal of the loading detection sensor 10 (step 51). When it is confirmed that the paper sheet P is input, the paper sheet authenticity discrimination by the discrimination sensor 11 is started (step 52). When it is determined that the bill is a genuine bill, an appropriate signal is output to the vending machine body (not shown) via the control board 12 (step 53). In this state, the paper sheet P is conveyed to the holding position and the paper sheet P is held (step 54).

In the paper sheet holding state, it is monitored whether or not a storage signal is received from the vending machine body (step 55). If the storage signal is not received, it is monitored whether or not the next paper sheet P has been loaded into the apparatus main body (step 5).
6) Continue to monitor whether or not the storage signal is received unless the paper sheet P is input. In addition, at the holding position, the paper sheet P
When the paper sheet return button is pressed on the main body of the vending machine (not shown) in the case where is held, the third roller 23 reverses and the paper sheet P is returned to the paper sheet insertion port 3. The leaf return operation is performed.

When the storage signal is received, or when the next paper sheet is input, the paper sheet is normally conveyed to the storage standby position (step 57). When the paper sheet is conveyed to the storage standby position, the paper sheet storage operation is performed (step 58). When the paper sheet storage operation is completed, it waits for the next paper sheet to be loaded into the apparatus again (step 51).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the paper sheet is held at the holding position where the paper sheet can be conveyed forward and backward, and the returning operation is performed from this holding position. Therefore, no transport mechanism for reverse transport is needed at the storage standby position. Moreover, as a result of the short distance for the reverse conveyance, the time required to return the paper sheets is shortened. Further, since the structure is simple, clogging of the paper sheets is reduced. Furthermore, since there is no mechanical component for reverse conveyance that hinders the paper sheet storage operation, the paper sheet storage operation can be reliably performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, when the paper sheet is a fake bill, the paper sheet is temporarily held in the holding position and then the paper sheet is inserted. Although it is returned to the mouth, if the paper sheet is judged to be a fake note, it may be immediately returned to the paper sheet insertion slot. Further, the position for holding the paper sheets is not limited to the embodiment, and may be any position within the range that does not change the gist of the present invention.

[0028]

As described above, according to the paper sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, since the return operation of the paper sheets is performed at the holding position before the storage standby position, the structure is simple and When a paper sheet is loaded, the next paper sheet can be received by forwardly transporting the paper sheet in the holding position to the storage standby position. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time that the user is waiting with the paper sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cutting side view of a paper sheet processing apparatus using a paper sheet conveying method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a mechanism for feeding a paper sheet into a paper sheet storage in the paper sheet processing apparatus using the paper sheet conveying method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a paper sheet conveying method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a conventional paper sheet conveying method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 paper sheet processing device 3 paper sheet insertion port 4 paper sheet storage 5 transport mechanism 7 transport path 12 control board P paper sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper sheet having a transport mechanism for transporting a paper sheet inserted into a paper sheet insertion port to a paper sheet storage standby position for storing the paper sheet in a paper sheet storage box. In the processing device, the transport mechanism is driven to transport the paper sheets inserted into the paper sheet insertion port to a holding position between the paper sheet insertion port and the paper sheet storage standby position. A control means for temporarily holding the paper at the holding position and reversely carrying it to the paper sheet insertion port in response to a paper sheet return signal, or normally carrying it to the paper sheet storage standby position in response to a paper sheet storage signal. A paper sheet processing device characterized by the above.